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Yesterday, while listening to my favourite podcast (No Such Thing As A Fish), I learnt a shocking, incredible and downright unbelievable fact. Here’s the fact: Singapore is number one in the world in bottled water consumption and spending per capita. Here’s the kicker: It’s not even close. According to a UN study published in 2023, Singapore’s 1,129 litres and $1,348 per capita in 2021 is miles and away higher than second place Australia (504 litres and $386).The graphs illustrating this are hilarious. Singapore is so far out from all the other countries that they have to create an additional graph segment just for us. We are quite literally not even on the same scale as the rest of the world. When I first heard this fact, I literally could not believe it. How is that even remotely possible? I don’t think I buy more than one bottled water a month, and most people I know around me don’t drink bottled water on a highly regular basis. In fact, I cannot think of anyone I know that solely drinks bottled water. Think about it. 1,129 litres per capita means that an average Singaporean drinks 3.09 litres of bottled water A DAY. I don’t even think that many people drink 3.09 litres of any water a day. Which brings us to a very simple question: How is this possible? When The Straits Times reported on this in 2023, one reason provided was the relative affordability of bottled water in Singapore (true), as well as it being widely accessible (also true). However, the article also cited a report that indicated that “only 3 per cent of the 1,000 households surveyed actually consumed bottled water.” That seems inherently contradictory, and the article does little to offer any clear resolution. I’ve probably spent way too much thinking about this, but I would like to propose some possible explanations (going off the assumption that the UN think tank’s methodology is correct). To be clear, Singapore isn’t the top consumer or spender by volume. USA is the top consumer and spender (61,418 million litres and 63,844 million USD respectively). Singapore is 12th in terms of total volume consumed (approx. under 6,000 million litres), and sixth in terms of bottled water sales (approx. 7.4 million USD). My guess is that the calculations are based on a total per country calculation of consumption and spending, divided by population. That’s how ‘per capita’ works, essentially. Clearly, one important thing to point out is our population size. Because we are significantly smaller than countries like USA/China/Indonesia (the top three in both categories), once you calculate per capita, our numbers shoot up. That’s unfortunately a mathematical reality. But, there is still the obvious question of where exactly that spending and consumption is happening. I don’t think it’s the everyday you and me (how much bottled water are you consuming daily???). I believe the answer is… corporate. Workplaces, offices, as well as events. Think about it. Many workplaces and offices have bottled water in large quantities – both in the typical 500ml bottles, as well as those big 19L bottles for water coolers. Our previous office space used those very same water coolers (we’ve transitioned now to a filter system), while boxes of 500ml bottles sit in the storeroom for when guests visit. And Singapore have SO MANY OFFICES. Not just in the CBD, but everywhere around the island. And this isn’t limited to offices. Retail and hospitality has to also be taken into account. It is typically considered courtesy to offer a guest/customer water to drink, right? I am surely guilty of this when walking into car showrooms when collecting test cars. And, I think another major element of consumption is during events. Singapore is purposely big on events – MICE events, as well as all kinds of activities otherwise (think F1, National Day, marathons, whatever other events you can think of). And of course, these events are not just catered to locals, but to international guests as well. At any of these events, you can easily expect not