Life For Rent

 By ALFRED SIEW

• Tammy

It is unclear why ‘Tammy’, a polytechnic student, used her cellphone to shoot a video of her having sex with her boyfriend.

But once the clip escaped onto the Internet last year, it spread like wildfire. The words ‘Tammy video’ were once among the most popular in online search engines.

• SAF ‘ghost’

 A few SAF soldiers decide to clown around while on duty and shoot a video of how they ’saw’ a ghost. The clip has been viewed 1.2 million times on the YouTube video-sharing website since it was put online last year.

Camera phones are now banned in army camps.

• Singapore FHM #1

A clip of models from men’s magazine FHM taking off their bras in a radio studio was an instant hit earlier this year. The video sparked a controversy and its popularity skyrocketed.

• Media Development Authority (MDA) rap

The media regulator’s top brass believed they could convey creativity by rapping in a hip hop video that was packaged with its annual report.

When it was put online by the agency, however, many netizens thought the civil servants looked funny trying to be cool.

I am finally using a ‘big boy’ pda phone! I hesitated for quite a while cause I never really felt I will use the functions nor like the size and weight. I did want a GPS enabled phone badly though. At my workplace within a 3m radius where I sit, there are 4 people using dopods and another using HTC. I was the only one with the ‘kiddo’ phone then haha. Well no longer!

I am having a bad time getting the GPS software installed.. but I’ll get a little help from my colleague at work tomorrow so let’s see how it goes. I bought it for $560 off someone who didn’t like it and hence hasn’t really used it. Quite a steal, considering it is not available with a 2 year contract at telcos anymore. Everyone is turning to the HTC Tytn 2. It is nice.. but if I had to get one it will cost me 988.. Hardly worth the money. I’d rather keep the money so I can buy a Usqueeze for my grandma.

I feel old. Joining the world of PDA phones.. something which I thought I’d never get. I guess as time goes by, things change. I can be psychoed into something if the person tries hard enough to drill it into my head though.

But all I want now is to get well. Fully well.

Stock market wise, indicators and reports all point to a bear market. The strategy I have now is to sell on strength to pare down holdings.

Have a good week all! Looking forward to Ritz Carlton this weekend… some shopping (which will burn a hole in my pocket but it is for a good ’cause’), a holiday in March to perth and perhaps one more end of next year to take my granny on a trip. I will see how that one turns out but I really wanna do it. Yes.

I came across this in my email and thought it was worth putting it out to share with you guys.

For the uninitiated, Warren Buffett is on the top 3 list of the world’s richest. The top is currently still Bill Gates.  Considerably the ‘God’ of investments through fundamental analysis, he is chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. If I am not mistaken he owns 38% of the company. He began purchasing shares of the company since 1962 and eventually collected enough to gain control of the company. The shares are listed on the NYSE and it is the highest priced counter on the exchange, and possibly in the world? The price went above US$100,000 in Oct 2006. This month in November it closed at around US$138,000 a share.  They never had a stock split which partly contributed to its high price. This is a class A share though. Class B shares are also available.

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second  richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity.  Here are some very
interesting aspects of his life:

His advice to young people:  ’Stay away from  credit cards and invest in yourself and remember:
A.  Money  doesn’t create man, but it is the man who created money.
B.  Live  your life as simple as you are.
C.  Don’t do what others say.   Just listen to them, but do what makes you feel good.
D.  Don’t go on brand name.  Wear those things in which you feel comfortable.
E.  Don’t waste your money on unnecessary things.  Spend on  those who really are in need.
F.  After all, it’s your  life.  Why give others the chance to rule your life?’

Click to view larger. This is what happens probably when the stock markets are too quiet.

I received an email from my dear friend Ben who highlighted an article as published by SPF on an ongoing scams. Remember that scam artistes usually use scare and pressure tactics to get their work done. They leave you so confused you just blindly follow what they say.
No offense to anyone from China, but when I get a call from someone with a Chinese accent (especially those who call me for stupid surveys) I just hang up the phone.

The stock markets are observing another sea of red. Most began in the green which quickly became red as it becomes apparent the bourses are struggling to find direction. The US are gonna have their thanksgiving holiday soon and although the markets are grossly oversold, it doesn’t make much difference if there are no buyers. What can we expect to spark a rally? At the moment all I can think of is a sharp fall in oil prices, for whatever reasons. Give the americans enough reason to pull out of bonds and back into the stock market. The question now remains. Is 2007 the year of a crash? Which is better, a good crash once and for all or a bear market? A bear market is likely to follow a crash, but a crash will only occur generally when you least expect it. The market sentiment is bad now and negative news has already been factored in. I personally see a a steady decline over a sharp correction. How much redder are we gonna get? Will we have an early ‘christmas’?

