Monday, August 22, 2011

Sold on excellent Thai service

MY PAPER MONDAY AUGUST 22, 2011, PAGE A15, VIEWPOINTS
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2011-08-22
Source Website: http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/features/736922/Sold_on_excellent_Thai_service.html
By Geoff Tan, my paper | Mon, Aug 22 2011



PHOTO: Sold on excellent Thai service
http://static.relax.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/relax/736922/topImage/Sold_on_excellent_Thai_service-topImage.jpg
http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/features/736922/Sold_on_excellent_Thai_service.html



PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
MY PAPER MONDAY AUGUST 22, 2011, PAGE A15, VIEWPOINTS


I can't help but rave once more about its people's warm and affable hospitality.

HAVING just returned from my annual golfing holiday to Thailand, I can't help but rave once more about its people's warm and affable hospitality.

Last year, I wrote about what I called the khob kun kha culture - because just about every encounter ends with khob kun kha (thank you) in "the Land of a Thousand Smiles".

In particular, I mentioned a foot reflexologist who had waded through a flash flood to hail a taxi for me and my friends, without expecting anything in return.

She even made sure that the driver reversed the vehicle as close to the kerb as possible, so that we could enter it without getting our feet wet.

This year, my friends and I encountered many more examples of such excellent service during our five-day trip.

From going out of their way to make additional arrangements for us, to taking the time to point us in the right direction, Thai service staff are exceptional.

One incident that really stood out occurred when I was shopping for Apple accessories at MBK Centre, a huge shopping mall in Bangkok.

I saw a floral iPad cover that I really liked. After much bargaining, I negotiated the price from 1,800 baht (S$72) to 1,500 baht.

I paid happily and continued shopping - only to be confronted with the same product being sold in another shop.

"1,000 baht each. If you buy two, I give you for 900 baht each!" the salesgirl said.

That was when I felt cheated by the staff of the first shop. I quickly bought two more covers.

I decided to storm back to the first shop to give the salesman a piece of my mind.

However, he flashed a big smile when he saw me approaching, which was enough for me to ditch my aggressive stance.

I explained to him that I felt taken for a ride and showed him the products and receipt from the other shop. He examined them and then consulted his boss.

Looking a little embarrassed, his boss reached for his money pouch.

I thought he was going to match the price of 900 baht and give me a 600-baht refund. Instead, he apologised, handed me 1,500 baht and said that he would take the product back.

I was stunned by what had just happened. I thought immediately: What would have happened if a similar situation had occurred in Singapore?

It was my turn to feel embarrassed. The boss then explained to me that he could not sell the cover at 900 baht, because the shop had bought it for more.

I left MBK Centre, happy, impressed and determined to spread the word about the culture of good service in Thailand, where people show a natural and genuine humility without the need for national campaigns.

Khob kun kha, Thailand! I am sold, once again.
By Geoff Tan, my paper | Mon, Aug 22 2011

The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.


HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Hospitality: 招待 - zhāo dài
Foot reflexologist: 脚底按摩师 - jiǎo dǐ àn mó shī
Floral: 花纹图案的 - huā wén tú àn de
Consulted: 咨询 - zī xún


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Sunday, August 21, 2011

Stamps - National Day 2011 (Areas of Historical Significance in Singapore)

Source Website:
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/execute/viewCatalog?catalog=philatelic.CurPstIss
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/execute/viewCatalog;jsessionid=H7jgTQfS2LkRTlWrdTLdStWnnL4gpKLSfHv4QrZb2tJTT3CTDvxG!-947523485?catalog=CSL11
http://www.singpost.com.sg/downloads/media/press_release/11/PR20110805.pdf
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/
http://www.singpost.com.sg/


Singapore, to celebrate Singapore’s 46th year of independence, SingPost released a set of four new stamps entitled “Areas of Historical Significance in Singapore” on Monday, 8 August 2011.


