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It is easy for you and stand on high moral grounds when you are born with a silver spoon medicine is not just a careet but a calling perhaps Dr Lee you should educate your family members first politicians are public servant and be accountable NOT being paid the hightest in the world when the countries population is only 4+ million poor soul politic is also not just a carrer but a calling too politicians can shape the country and determine how our society will eventually become we become so materialistic is because of the policies and so on justify this politician a public servant (person who serves the citizens) are earning thousand times the mean salary of the average job Practicing medicine is no longer simple you allow all sorts of FT doctors into our country and some dont even speak english hire some like the one in TTSH, unethical research and etc never heard of it happening to a local speak to your family doctor and you know what I mean http://www.asiaone.com/Business/Office/Hot...209-106550.html Medicine is not just a career, but a calling By Lee Wei Ling I have always felt keenly the suffering of animals. Since I was a child, I had wanted to be a vet. My parents persuaded me to abandon that idea by using the example of a vet whose university education was funded by the Public Service Commission. When he returned to Singapore, he was posted to serve his bond at the abattoirs. That was enough to persuade me to select my second career choice - a doctor. I have never regretted that decision. There are still many diseases for which medical science has no cure, and this is especially true of neurological diseases because nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord do not usually regenerate. Hence, a significant percentage of patients seeing neurologists, of which I am one, cannot be cured. But as in all areas of medicine, we still try our best for the patient, 'to cure, sometimes; to relieve, often; to comfort, always'. An example is a 70-year-old woman who sees me for her epilepsy. Her husband has taken a China mistress whom he has brought back to his marital home. He wants my patient to sell her 50 per cent ownership of their HDB flat and move out. Her children side with the husband because he is the one with the money and assets to will to them. When this patient comes, I always greet her with a big smile and compliment her on her cheongsam. She will tell me she sewed it herself, and I will praise her for her skill. Then I ask her whether she has had any seizures since the last time she saw me. She sees me at yearly intervals, and usually, she will have had none. Next, I ask her how she is coping at home. She would say she just ignores her husband and his mistress. I would give her a thumbs-up in reply, then ask her whether she still goes to watch Chinese operas. She would say yes. By then, I would have prepared her prescription. I hand it to her, pat her on her back and she would walk out with a smile on her face, back straight and a spring in her step. It takes me only five minutes to do the above. I can control but not cure her epilepsy. But I have cheered her up for the day. One very special patient, Jac, has idiopathic severe generalised torsion dystonia. By the age of 11, she was as twisted as a pretzel and barely able to speak intelligibly. She did well in the Primary School Leaving Examination, but was a few points short of the score needed for an external student to be accepted by Methodist Girls' School (MGS). I had done fund-raising for MGS prior to this and knew the principal. I phoned her and explained Jac's disease as well as her determination and diligence. I told the principal that the nurturing environment of MGS would be good for Jac, and that it would be a good lesson for the other students in MGS to learn to interact with a peer with disability. At the end of Secondary 2, Jac mailed me a book and a typed letter. The book was a collection of Chinese essays by students in MGS. There were two essays by Jac. In addition, she had topped the entire Secondary 1 and, subsequently, Secondary 2 in Chinese. She was second in the entire Secondary 2 for Chemistry. She was happy at MGS, and her peers accepted her and helped wheel her around in her wheelchair. Medication merely gave Jac some degree of pain relief from her dystonia. Being admitted to MGS gave her the opportunity to enjoy school and thrive in it. I was walking on clouds for the next few hours after I received the book and letter. Jac showed that an indomitable human spirit can triumph over a severe physical disability. As a doctor, I am not just handling a medical problem but the entire patient, including her education and social life. I have been practising medicine for 30 years now. Over this period, medical science has advanced tremendously, but the values held by the medical community seem to have changed for the worse. Yearning and working for money is more widely and openly practised; and sometimes this is perceived as acceptable behaviour, though our moral instinct tells us otherwise. Most normal humans have a moral instinct that can clearly distinguish between right and wrong. But we are more likely to excuse our own wrongdoing if there are others who are doing the same and getting away with it. These doctors who profit unfairly from their patients know they are doing wrong. But if A, B and C are doing wrong - and X, Y and Z too - then I need not be ashamed of doing the same. Medical students who see this behaviour being tacitly condoned will tend to lower their own moral standards. Instead of putting patients' welfare first, they will enrich themselves first. The most important trait a doctor needs is empathy. If we can feel our patient's pain and suffering, we would certainly do our best by our patients and their welfare would override everything else. Medicine is not just a prestigious, profitable career - it is a calling. Being a doctor will guarantee almost anyone a decent standard of living. How much money we need for a decent standard of living varies from individual to individual. My needs are simple and I live a spartan life. I choose to practise in the public sector because I want to serve all patients without needing to consider whether they can pay my fees. I try not to judge others who demand an expensive lifestyle and treat patients mainly as a source of income. But when the greed is too overwhelming, I cannot help but point out that such behaviour is unethical. The biggest challenge facing medicine in Singapore today is the struggle between two incentives that drive doctors in opposite directions: the humanitarian, ethical, compassionate drive to do the best by all patients versus the cold, calculating attitude that seeks to profit from as many patients as possible. Hopefully, the first will triumph. Doctors do have families to support. Needing and wanting money is not wrong. But doctors must never allow greed to determine their actions. I think if a fair system of pricing medical fees - such that doctors can earn what they deserve but not profit too much from patients - can be implemented, this problem will be much reduced. The Guideline of Fees, which previously was in effect, was dropped last year. I am trying to revive it as soon as possible. The writer is director of the National Neuroscience Institute.

