I happen to read about a guy who was oversea and come back Singapore
Kind of similar to me
I read his comics on
http://www.drearyweary.com/TheResidentTourist
Maybe CK will have a different opinion as he has read more comics
I am not quite a fan of comics
What I got the same feeling of a resident tourist when I came back Singapore
Singaporean said I am not singaporean - they said I speak with China ascent
China citizen will notice I am a foreigner when I in China
So I always has the same problem of identity problem too
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Sunday, 15 November 2009
倒霉的月球
我记得我看过打印机的广告
月球的外星人
用精美的打印画面，遮挡的地球探测船的望远镜头
使人误以为月球啥都没有
还有老美的一些人怀疑当年的美国人上月球的画面是假的
因为事实上那原带竟然不见了
这会不会是老美搞的幻术
但重要是我想到，月球真的有生物
那几亿年来的平静
突然射来一个火箭
那不是很倒霉吗 ？
http://www.zaobao.com/gj/gj091115_003.shtml
美国宇航局：月球有大量的水
（华盛顿综合电）美国宇航局星期五宣布，在月球上找到了“数量可观”、以冰和蒸汽形式存在的水。这代表着人类空间探索的一大进步，也为设立永久性月球基地增添了希望。
宇航局声明说，对月球表面撞击试验的初步数据分析显示，“在月亮上一处永久背阴的环形山成功地找到了水。”
声明还说：“这一发现掀开了人类了解月球的新篇章。”
LCROSS（月球环形山观测与遥感卫星）探月任务的首席研究員科拉普雷特宣布说：“没错，我们确实找到了水，而且不是一点点，是数量可观的水。”
美国宇航局的两颗探测器上月对月球表面进行了撞击，希望在月球上找到水源。其中半人马座火箭以9000公里的时速撞击了月球南极附近的凯布斯环形山，大 约四分钟后，携带着摄像机的观测卫星记录了撞击后的情况。这次撞击让月球陨石坑底部数十亿年来未见阳光的物质升腾而起，形成了滚滚烟雾。
科拉普雷特说：“在这个20至30米大的环形山，我们找到了至少能装满12只两加仑水桶的水量，这是初步的结果。”
科拉普雷特又说：“多条线索都显示，撞击后产生的蒸汽尘埃和喷射物质中都含有水。尽管还需要对水的含量和分布状况以及其他的物质做进一步分析，但是可以肯定地说凯布斯环形山有水。”
人类有望在月球建基地
美国布朗大学地质科学家、LCROSS项目合作调查员舒尔茨表示，有希望在月球上找到更多的水。他说：“最让人激动的是，我们只撞击了一个坑。这就好像在钻探石油的时候，一旦你找对了地方，就非常可能在附近发现更多的油。”
科学家过去一直认为，除了环形山底部可能有冰之外，月球整个来说是干的。因此在月球上找到水，可说是太空探索的一大突破。在月球上发现水的意义在于，人类未来有可能在月球上建立宇航基地。
月球的外星人
用精美的打印画面，遮挡的地球探测船的望远镜头
使人误以为月球啥都没有
还有老美的一些人怀疑当年的美国人上月球的画面是假的
因为事实上那原带竟然不见了
这会不会是老美搞的幻术
但重要是我想到，月球真的有生物
那几亿年来的平静
突然射来一个火箭
那不是很倒霉吗 ？
http://www.zaobao.com/gj/gj091115_003.shtml
美国宇航局：月球有大量的水
（华盛顿综合电）美国宇航局星期五宣布，在月球上找到了“数量可观”、以冰和蒸汽形式存在的水。这代表着人类空间探索的一大进步，也为设立永久性月球基地增添了希望。
宇航局声明说，对月球表面撞击试验的初步数据分析显示，“在月亮上一处永久背阴的环形山成功地找到了水。”
声明还说：“这一发现掀开了人类了解月球的新篇章。”
LCROSS（月球环形山观测与遥感卫星）探月任务的首席研究員科拉普雷特宣布说：“没错，我们确实找到了水，而且不是一点点，是数量可观的水。”
美国宇航局的两颗探测器上月对月球表面进行了撞击，希望在月球上找到水源。其中半人马座火箭以9000公里的时速撞击了月球南极附近的凯布斯环形山，大 约四分钟后，携带着摄像机的观测卫星记录了撞击后的情况。这次撞击让月球陨石坑底部数十亿年来未见阳光的物质升腾而起，形成了滚滚烟雾。
科拉普雷特说：“在这个20至30米大的环形山，我们找到了至少能装满12只两加仑水桶的水量，这是初步的结果。”
科拉普雷特又说：“多条线索都显示，撞击后产生的蒸汽尘埃和喷射物质中都含有水。尽管还需要对水的含量和分布状况以及其他的物质做进一步分析，但是可以肯定地说凯布斯环形山有水。”
人类有望在月球建基地
美国布朗大学地质科学家、LCROSS项目合作调查员舒尔茨表示，有希望在月球上找到更多的水。他说：“最让人激动的是，我们只撞击了一个坑。这就好像在钻探石油的时候，一旦你找对了地方，就非常可能在附近发现更多的油。”
科学家过去一直认为，除了环形山底部可能有冰之外，月球整个来说是干的。因此在月球上找到水，可说是太空探索的一大突破。在月球上发现水的意义在于，人类未来有可能在月球上建立宇航基地。
Thursday, 17 September 2009
次季就业市场回稳 被解雇者减少 新工作增加
http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp090916_003.shtml
次季就业市场回稳 被解雇者减少 新工作增加
谢燕燕 报道
随着新加坡经济逐渐摆脱衰退阴霾，我国第二季就业市场开始稳定下来，被解雇人数减少，新工作空缺增加。
人力部 昨天公布的第二季劳动市场报告显示，今年6月的整体失业率已稳定在3.3％，和前一季一样。居民劳动队伍的失业率则从3月时的4.8％，稍微下降到6月份 的4.6％，这是因为有更多人利用政府的技能提升与应变计划（SPUR），暂时放弃找工作，转而去上课和进修。
人力部长颜金勇昨天到位于樟宜南的波蒂妮斯厂房参观时表示，从本地业者获得的反馈显示，今年第三季的就业情况应该会好转，被栽人数将显著减少。
但是，他指出：“裁员人数虽有望改善，失业率还会居高不下。据雇主们反映，目前市场仍然不明朗，他们在聘请人手方面还是会比较保守。因此，失业工友在找新工作时，可能要花更长时间。”
人力部报告显示，截至6月，失业的居民人数是11万6300人，经季度调整的人数是9万1500人，比3月份的9万5800人略为减少。
我国失业率连续五个季度上升，直到今年6月份才稳定下来，这使到长期失业情况恶化。居民人口的长期失业率已从2008年6月的0.5％，增加到今年6月的1.3％，创下四年来新高。
重新受雇率亦跌到新低，显示就业市场依然疲弱。根据公积金局的记录，今年第一季遭裁的居民中，只有43％的人在6月底重新受聘。
失业者也需要花更长时间找工作。今年6月时，约有22％（2万5800人）的求职者花了至少25个星期来找工作。2008年6月时，只有12％或9500名求职者需要花这样长的时间找工作。
今年第二季，总共有5980人被解雇，当中5170人被裁，剩余810人提早解约。第一季共有1万2760人遭解雇，相比起来，第二季遭解雇人数减少超过一半。
制造业方面，被解雇的人数从第一季的9250人，显著减少到第二季的2900人。服务业和建筑业遭解雇人数也明显减少，服务业遭解雇者从第一季的3170人，减至第二季的2850人，而建筑业则从330人减少至230人。
报告说，总就业人数在第一季减少6200人后，第二季继续减少7700人，制造业连续三个季度削减员工，但削减幅度已开始放缓，从第一季的2万2100人，放缓到第二季的1万5900人。
建筑业和服务业就业人数逐渐增加。建筑业总共增加了4700人，服务业则增加3800人。
服务业之中，有的领域增添人手，有的削减人员。社区、社会和个人服务领域增加最多人手，达7100人，行政与后援服务增加1700人，房地产和租赁服务 加了1200人，但是，酒店与餐饮业则削减2500人，交通与储藏服务减了1900人，批发和零售业少了900人，金融服务业也削减了800人。
职位空缺和之前一季比起来，上升17％，今年6月达到2万4500份新工作，但和一年前的4万零100份职位空缺比起来，还是少了39％。经季度调整，6月份总就业空缺和三个月前相比，上升了8％。
职位空缺增加，加上失业率趋向稳定，意味者在今年6月，每100名求职者中有33份职位空缺，比上一季的31份职位空缺稍好。这是五个季度连续下滑后，首次回升。
第二季裁员放緩
次季就业市场回稳 被解雇者减少 新工作增加
谢燕燕 报道
随着新加坡经济逐渐摆脱衰退阴霾，我国第二季就业市场开始稳定下来，被解雇人数减少，新工作空缺增加。
人力部 昨天公布的第二季劳动市场报告显示，今年6月的整体失业率已稳定在3.3％，和前一季一样。居民劳动队伍的失业率则从3月时的4.8％，稍微下降到6月份 的4.6％，这是因为有更多人利用政府的技能提升与应变计划（SPUR），暂时放弃找工作，转而去上课和进修。
人力部长颜金勇昨天到位于樟宜南的波蒂妮斯厂房参观时表示，从本地业者获得的反馈显示，今年第三季的就业情况应该会好转，被栽人数将显著减少。
但是，他指出：“裁员人数虽有望改善，失业率还会居高不下。据雇主们反映，目前市场仍然不明朗，他们在聘请人手方面还是会比较保守。因此，失业工友在找新工作时，可能要花更长时间。”
人力部报告显示，截至6月，失业的居民人数是11万6300人，经季度调整的人数是9万1500人，比3月份的9万5800人略为减少。
我国失业率连续五个季度上升，直到今年6月份才稳定下来，这使到长期失业情况恶化。居民人口的长期失业率已从2008年6月的0.5％，增加到今年6月的1.3％，创下四年来新高。
