Search the Community

http://youtu.be/OAfyY6AAH1A What is this man?? Picking bones in eggs?? AMK central also got 1. Why nobody complain abt dat??

http://mothership.sg/2014/03/nmp-janice-koh-is-right-spore-needs-to-work-on-crafting-exporting-its-soft-power/

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/63889470-post1155.html

Picture speaks a thousand words.

The Chevrolet Volt has become a political punching bag as the Republicans accused the Obama administration of hiding fire risks from the public. In response, General Motors (GM) says that the administration has no seat on the board and no influence over business decisions. The automaker added that its signature electric vehicle got unfairly caught in political crosswinds. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Oversight regulatory subcommittee, said it was disturbing that U.S. safety regulators waited six months to open a formal investigation after their own crash tests uncovered fire risks. He speculated that the administration may have been preserving its own interests as President Barack Obama has heavily promoted electric vehicles like the Volt, and his administration oversaw a U.S. government bailout and bankruptcy restructuring of GM in 2009. GM Chief Executive, Dan Akerson, told the hearing that the Volt got "disproportionate scrutiny" because it became a surrogate for election-year politics and commentary on GM's business and Obama administration policy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation on 25 November 11 into the safety of the Volt's battery pack after its own repeated tests uncovered fire risks. The fires occurred after NHTSA crash tests or other tests where the car's lithium-ion batteries were purposely damaged, and GM has stressed that no "real world" incidents have been reported. General Motors has sold more than 8,000 Volts, including 1,500 in December 2011, its best month so far. Another 6,500 units have been manufactured. All will undergo retrofits to provide better protection for the battery in event of a crash. GM will also take steps to reduce chances of coolant leaks, which can trigger fires.

Lets wait and see. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the son of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew, said Thursday that he does not think that his children will enter politics. "They will have to decide but if you ask me now I think the odds are not on it," he told the Davos meeting of business and political elite. "It's a different generation, it's a new world, there are so many opportunities in Singapore," said Lee. Lee, who has four children, took office as the island state's third prime minister in 2004. His father led Singapore to political independence and economic prosperity during a 31-year run until 1990 as prime minister, and remained in cabinet under his son until last year. Asked what it was like living under his father's shadow, Lee said: "Well, I don't know. I've never not had it. It's tough enough, but you have to live with it." Lee said his illustrious father "had expectations, but he left me to do my own thing. He did not push me into this, and neither would it have worked had he done so." The elder Lee announced his departure from cabinet shortly after the ruling People's Action Party polled its worst results in the 2011 elections. The party lost an unprecedented six seats out of the 87 at stake and its share of the vote fell to an all-time low of 60 percent from nearly 67 percent in the previous election in 2006. http://news.xin.msn.com/en/regional/articl...umentid=5810988

Wat do u think... one-sided?

Really? Hmmm... From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1174686/1/.html No "party politics" when appointing advisers: PA Posted: 04 January 2012 1023 hrs SINGAPORE: The People's Association (PA) said it does not get involved in "party politics" when appointing advisers to grassroots organisations (GROs). It was responding to media queries on whether Mr Anthony Loh, appointed on Tuesday as adviser to the Bedok Reservoir-Punggol grassroots organisations to replace former Foreign Minister George Yeo, will be fielded as a candidate in the next general election. PA said in appointing advisers, it selects the candidate best able to lead the GROs in serving the residents and it looks at three criteria - his ability to do the job, his passion for serving the community, and whether he has the support of grassroots leaders at large. Most importantly, he must also have the willingness to serve. PA said its mission and that of its GROs is to connect people to people; people to government; and government to people. PA and GROs aim to build social capital by bringing people from all backgrounds (across ages, races and estates) together to bond, to promote racial harmony and social cohesion. GROs provide platforms that facilitate interaction amongst residents and neighbours, helping them to deepen friendships, and strengthen mutual trust and support in the community. PA and GROs also help connect people to government, as well as government to people. GROs feedback to government issues that affect people; and GROs disseminate the thinking behind government policies, and why these policies are for the general good of the people. PA and GROs also help to promote government campaigns and implement government social programmes. Grassroots advisers lead and guide the GROs on the work of the PA. They are the link between government and people. - CNA/ck

I would like to propose the above as since some months ago, the political animals or powerhouse forumers have been running all over and affecting the mood of this wonderful forum. To have their dedicated folder will serve many purposes: 1 it will placate those who are not into political bashing and getting damn sick of the antics of those who like to blame everything on government without logic. It is getting very nauseous. 2 those political animals will have a dedicated channel to voice to vent their angle and frustration and find solace and sympathy there. 3 it will be good for housekeeping. By limiting those of same kind into a folder, it will be easy to handle any fallout from trouble with authority. 4 by limiting viewership, as those not into politics will steer clear of the new folder, the 'movement' will not be encouraged due to limited readership. There are young punks who might be misleaded due to the troubling language and attitude used. This is primarily a car forum after all. Those with ulterior motives or agenda should carry their war elsewhere, and not throw their s--t here. Sincerely hope the mod team will accept this proposal to reduce the adversity level here, and enhance the forum ambience.