just cartons, but pellets and even full containers of bottled water. And of course, tourism. Just as you would likely buy water instead of carrying a water bottle around when on holiday, the same is likely true for tourists coming in to Singapore. There’s just a lot of them, and not that many of us locals to mathematically balance the scales, so to speak. Once you take all of that into account, then the numbers start to make a bit more sense. While the average Singaporean probably does not buy bottled water at their local kopitiam every day, there are still many instances of us consuming bottled water, at last on a national level. And while we may not be individually responsible for the spending and consumption, we cannot also ignore the reality of our collective spending and consumption on a national level. The report is more concerned about issues like clean water availability. However, the Singapore numbers reflect something else entirely - the hyper-modernity of our little city, and the hyper-consumption that follows. With our dense concentration of high-rise office buildings, the constant in and out of VIPs from all over the world, as well as the endless major events taking place all around the country, that certainly drives up bottled water demand and consumption. Our hyper-modernity makes for an environment where immediate and easy access to ‘quality water’ becomes almost fetishised, precisely because we don't have to worry about scarcity. Additionally, unlike huge countries like USA and China who may have rural areas without ready access to bottled water that effectively ‘balance’ out their statistics, we don’t have any such things. The consequent result is that the scales are tipped heavily toward consumption. There’s no ‘bell-curving’ Singapore. Factor in our low population relative to these massive countries, and those shocking per capita numbers start to make a bit more sense. Hyper-consumption, of course, leads to the inevitable matter of waste – specifically plastic pollution (another important issue highlighted within the report). While recycling certainly happens, it’s hard to negotiate the sheer scale of what we, collectively as a People, are dealing with. Here are some pertinent quotes from the report: “about 85% of all plastic bottles sold become waste” “Microplastics, of which PET makes up a part, comprise over 80% of the annual plastic pollution in the environment, around 22 million tonnes in 2019” “It is estimated that humans ingest an amount of plastic equivalent to the size of a credit card on a weekly basis” “Since the 1950s, only 6.5% of all plastics produced have been recycled and today, only 14% is recycled” And while some countries like Norway and Switzerland have plastic recycling rates over 80%, Singapore’s plastic recycling rate is… six. Not 60. 6 percent. I’m no eco-crusader. But I do think this single statistical instance of bottled water does cast a stark light on our hyper-consumption. And while you may often hear (or even make) the argument, “I’m just one person, what difference can I make?”, I think that’s almost entirely beside the point. There are certainly people out there to change the world. I am not one of them. However, I do believe that each of us individually can make an effort to change ourselves. Every little bit counts. And to be clear, I’m not for a moment saying that people should suddenly boycott bottled water, or drastically change your way of life. Rather, it’s more about being just a little bit more aware of your individual consumption patterns, and not simply and blindly accept endless convenience. Singaporeans will continue to consume bottled water, myself included. But if we can each of us just make a tiny effort to do it less, to resist that easy convenience where possible, then perhaps we as a country can move the needle ever so slightly. We love to be number one in the world. I just don't think this is one of those instances where being number one is all that good. ~ Desmond Images: Wikimedia Commons, National Environment Agency, United Nations University

