My dear friend Ms K
told me that there is
a specialised store
at Vivio City
that sells organic food.
A carton of milk $12.
Just how the hell fuck
can a carton of organic milk
cost 3 times more than normal???
I understand the clamour
for organic food.
In the age of mad cow diseases,
bird flu, hand foot and mouth diseases,
the food you eat
that is supposed to nourish
can actually kill you.
I also understand
that it costs more
to farm crops organically.
Without the use of chemical pesticides
and fertilizers,
it would naturally lead
to the lowering of
harvest yields.
Also without the use of preservatives
will lead
to shorter shelf life too.
But can a carton of organic milk
cost 3 times more???
Mathematically, it simply
does not add up.
I'm sure the cost
of raw food
at supermarkets
is probably a minor component
of total costs that a consumer pays.
Let's have a hypothetical breakdown
of supermarket costs of raw food.
Say,
raw food 20%
rental 30%
staff 20%
marketing 20%
transport 10%
TOTAL 100%
Now,
for organic foods on the shelf,
except for raw food,
all other costs should
remain about the same.
So to solve for 3 times increase
in price, the numbers look like this
raw food 220%
rental 30%
staff 20%
marketing 20%
transport 10%
TOTAL 300%
Does it make sense that
the cost of organic food
is 11 times more (220/20) ???
Just who is bullshitting who???
How much of that $12 per carton
of organic milk,
actually goes to the farmer???
I'm sure as hell,
not 11 times more.
The more obvious answer,
is the retailer
is making a killing
from organic food
by promoting scare tactics.
I don't think my hypothetical numbers
are that far off reality.
20061025
20061024
2325 hrs October 24th 2006
I was just thinking
about traffic congestion
in Swingabore.
As much as we love to think
we are better
than other 3rd world countries,
whenever I'm stuck
in a traffic jam,
it reminds me
of Bangkok
or Jakarta.
Well done, Swingabore government.
After charging hefty COEs
silly ERPs
you achieved
no better
than the Thais
and the Indonesians.
COEs don't work.
Because people want
to buy cars anyway.
Cars are important
in our social status seeking society.
I admit, cars are crucial
when you have kids.
Cars are useful
when you carry heavy groceries.
But for most people,
we do not need cars
to go to work,
or send children to school.
Cars do not pollute the environment,
nor cause congestion.
Driving cars pollute the environment
and cause congestion.
Forget the COEs
forget the ERPs.
Let people buy cars
let people drive into the CBD zone.
I suggest putting a microchip
in each car
which is linked to a global positioning system.
Charge the driver,
only when he uses his car.
Charge him a premium,
at certain busy times
of the day,
charge him lesser
on weekends or evenings.
But charge him only
when he is on the road,
not when his car is parked.
Refund all COEs.
Let people buy cars.
Dismantle the silly looking
ERP ganteries.
ERPs do not work
because when you need to go
into the CBD,
there are hardly any other
alternative the government
provides anyway.
COEs don't work
because people want
to own a car.
Charging a COE
is like having a cover charge
to a buffer dinner.
Once a person pays
his cover charge
if he does not care
about his figure,
he will gorge himself
who can blame him?
Afterall, he has paid
the upfront cover charge,
like COE.
But if a diner
have to pay
for every single piece of food
he picks up,
you will see a different behaviour.
Just observe people
at hawker centre economy rice stalls.
Once he has to pay for every food,
you see him ordering at most 2 meats
and 2 vegetables.
I believe that is
the order of nature.
Making drivers pay
everytime they use
the road
instead of an upfront cover charge
will make drivers think twice.
And of course,
the alternative modes of transport
must be viable too,
namely increasing
the frequency of MRT trains,
which I find disgraceful
for a so called
world class transport system.
Lastly, how much to charge
per usuage of the roads?
I reckon about 50% to 100% higher
than taxi fares.
So unless absolutely necessary,
a driver will probably take a taxi
than add another car
on the road
about traffic congestion
in Swingabore.
As much as we love to think
we are better
than other 3rd world countries,
whenever I'm stuck
in a traffic jam,
it reminds me
of Bangkok
or Jakarta.
Well done, Swingabore government.
After charging hefty COEs
silly ERPs
you achieved
no better
than the Thais
and the Indonesians.
COEs don't work.
Because people want
to buy cars anyway.
Cars are important
in our social status seeking society.
I admit, cars are crucial
when you have kids.
Cars are useful
when you carry heavy groceries.