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews...629-151644.html Dog's hind leg chopped off Graphic pictures of a dog with its hind leg severed have been posted on citizen journalism website, STOMP. The mongrel, named Kiwi, is possibly a victim of animal abuse. It was rescued by STOMPer Wendy, with its hind paw severed and its leg stripped of flesh and skin, leaving its bone clearly exposed. Wendy said: "A couple of stray dogs have been rescued recently with unimaginable injuries. "You may feel uncomfortable looking at them, but this is what really happened to our fellow local dogs in Singapore. "Being strays are never easy, it is even worse if there are such losers out there, targeting at these helpless animals. "We call this girl Kiwi. "No one could imagine the ordeal this helpless girl has to go through." Ms Deidre Moss of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), told The Straits Times that its vet had looked at the pictures, but could not ascertain the cause of the dog's injury. Ms Moss said it could have been a fracture due to a road accident. Other possible causes could be abuse. "Now we just hope that Kiwi can survive this hell."

If the flu situation get worse, whats mindef stand for Nsmen? How would they monitor or reduce the spread of h1n1 from nsmen coming back for ICT, IPPT, RT and IPT? I think they sld give nsmen a break..cancel all activities. what do you think?

At 12pm++...standing at the AMK Hub taxi stand waiting...there was a violent commotion!A taxi was stationary at the yellow box waiting for passengers to board the taxi.There came a Golden Coloured Volvo S60.When the kid of the Volvo S60 fling open the door so swiftly,it slammed onto the taxi beside it,causing a dent onto the taxi.The driver was a lady,presuming its the mum of the kid.The guy,whom I think is the husband came charging out of the car hurling vulgarities at the taxi driver.This was what he shouted. "Hey you f****r,i'm a lawyer you know" He continued a series of compiled vulgarities,like combo!The taxi driver also retaliated back with hokkien power.WTF!The 2 cars were side by side,causing a big jam as they were blocking the whole road.The "lawyer" refused to move his volvo despite people whacking their horns!The ambulance and police arrived after quite some time.After the police confronted with the "lawyer",then he moved his volvo to the side. The taxi din even do anything!Waiting there for passenger also kena this kind of thing.Wad a unlucky day for him. One passerby even scolded the lady driver,saying the volvo is in the wrong. What on earth,sg have a "lawyer" like him?Being loaded and a "lawyer" gives you the right to hurl vulgarities at people? Anyone here saw the commotion too? Golden Volvo...SFX 66**

http://www.asiaone.com/Digital/News/Story/...1029-96970.html Anybody want to earn a quick $5000 No one willing to be Steven Lim's girlfriend even for $5,000 Controversial Singaporean blogger Steven Lim posted a message on his site offering $5,000 to anyone who wants to be his girlfriend, but has yet to get a single reply after 19 days, local Chinese daily Shin Min Daily News reported. According to Shin Min, Steven Lim, 32, posted the message on October 9 telling visitors to his site that he was looking for a girlfriend. Interested parties should submit their photos via email, or send him and SMS. The selected 'candidate' will then be rewarded with $5,000 in cash. He also uploaded a video to his post, in which a couple was shown kissing and hugging each other. A message flashed across the screen at the end of the clip, "Wah... so sweet!!! I also want a girlfriend!!! CASH REWARD: $5,000 for successful applicant." When Shin Min interviewed Lim, he told the Chinese paper that the video and post were uploaded on October 9, but has received no applications or queries as of October 28. Lim told Shin Min that the lack of a response to his ad does not bother him, "It's really all for fun. I'm just trying it out to see what kind of a reaction I'll get from this." "Actually the couple in the video recording are really just models from my modeling agency. The video was done to promote them and create further awareness of their talents." "If I eventually receive an application, I will definitely give that girl the promised $5,000 cash prize. It's not as if this amount of money means a lot to me!", Lim told Shin Min. He also told Shin Min that he used to know a number of Netizens through his blog, and will chat with them on a regular basis. However, the number of friends on his chat list has dwindled since he uploaded the clip with a message seeking a girlfriend. Lim said, "Maybe they were worried that I'll be mistaken that they are chatting to me just for the money." Steven Lim claims on his blog that he is the "world's most handsome guy" and also claims to be the "shareholder of seven big public-listed companies". He describes himself as a very adorable person and that any girl who will be with him is guaranteed to be very happy. He also listed some requirements for his prospective girlfriend-to-be, stating that she must be "pretty, nice, faithful, gorgeous and rich". He also wrote that he does not care if the other party is "black, white or orange" and will accept her as long as she is willing to adopt him.