6 Mods That Are A Waste Of Money For A Daily Driver In this video who is brought to you by SMEEDIA, he is sharing with us these six different mods that are a waste of money for your daily driver. You may mod your cars as he does but sometimes that money can be better spent on other aspects of the car. Keep in mind that these are his opinions and if you disagree or agree with anything on the list drop it in the comments and let's talk about it! However; over the past 10 years of playing with cars, these are all areas that are wasteful! These are his perspective and I do agree with him that is why I am sharing this. So let's get it starto!!!!! 1) quick release steering wheel. You lose your airbag when you change away from the OEM steering wheel, some of the control buttons that you can navigate your infotainment and car info. The reason why race driver will opt for a quick-release steering wheel is that they have roll cage all over the car, which makes it difficult to get inside the car. It is to create more space for the driver to get it. Functionality over form.. 2) Fixed back seat and harness. Okay. It sure looks sporty. But these things ain't gonna give your comfort. they are rigid. You can't adjust the seat you are "clamp" in a tight space because this is what a sports bucket seat suppose to do. Image if you are going for a road trip having to drive for like 2 hours long and you are stuck in these seats. I am sure it will make you aching like hell. 3) High flow panel filter His reason for the filter is because the price is marked up compared to paper filter and the horsepower gain is minimum. But! I have to disagree on this part. I think it is a worth it modification if you are an enthusiast and you are willing to do some maintenance for your car. As the high flow panel filter can perhaps last you a lifetime with proper maintenance, I am sure you can save some money by first investing in it. But make sure it is clean and oiled every time it goes for servicing. Ponypower wise, I think it makes no diff. And I am not a fan of open intake. It changes to characteristics of the car a bit. So I am in for high panel filter. 4) Turbo timer Unless you have stage 2 or even upgraded your turbo, getting a turbo timer in your daily drive is quite impractical. The standard turbo is paired accordingly to the engine size. So what do you need to time for? 🤔 5) Fake aero. I am 100% against this. as it does not add performance to the car and it might even cause additional fuel consumption. If you are driving an old car like me, there might be some wear and tear of your bodykit. Getting clips to secure is fine. But adding spoiler, grilles, a diffuser is redundant and a waste of money. 6) Fake vents and shrouds People who don't know might say it is cool. But when you are speaking to an enthusiast, he might think that you are a moron. Spending money at things that have no functionality at all.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210302-could-plastic-roads-make-for-a-smoother-ride On a road into New Delhi, countless cars a day speed over tonnes of plastic bags, bottle tops and discarded polystyrene cups. In a single kilometre, a driver covers one tonne of plastic waste. But far from being an unpleasant journey through a sea of litter, this road is smooth and well-maintained – in fact the plastic that each driver passes over isn't visible to the naked eye. It is simply a part of the road. This road, stretching from New Delhi to nearby Meerut, was laid using a system developed by Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a professor of chemistry at the Thiagarajar College of Engineering in India, which replaces 10% of a road's bitumen with repurposed plastic waste. India has been leading the world in experimenting with plastic-tar roads since the early 2000s. But a growing number of countries are beginning to follow suit. From Ghana to the Netherlands, building plastic into roads and pathways is helping to save carbon emissions, keep plastic from the oceans and landfill, and improve the life-expectancy of the average road. By 2040, there is set to be 1.3 billion tonnes of plastic in the environment globally. India alone already generates more than 3.3 million tonnes of plastic a year – which was one of the motivators behind Vasudevan's system for incorporating waste into roads. It has the benefit of being a very simple process, requiring little high-tech machinery. First, the shredded plastic waste is scattered onto an aggregate of crushed stones and sand before being heated to about 170C – hot enough to melt the waste. The melted plastics then coat the aggregate in a thin layer. Then heated bitumen is added on top, which helps to solidify the aggregate, and the mixture is complete. Many different types of plastics can be added to the mix: carrier bags, disposable cups, hard-to-recycle multi-layer films and polyethylene and polypropylene foams have all found their way into India's roads, and they don't have to be sorted or cleaned before shredding. As well as ensuring these plastics don't go to landfill, incinerator or the ocean, there is some evidence that the plastic also helps the road function better. Adding plastic to roads appears to slow their deterioration and minimise potholes. The plastic content improves the surface's flexibility, and after 10 years Vasudevan's earliest plastic roads showed no signs of potholes. Though as many of these roads are still relatively young, their long-term durability remains to be tested. By Vasudevan's calculations, incorporating the waste plastic instead of incinerating it also saves three tonnes of carbon dioxide for every kilometre of road. And there are economic benefits too, with the incorporation of plastic resulting in savings of roughly $670 (£480) per kilometre of road. In 2015, the Indian government made it mandatory for plastic waste to be used in constructing roads near large cities of more than 500,000 people, after Vasudevan gave his patent for the system to the government for free. A single lane of ordinary road requires 10 tonnes of bitumen per kilometre, and with India laying thousands of kilometres of roads a year, the potential to put plastic waste to use quickly adds up. So far, 2,500km (1,560 miles) of these plastic-tar roads have been laid in the country. "Plastic-tar road can withstand both heavy load and heavy traffic," says Vasudevan. "[It is] not affected by rain or stagnated water." Similar projects have emerged around the world. The chemicals firm Dow has been implementing projects using polyethylene-rich recycled plastics in the US and Asia Pacific. The first in the UK was built in Scotland in 2019 by the plastic road builder MacRebur, which has laid plastic roads from Slovakia to South Africa. MacRebur has also found that incorporating plastic improves roads' flexibility, helping them cope better with expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, leading to fewer potholes – and where potholes do happen, filling them in with waste plastic otherwise destined for landfill is a quick fix. The UK government recently announced £1.6m for research on plastic roads to help fix and prevent potholes.

