Taiwanese Urged to Deepen Ties with Asean

Taiwanese Urged to Deepen Ties with Asean
Source: The Straits Times Dec 18, 2009 (Fri) by Ho Ai Li, Taiwan Correspondent

Taiwan has to rethink its game plan in South-east Asia amid the intensive engagement of the region by China, Japan and South Korea, academics and the island's leader said this week.

Taiwan is in danger of being left behind when free trade pacts between Asean and China, Japan and Korea take effect in the next few years.

... The Government should help local producers market their goods globally, he (Dr. Chu Yun-Peng (朱云鹏), former Taiwan minister without portfolio) suggested.

“Ecfa (Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement – Economic Pact with China) is not necessary good for Taiwan in the long term, but what is the alternative?” he pointed out.

market2garden: Future trends (15 to 20 years) nowadays are hard to predict as the capitalist world is increasingly complex and unpredictable. Let us (Expert of layman) focus on 5 to 10 years as “long term”. It’s time for world leaders to change the mindset of long term time frame.

Budget 2009 – Fashion Fund (from I-S Magazine)

Source: I-S Magazine Feb 06, 2009 Issue

OK, if we really truly believe that Singapore can be a shopping hub like Hong Kong or Japan, we will need a fund dispersed to all Singaporeans on a regular basis – say, $200 a month. We need to imbue a sartorial pride among our citizens that appearance is important – how else can we support our new shopping malls in Orchard Road when they actually open by year end? Think long term.

market2garden: Yes Yes Yes, especially after Orchard Road just completed the facelift.

Earth Hour Singapore 2009

Earth Hour:
Last Saturday of Every Year – 8.30pm to 9.30pm.
This year: Mar 28, 2009

Earth Hour (Wiki):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Hour
Earth Hour Singapore Effort (Other’s Blog):
http://www.earthhoursingapore.blogspot.com/
Earth Hour (From Esplanade Park) (Other’s Video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pnvHdkzOOc

The objective of this blog entry is to serve as a record. My personal opinion here is immaterial. BTW, what’s your view on Earth Hour?

Wanted: Prison Guards (from I-S Magazine)

Source: I-S Magazine June 20, 2008 Issue

Excerpts only.

The Singapore Prisons Service is seeking a prison guard who:
Knows how to operate the CCTV (and not watch the other kind)
Will not think it’s normal when a prisoner takes a 20-minute toilet break, kidney stone or no kidney stone.

The prospect can look forward to:
An attractive remuneration (including access to the prison dentist) and healthy bonuses upon the peaceful demise of a life-termer.
A gold watch after 25 years of service.

market2garden: Any system that the manpower is overstretched will not sustainable.