重新受雇率亦跌到新低，显示就业市场依然疲弱。根据公积金局的记录，今年第一季遭裁的居民中，只有43％的人在6月底重新受聘。
失业者也需要花更长时间找工作。今年6月时，约有22％（2万5800人）的求职者花了至少25个星期来找工作。2008年6月时，只有12％或9500名求职者需要花这样长的时间找工作。
今年第二季，总共有5980人被解雇，当中5170人被裁，剩余810人提早解约。第一季共有1万2760人遭解雇，相比起来，第二季遭解雇人数减少超过一半。
制造业方面，被解雇的人数从第一季的9250人，显著减少到第二季的2900人。服务业和建筑业遭解雇人数也明显减少，服务业遭解雇者从第一季的3170人，减至第二季的2850人，而建筑业则从330人减少至230人。
报告说，总就业人数在第一季减少6200人后，第二季继续减少7700人，制造业连续三个季度削减员工，但削减幅度已开始放缓，从第一季的2万2100人，放缓到第二季的1万5900人。
建筑业和服务业就业人数逐渐增加。建筑业总共增加了4700人，服务业则增加3800人。
服务业之中，有的领域增添人手，有的削减人员。社区、社会和个人服务领域增加最多人手，达7100人，行政与后援服务增加1700人，房地产和租赁服务 加了1200人，但是，酒店与餐饮业则削减2500人，交通与储藏服务减了1900人，批发和零售业少了900人，金融服务业也削减了800人。
职位空缺和之前一季比起来，上升17％，今年6月达到2万4500份新工作，但和一年前的4万零100份职位空缺比起来，还是少了39％。经季度调整，6月份总就业空缺和三个月前相比，上升了8％。
职位空缺增加，加上失业率趋向稳定，意味者在今年6月，每100名求职者中有33份职位空缺，比上一季的31份职位空缺稍好。这是五个季度连续下滑后，首次回升。
第二季裁员放緩
转载 外来移民 调节流入速度以免冲淡国民认同感
http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp090916_001.shtml
我国长期发展需要外来移民
但须调节流入速度以免冲淡国民认同感
李韵琳 报道 新加坡在长期发展方面所面对的最大局限，不是土地的空间而是人力资源的局限。我们要有更多的人才，才能提出更多创新的构想来拓展有限的空间，以及创造更多机会来带动发展。因此，政府有必要经过周详考虑，以适度增加人口。
尽管有了这个长期吸引外来移民的大前提，李显龙总理强调政府始终都会留意我们的社会能多快吸收新移民，并让他们融入我们的社会，因此将调节移民流入的速度，以免冲淡国民认同感或弱化社会凝聚力。
他 昨晚在南洋理工大学学生会举办的论坛上讲话时指出，人们应该区分暂时在本地打工的客工和移民之间的不同，尤其是一些国人埋怨不懂得讲英语的服务人员， 他们大多数很可能是客工，而不是永久居民或新公民，雇主是因为找不到新加坡人担任这些工作而雇用客工。无论如何，他表示政府也很清楚不能毫无节制地引进客 工。
过去几年因为经济强劲增长，我国每年引进超过10万名外国人，其中大多数都是客工，而新公民和永久居民的人数也比过去来得多。但是，政府也清楚在金融危机爆发之后，经济不可能再像过去几年那样强劲增长，下来引进的外国人数目不可能像前几年那么多。
李总理指出，目前在本地工作的外国人将近100万，他无法想象数目每年都在增加，最终达到200万之众。因此，政府将调节外来工人的数目，并着重培训工人和加强他们的生产力。
他 透露目前在本地的非公民有55％是客工，30％是永久居民，其余15％是学生或外国人的亲属。在经济衰退的时候，客工能缓冲就业市场的压力。比如今年 上半年，新加坡经济严重萎缩。在这段时期，客工人数就减少了超过2万1000人，缓和了一些裁员压力，而本地人则在同期增加了超过7000份工作。
他 表示理解引进大量的外国人已让许多国人感觉受到威胁，担心自己的饭碗不保，也无法接受本地人与外地人之间的文化和习惯上的差异和社会环境的变化等。对 于国人的这些焦虑，李总理表示体谅，并且调强调我国的移民政策永远会把国人的利益放在第一位，但是要保障国人的长期利益，我们还是必须持续引进人才。政府 也有必要更明确地区分公民、永久居民和非公民的利益。
李总理希望人们明白虽然表面上客工会与本地人竞争工作，但是他们的努力付出，也能 激励国人进取，而竞争也会让我们进步。此外，他们其实还可以为国人创造更多的就业机会，比如做国人不想从事的工作或轮班工作，协助我们吸引更多国际企业到 本地落脚，为国人制造更多更好的就业机会。
对于年轻国人经常对政府的政策有诸多批评，他指出政策并非静止不变的，将来要如何演变，是掌握在下一代人的手里。
因此，他对学生们说年轻人与其问“我们还有发展空间吗？”，倒不如问“我们该如何创造更多进步的空间和机会？”
我国长期发展需要外来移民
但须调节流入速度以免冲淡国民认同感
李韵琳 报道 新加坡在长期发展方面所面对的最大局限，不是土地的空间而是人力资源的局限。我们要有更多的人才，才能提出更多创新的构想来拓展有限的空间，以及创造更多机会来带动发展。因此，政府有必要经过周详考虑，以适度增加人口。
尽管有了这个长期吸引外来移民的大前提，李显龙总理强调政府始终都会留意我们的社会能多快吸收新移民，并让他们融入我们的社会，因此将调节移民流入的速度，以免冲淡国民认同感或弱化社会凝聚力。
他 昨晚在南洋理工大学学生会举办的论坛上讲话时指出，人们应该区分暂时在本地打工的客工和移民之间的不同，尤其是一些国人埋怨不懂得讲英语的服务人员， 他们大多数很可能是客工，而不是永久居民或新公民，雇主是因为找不到新加坡人担任这些工作而雇用客工。无论如何，他表示政府也很清楚不能毫无节制地引进客 工。
过去几年因为经济强劲增长，我国每年引进超过10万名外国人，其中大多数都是客工，而新公民和永久居民的人数也比过去来得多。但是，政府也清楚在金融危机爆发之后，经济不可能再像过去几年那样强劲增长，下来引进的外国人数目不可能像前几年那么多。
李总理指出，目前在本地工作的外国人将近100万，他无法想象数目每年都在增加，最终达到200万之众。因此，政府将调节外来工人的数目，并着重培训工人和加强他们的生产力。
他 透露目前在本地的非公民有55％是客工，30％是永久居民，其余15％是学生或外国人的亲属。在经济衰退的时候，客工能缓冲就业市场的压力。比如今年 上半年，新加坡经济严重萎缩。在这段时期，客工人数就减少了超过2万1000人，缓和了一些裁员压力，而本地人则在同期增加了超过7000份工作。
他 表示理解引进大量的外国人已让许多国人感觉受到威胁，担心自己的饭碗不保，也无法接受本地人与外地人之间的文化和习惯上的差异和社会环境的变化等。对 于国人的这些焦虑，李总理表示体谅，并且调强调我国的移民政策永远会把国人的利益放在第一位，但是要保障国人的长期利益，我们还是必须持续引进人才。政府 也有必要更明确地区分公民、永久居民和非公民的利益。
李总理希望人们明白虽然表面上客工会与本地人竞争工作，但是他们的努力付出，也能 激励国人进取，而竞争也会让我们进步。此外，他们其实还可以为国人创造更多的就业机会，比如做国人不想从事的工作或轮班工作，协助我们吸引更多国际企业到 本地落脚，为国人制造更多更好的就业机会。
对于年轻国人经常对政府的政策有诸多批评，他指出政策并非静止不变的，将来要如何演变，是掌握在下一代人的手里。
因此，他对学生们说年轻人与其问“我们还有发展空间吗？”，倒不如问“我们该如何创造更多进步的空间和机会？”
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
shifting over to blogspot
因为雅虎博客要停止了
因运营策略的调整，雅虎空间将于2009年10月30日正式停止服务，请您在此日期前就您空间博客、相册、评论的个人资料和相关内容以下述方式进行充分留存备份，也请您方便时通知您空间的好友并与好友保持联系。届时雅虎空间将不再留存您的任何个人资料和相关内容。
您可以通过点击下方按钮，按照页面引导进行打包下载，如有问题请查看帮助中心，或者反馈给工作人员，我们会尽快帮您解决。
由此给您带来的不便，敬请您谅解！感谢您一直以来对雅虎空间的支持！
停我得把我的博客转移到这里来
其中要记录几个博客朋友
MBA 林彤彤。http://www.kaixin001.com/ http://hexun.com/renb/default.html
因运营策略的调整，雅虎空间将于2009年10月30日正式停止服务，请您在此日期前就您空间博客、相册、评论的个人资料和相关内容以下述方式进行充分留存备份，也请您方便时通知您空间的好友并与好友保持联系。届时雅虎空间将不再留存您的任何个人资料和相关内容。
您可以通过点击下方按钮，按照页面引导进行打包下载，如有问题请查看帮助中心，或者反馈给工作人员，我们会尽快帮您解决。
由此给您带来的不便，敬请您谅解！感谢您一直以来对雅虎空间的支持！
停我得把我的博客转移到这里来
其中要记录几个博客朋友
MBA 林彤彤。http://www.kaixin001.com/ http://hexun.com/renb/default.html
由於博文被干擾 請改到http://blog.ifeng.com/1986912.html....網頁受入侵，未能回訪，謝謝串門． 鳳凰bloog也來政治審查..小心言論 回复
Monday, 17 August 2009
Beating the boys
Beating the boys
http://www.straitstimes.com/Overcoming%2BThe%2BStorm/SME%2BSpotlight/Story/STIStory_406574.html
FASHION show organiser, nightclub owner, restaurant and bar proprietor - these are jobs for tough guys.
But Ms Karen Seah - all petite 1.55m of her - is one single-minded woman who has taken on these male-dominated domains and succeeded.