Of all the waste that nations produce, plastic has become the biggest headache. We churn out about 116 pounds of new plastic a year for every man, woman, and child, as of 2016. Three-quarters of all plastic ever produced has already been discarded. And the world will see plastic production—and plastic pollution—more than double from its current level by 2039. However, any effort to strand the assets of plastic producers faces one big obstacle: People haven’t demonstrated a real ability to reduce their demand for plastic, and new regulations haven’t changed that. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-06-08/formosa-plastics-new-factory-is-a-big-bet-on-a-single-use-future? Singapore #1 again Greta disapproves

Running Shoes - Are expensive running shoes a waste of money? 57 yr old Tarahumara runner ran the 100 km race with a pair of sandals made from old rubber tyres and came in first - so much for expensive high end running shoes :-) Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 9:35 PM The painful truth about trainers: Are running shoes a waste of money? Thrust enhancers, roll bars, mic rochips ... the $20 billion running - shoe industry wants us to believe that the latest technologies will cushion every stride. Yet in this extract from his controversial new book, Christopher McDougall claims that injury rates for runners are actually on the rise, that everything we've been told about running shoes is wrong - and that it might even be better to go barefoot. By CHRISTOPHER McDOUGALL Last updated at 8:01 PM on 19th April 2009 Every year, anywhere from 65 to 80 per cent of all runners suffer an injury. No matter who you are, no matter how much you run, your odds of getting hurt are the same At Stanford University , California , two sales representatives from Nike were watching the athletics team practise. Part of their job was to gather feedback from the company's sponsored runners about which shoes they preferred. Unfortunately, it was proving difficult that day as the runners all seemed to prefer... nothing.

S’pore Residents Will Take Over Cleaners For 1 Day In Apr 2020 To Learn How Much We Waste source: https://mustsharenews.com/cleaners-cleansg-day/ CleanSG Day Lets Cleaners Take A Day Off So Residents Will Do Their Jobs Instead Most of us empathise with cleaners who pick up after our mess, but how much would we be willing to do the same? Whether we can do it won’t be a question in April 2020, when the Public Hygiene Council (PHC) launches CleanSG Day, an initiative to encourage people “to take personal responsibility for the cleanliness of our common spaces”. For 1 day in that month, cleaners across Singapore will either get a lighter workload or a whole day off, while residents take over their jobs. The exact date is yet to be confirmed. Cleaners can rest while residents do their work According to an article by Eco-Business, next year will be the first time that CleanSG will occur nationwide, after trial runs in several districts. In Nee Soon, where the trial had run, professional cleaners left parts of the area uncleaned so residents had to do it themselves instead. MP Louis Ng observed that residents who did so learnt just how much waste we generate, and that Singapore is “a cleaned city rather than a clean city”. So giving cleaners a lighter workload or rest will hopefully encourage more residents island-wide to step up and learn the same lesson. Furthermore, the national initiative could be a way of showing our gratitude towards the cleaners who don’t get enough recognition for their tireless efforts. Individual responsibility to keep Singapore clean Though we may depend on cleaners to keep large areas of Singapore clean, smaller acts like picking up stray pieces of litter is something we can all try to do. After all, it doesn’t take much to simply throw rubbish into the bin. Dirty streets are surely an eyesore to everyone. We hope that the initiative will work out smoothly and that Singaporeans will do their parts to help on that day.

A National Environment Agency (NEA) official has raised the possibility that Singapore residents may in future be asked to "pay as you throw", as part of efforts to monitor and limit rubbish dumped by households. This could involve bin chutes that use radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to track how much waste any one household produces, he said at a major sustainability conference on Tuesday. "We are working on a trial to track the number of times a household opens a rubbish chute hatch, with each opening accepting only a fixed volume of waste," said Mr Cheang Kok Chung, director of the NEA's department for environmental protection policy and international relations. "(There is a) glaring lack of a 'pay as you throw' element in the (waste disposal) fee," Mr Cheang said, adding that Singapore's ubiquitous rubbish chutes made it very difficult to implement a "pay as you throw" system using prepaid waste bags. He was speaking at a presentation during the 2019 Sustainable Innovation Expo in Nairobi, Kenya. The Expo is being held on the sidelines of the fourth United Nations Environment Assembly meeting. Each HDB household currently pays $8.25 a month for waste regardless of the amount thrown away. With this new scheme, some might end up paying less. Said Mr Cheang: "Hopefully (the trial) works and the next time we can report that we are a bit closer to the 'user-pay principle' tax." If there are monitoring systems like RFID tags, people might be motivated to throw less rubbish indiscriminately, which would mean less rubbish landing up in Semakau, Singapore's only landfill. According to the latest figures, about 200,000 tonnes of solid waste and all incineration ash are sent to the landfill annually. At this rate, Semakau will be filled to the brim by 2035. It was envisaged earlier that the landfill, when it first opened in 1999, would last until 2046. Singapore currently has the technology to use RFID tags on bins. According to reports in 2016, recycling collection crews could scan RFID tags on recycling bins upon collection for recyclables to be tracked in a system. It is not impossible to implement such a project. The "pay as you throw" principle has worked in other countries. In South Korea, for example, households can buy designated bags to dispose of their trash, or take it to centralised RFID food waste and rubbish bins. There, the trash will be weighed and the household billed accordingly. The NEA told The Straits Times yesterday that there are currently no plans to introduce pay-as-you-throw RFID waste disposal systems in Singapore. "Building on lessons from past trials and other countries' experience, the National Environment Agency is constantly exploring ways to incentivise households to reduce the amount of waste disposed of," an NEA spokesman said. "There is no current plan to implement a pay-as-you-throw RFID waste disposal system," the spokesman added.