I believe the WP is just like a new team, just promoted to the EPL from the first division. Will you replace your best defender with a promising new player that has just moved up the ranks of your youth team? Now that WP has clawed their way into the EPL. Is the team manager that confident of avoiding relegation, and look to build a team that can take on the current champs? looking to attract new star players with their attacking style of play. Or should the team manager concentrate on fielding the best experienced player, to ensure that the other teams don

http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElectio...ory_666950.html "AFTER 23 years in politics, Foreign Minister George Yeo is exiting the political scene. He confirmed at a news conference on Tuesday morning that he will not be contesting in Aljunied GRC in the next election." So who will be the next Foreign Minister ? Prof Tommy Koh ?

Press statement by George Yeo on Tuesday, 10 May, 2011 Thank you for waiting a couple of days for me to rest before meeting you. Aljunied voters have decided and I respect their decision. Having committed 23 years of service to the residents, it is only natural for me to feel disappointed but this is politics. It has been my privilege to have served them all these years and they have enriched my life. They have also enabled me to serve in various capacities as a Cabinet Minister in MITA, Health, MTI and MFA for which I am grateful. Why did we lose Aljunied? Mr Low Thia Kiang himself said that they won Aljunied not because the Aljunied team did not do a good job, but because the voters wanted WP to be their voice in Parliament. Mr Low's analysis is fair and I agree with him. This desire for a strong WP voice in parliament was a political tide which came in through Aljunied which we were unable to withstand despite our very best efforts. Right from the start, the Workers party made Aljunied a national battleground. The fight became one between a Workers Party voice in Parliament and an Aljunied team with two miniters, a potential Speaker of Parliament, a potential minister and a most effective Town Council chairman. Though I wish the outcome had been different, Aljunied voters have made their choice. Many of my supporters asked me to stay on to win back Aljunied in five years time. I wanted to level with them and told them last night that if it is better for a younger person to take on this important task. I',m already 57 years old and would be 62 by then. Naturally I would help to ensure a smooth handover. As we ended our campaign on 5 May, I talked about the importance of transforming PAP. This is a belief I've held for some time. It was not something I felt I could say when the campaign started. But , as the campaign went on, as we heard the growing cry from the heart, I decided to make it plain. Like it or not, we are entering a new phase in Singapore's Politic development. How we respond to it will decide Singapore's destiny in the 21st century. I would help in whatever way I can to bring about this transformation of the PAP. I wish I had a mandate from the people of Aljunied to be a strong advocate of such transformation. But I don't. As for remaining in public life, I will contribute in whatever modest way possible. Many young people has stepped froward to help me in this campaign. Ever more have cheered me on. It is not good that so many of them feel alienated from the Singapore they love. I look forward to continue working with them so that the Singapore we struggle for is the Singapore they feel is their own. As to the actual role I can play, I'll be happy to respond to them. In the last few years, I have learnt much from my young friends. Often they led me rather than I led them.Since the GE results came out, there has been a flood of support for me espressed personally, through friends and relatives, on email and, in an astonishing way, on internet and FB. The words expressed are heartfelt. Many wrote me long passages, some in tears. I'm grateful for teh kind words and the good wishes , and will be an advocate of their cause. As for what I'll do professionally after stepping down as Minister when the new Cabinet is sworn in, I'm not rushing to make a decision. My wife and I thought we should take our time to think this over. We also need a break to spend more time with the family. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the people of Singapore for the opportunity of serving them in the last 23 years. Singapore lost a great statesman

87 percent of netizens polled want Lee Kuan Yew to retire from politics Published Wednesday, April 20, 2011 by Singapore Election | In an online poll conducted on the Temasek Review Facebook, 87 percent or 499 out of 574 of the respondents polled do not want Lee Kuan Yew to participate in the coming General Election. The 87 year old Lee has announced his candidacy in Tanjong Pagar GRC lately, sparking a massive uproar among netizens who are yearning to see him

money politics? see the similarity?