The latest venture by Ms Seah, 37, sounds tame in comparison: an events and public relations company.
But true to her maverick nature, she is upping the ante by launching an online reality show as well, called Supermodel Me.
The elder daughter of corporate figure and former Overseas Union Bank president Peter Seah, she had a privileged upbringing, attending boarding school in Britain.
Back then, the teenager, already interested in photography, fashion and events management, used to organise events for her classmates. Once, while home for the holidays, she and some friends put on a successful fashion show to help raise money for charity.
In Singapore, she spent much of her time hanging out at nightspot Zouk.
After getting a degree in photojournalism and a master's in psychology from Boston University, Ms Seah moved Down Under to Melbourne, to do her PhD in psychology.
In her spare time though, she did not stray far from her first love of clubs and events management - organising one-off theme nights at various nightclubs.
Despite her relative inexperience, she had a knack for turning a profit on these events, and soon found herself agreeing to handle Friday nights - the busiest night of the week - for one Aussie club.
Just six months short of completing her PhD, a chance came her way to own a Melbourne nightclub in a fantastic location, and she took it.
On paper, it looked like a highly questionable move for a 26-year-old with little in the way of savings. But Ms Seah reasoned that opportunity only knocks once.
'I thought this was a chance of a lifetime. It taught me a lot. If I can survive that, I can survive anything.'
Naturally her parents were dead set against the move, but she told them that she was not a 'desk job person'.
She got a partner on board to share the total investment of A$1 million (S$1.1 million), remaining the larger shareholder.
Ms Seah got a loan from her father to fund her venture; which was granted only after she had written up a detailed business plan with projections that managed to convince him.
'He looked at it like a banker,' she said.
So she ran the Salt Nightclub in Melbourne and became the youngest-ever member - the only Asian and only female to boot - of the Australian city's Nightclub Owners' Association.
In the two years that she ran the club, sited in a former warehouse in the trendy inner city suburb of South Yarra, it became one of the most popular clubbing venues in Melbourne.
But amid the success, Ms Seah was shocked to see a patron being stabbed on the dance floor. It caused her to think twice about operating in the industry.
'It hits you hard - business gets affected, there are safety issues, there is also the media backlash about an 'Asian club' and the association with Vietnamese or Chinese gangs.'
'It was getting tough,' she admitted. 'My passion of running a nightclub was for people to enjoy the music or theme nights, not having to deal with this.'
Eventually, she thought that it was time to call it a day in Melbourne.
'I sold off the business at a profit,' she said. She repaid her father with the proceeds.
By then, Ms Seah had built up a name for herself in the industry in Melbourne, and the opportunity soon beckoned for her to do the same in Kuala Lumpur - by starting up another club, called Nouvo.
While KL may have been closer to home and family, it did not mean that it was a walk in the park - the culture and religion there were hugely different from what she was used to.
'Kuala Lumpur is not for a sheltered person to venture into to do business. It was difficult to operate there. You have to work with the police. There are also gangs. Navigating Malaysia was challenging. I didn't speak Malay or Cantonese, so it was a complete culture shock for me,' she recalled.
A big break came next when well-known nightclub owner Lincoln Cheng, the man behind Zouk in Singapore, wanted to set up an outfit in Malaysia.
'I felt I understood Zouk culture, the way they operated, and how they had created a brand, a sort of culture.'
She was roped in to start up the club. Proudly, Ms Seah said: 'I built that club from scratch, literally.' She had to deal with the contractors during the construction process, set up the administrative functions, recruit managers and staff, and talk to other investors.