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/jtc-puts-more-smart-waste-bins-alert-cleaners-sms-when-full SINGAPORE — After a successful pilot for solar-panelled “smart” trash bins, industrial property developer JTC has put up more than 40 of these bins around the island. The bins, called Bigbelly bins, have an internal compactor to crunch rubbish and can handle about five times more trash than another of a similar size. They have an enclosed design that prevents scavengers, pests and odours, and are connected wirelessly for easy monitoring and management. Once the bin is full, its sensors will detect and send, via 3G, email or text message alerts to the mobile phones of cleaners. Because they work on solar energy, the bins have no cabling. The solar panels power an internal battery that drives the compaction mechanism, internal sensors and the communication module. A fully charged battery can power the bin for about three months without sunlight.

Interesting that we give different result to Eunomia, the environmental consultancy https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/12/germany-recycles-more-than-any-other-country

Bros, bad news for most... Those staying in HDB units please brace yourselves for this ridiculously absurd price increase of as much as 73% while those staying in landed properties lucky you price decrease of 3% soon... From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1204325/1/.html Waste collection fees expected to rise By Joanne Chan | Posted: 29 May 2012 2138 hrs SINGAPORE: Households in Singapore can expect to gradually pay more to have their trash collected. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said the move is aimed at uplifting the waste collection industry, which is struggling with rising operating costs while it grapples with improving service standards. Industry players said these challenges have been made harder by government contracts that have locked in fees for the past seven to eight years, with no provision for adjustments. With several contracts up for renewal over the next few years, the NEA, which manages the public waste collection scheme, is looking to reshape the industry. For the purpose of waste management, Singapore is currently divided into nine sectors, served by four companies. This will be reduced to six sectors, to help companies achieve economies of scale. Andrew Tan, CEO of the National Environment Agency, said: "This in turn will translate into greater affordability and at the same time, giving opportunities for the waste collectors to invest in the capital, in the training of their workforce and also the equipment needed to do a good job in terms of waste collection." Chairman of the Waste Management and Recycling Association, Guah Eng Hock, also pointed out that waste collection companies are required in their contracts to have a recyclable sorting facility in each sector. He said that with the larger sectors, companies will be able to enjoy greater economies of scale. A standard waste collection fee will also be introduced. Today, households pay as little as S$4.03 per HDB flat, or as high as S$22.50 for a landed home. Prices also differ between estates. For example, HDB flats in the city area currently pay S$4.03, while those in Pasir-Ris and Tampines fork out S$6.87. The difference in pricing is due to separate contracts being called for each sector, subjected to open bidding. Moving forward, all households will pay a "uniform fee" - depending on whether it is an HDB flat or landed property. The fee will be derived from the weighted average of successful tender bids submitted by public waste collectors. The first to come under the new fee structure will be households in Pasir-Ris, Tampines and Bedok. From July, HDB properties in those areas will pay S$7, while landed homes will pay S$23.19. The NEA said households would have had to pay more, if the new uniformed fee structure was not applied. The new uniformed fee structure will be progressively rolled out to the rest of Singapore by 2015. In return for higher fees, waste collection companies will have to meet higher service standards. This includes having quieter and cleaner vehicles, and responding quicker to public feedback. Companies will also have to provide better incentive schemes to encourage households to recycle. Singapore's only landfill on Semakau island is currently at half its capacity, and is expected to run out of space by 2040. Thus, recycling remains a key strategy for managing waste in Singapore and the government hopes that consumers and businesses will start at the source - by sorting their recyclables from other waste. Singapore's recycling rate currently stands at 59 per cent - a long way from its long-term target of 70 per cent. -CNA/ac

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-32748118 How big is this fish

Any opinion if some good and expensive($100 plus) bicycle locks are need or just waste money? example: u shape steel (from trek bicycle shop) + double big chain with hardest yale lock is enough to secure 1.5k bicycle at some mrt bicycle slot near city area.