FOR 50 years, the PAP has stayed in power because it has delivered progress to the people, its leaders often point out. But Law Minister K. Shanmugam feels younger voters can erode its dominant position should the party fail to convince them that Singapore, more than most countries, needs a strong leadership and a political system that allows for effective and speedy decisions to be made. He gave this warning to his party members in an editorial in the latest People's Action Party bi-monthly magazine, Petir. Mr Shanmugam appears to have his eye on the clock when he issued his word of caution, saying no political party had stayed in power continuously for more than 70 years. The way for the PAP to outlive this record, he feels, is to provide greater political education for Singaporeans, in particular, students. However, he said: 'The education should not trumpet the virtues of any particular system.' Seems like PAP is scared..

just curious.. how do you folks deal with it? take sides or be neutral? join the group or stay alone? be at the winning team or compete as an underdog? respect the chain-of-command or challenge for your voice to be heard? do share your thoughts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PswsQOPW9SA Some parts were quite hilarious

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp.../393623/1/.html REFORMASI

Don't turn elections into auctions S'pore not immune to populist calls to spend more, says PM Lee, on need to protect reserves By Jeremy Au Yong WHEN politicians bid to outdo one another with more and more goodies for voters, expect trouble in paradise. That was the message from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday when he cited Norway and Australia to make a case for protecting Singapore's reserves. In both countries, he said, the populist call for government handouts had coloured local politics. In Australia, the war between its two main political parties prompted newspapers to introduce a 'pork-o-meter' to track the race to offer voters more and more goodies during the last election. In Norway, the clamour was for more money to be taken from a reserve fund meant for the future. Newsweek magazine, in describing the situation, headlined it Trouble In Paradise. Yesterday, PM Lee gave an extensive account of what went on in both countries when he spoke during the debate to amend the Constitution to allow the Government to tap more of the returns from investing the country's reserves. In Norway, the saga began with the discovery of oil in the 1970s. It became rich. In 1990, it started a Petroleum Fund, into which was channelled the sales proceeds from its oil and gas. The reason: It did not want to be left with nothing when the oil wells dried up. Today, the fund has an estimated US$350 billion (S$519 billion). 'Even Norway, famously prudent, with conservative, hard-working, frugal people, finds it difficult to resist a populist push - spend just a little more.' In 2001, Norway's government included some of the fund's money in its budget. Parliament capped the sum at 4 per cent of the value of the fund. 'But once they had set the rules, they broke the rules,' Mr Lee noted. The Norwegian government exceeded the 4 per cent limit from 2002 to 2005, arguing the economy was not doing well and it was thus necessary to spend more. In 2005, they renamed the fund the Government Pension Fund - Global, to remind Norwegians that the money was not to be touched. Spending slipped below the 4 per cent ceiling in 2006 and last year, and that is because oil prices soared. Still, some Norwegians clamoured for more. Said Mr Lee, referring to Newsweek's story: 'This is a country which had everything - oil, gas, welfare state, womb to tomb, all provided for - but still there is an opposition party arguing you should pump more oil and have more profits, improved services and lower taxes. So there is no way you can avoid these pressures.' Elections are due in Norway by next year. 'Then, we will see whether the majority of Norwegians continue to uphold the principle of saving for the future,' Mr Lee added. For Australia, the events played out during last year's election. Then-prime minister John Howard announced a A$34 billion (S$34.3 billion) tax package on the first day of the campaign. Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd responded with a A$31 billion package. Mr Lee said: 'So major newspapers in Australia started to keep track of the cost of campaign promises. They called it a pork-o-meter. So as you put in more, the dacing (weighing scale in Malay) goes up.' In the end, Mr Howard's promises hit A$65 billion and Mr Rudd's, A$56 billion. 'Finally, the election was not decided on the pork-o-meter. The people wanted a change...and they chose Kevin Rudd.' In telling these stories, Mr Lee stressed he was not out to criticise others but to show the nature of election politics, to which Singapore was not immune. 'We too, face the reality of election politics. Opposition parties often demand the Government spend more, particularly near election time. They never ask where the money will come from, least of all do they explain where the money for their programmes will come from at election time.' Mr Lee added: 'Therefore, we have to take extra care to safeguard our reserves for the future, to frame the rules to prevent our elections from becoming auctions. Therefore, we need to put in place a system that will subject the Government to tight fiscal discipline regardless of which party is in power.' [email protected] LUP, NSS, GST credits anyone? "buy votes, fix oppositions?" hehehehe seems to me they dont really know what they are saying...