Date Of Issue : 08 Aug, 2011
Local Price : S$ 3.20
Overseas Price : S$ 3.20


PHOTO: National day 2011 - Areas of Historical Significance in Singapore - Stamps
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/images/philatelic/CSL11ASTb.jpg
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/execute/viewDetail?itemSku=CSL11@^CSL11AST



Date Of Issue : 08 Aug, 2011
Local Price : S$ 2.00
Overseas Price : S$ 2.00


PHOTO: National Day 2011 - Areas of Historical Significance in Singapore - Miniature Sheet
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/images/philatelic/CSL11MSb.jpg
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/execute/viewDetail?itemSku=CSL11@^CSL11MS




Date Of Issue : 08 Aug, 2011
Local Price : S$ 7.15
Overseas Price : S$ 6.70


PHOTO: National Day 2011 - Areas of Historical Significance in Singapore - Presentation Pack
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/images/philatelic/CSL11PRb.jpg
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/execute/viewDetail?itemSku=CSL11@^CSL11PR





Joo Chiat is a residental conservation area, located in between 2 areas, Marine prarade and Geylang. The history of the area can be traced back to the regional sea trade activity at the original southeastern coastline of Singapore and the area was a popular agricultural plot, cultivating nutmeg, gambier and largely coconut (due to the ideal sandy condition of the land) after World War I. After the Japanese Occupation, Changi Market (now Joo Chiat Complex) on Joo Chiat Road became an important trading center for the area.

Named after the late Chew Joo Chiat (Born 1857, China. Died 5 February 1926, Singapore), the area was known as the Confederate Estate Road in its earlier days before 1917.



On 23 July 1993, it was gazetted as a conservation area (under the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore). This resulted in the conservation of many shophouses and bungalows that reflected the typical architectural styles of the turn of the twentieth century. It is also one of the secondary settlements, defined by URA. The other secondary settlements are Balestier, Beach Road, Geylang, Jalan Besar, Jalan Jurong Kechil, Mount Sophia, River Valley, Tanjong Katong and Tiong Bahru. And in February 2011, it was announced to be the first Heritage Town, a project by the National Heritage Board to promote community ownership of heritage. The search for the next heritage town will occur in 2013.





Taman Jurong can be considered as one of the oldest residential precincts in Singapore (1964). It was mainly coastal. swamplands fed by many small rivers meandering through the mangroves in the early days, and was a vast wilderness of jungle and wasteland with no metalled roads. The idea of having an industrial town in the southwestern part of Singapore was first mooted in 1952, and when the late Dr Goh Keng Swee became our first Finance Minister in 1959, attention to jump-start the stagnant economy started. He decided that trading activities could no longer provide the jobs needed for Singapore's growing population and that Singapore must embark on rapid industrialisation.

Implementation of Dr Goh's vision was led by none other then the late Finance Minister, Mr Hon Sui Sen. The Economic Development Board (EDB) was formed on, 1st August 1961 to further develop the area and promote free-enterprise industry for Singapore.

When Jurong Town had grown into a booming industrial estate, EDB passed on the task of planning, development and rnanaging the industriaI estate to Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) on 1st June 1968.



Taman Jurong was at the heart of this early strategy of industrial growth, providing housing for workers and simple entertainment opportunities. It also involved the development of the Chinese and Japanese Gardens in Jurong Lake, and Jurong Bird Park.

Soon after Taman Jurong, JTC developed a second neighbourhood - Boon Lay Garden, followed by a third, Teban Garden, and a fourth, Pandan. Today, Jurong is a bustling, self-contained satellite town with a full range of recreational opportunities and connected to the rest of Singapore by highway and efficient Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines. All these, started from the early pioneering development of ..... Taman Jurong.

Let us take a "walk" down the lanes of past and present, and reminisce about the earlier days of the area.

As our country continuously evolved in developments - technologically, economically as well as structurally in landscapes, let us not forget that amidst all these efforts came a history behind it and the areas that settled the people behind the successes of our country.


Products on Sale
Besides the complete set of four stamps (S$3.20), SingPost is also releasing the Miniature Sheet (S$2.00), the Pre-Cancelled First Day Cover affixed with the complete set of stamps (S$4.05) and Pre-Cancelled First Day Cover affixed with miniature sheet (S$2.75).


PHOTO: Pre-Cancelled First Day Cover affixed with stamps - Majulah!
The First Day Cover will be cancelled with the National Day’s theme, ‘Majulah!’ and its tagline, NDP2011 ‘The Singapore Spirit’.

All stamp products of this issue will be on sale from 8 August 2011 at all post offices and the Singapore Philatelic Museum. Orders can also be made at SingPost’s online shopping portal, vPOST, http://shop.vpost.com.sg.

Sale for Precancelled First Day Covers will be extended from 8 August to 10 August 2011.