Was at Golden Mile for my morning breakfast. Parked at Beach Road Blk 13 car park. Saw this situation at the carpark. The picture tells a thousand words. A brand new CNG car somemore! I do not know what happen. Did not witness it. Took the pictures to warn people & myself to always be cautious near carpark ramps.

I was in the process of applying for something important. Then, one part of the application required a guarantor for an amount of somehere 70,000 sgd. I had an unpleasant shock... because the staff in charge didn't inform me of that and gave me only like 3 days to find a guarantor for that amount. So, I checked out my phone list to find someone. One cousin agreed to be my guarantor. But, on that evening before the day we went down to the office, she backed out and excused herself due to last min recall from office. Another friend didn't reply my sms once I asked him if he could be guarantor. It was a frantic search.... then finally I stopped... because I realised that when I needed help, many people don't seem to be there. It seem like people are no longer as helpful. When u need help, they are somehow unavailable. When times are good, they appear. I needed help badly and also because the application was for something very impt (shall not elaborate what it is). My point in this thread is, have a look at who are your real good friends when you are in sh*t, because during good times you will never be able to see their true colors. You cannot tell who you can depend, until sh*t happens. Be wise and be generous only to those who willingly stand by you. Its true also, people look after their a$$ first... then their buddies. So look after your own a$$ 1st, even if your buddy is in sh*t.

Written by ED on June 8, 2008

Come fellow bros and make our stand felt,let Caltex feel the difference.

PM warns of talent loss, leaving no 'central core' to lead S'pore Country therefore needs to draw in foreign talent, encourage overseas citizens to return By Lydia Lim, Senior Political Correspondent HONORARY CAP: PM Lee receiving a London School of Economics cap from LSE director Howard Davies (right) at the LSE Asia Forum. With them is the chairman of the LSE Court of Governors Peter Sutherland. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN SINGAPOREANS are the ones who will suffer if the current outflow of talent leaves the society bereft of 'a central core' that can lead the country forward, the Prime Minister warned yesterday. It is the third time Mr Lee Hsien Loong has expressed his concern over the loss of talent since the Cabinet reshuffle two weeks ago. He was speaking at the fourth London School of Economics (LSE) Asia Forum, which saw top minds from Britain and Asia engage in a robust debate on the best and worst aspects of today's knowledge economy. The PM identified the loss of talent as one of three major challenges facing small, open societies such as Singapore in this era of global talent and information flows. 'To do well, a country needs a core of its ablest citizens, those with both the intellectual and social acumen to play leadership roles in the economy, the administration and the political leadership. 'Without that central core to take the country forward, the society cannot perform to its full potential, and the citizens will suffer,' he said. NEED FOR ABLEST TO LEAD 'To do well, a country needs a core of its ablest citizens, those with both the intellectual and social acumen to play leadership roles in the economy, the administration and the political leadership. Without that central core to take the country forward, the society cannot perform to its full potential, and the citizens will suffer.' - PM LEE But, Mr Lee said, Singapore must accept such talent flows as a reality, draw in foreign talent and encourage its citizens who study and work abroad to return home. He also highlighted two other challenges for societies in the knowledge age, in his speech to 600 LSE alumni, civil servants, academics and executives attending The Politics Of Knowledge forum. The LSE hosted it with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. The first challenge is the unequal distribution of economic benefits, with the lion's share going to those with the right skills and abilities. The second is the instant transmission through the Internet of unfiltered, raw information or misinformation, with their potential to spread extremist views, stoke religious hatred and lower the level of public debate to one in which emotion rather than reason prevails. Following his speech, the discussion shifted to the trade-offs in the economic sphere when Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, an LSE alumnus, chaired a session on how knowledge drives growth. Professor Danny Quah, head of LSE's economics department, gave an upbeat assessment of Asia's progress in the decade since the 1997 financial crisis. He highlighted how growth across Asia has rebounded, lifting half a billion people out of poverty. 'Asia continues to pull east the world's centre of gravity,' Prof Quah said. Mr Tharman noted that one area where Asia has not recovered is in the rate of fixed investments in productive areas. Part of the problem may lie in the constraints some countries face in building the institutions their societies need to assimilate knowledge from abroad as quickly as possible, he said. Acting chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board Timothy Ong said there remains much unfinished business because of the huge gap - in incomes, output and knowledge capabilities - between Asia's high-performing economies and the rest. Prof Quah later said there was a trade-off between growth and income disparity. China's income gap, for example, has widened considerably as its growth rate soars. But the income inequality between rich and poor countries 'completely dwarfs' the gap that exists between rich and poor people within countries, Prof Quah said. The top 1 per cent in the world earn as much as the bottom 57 per cent. 'That kind of disparity you will be able to get rid of only through economic growth at the bottom of the world distribution of countries. That's exactly what I think can be achieved through knowledge and productivity,' he added. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saw this article on straitstimes, Singapore losing own talents and foreigner comes in to replace the loss. Did singaporeans leave the country to work/live in another foregin land, just because the conditions in homeland singapore is not favorable enough? Or being rejected, and sees no opportunity in Singapore to grow oneself at all?? Wat you guys think of this?