To add onto my last post, I decided to skip BBSFF. I noticed there are some buy calls on it today but I completely do not understand their business. Their reports harp on dividends over and over and entices investors to invest for dividends rather than their business. Read their report and tell me what you think. Very high yields but I cannot account for a lotta things so as they say if you don’t understand, skip it. I went back to First REIT instead. I feel safer over their business in hospitals and all. Some asked, shouldn’t I just go for raffles medical group. Perhaps.. but it wasn’t on my radar and when I finally took notice I have missed the boat.

Been very busy past couple days, playing the roll of a small fund manager with a principle sum of 100k for investment. This comes from my mom and after looking at her risk profile (which is very hard to achieve cause she wants high gains with low risk). Honestly I could choose growth stocks but if I do so well in there I might as well change jobs to be a fund manager instead professionally! ie, I am not trained enough to go in and out of the market. Besides I don’t have time.

 So I decided on the following portfolio:

- HSBC, listed in Hong Kong. Good growth, non-volatile, low PE compared to local banks. Citibank is also cheap now but I’ll stay away from it for the tme being. My projection is around 25% upside forward 2008. Dividend yield is 5%. Bought 800 shares (2 lots) which is around 21KSGD. PE is around 10-11. Compared to DBS which is around 20, and yet people say it is cheap?

- MIIF, an infrastructure fund. Very defensive and trading at a relatively cheap price now. I like the idea of an infrastructure fund where they hold portfolios in toll-booths, telecom industries overseas. Yes, I am quite sick of just loooking at investments centered around SG only. Dividend yield is aprox 9%pa. This is a ’savings’ counter, to trade off volatility but getting more yield than a bank can ever give. NAV is 20cents below current price.

- BBSFF, another fund, not as defensive, but high yield. Based on current price, yield is around 11.5%. Forward yield is attractive too. Looking at yield and growth for this. It is trading around 3.5c above NAV (ending sept 07). Zero exposure to credit problems. Direct and indirect.

- First REIT, not a retail reit but has exposures in Indonesia. Priced in SGD hence no currency issues in that sense, while leases run for 15 years, VS retail which is around 2 years. Therefore, projected returns are quite certain and predictable. Yield is around 8%. But decided to drop this for the time being as it is 2c higher than what I am comfortable with, at 75c. 77c is a strong support, yet this has low volume hence it is very hard to justify proper support/resistance lines. Ideal price is around 70c. Missed the boat for this one and doubt it will go into that price anytime soon.

 I used 40% of the total capital for this one. ‘Bullets’ are important…

HSI and STI are undergoing a strong pullback at the moment. Credit worries it seems. I gotta get back to focussing on my work so this is what I need. Cannot afford to keep checking on prices. Anyone interested in attending TA courses though? The full course is quite dear, 2 full days in Dec, at 450 each (if registering for 2 or more pax).

Also, my dear has passed his driving on his first attempt! Swee swee on the dot, 18 points, just like me. I knew he can drive and we all went out on a little errand ride last night and I think he did quite alright in his driving. It is all on practice now. Here are a few tips from me that has not changed and is still valid since I passed some 9 years ago. And I have figures and statistics of people who went against them and paid the price for it:

- Book for your test during off peak hours. 1030am, and 1430pm is deal. Anywhere during morning/evening (4pm onwards)and lunch hours is not recommended.

- The one and only tip for passing is, prove to the tester that you can drive. Simple as that. The test is not about the 18 points allowance. If he tinks you cannot drive, you WILL get more than 18 points. Period. Prove to him you can drive, chances are most of the ticks will be on mistakes that carry no points for the first 1-2 times.

- Chances are also, you will make mistakes during the test that you have never. Eg, I did not release my handbrake fully on  the slope. It has never happened during practice rounds. My dear struck a kerb during test. It has never happened too during practice. The reason being ,you are focussed on avoiding your weak areas but neglect those you are familiar with. Nothing much you can do… just be aware of it. Hopefully you don’t get an immediate failure.

- This tip is more of a superstitious thing. Do not tell anyone when your TP test is. The more people know, the higher the chance of failing. Don’t ask me.. I just heard it from someone so we decided to follow and test it out anyway. Very few people knew bout the TP test my dear was gonna take. It was almost, a guarded secret. I did tell him try not to expect to pass. I know that feeling all too well. The more nervous you are the worse you perform. Ironically, when you think you are gonna fail and hence can’t be bothered anymore during the test, that is when you do best.

- Don’t expect the tester to pat you on the back for a job well done. No matter how good you think you are, there will definitely be hell lots of areas to improve on. What do you expect? You have had barely less than 100 hrs on the road before the test. So they don’t expect a lot out of you, BUT safety is the most important. If tester is not convinced you are a safe driver, YOU WILL FAIL. There are many clauses on the penalty sheet. It is not hard finding something to penalise you on anytime. Any clause that begins with ‘Failure to’ can be used on you in almost ALL situations. It is just a matter of how the examiner wants to twist it around. 1 tick can be worth 2 , or as high as 10 demerit points.