After reading this, do you still have confidence in either potential president? it seems like we are going to get s c r e w e d over and over again 3 men who brought down Wall Street..now advisors to Obama The 3 men who brought down Wall Street is now working for Obama as Advisors Here is a quick look into 3 former Fannie Mae executives who have brought down Wall Street. Franklin Raines was a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Fannie Mae. Raines was forced to retire from his position with Fannie Mae when auditing discovered severe irregulaties in Fannie Mae's accounting activities. At the time of his departure The Wall Street Journal noted, " Raines, who long defended the company's accounting despite mounting evidence that it wasn't proper, issued a statement late Tuesday conceding that "mistakes were made" and saying he would assume responsibility as he had earlier promised. News reports indicate the company was under growing pressure from regulators to shake up its management in the wake of findings that the company's books ran afoul of generally accepted accounting principles for four years." Fannie Mae had to reduce its surplus by $9 billion. Raines left with a "golden parachute valued at $240 Million in benefits. The Government filed suit against Raines when the depth of the accounting scandal became clear. http://housingdoom.com/2006/12/18/fannie-charges/ .. The Government noted, "The 101 charges reveal how the individuals improperly manipulated earnings to maximize their bonuses, while knowingly neglecting accounting systems and internal controls, misapplying over twenty accounting principles and misleading the regulator and the public. The Notice explains how they submitted six years of misleading and inaccurate accounting statements and inaccurate capital reports that enabled them to grow Fannie Mae in an unsafe and unsound manner." These charges were made in 2006. The Court ordered Raines to return $50 Million Dollars he received in bonuses based on the miss-stated Fannie Mae profits. Tim Howard - Was the Chief Financial Officer of Fannie Mae. Howard "was a strong internal proponent of using accounting strategies that would ensure a "stable pattern of earnings" at Fannie. In everyday English - he was cooking the books. The Government Investigation determined that, "Chief Financial Officer, Tim Howard, failed to provide adequate oversight to key control and reporting functions within Fannie Mae," On June 16, 2006, Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., asked the Justice Department to investigate his allegations that two former Fannie Mae executives lied to Congress in October 2004 when theydenied manipulating the mortgage-finance giant's income statement to achieve management pay bonuses. Investigations by federal regulators and the company's board of directors since concluded that management did manipulate 1998 earnings to trigger bonuses. Raines and Howard resigned under pressure in late 2004. Howard's Golden Parachute was estimated at $20 Million! Jim Johnson - A former executive at Lehman Brothers and who was later forced from his position as Fannie Mae CEO. A look at the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's May 2006 report on mismanagement and corruption inside Fannie Mae, and you'll see some interesting things about Johnson. Investigators found that Fannie Mae had hidden a substantial amount of Johnson's 1998 compensation from the public, reporting that it was between $6 million and $7 million when it fact it was $21 million." Johnson is currently under investigation for taking illegal loans from Countrywide while serving as CEO of Fannie Mae. Johnson's Golden Parachute was estimated at $28 Million. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? FRANKLIN RAINES? Raines works for the Obama Campaign as Chief Economic Advisor TIM HOWARD? Howard is also a Chief Economic Advisor to Obama JIM JOHNSON? Johnson hired as a Senior Obama Finance Advisor and was selected to run Obama's Vice Presidential Search Committee IF OBAMA PLANS ON CLEANING UP THE MESS - HIS ADVISORS HAVE THE EXPERTISE - THEY MADE THE MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. Would you trust the men who tore Wall Street down to build the New Wall Street ?

The political problems faced by many countries in Asia can be traced back to two words: Money politics. ADVERTISEMENT And the reason such troubles have not taken root here? There is no

Business Times - 15 Apr 2008 China consumers urged to boycott French goods France may be first to feel backlash of Olympic protests (HONG KONG) Chinese consumers are being urged to boycott French products, as activists rally the world's most populous nation to retaliate against last week's disruption of the Olympic torch relay. Consumers are being asked to stop shopping at Carrefour SA, the largest French supermarket operator, and to stop buying luxury goods made by Christian Dior SA and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, according to short messages circulated on cellular phones and Chinese Internet blog sites for a week. 'If you believe you still love your country, please don't shop at Carrefour' between May 8 and 24, one of the messages said in Chinese. 'Show them the power of the Chinese people. I hope you will mobilise your friends.' A return call to the cellular phone went unanswered. France may be the first country to feel the backlash in the world's fastest-growing major economy, after pro-Tibetan protesters on April 7 disrupted a relay of the Olympic torch through Paris, forcing the flame to be extinguished. Chinese consumers are also dismayed that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has refused to rule out a possible boycott of the Aug 8 Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing. China is facing international criticism for its crackdown in Tibet in response to last month's riots in the capital, Lhasa, and neighbouring provinces - the most serious protests in 20 years. The crackdown in Tibet and its links to the government of Sudan led protesters in London, Paris and San Francisco to seek to disrupt the flame's 137,000-km, 21-city tour. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge called the protests a crisis, adding that the IOC had weathered bigger storms. He said that the 1972 Munich games, in which he was an athlete, were 'the biggest crisis ever' for the IOC. -- Bloomberg

A little boy goes to his dad and asks, 'What is Politics?' Dad says, 'Well son, let me try to explain it this way: I am the head of the family, so call me The President. Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her, the Government. We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you, the People. The nanny, we will consider her, the Working Class. And your baby brother, we will call him, the Future. Now think about that and see if it makes sense.' So, the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So, the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy say's to his father, 'Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now.' The father says, 'Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.' The little boy replies, 'The President is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep sxxt

Morning all, just for your coming weekends rejuvenation......... A son asked his father : "Dad, what is politics ?