PHOTO: Pre-Cancelled First Day Cover affixed with stamps (S$4.05*)


PHOTO: Pre-Cancelled First Day Cover affixed with minature sheet (S$2.75*)


Items on Sale Price
First Day Cover (without stamps) S$0.25*
Miniature Sheet S$2.00
Complete set of stamps S$3.20
Presentation Pack S$7.15*
Pre-cancelled First-Day Cover affixed with stamps S$4.05*
Pre-cancelled First-Day Cover affixed with miniature sheet S$2.75*


Technical Details
Date of Issue : 8th August 2011
Denominations : S$0.50 x 2 designs, S$1.10 x 2 designs
Stamp Size : 51mm x 30mm
Miniature Sheet Size : 72mm x 51mm
Perforation : 14
Paper : Unwatermarked
Printing Process : Offset Lithography
Printer : Thai British Security Printing Public Company Limited
Sheet Content : 10 Stamps per sheet
Designer : Tia Boon Sim
Graphic Designer : Chan Willie

* Prices inclusive of prevailing GST for purchases within Singapore


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Closer than family ?

Today on Sunday, Sunday, August 21, 2011, Page 9, Speakeasy
From http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20110821/2108FFW009.pdf
Source Website: http://www.todayonline.com/Columns/Speakeasy/EDC110821-0000161/Closer-than-family
By Tabitha Wang, todayonsunday@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:45 AM Aug 21, 2011



PHOTO: Neighbours can be indispensable as burglar alarms, childcare givers and even lifesavers
Art by Yen Yok, Copyright © MediaCorp Press Ltd
http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/cmsfileserver/showimageCC.aspx?369&450&f=2150&img=2150_433566.jpg&h=369&w=450
Today on Sunday, Sunday, August 21, 2011, Page 9, Speakeasy


The first thing my parents did when they visited our flat for the first time was knock on the neighbours' doors.

"Let's introduce ourselves," my mum said.

"Muuuuuuuum," I protested in embarrassment. "People keep themselves to themselves here."

"Nonsense," she replied. "Neighbours are important. Closer than family sometimes."

She had me there.

The last time my dad, who has a heart problem, fainted at home, it wasn't me or my two brothers who carried him to the car and took him to hospital - it was the neighbour's son.

When she had dizzy spells and couldn't cook, it was a neighbour who organised the meals and brought them to their home.

My parents have since moved in with my brother's family but my dad still goes back to their old place every weekend to hang out with his buddies.

The people from the old neighbourhood are so close that some of them are my Facebook friends. They comment on my photos, tell me how proud they are at how I've turned out and keep me informed about the state of my parents' health (because my parents never tell the truth for fear of worrying me).



PHOTO: People from the old neighbourhood are so close
http://www.kvflats.org/wordpress/wp-content/random-image/family.jpg
http://www.kvflats.org/events/


We've always looked out for one another. Once, when I was eight or nine, my school bus forgot to pick me up. I had to hitch a ride on another bus after dark.

I came home to an empty house, as my parents had gone out to look for me. A neighbour spotted me crying outside my house, took me in and plied me with comforting cups of Milo until my parents turned up.

Another time, burglars tried to enter a house through the roof. Neighbours who saw the guys on the roof, yelled: "Burglars!" while another one, a police officer, dashed out. The burglars were not caught but neither did they manage to take anything.

Helping out a neighbour was the norm in those days. The families never thought they were doing anything unusual.

These days, we hardly know our neighbours. We work long hours and, when we get home, there is hardly any time to socialise. We just want to shut the door and de-stress in private.

But I think it's just a matter of making an effort, as my parents did - and are still doing.

I remember when we first moved in, it was a new estate and no one knew anyone. But within days, plates of home-cooked food started appearing. The etiquette was, you never return a plate empty so my grandmother would cook something to "return the plate" and send us kids round. In that way, we kids started to get to know each other, as did our parents.



PHOTO: A new estate and no one knew anyone
http://bushafullofgrace.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341ca93053ef01543461bbad970c-800wi
http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/busha_full_of_grace/


It's such a simple gesture. Singaporeans being Singaporeans, food can be the binder.

If more people made the effort to get to know their neighbours, I don't think the HDB would be receiving anywhere near those 1,700 complaints on inconsiderate neighbour behaviour they get a year.

People did things different in the old days, you say? Well, at our last place in Singapore, we had neighbours spilling out on the common corridor to talk in the evenings. People exchanged plant cuttings and gossip while the older ones checked in on their neighbours' young kids.

On Chinese New Year, you would hear kids yelling: "Gongxi gongxi" through their neighbours gates and see them receiving hongbaos.