But for most people,
we do not need cars
to go to work,
or send children to school.
Cars do not pollute the environment,
nor cause congestion.
Driving cars pollute the environment
and cause congestion.
Forget the COEs
forget the ERPs.
Let people buy cars
let people drive into the CBD zone.
I suggest putting a microchip
in each car
which is linked to a global positioning system.
Charge the driver,
only when he uses his car.
Charge him a premium,
at certain busy times
of the day,
charge him lesser
on weekends or evenings.
But charge him only
when he is on the road,
not when his car is parked.
Refund all COEs.
Let people buy cars.
Dismantle the silly looking
ERP ganteries.
ERPs do not work
because when you need to go
into the CBD,
there are hardly any other
alternative the government
provides anyway.
COEs don't work
because people want
to own a car.
Charging a COE
is like having a cover charge
to a buffer dinner.
Once a person pays
his cover charge
if he does not care
about his figure,
he will gorge himself
who can blame him?
Afterall, he has paid
the upfront cover charge,
like COE.
But if a diner
have to pay
for every single piece of food
he picks up,
you will see a different behaviour.
Just observe people
at hawker centre economy rice stalls.
Once he has to pay for every food,
you see him ordering at most 2 meats
and 2 vegetables.
I believe that is
the order of nature.
Making drivers pay
everytime they use
the road
instead of an upfront cover charge
will make drivers think twice.
And of course,
the alternative modes of transport
must be viable too,
namely increasing
the frequency of MRT trains,
which I find disgraceful
for a so called
world class transport system.
Lastly, how much to charge
per usuage of the roads?
I reckon about 50% to 100% higher
than taxi fares.
So unless absolutely necessary,
a driver will probably take a taxi
than add another car
on the road
20061020
1900 hrs October 20th 2006
I just knew
someone will rebutt
my previous post
on the haze
and Singapore's money laundering.
True,
I agree with you.
These are two separate issues
and rightfully mutually exclusive
from one another.
But politicians
are ALWAYS linking
separate issues.
Look at Malaysia.
What the hell does
Singapore's supply of water
from Johore
have anything at all
to do with the
customs, excise and quarantine department
in Woodlands?
You tell me.
And I tell you,
its all political
one uppance.
People are naturally proned
to linking separate issues.
Women are particularly good
at that.
Everytime there is a quarrel
with a boyfriend or husband,
invariably
something from the past
totally unrelated
to the current issue
gets brought up
and fought over.
ALWAYS.
Ultimately,
you fight over issues
that has absolutely nothing
to do with the current.
You asked me for proof
of Singapore's money laundering?
I don't have an exhautive list,
other than what's recent
on Indonesian papers.
Bambang Sutrisno US$162 million
Sudjiono Timan US$120 million
Pauline Lumowa US$184 million
They're living in expensive
penthouses
in Orchard Road.
There's a lot more but
guess you won't read
about them
in Shit Times.
someone will rebutt
my previous post
on the haze
and Singapore's money laundering.
True,
I agree with you.
These are two separate issues
and rightfully mutually exclusive
from one another.
But politicians
are ALWAYS linking
separate issues.
Look at Malaysia.
What the hell does
Singapore's supply of water
from Johore
have anything at all
to do with the
customs, excise and quarantine department
in Woodlands?
You tell me.
And I tell you,
its all political
one uppance.
People are naturally proned
to linking separate issues.
Women are particularly good
at that.
Everytime there is a quarrel
with a boyfriend or husband,
invariably
something from the past
totally unrelated
to the current issue
gets brought up
and fought over.
ALWAYS.
Ultimately,
you fight over issues
that has absolutely nothing
to do with the current.
You asked me for proof
of Singapore's money laundering?
I don't have an exhautive list,
other than what's recent
on Indonesian papers.
Bambang Sutrisno US$162 million
Sudjiono Timan US$120 million
Pauline Lumowa US$184 million
They're living in expensive
penthouses
in Orchard Road.
There's a lot more but
guess you won't read
about them
in Shit Times.
20061016
0845 hrs October 16th 2006
Cough cough
Its the haze again
and its getting worse.
These days
when I look out
of my office window,
I only see a dense blanket
of brown smog
and vaguely the Esplanade
in the background.
If you read the Shit Times
you'd actually believe
that the Indonesians
are bastards.
That the businessmen community
bribed government officials
to turn a blind eye
and let them slash and burn
primary forests
with wanton indiscretion.