Love my new toy which I bought over the weekend after attending my graduation ceremony (finally!). I did some blood tests that I wanted to be done (hey I didn’t have to pay so why not) and we have good and bad results. Nothing potentially fatal although some may cause pain for life. hah hah..

Anyway indeed I have been contemplating over a leg massage cause I do have very stiff calf muscles that really hurt while my huns can do with a foot massage after a long day at work. The price was a little turn-off but if it helps a lot, why not? A good investment for a better health (and mood). The USqueeze did not impress me with its action on the calves. Very good for the feet though. It is about 600 bucks but if princess rach can get one back for me from China that’s cheaper and worth the lack of warranty, why not? Huns wants to buy one for the mom. So sweet right?

For now… Let me bask in my new toy… my legs feel so much better… ahhhhh

Did I say I bought a uzap for my mom years back and now it is back with me. HAH!

This has to be one of the dumbest letters written to ST Forum this year. Sure I love travels and I dislike having a 3d 2n trip when in reality you spend only 1 full day out there. But that’s the universal way isn’t it? It is up to the consumer to recognise that the first and last days are travel days. Has the writer been living in a cave? The suggestion on making 7pm the checkout time and check in time at 10am is also ridiculous. First of all, is the writer willing to pay for the extra night the hotel will lose? It is not obvious that costs are saved through a high turnover? The room guests leave at noon and another set can use the room 3 hours later. With the 7pm and 10am rule, it means the room has to be vacated during the night. Are consumers willing to pay for it? Honestly I think the hotel won’t mind. Why not? A paid for room that no one is staying, ie you can cut down staff at night, and there is no rush to prepare the rooms for the next group of guests. Secondly, so we can shift check in time to 10am and check out at 7pm. What is there to stop people from writing in tomorrow “why can’t we check in at 6am then? I paid for the whole day you know!” Heck, why not just say “Why can’t I check in as and when I want!”. I am sure it can be done, but it comes at a price. Are consumers willing to pay that? Or go by the ‘rules. Everyone knows what 3d2n means. And everyone knows check in is usually 3pm, while check out is at 12 but can be delayed to 2pm on approval. Suddenly I feel I am not the most unreasonable person on earth! *beams*

Three-day two-night package? Looks like two-day two-night package 
WE WANTED to go on a trip to Bintan and found a leaflet in a travel agency offering a three-day two-night package at Banyan Tree at $628 per head for a seafront villa (Banyan Tree Special).
We booked a seafront villa and intended to go early in the day but the travel agency suggested taking the 10.30am ferry, with arrival at the resort at 11.30am. We found out later that we could check into our villa only after 3pm, and we need to vacate the villa at noon on the third day. Instantaneously, our three-day two-night holiday was cut by half a day on the first and last day.

I contacted the Banyan Tree office in Singapore, seeking an explanation. I was told that the resort sells only room-nights, which contradicts what the leaflet says.

I was also told we could leave our luggage at the reception and wait from 11.30am to 3pm somewhere in the resort until the villa was ready.

I emphasised that we booked three days and two nights and not two half-days for the first and last day. I was told that this was the way the resort operates.

To be fair, couldn’t the resort make 7pm the check-out time and check-in time 10am?

Juergen Nitzschke
 

Came across this question:

 Hi guys,

Todds

Is it reasonable to assume that the male anatomy turns you on, when you suggest masturbating with another guy?

How bout masturbating with a girl instead? Any difference in between?

Personally I dispense with labels such as str8 or gay or this or that. They are as important as you want them to be. I don’t think anyone cares. Anyone can call themselves whatever they want. To me, a label is what you want to be, rather than what you are.

 To me, it is obvious the above mentioned is turned on by guys. It is my assumption however, that he is in denial. It is my forward speculation, that he will join the ranks of people who will battle with this day in day out. People who will eventually marry a girl, have kids, but sleeps around. Not with other women though. I seriously wonder if this is better or worse. Ladies, if your bf/husband sleeps around, is it worse sleeping with another woman, or another man?

When people are less concerned with labels, maybe they’ll see, hear, smell, feel and taste (yes, tase) better.

In case you’ve been wondering, I’ve been taking a break outta here to focus on some stuff at the moment. Meantime, as the year comes towards an end (the rainy season tells us so!), another season of reflection sets upon me. An ‘audit’ of sorts, over what I have accomplished this year, what did i succeed in, what can I improve on, and what is in store for the next 1 year.

On a lighter note, I watched Saw 4! I think it’s great and opens the doors to future installments. The story line that follows through from 1-4 thus far has been thought provoking and ingenious to say. Look beyond the gore, and understand the psychology of jigsaw. There is no guarantee you’ll think like him though. In fact if such a character exists (other than the script writer), perhaps, just perhaps, crime will cease to exist. Which is better? Death Note (asian) VS Saw (US).

In terms of sequels, Saw beats death note hands down. In fact for saw to get onto the 4th installment (with doors for future sequels) with such fantastic story lines still, I reckon it is the best script made, ever. Every year they release one sequel… but for now, I need help in understanding this year’s one *L*