And at Christmas, we always got an invite from our Indian neighbour to go for a curry feast.



PHOTO: Find the unity in our diversity
http://s2.hubimg.com/u/158205_f520.jpg
http://sparklingjewel.hubpages.com/hub/Wholistic-Lifestyle-Planning-is-Intuition


In case you're wondering, it was not idyllic - we still had Mr Loony singing one line ad nauseum and people dripping water on our laundry, fighting at 2am and having the TV on at full blast at midnight. But somehow, knowing we had folks we could talk to and in the same situation as us - a lot of us bonded over our complaints about Mr Loony - meant you didn't feel so alone.

And incidentally, my parents' tactic worked. We now know all the neighbours on our floor. Not enough to friend them on Facebook, but at least to chat about a weird neighbour who hits people for no reason. But that's another story altogether.
By Tabitha Wang, todayonsunday@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:45 AM Aug 21, 2011

Though she is in Hong Kong, Tabitha Wang will join Singaporeans in cooking curry today.


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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Save a tree or two, use Taiwan erasable paper

MY PAPER, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2011, PAGE A13, TECHNOLOGY
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2011-08-10
Source Website: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/08/us-taiwan-paper-idUSTRE7770LU20110808
By Reuter, TAIPEI | Mon Aug 8, 2011 1:18am EDT




PHOTO: A woman holds up a prototype made from (ITRI, 工研院), the Industrial Technology Research Institute’s rewritable electronic paper yesterday. The eco-friendly technology, called i2R e-paper, is a winner of the R&D 100 Awards.Jun 24, 2011
Photo courtesy of the Industrial Technology Research Institute
http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2011/06/24/p12-110624-85.jpg
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/photo/2011/06/24/2008059788


(Reuters Life!) - "i2R e-Paper" is paper but not paper as we know it -- not yet, anyway, say its Taiwan developers.

The product uses a thermal printer, the same kind as that used in fax machines. When the message is no longer needed, the paper can be erased with the flip of a switch -- ready to be used up to 260 times.

Researchers at the Industrial Technology Research Institute, where the paper was developed, say it is the ideal replacement for the paper signs and posters that are now produced by the millions around the world.


PHOTO: CUTTING EDGE: The Industrial Technology Research Institutes's rewritable e-paper, i2R.
http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1312875010/104/5418104.jpg
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/5416602/Save-a-tree-or-two-use-Taiwan-erasable-paper


"I think the greatest breakthrough was that traditional display devices usually require electricity to write, but our technology made it closer to how we would use normal paper," said John Chen, Vice President of the Institute and general director of the Display Technology Center.

"First, it does not require patterned electrodes -- it is very light, soft and rewritable. From this perspective, this is a true e-paper."

What makes the "i2R e-paper" stand out is its coating -- a plastic film covered with cholestric liquid crystal, a type of liquid crystal structured similarly to cholesterol molecules.

The compound does not require a backlight to print, and can produce different colors.



PHOTO: Taiwanese erasable paper
By REUTERS, Reuters Life! Online Report, Aug 08, 2011 01:18 EDT
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/assets_c/2011/08/taiwan-erasable-paper-cropped-proto-custom_2.jpg
http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/save-a-tree-or-two-use-taiwan-erasable-paper.php


When connected to electricity, what's printed on the paper can be erased. There is also a modified printer that erases the paper by rolling it backwards.

An A4 sized piece of the e-paper, which is already in production, costs roughly $60 Taiwan dollars, or about $2. Developers hope it will be available to consumers within two years.

"So far, it can be rewritten and cleared 260 times," Chen said.



PHOTO: The new e-Paper called “i2R e-Paper” can be reused up to 260 times thanks to a specially designed coating on the paper which consists of a plastic film covered with cholestric liquid crystal.
http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?d=20110805&i=218019769&w=&r=23741581&t=2
http://www.cooliris.com/category/Sci-Tech


"In many cases, such as transportation tickets or ID badges, it will save you from printing the same thing 259 times. In terms of environmental production, this is very meaningful."