'People may think it is glamorous, but running a nightclub involves understanding the construction and tender process, how to design the traffic flow, so that it is easy for patrons to move about and get to the bar. Sound, lighting as well as security are all part and parcel of running a successful nightclub.'
Just as important in the business is understanding accounts and cash.
'A nightclub is a cash business so you have to make sure that it is safe,' said Ms Seah.
And there are always problems - the staff fight, customers are unreasonable, there is bad press. 'My father taught me that a big part of running a business is people management,' said Ms Seah, who is single.
Her crowning achievement in Malaysia? Ms Seah is proud of how she put together Zouk Fest, a rave at Genting Highlands attended by about 16,000 people.
Then only 34, Ms Seah felt that she needed to take some time out. In the years that she lived in Malaysia, she was accompanied by bodyguards around KL, because of fears of being attacked or kidnapped. Nightclub owners, Ms Seah said, try to remain low-profile.
Finally, she returned to Singapore in 2006.
Together with partners, she set up Mimolette, a bar and restaurant located near the old Turf Club, tucked away into the greenery, partly because 'I had always wanted to go into the restaurant business and this was my first attempt'.
Her latest move came in February, with the launch of an events company Refinery Studio, and a media arm called Refinery Media.
Despite opening for business during the worst of the economic turmoil, Refinery Studio already had four fashion shows and events under its belt by April - not bad for a fledgling company.
And Ms Seah is keen to get ahead of the pack. To showcase her team's talents, the Web fanatic even came up with the idea of Singapore's first online reality show - Supermodel Me.
The show puts 10 attractive wanna-be models through various challenges to win prizes, among them cash of $10,000.
The project costs a low six-figure sum. Ms Seah has put in some of her own money while securing sponsorship from a variety of firms such as Topshop.
Innovative features dot the show - by clicking on the clothes that the models are wearing, viewers can find out where they can buy the outfits.
The shows are being aired on the Internet over 10 weeks, with a grand finale on Aug 22.
'I want to see Singapore promote more pan-Asian models in shows,' said Ms Seah. 'This show not only demonstrates what my team can do, but I am also doing my part for the local modelling scene.'
It may seem like a hodgepodge of different businesses, but she said: 'What I'm doing is all related. I feel that the lifestyle business can encompass music, clubbing, fashion and technology.'
While Ms Seah has not received any government funding so far, Exploit, the marketing and commercialisation arm of the Agency for Science, Technology And Research, and Refinery Media have signed an agreement to look into developing new technologies.
Her thoughts on setting up a business: 'Being an entrepreneur, you don't have a 'back door'. You have to do things on your own. You may be scared, but you have got to go on, because you have invested so much money and there's no turning back.'
sushyan@sph.com.sg
http://www.straitstimes.com/Overcoming%2BThe%2BStorm/SME%2BSpotlight/Story/STIStory_406574.html
FASHION show organiser, nightclub owner, restaurant and bar proprietor - these are jobs for tough guys.
But Ms Karen Seah - all petite 1.55m of her - is one single-minded woman who has taken on these male-dominated domains and succeeded.
The latest venture by Ms Seah, 37, sounds tame in comparison: an events and public relations company.
But true to her maverick nature, she is upping the ante by launching an online reality show as well, called Supermodel Me.
The elder daughter of corporate figure and former Overseas Union Bank president Peter Seah, she had a privileged upbringing, attending boarding school in Britain.
Back then, the teenager, already interested in photography, fashion and events management, used to organise events for her classmates. Once, while home for the holidays, she and some friends put on a successful fashion show to help raise money for charity.
In Singapore, she spent much of her time hanging out at nightspot Zouk.
After getting a degree in photojournalism and a master's in psychology from Boston University, Ms Seah moved Down Under to Melbourne, to do her PhD in psychology.
In her spare time though, she did not stray far from her first love of clubs and events management - organising one-off theme nights at various nightclubs.
Despite her relative inexperience, she had a knack for turning a profit on these events, and soon found herself agreeing to handle Friday nights - the busiest night of the week - for one Aussie club.
Just six months short of completing her PhD, a chance came her way to own a Melbourne nightclub in a fantastic location, and she took it.
On paper, it looked like a highly questionable move for a 26-year-old with little in the way of savings. But Ms Seah reasoned that opportunity only knocks once.
'I thought this was a chance of a lifetime. It taught me a lot. If I can survive that, I can survive anything.'
Naturally her parents were dead set against the move, but she told them that she was not a 'desk job person'.
She got a partner on board to share the total investment of A$1 million (S$1.1 million), remaining the larger shareholder.
Ms Seah got a loan from her father to fund her venture; which was granted only after she had written up a detailed business plan with projections that managed to convince him.
'He looked at it like a banker,' she said.
So she ran the Salt Nightclub in Melbourne and became the youngest-ever member - the only Asian and only female to boot - of the Australian city's Nightclub Owners' Association.
In the two years that she ran the club, sited in a former warehouse in the trendy inner city suburb of South Yarra, it became one of the most popular clubbing venues in Melbourne.
But amid the success, Ms Seah was shocked to see a patron being stabbed on the dance floor. It caused her to think twice about operating in the industry.
'It hits you hard - business gets affected, there are safety issues, there is also the media backlash about an 'Asian club' and the association with Vietnamese or Chinese gangs.'
'It was getting tough,' she admitted. 'My passion of running a nightclub was for people to enjoy the music or theme nights, not having to deal with this.'
Eventually, she thought that it was time to call it a day in Melbourne.
'I sold off the business at a profit,' she said. She repaid her father with the proceeds.
By then, Ms Seah had built up a name for herself in the industry in Melbourne, and the opportunity soon beckoned for her to do the same in Kuala Lumpur - by starting up another club, called Nouvo.
While KL may have been closer to home and family, it did not mean that it was a walk in the park - the culture and religion there were hugely different from what she was used to.
'Kuala Lumpur is not for a sheltered person to venture into to do business. It was difficult to operate there. You have to work with the police. There are also gangs. Navigating Malaysia was challenging. I didn't speak Malay or Cantonese, so it was a complete culture shock for me,' she recalled.
A big break came next when well-known nightclub owner Lincoln Cheng, the man behind Zouk in Singapore, wanted to set up an outfit in Malaysia.
'I felt I understood Zouk culture, the way they operated, and how they had created a brand, a sort of culture.'
She was roped in to start up the club. Proudly, Ms Seah said: 'I built that club from scratch, literally.' She had to deal with the contractors during the construction process, set up the administrative functions, recruit managers and staff, and talk to other investors.
'People may think it is glamorous, but running a nightclub involves understanding the construction and tender process, how to design the traffic flow, so that it is easy for patrons to move about and get to the bar. Sound, lighting as well as security are all part and parcel of running a successful nightclub.'
Just as important in the business is understanding accounts and cash.
'A nightclub is a cash business so you have to make sure that it is safe,' said Ms Seah.
And there are always problems - the staff fight, customers are unreasonable, there is bad press. 'My father taught me that a big part of running a business is people management,' said Ms Seah, who is single.
Her crowning achievement in Malaysia? Ms Seah is proud of how she put together Zouk Fest, a rave at Genting Highlands attended by about 16,000 people.
Then only 34, Ms Seah felt that she needed to take some time out. In the years that she lived in Malaysia, she was accompanied by bodyguards around KL, because of fears of being attacked or kidnapped. Nightclub owners, Ms Seah said, try to remain low-profile.
Finally, she returned to Singapore in 2006.
Together with partners, she set up Mimolette, a bar and restaurant located near the old Turf Club, tucked away into the greenery, partly because 'I had always wanted to go into the restaurant business and this was my first attempt'.
Her latest move came in February, with the launch of an events company Refinery Studio, and a media arm called Refinery Media.
Despite opening for business during the worst of the economic turmoil, Refinery Studio already had four fashion shows and events under its belt by April - not bad for a fledgling company.
And Ms Seah is keen to get ahead of the pack. To showcase her team's talents, the Web fanatic even came up with the idea of Singapore's first online reality show - Supermodel Me.