You hear Singaporean politicians
giving lectures
on the rule of law
and law enforcement.
Just who the hell fuck
are we to give lectures
to the Indonesians
about the rule of law ???
For years,
Singapore is a haven
for Indonesian criminals
who embezzled and cheated
hundreds of millions of dollars.
These Indonesian crooks
stole what amounts to BILLIONS
in total
and ran away
to this safe hiding place
who welcome stolen money
with open arms.
Singapore welcomes money,
lots of money,
any kind of money,
clean money, dirty money
we don't care.
We just want money,
lots of money.
These Indonesian criminals
ran to Singapore
with their stolen money
move their families here,
buy properties
put the money in banks
shop for LV at Orchard Road.
For years, the Indonesian government
begged the Singapore government
to sign an extradition treaty
so these criminals
can be extradited
and their stolen assets seized.
But we basically said
FUCK YOU
to them.
Now with the haze,
we actually think
we have the moral authority
to lecture Indonesia
on the rule of law,
when we're a sanctuary
for their stolen goods
and criminals.
And as for these criminals
snapping up top end houses
in Sentosa Cove,
the Indonesians say,
Hey! Long time no see!!!
We miss you so much that,
We're sending you something
from home!!!
Its the haze again
and its getting worse.
These days
when I look out
of my office window,
I only see a dense blanket
of brown smog
and vaguely the Esplanade
in the background.
If you read the Shit Times
you'd actually believe
that the Indonesians
are bastards.
That the businessmen community
bribed government officials
to turn a blind eye
and let them slash and burn
primary forests
with wanton indiscretion.
You hear Singaporean politicians
giving lectures
on the rule of law
and law enforcement.
Just who the hell fuck
are we to give lectures
to the Indonesians
about the rule of law ???
For years,
Singapore is a haven
for Indonesian criminals
who embezzled and cheated
hundreds of millions of dollars.
These Indonesian crooks
stole what amounts to BILLIONS
in total
and ran away
to this safe hiding place
who welcome stolen money
with open arms.
Singapore welcomes money,
lots of money,
any kind of money,
clean money, dirty money
we don't care.
We just want money,
lots of money.
These Indonesian criminals
ran to Singapore
with their stolen money
move their families here,
buy properties
put the money in banks
shop for LV at Orchard Road.
For years, the Indonesian government
begged the Singapore government
to sign an extradition treaty
so these criminals
can be extradited
and their stolen assets seized.
But we basically said
FUCK YOU
to them.
Now with the haze,
we actually think
we have the moral authority
to lecture Indonesia
on the rule of law,
when we're a sanctuary
for their stolen goods
and criminals.
And as for these criminals
snapping up top end houses
in Sentosa Cove,
the Indonesians say,
Hey! Long time no see!!!
We miss you so much that,
We're sending you something
from home!!!
20061010
1320 hrs October 10th 2006
Wow,
its been almost a month
since I last blogged.
I've been so damned busy.
Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur,
Dalian and Jakarta.
Not so bad
for someone
who really hates flying.
I left my handphone
in Jakarta.
Maybe I did it on purpose
subconsciously.
I don't know
if the problem is with me
or people around me.
Somehow,
people call me
only when there is
a problem.
I've reached a stage
when I get a shock
and coil in dreaded anxiety
everytime the phone rings.
And on my birthday,
the person whom I wished
above and beyond all others
to call
did not call.
Fuck it,
no more handphones
for me.
My life was much simplier
before they invented handphones.
People use handphones
to call me because
they won't handle
the problems themselves.
Thence
from now on,
if you can't get me
too fucking bad
deal with it yourself.
I'm tired
too fucking tired.
And oh,
no house phones either.
its been almost a month
since I last blogged.
I've been so damned busy.
Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur,
Dalian and Jakarta.
Not so bad
for someone
who really hates flying.
I left my handphone
in Jakarta.
Maybe I did it on purpose
subconsciously.
I don't know
if the problem is with me
or people around me.
Somehow,
people call me
only when there is
a problem.
I've reached a stage
when I get a shock
and coil in dreaded anxiety
everytime the phone rings.
And on my birthday,
the person whom I wished
above and beyond all others
to call
did not call.
Fuck it,
no more handphones
for me.
My life was much simplier
before they invented handphones.
People use handphones
to call me because
they won't handle
the problems themselves.
Thence
from now on,
if you can't get me
too fucking bad
deal with it yourself.
I'm tired
too fucking tired.
And oh,
no house phones either.
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