Crumbling of Singapore?

[TracyTan866]

my comparison is based on personal observation. i was commenting about the need to route traffic alternately away from the transfers at raffles place and city hall which served the n-e and e-w lines. they needed a secondary ring and parallel lines running eat-west to alleviate traffic concentrating in the core due to limited transfers. that was back in 2009. apparently, they already had plans for the eatshitndie solution going back to the 90s. kudos to them! ....they apparently listened when parallel lines were suggested. in a few years you'll have an additional line going by bedok reservoir (so disenchanted citizens can jump in). kudos to them too! ...they are many times more visionary and futuristic than i think they were. big kudos to them! ...they truly get my applause for holding back on designs in order to garner better suggestions from foreign experts, especially mine.

it is good to know that someone overseas admires SG...

 

[TracyTan866]

count yourselves lucky to have entire lines of mrt up and running in a couple of years. how long did the northeast and circle lines take to get from final design to operation? how long did the east-west and north-south lines take? well, over here in the bay area, the bay area rapid transit (bart) just announced that they will start construction of the berryessa extension in mid-2012. project started in 2009 and planned passenger service to the berryessa extension from fremont (current end of line) is envisioned for 2018. 2018!!! one fucking station and a dozen miles of track from fremont to berryessa will take an entire decade less one year to complete. compare that to the circle line. i was in sg in 2009 and got wind of the circle line, when construction started. i posted the complete mrt plan with circle line in map in this forum when i returned to the bay area 2009. 2 years later, i stepped onto changi and found out the circle line was already completed and in operation. wtf?! here's the latest and most complete berryessa extension project timeline...

dec 2009 entered federal new starts program
dec 2010 received federal environmental clearance
feb 2011 federal funding recommendation
apr 2011 entered final design
dec 2011 design build contract awarded to skanska-shimmick-herzog jv
mar 2012 secure federal funding
jul 2012 construction begins
jul 2016 construction ends
aug 2016 system testing begins
dec 2018 system testing ends
2018??? passenger service may start

add 2 years to delays when it comes to bay area construction projects on a major scale. and remember this is only one fucking station at berryessa. by the time bart gets to the final destination in san jose, you and i can convalesce at the new hot spot viet cafe on hostetter and capitol. by then, the bikini chicks will be very old hens. *cluck cluck cluck* ....btw, how many stations does the circle line stop at?

from your above post, are you trying to imply that Circle line took two years to build whereas berryessa line will take 9yrs?

 

[Leongsam]

.You may be at the bottom of the totem pole today but if you live in a welfare society your children may rise to the top.Likewise your billions do not guarantee that your second and third generation are equally capable.So life goes on with its rotation.

The gist of the matter is a welfare society give everybody an opportunity.

That's what I used to think... that giving welfare to the parents would benefit the children and prevent them from being caught in the poverty trap.

However, what has actually happened is that it breeds a whole generation for whom living off a welfare cheque is a way of life. They have not been taught a work ethic. Neither have they inherited one because their parents never worked for a living. They have no qualms whatsoever about growing up with zero academic achievement and go straight on to the beneficiary list. The females have as many children as possible in order to increase their welfare entitlements. All this is paid for by the rest of society who has to work for a living.

Whatever arguments you put forth today, I would have used pretty much word for word 30 years ago. Sadly, I have found that the human capacity for self destruction is far greater than I realised.

 

[Nice-Gook]

You have not answered my question. Why can't all family members in Singapore chip in to earn money?

My detachment is a plus because it allows me to view the situation objectively.

Let me answer this instead.Because you are being deceitfully dishonest.Why?

Because during your childhood you cannot deny that almost every Singapore ordinary family existence thus.That every one in the family chipped in to earn money.Families lived in shop houses and the whole family conducted the business below.Hawkers on the road had their children running around as servers; after their school.

The question you should have asked is what happened to the Singapore when the whole family chipped in?

The drastic change belong to the LKY---who made family strangers living under one roof.Fathers and mothers now work overtime without extra pay since LKY can replace them with foreigners.Children never know the delight of childhood since schools technically half a day ends only in late evenings.Not mention the competition with 'professional' foreign students studying at our expenses.

 

[TracyTan866]

Let me answer this instead.Because you are being deceitfully dishonest.Why?

I noticed that abt Sam too

 

[Leongsam]

The drastic change belong to the LKY---who made family strangers living under one roof.Fathers and mothers now work overtime without extra pay since LKY can replace them with foreigners.Children never know the delight of childhood since schools technically half a day ends only in late evenings.Not mention the competition with 'professional' foreign students studying at our expenses.