The show puts 10 attractive wanna-be models through various challenges to win prizes, among them cash of $10,000.
The project costs a low six-figure sum. Ms Seah has put in some of her own money while securing sponsorship from a variety of firms such as Topshop.
Innovative features dot the show - by clicking on the clothes that the models are wearing, viewers can find out where they can buy the outfits.
The shows are being aired on the Internet over 10 weeks, with a grand finale on Aug 22.
'I want to see Singapore promote more pan-Asian models in shows,' said Ms Seah. 'This show not only demonstrates what my team can do, but I am also doing my part for the local modelling scene.'
It may seem like a hodgepodge of different businesses, but she said: 'What I'm doing is all related. I feel that the lifestyle business can encompass music, clubbing, fashion and technology.'
While Ms Seah has not received any government funding so far, Exploit, the marketing and commercialisation arm of the Agency for Science, Technology And Research, and Refinery Media have signed an agreement to look into developing new technologies.
Her thoughts on setting up a business: 'Being an entrepreneur, you don't have a 'back door'. You have to do things on your own. You may be scared, but you have got to go on, because you have invested so much money and there's no turning back.'
sushyan@sph.com.sg
Saturday, 15 August 2009
First Scholar heads for China
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_417095.html
Scholar heads for China
IN A break from tradition, one of this year's President's Scholars will be going to university in China - the first to do so.
All the previous winners of Singapore's most prestigious scholarship have gone mainly to Ivy League schools in the United States, or to top British universities.
Piqued by her interest in the 'Chinese psyche', Miss Tan Bao Jia, 19, picked Peking University over the Wharton School in the United States.
The former Dunman High School student council president is from the first batch of PSC China scholars, a new category of scholarships introduced this year.
But it was not smooth sailing all the way for her. She admitted with a laugh that at one point she had second thoughts about doing Chinese Language and Literature, as well as China Studies, at the A-level standard.
Miss Tan, who speaks English, Mandarin and Hokkien with her father, a shipping manager, and mother, a housewife, found the first few months tough going.
'It was harder than I thought it would be to love the subject,' she said of Chinese literature. 'But the teachers helped, and I grew to love some of the China writers.'
Among her favourites: major 20th-century writers Lu Xun and Lao She.
The avid trekker, who also enjoys solving Sudoku puzzles, is the eldest of three girls. Her younger sisters are at Tanjong Katong Girls' School and Victoria Junior College.
She will study economics, and believes that Singapore will benefit from having people who understand Chinese culture first-hand and how the country operates.
Scholar heads for China
IN A break from tradition, one of this year's President's Scholars will be going to university in China - the first to do so.
All the previous winners of Singapore's most prestigious scholarship have gone mainly to Ivy League schools in the United States, or to top British universities.
Piqued by her interest in the 'Chinese psyche', Miss Tan Bao Jia, 19, picked Peking University over the Wharton School in the United States.
The former Dunman High School student council president is from the first batch of PSC China scholars, a new category of scholarships introduced this year.
But it was not smooth sailing all the way for her. She admitted with a laugh that at one point she had second thoughts about doing Chinese Language and Literature, as well as China Studies, at the A-level standard.
Miss Tan, who speaks English, Mandarin and Hokkien with her father, a shipping manager, and mother, a housewife, found the first few months tough going.
'It was harder than I thought it would be to love the subject,' she said of Chinese literature. 'But the teachers helped, and I grew to love some of the China writers.'
Among her favourites: major 20th-century writers Lu Xun and Lao She.
The avid trekker, who also enjoys solving Sudoku puzzles, is the eldest of three girls. Her younger sisters are at Tanjong Katong Girls' School and Victoria Junior College.
She will study economics, and believes that Singapore will benefit from having people who understand Chinese culture first-hand and how the country operates.
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Top meeting city again
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_410765.html
Top meeting city again
SINGAPORE has been voted the most popular city in the world for business meetings for the second consecutive year.
Paris and Brussels come in second and third place respectively.
The 637 meetings it hosted in 2008 represented a 36 per cent increase over the number of meetings hosted in 2007. Notable meetings include the International Thalassaemia Conference, ISNCC 15th International Conference on Cancer Nursing, the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference and the IEEE Electronics Packaging Technology Conference.
'The rise of Singapore in the international organisations meeting market is a noteworthy feature. In 2008 it has not only maintained its position in first place, it has increased its margin to 50 per cent more meetings than the second-ranked city,' said Mr Jacques de Mevius, secretary-General of the Union of International Associations.
On top of that, the city-state has moved one notch up to third position in the 'Top International Meeting Countries' category. The United States takes top spot, and France is in second place.
Singapore is still the top country and city in Asia to hold a meeting, a ranking that it has held for the past 25 years.
The Union tracks meetings made by international organisations which appear in the Yearbook of International Organisations and in the International Congress Calendar, and some national meetings with international participation.
It does not count national meetings, corporate and incentive meetings, and those of an exclusively religious, didactic, political, commercial, or sporting nature.
Top meeting city again
SINGAPORE has been voted the most popular city in the world for business meetings for the second consecutive year.
Paris and Brussels come in second and third place respectively.
The 637 meetings it hosted in 2008 represented a 36 per cent increase over the number of meetings hosted in 2007. Notable meetings include the International Thalassaemia Conference, ISNCC 15th International Conference on Cancer Nursing, the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference and the IEEE Electronics Packaging Technology Conference.
'The rise of Singapore in the international organisations meeting market is a noteworthy feature. In 2008 it has not only maintained its position in first place, it has increased its margin to 50 per cent more meetings than the second-ranked city,' said Mr Jacques de Mevius, secretary-General of the Union of International Associations.
On top of that, the city-state has moved one notch up to third position in the 'Top International Meeting Countries' category. The United States takes top spot, and France is in second place.
Singapore is still the top country and city in Asia to hold a meeting, a ranking that it has held for the past 25 years.
The Union tracks meetings made by international organisations which appear in the Yearbook of International Organisations and in the International Congress Calendar, and some national meetings with international participation.
It does not count national meetings, corporate and incentive meetings, and those of an exclusively religious, didactic, political, commercial, or sporting nature.
Friday, 31 July 2009
Singapore firm launches touchscreen tablet computer
I was complating buying an netbook
but seem that i have to wait for following
and also any device that support Google new OS
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_410527.html
July 31, 2009
World's first tablet PC
Singapore firm launches touchscreen tablet computer
By Tan Weizhen
Fusion Garage founder Chandraseka Rathakrishnan (centre) and his team appear to be on track to launch their Crunchpad touchscreen tablet by November, hopefully ahead of Apple's rumoured tablet which reportedly will be available by the end of the year. -- ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW
A SINGAPORE company is racing to be the first in the world to bring an almost mythical creature - the touchscreen tablet computer - to the market.
Nuts and bolts
# Dimensions: 12.77 by 7.83 inches, and 0.74 inch thick.
... more
The start-up, Fusion Garage, has teamed up with famed American technology blog Techcrunch and aims to get its machine out by November, in time for the Christmas buying rush.
The company gave The Straits Times a sneak preview last week. The fully working model, called a Crunchpad, has a 12-inch screen and weighs 1.2kg.
It allows users to watch YouTube videos, listen to music and edit documents, among other things.
Its operating system, or OS, was also developed in-house. The device will not have storage space - which some analysts have pegged as a big drawback - and will instead run programs hosted on servers: so-called cloud computing.
This means that editing a document, for instance, requires users to access the relevant software via the Internet. Once a document is completed, it will be saved via the Internet too.
The race to launch the touchscreen tablet has captivated computer geeks worldwide, with a large amount of speculation, and anticipation, centred on Apple.
Rumours of a 10-inch Apple tablet device in the vein of the iPhone and iPod Touch have abounded over the last few months. Early this week, the Financial Times reported that Apple's device will be available by the end of the year.