Alternative header: Sai tanker sexplode, sai phoon until everywhere Come! Let's bring on all the funny sai jokes, sai poem Source: http://m.weibo.cn/1656737654/BCM6yjoXk?jumpfrom=weibocom English: http://www.chinasmack.com/2014/pictures/excrement-tanker-explodes-covering-everyone-in-human-waste.html It's raining sai, Hallelujah, it's raining sai Amen I'm gonna go out, I'm gonna let myself get absolutely soaking wet It's raining sai, Hallelujah it's raining sai, every specimen Tall blond dark and lean rough and tough and strong and mean

very sim tia seeing water flowing like that, what is a bucket of ALS challenge

Japan should let old 'hurry up and die': minister http://sg.news.yahoo.com/japan-let-old-hur...-113515884.html will you "go die" instead of wasting govt resources or depleting your own cpf , your child cpf and hard earned savings? in drama, we always heard ... "the old and poor man will say let me die, don't waste money" ... this is a real issue as aging population going full speed. what say you?

What's your opinion? Don't know want to part with the money or not

I owned two before, so this is not sour grape...... They are heavy compared with normal cars Thirsty Not exactly good looking It encourages it's driver to be road bully due to its size or perceived ruggedness Hard for maid to wash due to its height Not as stable / safe on the roads due to high CG and suspension setup Etc etc Yet, it's very popular with SGP buyers despite our roads don't really need the high ground clearance or ruggedness. Sale talks + perceived imagine luring buyers to choose them? If you own one or planning to get one, why? There are other options eg station wagons which are safer and carry as much stuff, or MPVs which carry as many people....

Just for discussion purpose Do you think its kind of bo hua to buy 1.8L cars? Cause they are just 200CC more than a 1.6L (not much more power as well considering alot of development is put into 1.6L engines recently) and you have to pay alot more for the COE because it belongs to CatB COE. Not to mention higher road tax and insurance too. At least 2L cars are 400CC more and have more power etc..... Lastly, what do you think about having more category of COEs? Instead of just below and above 1.6L, how about Cat A up to 1600CC Cat B up to 3000CC Open Cat (all the big CC cars will fight it out in this category). Then seperate CatA COE with taxi. I feel its kind of unfair that cabs are taking away so many of CatA COE (last heard around 40% goes to cabs). At least those who intend to buy 2L-2.5L cars don't need to fight with those who want to Buy Porsche, Ferrari or Lambos. Right now, whether you buy a 2L Cerato Forte or a Lambo you pay the same COE and needless to say, the person who can afford a Lambo can definitely afford far higher COE prices. Btw, the allocation will be the same method cause LTA can know the engine capacity of the cars that deregister every month and cabs as well. So they can allocate COEs accordingly. Lastly, perhaps they should have some incentives/discounts for people going for smaller and greener cars. Purpose it to get people to go for smaller cars that gives out less pollution (eg. KEI cars in Japan). Right now, I see more and more big CC cars which is not a good sign.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29808984@N00/2584532484 Paratman - $4.2 mil Peanutman - $3.5 mil Why dun we use all these money to help all these Ah Pek and Ah Ma here in S'pore? They are our fore-parents. Rather then paying someone $3.5 mil for doing nothing and spending his time golfing and talking nonsenses.

What a waste

Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story Sep 12, 2008 Man fined for slapping son By ELENA CHONG ANGRY that his two kids had been watching television, a father slapped his seven-year-old son and hurled him against a wardrobe, wall and the ceiling. The 43-year-old marketing executive was fined the maximum $1,000 by Community Court judge May Mesenas on Friday. He had earlier pleaded guilty to hurting his son at their home on Sept 15, 2006. The boy suffered multiple bruises in his forehead, left arm and legs and several patches over his neck and back of his left shoulder. The accused had returned home and found the victim and his six-year-old brother misbehaving. When he questioned them and did not get a proper response, he slapped the victim in his face. He picked him up by his armpits and threw him against a wardrobe in the room. He also later threw the boy against a wall and up against the ceiling. The incident came to light two days later when a teacher noticed bruises on the victim's brother, whom the accused had also caused hurt to. The accused's lawyer K. Mathialahan said his client had been receiving counselling and treatment and attended eight sessions at the Centre for Promoting Alternatives to Violence (Pave) at Ang Mo Kio. Counsel said though the accused had a problem with anger management, he loved his children and had done everything possible to ensure he did not hurt the boys again. http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNew...ory_277817.html