The problem with people like you is you put the very man you hate so much on a pedestal and then blame all of societies problems on him as if he was some kind of demigod.

LKY cannot be blamed for the way people live their lives and drive their children in order to keep up appearances. They made that choice themselves.

 

[Nice-Gook]

That's what I used to think... that giving welfare to the parents would benefit the children and prevent them from being caught in the poverty trap.

However, what has actually happened is that it breeds a whole generation for whom living off a welfare cheque is a way of life. They have not been taught a work ethic. Neither have they inherited one because their parents never worked for a living. They have no qualms whatsoever about growing up with zero academic achievement and go straight on to the beneficiary list. The females have as many children as possible in order to increase their welfare entitlements. All this is paid for by the rest of society who has to work for a living.

Whatever arguments you put forth today, I would have used pretty much word for word 30 years ago. Sadly, I have found that the human capacity for self destruction is far greater than I realised.

You really amuse me.

Are you telling me that your personal experience is good enough for the world to follow?

I can only laugh.

You see,your generation of hippies were deemed for doom by your fathers and mothers....One cannot fault them for thinking that way .Free love and sex and music that seemed demonic if not loud and uncouth were sure sign of human capacity for self destruction--that they thought.Out of which arose the internet and all the goodies we now have.I am certain your grandfather generation would have thought exactly the same of your father 's generation too as you do now of our generation.

That's why Sam.The world had advanced drastically technologically.But humanity pretty much remained the same for centuries.That the drama Shakespeare wrote hundred years ago is still relevant in today world.

 

[Nice-Gook]

The problem with people like you is you put the very man you hate so much on a pedestal and then blame all of societies problems on him as if he was some kind of demigod.

LKY cannot be blamed for the way people live their lives and drive their children in order to keep up appearances. They made that choice themselves.

Do I detect that you have climbed down a few notches from your high horse?

Hey,that's a good sign.Finally we are breaking you out of the cocoon eh.

 

[Leongsam]

You see,your generation of hippies were deemed for doom by your fathers and mothers....One cannot fault them for thinking that way .Free love and sex and music that seemed demonic if not loud and uncouth were sure sign of human capacity for self destruction--they thought.Out of which arose the internet and all the goodies we now have.I am certain your grandfather generation would have though exactly the same of your father generation as you do now of our generation.

I'm not referring to the hippie generation. I'm referring to the tens of thousands of dysfunctional families that exist TODAY that I have to deal with every fortnight. My conclusion after 6 years of effort is that they don't really want to be helped. They're happy playing the "victim" card. It makes all their problems somebody elses fault.

 

[TracyTan866]

Re: He Planned All These

Dubai actually is planning ahead of time. they are making themselves the financial centre of middle east - which potentially is a vast market, so much so, KL is also trying to do something along the likes of Islamic banking.

SG tried but failed....

Dubai is spending lavishly on tourism and wealth management in order to diversify their economy from petroleum. Because if they don't do anything, they will die when petrol runs out....no body need their sand (except perhaps Singapore?)

Majority of Dubai population are not Dubaians, they are migrant workers , FTs...but ethnic Dubaians are treated very well, with good jobs and welfare.

But the economy of Dubai has gone through turbulent times varying with oil prices.

Someone once said, the economy of Dubai is like a mirage...propped up entirely by oil money.

I have not been to Dubai and dont know much abt that country.

Does Dubal take care of its people? Does the Dubai govt favour foreigners over its own citizens?

 

[Nice-Gook]

I'm not referring to the hippie generation. I'm referring to the tens of thousands of dysfunctional families that exist TODAY that I have to deal with every fortnight. My conclusion after 6 years of effort is that they don't really want to be helped. They're happy playing the "victim" card. It makes all their problems somebody elses fault.

Notwithstanding,my example is holistic whereas yours is selective.Be my guest as what should be the basis for a welfare society--selective or holistic?

Anyway,coming to your point on dysfunctional families.It helps if you lower your expectations.Why?It's like giving a physically abused animal from SPCA a home.Because for every physical abuse the psychological trauma it went through is multiple.It cannot be simply improved by giving it more comfort.If you are not up to the mark,you are better off just donating money.

You see,we read about mother Theresa and her charity work.Do you think we can stand 1 day of her work?....in the shit hole of calcutta clutching lepers?That's why there is only 1 saint born a thousand year.We do our bit what we can manage.Otherwise it becomes chore.