Fusion Garage's Singaporean founder, Mr Chandrasekar Rathakrishnan, 29, said he is not worried about the possibility of going up against Apple. 'It's two different market segments. The Apple tablet will likely be applications-driven. Ours will be Web-driven.'
If anything, he said, the American technology giant will help the Crunchpad by raising awareness of such products. Analysts see a touchscreen tablet as a forerunner of the Next Big Thing in computing - touchscreen PCs and laptops.
Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
tanwz@sph.com.sg
Saturday, 18 July 2009
asian investment 2009
Just want to note down I have go following event with Chaw Hin
http://www.asiainvestment.com.sg/whatis_aice.htm
The Asian Investment Conference and Exhibition 2009 (AICE 2009), organised by SIAS and supported by SGX and the Singapore Tourism Board, will be held at Suntec Convention Centre over this coming weekend.
AICE 2009 will see a number of public listed companies and financial sector companies present for investors to know more about them. There will also be more than 50 talks on various investment topics.
Date and time:
18 July 09: 12pm – 9pm
19 July 09: 10am – 7pm
Venue:
Suntec Convention Centre,
Level 6, Hall 601 (1 Raffles Boulevard, Suntec City Singapore 039593)
http://www.asiainvestment.com.sg/whatis_aice.htm
The Asian Investment Conference and Exhibition 2009 (AICE 2009), organised by SIAS and supported by SGX and the Singapore Tourism Board, will be held at Suntec Convention Centre over this coming weekend.
AICE 2009 will see a number of public listed companies and financial sector companies present for investors to know more about them. There will also be more than 50 talks on various investment topics.
Date and time:
18 July 09: 12pm – 9pm
19 July 09: 10am – 7pm
Venue:
Suntec Convention Centre,
Level 6, Hall 601 (1 Raffles Boulevard, Suntec City Singapore 039593)
SAF special operations group participates in Exercise Northstar VII
SAF special operations group participates in Exercise Northstar VII
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publications/cyberpioneer/news/2009/July/15jul09_news.html
Posted: 15 Jul 2009, 2000 hours (Time is GMT +8 hours)
Related Content
15 Jul 09 - Photo Gallery: SAF special operations group participates in Exercise Northstar VII
15 Jul 09 - News Video: Stemming the Tide of Terror
15 Jul 09 - Stemming the Tide Of Terror [YouTube]
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publications/cyberpioneer/news/2009/July/15jul09_news.html
Posted: 15 Jul 2009, 2000 hours (Time is GMT +8 hours)
Report by Ong Hong Tat |
| Photos by PIONEER Photographers |
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To test Singapore's readiness to deal with concurrent terrorist attacks, 15 agencies including the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) came together in a homeland security exercise codenamed Northstar VII. |
"The SAF stands ready 24/7 to meet a range of threats to Singapore," said Colonel Benedict Lim, Assistant Chief of General Staff (Operations). The successful collaboration among the multiple agencies showcased during the exercise is a result of many years of working together, said Mr Lee. "We are very grateful to the Home Team and the SAF for keeping us safe," he added. Also present to view the climatic finale of the exercise at Rasa Sentosa Hotel were Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Professor S Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng and other Members of Parliament. |
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15 Jul 09 - Photo Gallery: SAF special operations group participates in Exercise Northstar VII
15 Jul 09 - News Video: Stemming the Tide of Terror
15 Jul 09 - Stemming the Tide Of Terror [YouTube]
Friday, 17 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Google to launch PC operating system in second half 2010
Copy from http://sg.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20090708/tbs-google-7318940.html
* Google to launch PC operating system in second half 2010
* Move takes direct aim at Microsoft Windows
* New OS to power PCs ranging from netbooks to desktops
By Alexei Oreskovic
SUN VALLEY, Idaho, July 8 - Google Inc
Google, which already offers a suite of e-mail, Web and other software products that compete with Microsoft, said on Tuesday it would launch a new operating system for computers ranging from ultra-compact netbooks to full-size desktop PCs.
Called the Google Chrome Operating System, the new software will be in netbooks for consumers in the second half of 2010, Google said in a blog post, adding that it was working with multiple manufacturers.
"It's been part of their culture to go after and remove Microsoft as a major holder of technology, and this is part of their strategy to do it," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at Enderle Group. "This could be very disruptive. If they can execute, Microsoft is vulnerable to an attack like this, and they know it," he said.
Google and Microsoft have often locked horns over the years in a variety of markets, from Internet search to mobile software. It remains to be seen if Google can take market share away from Microsoft on its home turf, with Windows currently installed in more than 90 percent of the world's PCs.
Key to success will be whether Google can lock in partnerships with PC makers, such as Hewlett-Packard Co
Google's Chrome Internet browser, launched in late 2008, remains a distant fourth in the Web browser market, with a 1.2 percent share in February, according to market research firm Net Applications. Microsoft's Internet Explorer continues to dominate, with nearly 70 percent.
A spokesman for Microsoft had no immediate comment.
FAST AND LIGHTWEIGHT
The new Chrome OS is expected to work well with many of the company's popular software applications, such as Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Maps.
It will be fast and lightweight, enabling users to access the Web in a few seconds, Google said. The new OS is based on open-source Linux code, which allows third-party developers to design compatible applications.
"The operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web," Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management at Google, said in the blog post. The Chrome OS is "our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be".
Google said Chrome OS was a new project, separate from its Android mobile operating software found in some smartphones. Acer Inc <2353.tw>, the world's No.3 PC brand, has already agreed to sell netbooks that run Android.
The new OS is designed to work with ARM
Charlene Li, partner at consulting company Altimeter Group, said Google's new OS will initially appeal to consumers looking for a netbook-like device for Web surfing, rather than people who use desktop PCs for gaming or high-powered applications.
But eventually, the Google OS has the potential to scale up to larger, more powerful PCs -- especially if it proves to run faster than Windows, she said.
Enderle expects Google to charge at most a nominal fee for the new OS, or make it free, saying the company's business model has been to earn revenue off connecting applications or advertising.
Li added: "A benefit to the consumer is that the cost saving is passed on, not having to pay for an OS."
"It's clearly positioned as a shot across the bow of Microsoft," she said. (Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic and Edwin Chan; Writing by Tiffany Wu; Editing by Dan Lalor/Will Waterman)
MICE MICE MICE -
Copy from http://www.singaporedice.com/MICEMICEMICE.php
MICE MICE MICE - Full-on Competition Between the Two Upcoming Singapore
Integrated Resorts to Fill Their Booking Sheets!
MICE MICE MICE - Full-on Competition Between the Two Upcoming Singapore
Integrated Resorts to Fill Their Booking Sheets!
By Donn Richard
October 2008
Singapore
It is official, Singapore has been named the ‘World’s Top Meeting Destination’ by the Union of International Association’s (UIA). This is hardly surprising given that Singapore not long ago clinched the award of ‘Best Business City in the World’ by Business Traveler Asia Pacific for the 10th time as well as having been voted for a whopping 24 times as Asia’s finest place for meetings due to its business friendly environment.
Such awards are not just mere trophies. They translate into profits. In 2007, the Singapore MICE industry contributed well over 35% of total tourism receipts. This was a year in which Singapore was host to a whopping 465 international meetings. An astounding accomplishment which few other cities can boast of.
How is all of this accomplished? Firstly, Singapore has absolutely supurb infrastructure including a first-class public transportation system. Furthermore, The Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB) have proven to be a winning combination by providing both overall strategy and constant fine-tuning.
With MICE playing such an important role in bringing in the tourist dollars, it is no surprise that the region will soon be witness to a full-on competition between the two new IRs to fill their booking sheets.
Singaporedice had the pleasure of being present at the 16th IT&CMA and the 11th CTW Asia-Pacific 2008 trade exhibition and conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, October 7 – October 9.
With both the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa’s MICE teams touring the world it came as no surprise to see them there.