(Reporting by Christine Lu, editing by Elaine Lies)




PHOTO: A new next generation erasable and reusable e-Paper developed by researchers at the Industrial Technology Research Institute in Taiwan, which has been designed as a replacement for paper signs and posters which are produced in their millions on a daily basis worldwide.
http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/i2R-e-Paper.jpg
http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/i2r-e-paper-is-erasable-reusable-09-08-2011/


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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Some Internet slang parents should know

MY PAPER WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10, 2011, PAGE A17, VIEWPOINTS
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2011-08-10
Source Website: http://edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/features/learn/724136/Some_Internet_slang_parents_should_know.html
By Geoff Tan | my paper | Wed Aug 10 2011



PHOTO: Parents should catch up with the Net-savvy and younger population.
http://static.edvantage.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/edvantage/724136/topImage/Some_Internet_slang_parents_should_know-topImage.jpg
http://edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/features/learn/724136/Some_Internet_slang_parents_should_know.html



PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
MY PAPER WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10, 2011, PAGE A17, VIEWPOINTS

Parents should catch up with the Net-savvy and younger population.
THE next time you peer over your son's shoulders when he is chatting to his friends over the Internet and see a sea of acronyms flooding the screen, don't panic.

It's not that your child has learnt a new language suddenly or is being cryptic; you just haven't quite caught up with how the Net-savvy and often younger population has been communicating.



PHOTO: The Good Ladies of Nature
http://www.howarddavidjohnson.com/Faerie_Wood_wallpaper.jpg
http://www.howarddavidjohnson.com/fairies.htm


Netspeak, or the language of the Internet, has gone way beyond the entry-level, very common abbreviations of LOL (laughing out loud) and OMG (oh my god). Kids have many ways to alert their friends that their parents are around: POMS (parents over my shoulder), PIR (parents in room), PRW (parents are watching), KPC (keeping parents clueless) and P911 (parent alert).

Those in a relationship will be saying things like MUSM (miss you so much), MTLA (my true love always), K4Y (kisses for you), LY4E (love you forever), XOXOZZZ (hugs, kisses and sweet dreams) and 143 (I love you).



PHOTO: 新鲜花水中倒影飞舞的蝴蝶高清图片 - New fresh flowers in the water with reflection and butterflies fluttering (high-definition pictures)
xīn xiān huā Shuǐ zhōng dào yǐng fēi wǔ de hú dié gāo qīng tú piàn
http://www.taopic.com/uploads/allimg/110412/3023-11041215510835.jpg
http://www.taopic.com/tuku/201104/49473.html


When things start getting steamy, DURS (damn, you are sexy) and 53X (sex) will start creeping into the chat.

But if the relationship starts falling apart, you will see 182 (I hate you) and ID10T (idiot) appearing on the screen.

Gamers will be familiar with the likes of AFK (away from keyboard), BAK (back at keyboard) and NG (new game), and social-media users will have come across RT (retweet), OH (overheard) and ICYMI (in case you missed it).



PHOTO: Fototapeta dekoracyjna F048-02 - Leśny mostek (Polish)
Decorative wallpaper F048-02 - Lesny bridge (English)
http://www.decomania.pl/userdata/gfx/9219c41811fd41e3dfe6a0fda32d31bc.jpg
http://www.decomania.pl/pl/p/Fototapeta-dekoracyjna-F048-02-Lesny-mostek/628


The New Paper last Sunday had a front-page headline with the abbreviation WTF in it. Most of us will know what it stands for (what the f***), rather than what the paper defined it as - "why the fuss". This is just one of many examples of vulgar Internet slang.

If you are a parent, you may want to familiarise yourself with the numerous expletives and sexting terms which many teenagers use as they banter with their friends, whether virtually or in real life. Just do a quick search and see what turns up. IMHO (in my humble opinion), it is better to know than to be ignorant about what our children are saying to one another these days.



PHOTO: 3D панно Лято 70 х 70 см. (Russian)
3D panel Lato 70 x 70 cm (English)
http://www.art24.bg/userfiles/productimages/product_1326.jpg
http://www.art24.bg/product/495/3d-pano-lyato-70-h-70-sm-.html


If you are still reading this, I want to 10Q (thank you) for your perseverance. CUL8R (See you later) and BBFN (bye bye for now)!

The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings' marketing division.



HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Cryptic: 有隐义的 - yǒu yǐn yì de
Abbreviation: 缩写 - suō xiě
Slang: 俚语 - lǐ yǔ
Expletives: 咒骂人的话 - zhòu mà rén de huà


Quote:
"山不在高,有神则灵,水不在深有龙则灵"
"It is not the height of the mountain that determine the power, only God's presence counts. It is not the depth of the water that determine the might, only the dragon's presence counts."


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