 

[eatshitndie]

I dont know berryessa extension well...that's why I asked you that question because you raised it as a comparison to Circle Line...is there a basis for the comparison?

you need to ride both systems long enough to make a fair comparison. the bay area has over 6 million in population, and tens of thousands ride bart each day. there's another rail, caltrain, that runs from san jose to sf on the peninsula, but that's not a rapid transit, just regular transit. when gas prices reach usd4 per gallon, tens of thousands will ride caltrain. traffic demand was so high during peak oil that they introduced a bullet express between sj and sf. berryessa will be the gateway to sj for bart until sj gets her own extension, which is 2 decades away. transit traffic between sj and sf will only increase with gas prices going up over several decades into the future. moreover, traffic snarls, jams and delays on freeways will never abate as number of lanes are physically limited by lack of real estate. bart is extremely comparable to smrt in terms of size, number of stations, traffic load, mileage and density. except that bart sucks and smrt shines. ghetto versus gleaming delight.

 

[TracyTan866]

you need to ride both systems long enough to make a fair comparison. the bay area has over 6 million in population, and tens of thousands ride bart each day. there's another rail, caltrain, that runs from san jose to sf on the peninsula, but that's not a rapid transit, just regular transit. when gas prices reach usd4 per gallon, tens of thousands will ride caltrain. traffic demand was so high during peak oil that they introduced a bullet express between sj and sf. berryessa will be the gateway to sj for bart until sj gets her own extension, which is 2 decades away. transit traffic between sj and sf will only increase with gas prices going up over several decades into the future. moreover, traffic snarls, jams and delays on freeways will never abate as number of lanes are physically limited by lack of real estate. bart is extremely comparable to smrt in terms of size, number of stations, traffic load, mileage and density. except that bart sucks and smrt shines. ghetto versus gleaming delight.

I have been to SF and love it Is Fisherman Wharf still as lively as before?

 

[eatshitndie]

I have been to SF and love it Is Fisherman Wharf still as lively as before?

fisherman's wharf has been as lively as ever. it will be most lively next year when sf hosts the america's cup.

 

[TracyTan866]

fisherman's wharf has been as lively as ever. it will be most lively next year when sf hosts the america's cup.

That's great. SF will always be dear to me as I have very fond memories of that lovely trip

 

[mojito]

you think FMH lacks gray matter?

Yup. She looks slow-witted. To be sure that comment was uncalled for. My point is that she might be able to keep their attention but I doubt she can influence a room full of old men.

[video=youtube;5gElDGNks6s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gElDGNks6s&feature=related[/video]

To be fair not all PAPzis ladies is crap. Compare that to her counterpart, Penny Low, where one can detect vitality, intelligence and clear thinking.

[video=youtube;Nez_nUXrnII]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nez_nUXrnII[/video]

Just watch 30 seconds in each clip and compare. It should give you some sense of why I feel FMH lacks "that certain something".

 

[TracyTan866]

Yup. She looks slow-witted. To be sure that comment was uncalled for. My point is that she might be able to keep their attention but I doubt she can influence a room full of old men.


To be fair not all PAPzis ladies is crap. Compare that to her counterpart, Penny Low, where one can detect vitality, intelligence and clear thinking.



Just watch 30 seconds in each clip and compare. It should give you some sense of why I feel FMH lacks "that certain something".

Thanks for sharing these videos. I respect your opinions of the two ladies..

 

[Fook Seng]

i can drive in sg if i wish to.

Yes but it is at a few times the cost. The majority cannot afford that. I was told that in the States if you don't change your car within 3 years of owning it, you would be teased for being stingy. Here you change your car six years or more.

 

[eatshitndie]

Yes but it is at a few times the cost. The majority cannot afford that. I was told that in the States if you don't change your car within 3 years of owning it, you would be teased for being stingy. Here you change your car six years or more.

very few americans change autos within 3 years. many own theirs for over 8 years. sinkies change autos more frequently than americans. spend a week driving on both sides of the ocean and you will observe the difference.

 

[TracyTan866]

Yes but it is at a few times the cost. The majority cannot afford that. I was told that in the States if you don't change your car within 3 years of owning it, you would be teased for being stingy. Here you change your car six years or more.

Wages in the truly advanced countries like USA, Aus are much higher than SG. But their house and car prices are a fraction of SG's.

My brother, who is studying in Aus, bought a brand new 1.6L car for A$15k in Feb. He didnt have to pay COE, ARF, etc. and the car is not for only 10 yrs