Singaporedice has been an on-going witness to the rapidly rising MICE superstructures at the MBS & RWS construction sites.
The Marina Bay Sands promises to act as a magnet to propel Singapore to the next level of international success as it is backed by one of the world’s most powerful Integrated Resorts builders, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation with its proven track record as builders of world-class integrated resorts.
The Marina Bay Sands also represents itself as offering the most expertise when it comes to MICE offerings in the Asian market.
The Marina Bay Sands will combine luxury hotel facilities with excellent MICE facilities, an Art Science Museum, theatres, entertainment, shopping and gaming in the new Marina Bay area.
Regarding Resorts World at Sentosa, Singapore’s only island integrated resort, their marketing theme of ‘injecting the fun back into business’ at the 16th IT&CMA held in Bangkok, Thailand, proved to be a true winner. Resorts World at Sentosa was able to pack a full schedule of back-to-back meetings with some of the biggest names in the regional MICE industry.
Download RWS’s MICE Fact Sheet here.
Resorts World offers MICE visitors not only great meetings and conventions with their 26 function rooms and no less than 20 extraordinary incentive venues but also provides the new idea of combining business with fun, something never seen before in Asia. One example of this is offering delegates meeting venues in the morning and an opportunity to network at Universal Studios in the afternoon.
“Our optimism stems from knowing where our strengths lie. With our gamut of attractions, accommodations, entertainment and performances – all of which are housed under a single destination – we are offering a one-stop MICE destination that has never been available in this part of the world; and amid rising costs and fears of a slowdown in the world economy, corporate events might be reduced, but they WILL continue to take place. With the unique offerings at the Resort and a whole range of venues for meetings and experiences for incentive travel, our MICE business will still do well” Mr Richard Teo, Assistant Vice President for Resort Sales, Resorts World at Sentosa, said.
And Resorts World at Sentosa doesn’t stop there. It offers 6 choices of hotel accommodation, each with their own unique theme.
Resorts World at Sentosa is located only a short 20-minute ride away from Changi Airport. Additionally it is surrounded by a great range of attractions such as Singapore’s largest shopping mall, VivoCity, Singapore’s largest nightspot, St James Power Station and of course, the world famous Sentosa Golf Club, just to name a few.
With both IRs substantially expanding the MICE travel sector and therefore contributing to at least half of total MICE tourism receipts and both, Resorts World at Sentosa and the Marina Bay Sands confirming to have received enthusiastic responses to their MICE offerings, there is no doubt that the two IRs will help position Singapore as THE leading leisure, tourism and MICE destination in the world.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Careers in Hospitality and Tourism- The Reality is Now
Copy from http://www.singaporedice.com/careersintourismandhospitality
Careers in Hospitality and Tourism- The Reality is Now
Careers in Hospitality and Tourism- The Reality is Now
By Donn Richard
March 2008
Singapore
Global tourism is one of the largest sectors of the Global Economy. Additionally, many experts forecast significant, continual growth as the target market (tourists) becomes increasingly selective and demanding in where and how they choose to spend their money. This has meant an increase in high-end tourist facilities even in countries whose economies were primarily driven by manufacturing or even by low-end tourism.
Singapore is a case in point. Singapore's economy has been driven primarily by electronics manufacturing, financial services, and oil refining. Its infrastructure is superb, including one of the World’s most efficient airports. It has consistently been noted for its safe, low-crime atmosphere.
In short, Singapore has all the necessary ingredients for a thriving, successful tourism sector.
More importantly, the Singapore Government is aware of all this and had set the Singapore Tourism Board on an aggressive drive to increase tourism over the past 3-4 years. This drive has already yielded positive results. Tourist arrivals have risen dramatically and are expected to continue increasing far into the foreseeable future.
Singapore’s tourism sector currently makes up three percent of the city’s GDP. However, forecasts predict this number to rise to up to 10 percent by 2015.
The Singapore government is committed to doubling the number of visitors to 17 million a year by 2015, and to treble tourism receipts to $30 billion. This means enormous job creation in tourism and hospitality.
Let us consider present examples. Singapore was very recently chosen to be the host city for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010. This event alone will draw an estimated 200,000 visitors to Singapore.
MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) are often considered to be the fundamental building block of the tourism sector. Singapore has shown its pulling power by successfully hosting what are without doubt two of the jewels of the MICE market. These were the 2006 Annual Meetings of The Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.
Furthermore, the already famous Orchard Rd is currently undergoing a massive makeover. Additionally, Singapore hosts the prestigious Formula 1 Grand Prix (ambitiously held at night and thus making it Asia first "night" street race.) There continues to be investment in leisure, business and education, including Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest marine life park at Resorts World at Sentosa, The National Art Gallery, the 35-hectare Sports Hub, new marinas for yachts, gardens by the bay... and of course the two casinos.
New entertainment districts are opening all over the city, especially along the Singapore River. No less than 15 new hotels are expected to welcome visitors in an estimated 6,400+ additional rooms by 2010.
The Integrated Resorts alone are expected to attract an additional 2-3 million visitors.
The above has dealt primarily with infrastructure and tourism arrivals. However, a more important factor is human resources. Singapore’s unemployment rate of around 2% is one of the lowest in the world. As a result, manpower is extremely stretched. Again, this means terrific opportunities for employment in the Tourism and Hospitality sector!
There is an incredible and diverse range of jobs that the tourism industry can offer. If interacting with tourists and customers is not for you, there are numerous behind-the-scenes possibilities e.g. IT, production, marketing, secretarial work etc. The opportunities are endless.
The hottest study programmes at the moment are in hospitality and tourism. And enrollment will certainly increase with the announcement by the MOE that it is soon introducing a quality assurance scheme called EduTrust to replace CaseTrust. This to ensure that academic excellence at all private tourism & hospitality colleges in Singapore are met. The importance of a government sponsored quality assurance scheme cannot be over-emphasized.
Successful completion of high school is enough to enter the industry. Of course, career advancement will certainly require further education, whether it be in-company training or outside. And for those whose career aspirations include management, a degree will be needed. Again this does not mean that a degree is a prerequisite. It is possible to start as a clerk and end up as a manager.
As such, it is imperative to consider that Training and skills upgrading for working adults is offered under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework developed by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
There are various Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Training programmes that assist adult workers in the tourism & hospitality industry.
Scholarships and training subsidies are made available for Singaporeans and PRs. Additional help is given with work placement upon completion of a particular study programme by the government approved training organizations. For more details visit http://tourismfnb.wsq.gov.sg
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) offers scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in collaboration with renowned tourism industries and four partner schools. Generously, the involved company will also provide sponsorship.
Some of the institutes that offer STB scholarships are:
Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality offers a Master degree programme to meet the needs of outstanding students and working professionals who wish to further their careers in the hospitality industry.
For more information visit: www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/admissions/mmh/finance/sing.html#STB
Temasek Polytechnic offers three diploma study programmes, namely the Diploma in Culinary & Catering Management, the Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management, and the Diploma in Leisure & Resort Management.
For more information visit: www-bus.tp.edu.sg/bus_home/bus_courses/bus_ft_courses.htm
Republic Polytechnic offers the Diploma in Integrated Events Management.
For more information visit: http://www.rp.sg
Nanyang Technological University offers the Bachelor of Business (Tourism and Hospitality Management.)
For more information visit: www.ntu.edu.sg/Admissions/Scholarships/stb.htm
The STB FIREfly Scholarship Programme.
For more information visit: www.stb.com.sg/careers/scholarship.html
Some advantages the Tourism & Hospitality industry offers:
- The ever increasing number of tourist arrivals
- The ever increasing number of meetings, conventions and exhibitions held here
- Guaranteed advancement opportunities and a secure career
- Competitive pay
- The diversity of jobs tourism brings
-- Employment opportunities at globally recognizable brands
- The chance to promote Singapore to the world and while contributing to its economic success
- Great subsidized training opportunities at quality educational establishments
- Chances to interface and learn from people of other cultures
Some disadvantages the Tourism & Hospitality industry offers:
- Shift work required in some positions (but often as you’re climbing up the ladder into managerial positions, you’ll find yourself working more regular hours.)
