Slow Retirement

I hereby announce that I will slowly but surely retire from the party scene.

Ain't getting any younger these days and my body is taking a longer time to recover from a night of hard alcohol intake.

Plus I want to devote more time to my family.

Sigh. It was fun those party days. But it's time to move on to another phase of my life.

Time to hit the gym. As always.

Maybe someday my version of partying will be drinking Tiger beer at the nearby kopitiam.

SK NEL

More crowded than ever.

You can tell that there are alot more people living here compared to a year ago.

The trains are packed by the time we hit the next stop at Buangkok.

This Northeast area is gonna be a goldmine.

Now all we need is a cinema in Sengkang.

Presidential Elections 2011

We have the Singapore Presidential elections this year.

It is the most hotly contested elections since inception. There are 4 contenders for the post and all have the same surname. Here're some thoughts off my head of each candidate:

Tony Tan
Former DPM. Probably most respected of the lot. Has PAP's endorsement. His hair alone might win him the Presidency.

Tan Cheng Bok
Ex-MP. Unfortunately I wasn't so politically savvy in the 80s and 90s to even remember him. Apparently makes fiery speeches. Trying to come off as an independent.

Tan Jee Say
Ex-PMO to GCT. Contested under the SDP banner in the last GE for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC which lost considerably to Vivian Balakrishnan and team. Face of Opposition. Has been endorsed by most opposition parties.

Tan Kin Lian
Ex-CEO of NTUC Income. Only candidate not to have contested in a GE. Started as an independent but has since drifted to the opposition camp. Most vocal against many government policies.

----------------------------------------------------------

Personally, I want a President who can maintain and uphold the dignity of the said office, even relative to the existing government and Singapore as a nation, in the eyes of the world. What I do not want, is a President who will potentially be speaking out of line away from the government and setting a polarized tone each time he opens his mouth. Furthermore, I want a President who looks like a president in the eyes of the people. Someone that the majority can respect, and look up to. It's obviously subjective, but I want someone that most respected institutions endorse. That's because I will see his face in every school, government institution, stat board that I will ever visit for the next 5 years. And his wife's face too!

Remember, this is not the GE. This is the PE. Two different roles altogether. While the opposition has gained much inroads during this year's GE, riding on the back of anti-PAP sentiment, I do not expect anything less than a PAP-endorsed win here.

This is also where the smarter Opposition play their cards right, in preparation of GE2016. Notice that the WP have remained somewhat out-of-the-picture? And they have all to gain for this. Because, they will keep mum and respect whichever outcome since either way goes well for them. If Tony Tan wins, they look good for having taken the practical route and not trying to stir local on-the-ground sentiment, instead showing cordial respect to the existing cabinet. If anyone else wins, they will play up their Opposition card. And who else but they have the largest and only Opposition representation in cabinet?

The biggest losers will potentially be the ultra-liberals, SDP and NSP. Especially if they keep shooting their mouths off, cajoling everyone to vote for change or for someone wanting to speak for the people. They will be in for a very rude shock come the next GE.

Note to Nicole Seah: Please quit the NSP already! Join a less liberal Opposition and gun for an SMC next term!

Hence my vote goes to Dr Tony Tan. White hair, Brylcream et al.

Epic win coming our way. Someone will not be getting his election deposit back that's for sure.

Beware The Bear

It is lurking. That is a guarantee.

Have you ever seen a dead cat bounce?

This rally looks exactly like one.

Take care, be nimble, and keep your gunpowder dry.

USD 2013

The US have announced that interest rates will remain low till 2013 at the very least.

What this means is that there is only one direction the USD will likely go. South.

I expect USDSGD to hit 1.10 by year's end.

1.00 by end 2012.

Time to buy a nice little apartment in uptown Manhattan.

Chen Show Mao & NDP 2011

Chanced upon this hilarious picture on Chen Show Mao's FB page. I mean you really gotta give it to the guy man. He's so bloody rich, chose to serve with the opposition and give back to society, and still maintains such a great sense of humour.

His caption was something like Happy 46th National Day from Fatimah and me at Lorong Ah Soo.

Of course all you can see is Fatimah Lateef, PAP MP at the ward across his Aljunied ward, on the billboard which absolutely dwarfs the common man. But you'll see at the bottom left hand corner Mr Chen is there as well!

Talk about Fatimah looking larger than life. Same goes for all the other PAP MPs using these huge-ass billboards to reach out to the masses. So high-handed kinda feeling. That's probably all you will ever get to see of her!

I think that the length of Fatimah's mouth on the billboard is longer than Mr Chen's height. Its huge! :P

Make what you will but it does emphasize the budget size that the ruling party has compared to the opposition, and yet you have to admire people like Mr Chen for bringing such perspectives to our everyday lives.

In fact, you readers should go Like Mr Chen's FB page. The way he utilizes FB to reach out to his fans is unique and grounded. Quite similar to George Yeo.

If the WP continues to bring in talent like him to serve the greater good, there is no doubt that more votes will go towards them in the next GE.

Happy birthday Singapore!

Community Shield 2011

The season begins next week!

And tonight is the curtain-raiser, the Community Shield, between Manchester United and crosstown rivals, Manchester City.

Can't wait to see the new Man U first team.

GGMU!!!

US Credit Rating Cut

As if this were a surprise, rating agencies have cut The United States' credit rating for the first time ever. From AAA to AA+.

What this means is that less people will want to hold USD anymore.

And this means we're probably headed for another global meltdown. A slower one this time, but still a meltdown nonetheless.

I think all this have been calculated positions all along by the US government. So don't be surprised if things get even worse before they start getting any better.

Are interest rates going to start rising from here?

The return of volatility may be a good thing for me though. :)

Chinatown Point

Being renovated right now.

It's been taken over by Perennial Trust so I'm hoping the renovations would help it's current lagging business.

Meanwhile, I'm taking the longer than usual walk to Chinatown MRT station.

Speaking of MRT, have I even begun complaining about the latest round of fare hikes?!

Like WTF man.

TPL's police case can take so long.

Ministerial pay review can take so long.

HDB BTO demand will take damn long.

NNBPCB, PTC fare hike review took like less than 3 weeks to confirm plus consult all associated parties.

Tuck Yew understand!

Another BOJ Intervention

This time they propelled USDJPY from 76.90 all the way to 80.01. Must have cost them a bomb.

Plus it might have killed a whole lot of traders, or made some people very rich.

Which side were you on today?