enjoy hossan Kumar Dick Lee on the dragon family

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldN...30208120071029 Singapore man sues woman for passing herpes -paper Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:08am SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A Singapore man has sued a woman for more than S$300,000 ($206,600) after he accused her of infecting him with the sexually transmitted herpes disease, local media said. The Straits Times said the 35-year-old man is seeking compensation for medical bills and time lost from work because the infection had caused him "frequent and recurring pain" that would need continued medical treatment. The man said the woman had told him she was "clean" before they had sex, according to the paper. He stopped seeing her after a month when he was diagnosed with the disease. ------------ haiz.. must say how many times... use Apollo. now comes in cikku and balonglong favor.

Hi Guys, Anyone here using this mirror stand? I got it a week ago and noticed that the suction on one of the rubbers does not seem to hold as it will loosen after a few hours. Thinking that it was the rubber problem, I went to exchange it for another set and it still has the same problems.. Anyone knows anyway I can solve it? The sales gal actually told me to soak it in hot water first. Any logic to this? Thanks!

Background: Brought my car for servicing and informed them that I'll be going on a roadtrip. When I collected my car, was told that the battery should be replaced but they hadn't done it cos they don't have my battery size. I drive a suzuki ignis. So yesterday drop by a petrol station and the mechanic recommended changing to a bigger and maintenance free type battery. He said no difference and maintenance free better. Also, the base-plate for the battery is bigger than the original battery so no problem. So I said ok. Asked a friend just now and he said that AA had told him that you should use back the same battery. I called suzuki and the lady said, can change if it is NS60 or NS40. Anybody got an idea what NS stands for? Also, I checked my receipt for the batt and it's stated as NS60L. NS60L and NS60 the same thing? My original battery is smaller than the new one. Anybody knows why if the car can take a bigger battery, the manufacturer didn't just rquip it with one? I'm leaving for m'sia early tomorrow morning so won't be able to respond but will visit the forum when I'm back to thanks in advance to any kind and knowledgeable soul who can enlighten blur me :p Kam sia...

Some of the VAG cars have a red T for the 1.8T or 2.0T engines. Does anyone know what's the significance? Have searched a couple of forums, there doesn't seem to be a consistent answer to it. Some say "Sports package", some say it's random from year to year etc..

Hi guys, My friend has a Toyota Axio and it comes with a factory fitted touch screen LCD monitor in the center console. He is toying with the idea of an aftermarket GPS which can be connector to the touch screen LCD, are there any stand alone GPS modules availiable? He has a preference for one which uses a Garmin map as its FOC from malsing. Thanks

All MCFers, I start this thread anew bcos I want to hv a focused discussion. Think many of us had enuf of Sh$t from these arse-hols. Tinted windows, unstamped passports, etc etc. Now what can we do. How about installing some camera device in our cars or such to video some of their actions with audio conversation. And then post them worldwide.

Subscription promotions and special deals at SPL! magazine booth 4H-56 this weekend. Deals also apply to existing subscribers.

Alfa gurus and alfisti, what does A.L.F.A means leh ?

Hi , any Kalos owners around ? Heard there wont be anymore in production under GM Deawoo Kalos , it now be know as Chevy Aveo. Anyone seen the Aveo on road??? Looking the first badges owners of Kalos cause i'm in the last badge category, maybe can give feedback on what to expect later ei. milage, service cost ect. Cheer

Anyone knows what's LTA's stand on this? Especially in light of their revised conditions on mods....