My experience 1)Always eat half of what is ordered 2)Will almost certainly leave some portions behind even if it is very nice 3)Will snack shortly later (although they claim they are full earlier while only consuming half of the meal) I have observed these behaviours in easily 80% of my female frens/colleagues. I guess most of you have experienced it 1 way or another... any creative/innovative ideas to share to get them to down these "extra" bits

This news was reported in Sunday NewPaper. Ok...Can anyone propose a wasteful lifestyle or scheme that can waste away 15millions in 3 years? I cannot imagine how the hell he can so poor now. (At least sure got 1 million hidden somewhere perhaps) Maybe he is acting poor to avoid all the money grabbing relatives and friends? For me even if I buy a district 9 bangalow at 8million and wasted all the others on girls and cars and gambline, and if the old man were to die asuddenly nd propety price crash. I think still can sell the house for 1million right? No? Anyone please list out how to lose it all and it is very possible in Singapore context. THEN, A $15M LOTTERY WINNER NOW, HE'S A WELFARE LOSER He hit the lottery jackpot in 2005, but three years on, ex-soldier is destitute, down and out in budget guesthouse April 14, 2008 HE does odd jobs to make ends meet, claims welfare benefits and lives in a 贈15 ($40) a night guesthouse. It's all gone now: Ex-British soldier Peter Kyle, who hit the lottery jackpot of 贈5.1 million, is seen here in an undated screen grab with his wife and son. It's hard to believe that just three years ago, ex-British soldier Peter Kyle hit the lottery jackpot of 贈5.1 million. Today, the 55-year-old divorcee has squandered all his winnings and is virtually destitute, reported The Daily Mail. It is claimed he also owes money. A source told The Daily Mail that Mr Kyle lost his money after making a string of ill-advised investments. He now lives in a budget guesthouse where he earns his board and lodging by doing odd jobs for the owner. The source said: 'He had a golden opportunity to turn his life around - and then blew it. He took some bad advice from bad people and handed his money over too readily to them. 'Now he's got nothing and even owes cash.' Mr Kyle won his fortune in February 2005 and splurged on a 贈550,000 house, a 贈40,000 Mercedes, a 贈40,000 Range Rover and another vehicle. He also gave money to his two children, aged 23 and 14. Mr Kyle has refused to talk to the British media. These days, the former Royal Artillery gunner calls a 贈15-per-night guesthouse in his hometown of Plymouth home. It is next to a sex shop and opposite a tattoo parlour. A source told The Sun: 'Pete has been working at the hotel for a few months just to get by. He has his own room, marked private, and he spends a lot of time there. 'He shuffles around and cooks breakfast for the punters and is a general dogsbody for the owner.' Reports say Mr Kyle has been claiming benefits for several months, and in January, an anonymous creditor secured a county court injunction against him in Northampton for 贈590. The huge house he used to own on the outskirts of Plymouth has been repossessed, say neighbours. The current owner is believed to be a builder who did work for Mr Kyle on the property but was not paid - and later negotiated a deal to buy it. But some ex-neighbours of Mr Kyle believe he got his just desserts. Said Ms Moira Johnson, 50: 'Some people do get what they deserve - he really is a nasty piece of work. I had a run-in with him once when a friend of mine was stuck and I needed to take them a car battery charger. 'I knocked on his door and he started screaming blue murder at me right in my face, calling me every name under the sun. His language was appalling. No one liked him around here and everybody had had some run-in with him at some stage. We were very glad when he left.' Mr Kyle has also been accused of refusing to give financial support to four of his siblings. They suffer from Huntington's disease, a rare genetic disorder which attacks the neurological system. His ex-neighbours also described him as an arrogant spendthrift when he first won the lottery. Said one neighbour: 'He was very into his flashy cars. 'This is a narrow private road and normally neighbours wait and let each other pass, but he would always barge down and force you to reverse. He was arrogant and foul-mouthed - not a very nice man at all. 'I sensed he was a bit of a loner, though. There weren't many visitors and I think he was single. 'It doesn't surprise me that he has lost his money, because he did a ridiculous amount of pointless building work and drove top-of-the-range cars. We never mixed with him at all.'

Is it a waste to do just one profession your entire life? why not try different profession for experience?