- It can be stressful dealing with the public on a regular basis (people in this line of work need patience and a calm, problem-solving attitude)
Interesting Links:
Careers in Tourism & Hospitality
http://app.tourismcareers.sg/main (Must Read info provided by the Singapore Tourism Board)
www.centralsingaporecdc.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for the unemployed)
www.northeast.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for the unemployed)
www.northwestcdc.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for the unemployed)
www.southeastcdc.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for the unemployed)
www.southwestcdc.org.sg (provides direct job-matching services for the unemployed)
https://pes.wda.gov.sg/jbs/Logon/index.aspx (employment service system provided by SWDA)
Careers at Integrated Resorts
http://www.singaporedice.com/latestjobs.html (our very own jobs page with positions at the IRs)
www.rwsentosa.com/en_careers.html (jobs page of Resorts World at Sentosa)
http://careers.marinabaysands.com/Default.aspx (jobs page of the Marina Bay Sands)
Colleges Offering Tourism and Hospitality Study Programmes
www.acpe.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.nanyang.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.shinescollege.com (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.easb.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.unlv.edu.sg (UNLV Singapore Harrah Hotel College offers tourism related study programmes)
www.cni.ntu.edu.sg/index.shtml (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.sp.edu.sg (polytechnic offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.nyp.edu.sg (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.tourismacademy.edu.sg (the Tourism Academy at Sentosa)
www.shatec.sg (Singapore Hotel Association College offering programs in tourism & hospitality)
www.sheltoncollege.edu.sg (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.rafflescampus.edu.sg (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.np.edu.sg/Pages/default.aspx (college offering tourism & hospitality study programmes)
www.mdis.edu.sg/index.php (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.tmis.edu.sg (official training arm of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore)
www.apmi.edu.sg/index.php (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
http://dimensions.edu.sg/index.htm (college offering tourism & hosp. related study programmes)
www.aec.edu.sg/index.php (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.bradfordrex.com.sg (college offering casino tourism/hospitality related study programmes)
www.ite.edu.sg (college offering part-time courses designed to meet the needs of adult learners)
www.sim.edu.sg (college offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.hotelschool.cornell.edu (institute offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www-bus.tp.edu.sg (polytechnic offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.rp.sg (polytechnic offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.ntu.edu.sg (university offering tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
Casino Dealer Colleges
www.icgtraining.com (casino dealer college)
www.agmi.sg (casino dealer college)
Casino & Tourism/Hospitality Colleges
www.acpe.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.nanyang.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.shinescollege.com (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.easb.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
www.bradfordrex.com.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programs)
www.tmis.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programs)
www.dimensions.edu.sg (college offering casino, tourism & hospitality related study programmes)
Must Visit Links
www.singaporedice.com/careersandjobsatmbsandrws (Must Read article by Donn Richard if you want to know more about career opportunities at the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa)
www.singaporedice.com/studyoptions.php (Must Read article by Donn Richard if you wish to enter the casino industry)
www.singaporedice.com/singaporevsmacauandhongkong.php (Must Read article by Donn Richard if you want to know more about tourism in Macau and Hong kong compared to tourism in Singapore)
http://app.tourismcareers.sg/main (Must Visit website by the Singapore Tourism Board. Offers valuable advice for people considering a career in tourism and hospitality)Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Test if you are suitbale for meeting/event professional
As extract from book on MEEC pg 29
The following are some questions you might answer in order to determine if you have what it takes to be a meeting/event professional
The following are some questions you might answer in order to determine if you have what it takes to be a meeting/event professional
- Do you like to plan parties, work schedules , your day, and so forth?
- Do you have a date book or personal digital assistant (PDA) that you update regularly and that includes everything you need to do for weeks or months into the future
- Do you like to organize your bedroom, car, workplace, and so on? Is your idea of fun organizing a closet for someone?
- Are you very organized, almost to the point of obsession?
Sunday, 5 July 2009
list of book in MEEC
http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/library/tools/industry/mice.html
http://www.pearson.ch/HigherEducation/HospitalityTravelTourism/HospitalityandHotelManagement/1471/9780132340571/Meetings-Expositions-Events-Conventions.aspx
http://www.hospitalitynet.org/book/114000878.search?query=meetings%2c+expositions%2c+events%2c+conventions
http://www.pearson.ch/HigherEducation/HospitalityTravelTourism/HospitalityandHotelManagement/1471/9780132340571/Meetings-Expositions-Events-Conventions.aspx
http://www.hospitalitynet.org/book/114000878.search?query=meetings%2c+expositions%2c+events%2c+conventions
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_397701.html
A NEW programme was launched on Wednesday to help white-collared workers who have been laid off or are unemployed to chart a new career path in the meetings industry.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090703-152509.html
Sat, Jul 04, 2009
The Straits Times
July 1, 2009
Course to help job switchers
| By Lim Wei Chean |
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency linked up with the University of Nevada Las Vegas and events organiser Pico Art International to run a new 12-month work-and-study course to help job switchers train for a job in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industry.
Students of the Professional Conversion Programme will study in UNLV classrooms for half the time and spend the other half on full-time attachment with Pico Art to get some hands-on experience in running and managing events.
Among the events that they will get to try their hands on this year include the Formula One race and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meet. This course will be funded as part of the Government Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur).
Each selected trainee will receive $27,900 in course fee subsidies and training stipend. On completion of the course, they will receive a Workforce Skills Qualifications diploma in tourism for Mice and events.
Pico Art International's managing director Jean Chia noted: 'Despite seeing some cancellations of exhibitions in 2009, the business travel, meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions sector wil continue to be a critical component of Singapore's tourism as it accounts for some three million arrivals and 40 per cent of tourism receipts.
'We recognise the importance of human capital in this particular sector so the PCP for Mice and events offers us the perfect opportunity during this lull time to scout and develop the relevant potential talents, and build up our manpower capability. This way, we can be ready to take on even more mega projects when the economy recovers.'
Fourteen students will start their first class on Thursday.
========http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090703-152509.html
Sat, Jul 04, 2009
The Straits Times
| New course to train jobless for Mice industry | |||
 | |||
| A NEW course here will give unemployed white-collar workers a chance to acquire new skills for the growing meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) industry. The first 14 students enrolled in the Professional Conversion Programme for Mice and events under the Workforce Skills Qualifications start their course today. The course is part of the Government's Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience. The study and attachment programme retrains unemployed professionals, managers, executives and technicians for jobs in the Mice industry. Each student needs to pay only $1,500 or 10 per cent of the course fees. The remaining $13,500 is paid for by the WDA, which also gives students a training stipend. They will also receive a Workforce Skills Qualification diploma upon graduation. The full-time course will be conducted at the UNLV campus at the National Library for half a year, for students to gain theoretical knowledge before being attached to Pico Art to gain first-hand experience. UNLV is known for its diploma programmes for adults in the Mice sector. This year's batch will get to help run events like the Formula One race and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings clinched by Pico. Pico's managing director Jean Chia said that despite the downturn, the Mice industry is still doing well. Now is the perfect time to 'scout for and develop relevant potential talent' and to 'build up our manpower capability'. Mr Edward Liu, president of the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers, said that the demand for manpower has eased somewhat with the recession. But, he said, there are companies which are still hiring and now is a good time to train new faces to prepare for the upturn. LIM WEI CHEAN This article was first published in The Straits Times. on top | |||
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Saturday, 20 June 2009
first blog
This is a new blog started
i dun know if i can get back the old tinkoh@blogspot
as it is linked to tinkoh@hotmail.com and i do not get
any reply from gmail help centre
i dun know if i can get back the old tinkoh@blogspot
as it is linked to tinkoh@hotmail.com and i do not get
any reply from gmail help centre
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