First of all, my apologies for the late blog post but luckily, I am only in my second week here in Singapore but I have plenty to blog about already! Due to the very slow internet in my room, I was unable to fix up my blog as I would have like but here I am!

Thus far, I think I have already seen most of the “touristy” attractions of Singapore such as Little India, China Town, Sentosa Island, City Hall and the Merlion. But I won’t go in to too many details about this touristy places as you can read about them on any Singapore tourist website. However, one place that I have been to that I would like to share is Pulau Ubin, a small island off the north east coast of Singapore.

Pulau Ubin is probably one of the only rural areas left in Singapore with approximately 100 villagers still living on the island who produce their own crops and live off fish farming. However, there have already been many discussions to transform this beautiful natural island into an area for public housing connected to the Singapore mainland through the MRT (Singaporean subway system).

Nevertheless, I will try to do less talking and more sharing photos and memories so you can actually see what I mean by the beauty and naturalness of this island. Enjoy and sending lots of sunshine back home.

What appears to be stairs along the boardwalk of Pulau Ubin

Miller as he presents the new city budget

Its no surprise that the T Dot is in for another tax hike, despite these turbulent times but I thought I would share an interesting story with everyone. I recently added a list of politicans to “follow” on Twitter and one of them being Mayor David Miller. So I expressed my concern with the new budget saying “4% tax hike? Not a smart idea of helping put more $ in the pockets of people or creating consumer confidence.”

I assumed Miller’s Twitter account is moderated by some PR folks or something but nevertheless, I received a “private message” back from “him” stating “it’s 25 cents a day. Let’s get real: far better than massive cuts that hurt real people.Our budget is balanced, taxes low vs 905.”

A couple of things jumped out to me:
a) was that an incredibly rude message…or is it just me who interpreted it to be rude?
b) where has his administration been living these last 6 months? The rest of the country, heck, the rest of the world is slashing taxes to stimulate the economy and here we have, Toronto increasing taxes.
c) So we’re increasing taxes to maintain a balanced budget but City Councilors are still entitled to their 2.4% pay increase? Where’s the justice/fairness in that? Even the White House froze pay of their Sr Administration!

A recent article in the Toronto Star (yes I am aware of its left-winged views but still a very valid newspaper) stated that Toronto taxpayers are being asked to pay increased property taxes, new taxes and new garbage collection fees this year, all while experiencing declining employment rates, job losses and salary freezes in the private sector. This alone accounts to a 10% INCREASE in Torontonian taxes. Miller’s reaction to all this is “The worst thing we could possibly do is to start cutting city services,” he said, arguing that people depend on public services like libraries. I agree, we can’t cut city services but don’t give self-absorbed City Councilors a 2.4% pay increase when they are already making close to a $100,000/year. Even the Toronto ZOO is getting ready for increased ticket prices going up 7 per cent to $21 for adults, $15 for seniors and $13 for children ages 4 to 12.

At the end of the day, I know I won’t be going to see the giraffe’s and zebra’s next year — will you?

Twestival TO

Join me @ Twestival TO this year to a) raise money for charity: water b) network (discuss loads of fun bizztics stuff!) c) party and have a rocking good time! Not only that, but an added bonus is Molson has jumped in to give each and every one of you a drink ticket for a complimentary Molson beverage! Who doesn’t love free drinks? For more details, visit http://toronto.twestival.com/

Can we please get a move on with these stimulus packages? The US government is still bickering back and forth. On one end we have the Democrats who want to spend, spend, spend…close to $819 billion. On the other hand, we have the Republicans who continue to argue “tax cuts” to put more money in to the pockets of Americans. Every day, as you listen to the news there are “outbreaks” of “15000 employees laid off here”….”5000 employees laid off there”. The situation is getting worse by the moment and here we have Congress continuing to bicker about how to kickstart the economy. With the continued prolongment of the situation, “this crisis could turn into a catastrophe” (as quoted by Obama). I am proud to say, at least the Liberal’s didnt hold up the stimulus package out here in Canada, things should be getting a move on up in the North but let’s hope its the same for our Southern neighbors.

Watch the history of Msft beginning 1975 every week here!
This episode includes how Paul Allan and Bill Gates became inspired to develop their first code: BASIC.

Signing of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

The first bill Obama signs is the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — a bill that would make it easier for women to take their case to court on the basis of inequal pay based on gender. This is probably something that is LONG over due but the point is — its happening now. Thanks to Barack Obama for believing in fair pay for fair work for women.

An except from Obama’s remarks regarding the act –
“Equal pay is by no means just a women’s issue — it’s a family issue. It’s about parents who find themselves with less money for tuition and child care; couples who wind up with less to retire on; households where one breadwinner is paid less than she deserves; that’s the difference between affording the mortgage — or not; between keeping the heat on, or paying the doctor bills — or not. And in this economy, when so many folks are already working harder for less and struggling to get by, the last thing they can afford is losing part of each month’s paycheck to simple and plain discrimination”

While so many are in favour of the law, some people think it could pose more problems (as if American doesn’t have enough already?) People are questioning how is the government suppose to implement this act or prove it?

I think there is a bigger fundamental ideal to the signing of this act — it is that gender, disability, ethnicity should no longer be reasons why we can’t receive fair pay for fair work. Although this act may not be perfect yet — it holds true that America is making first steps in the right direction.

Yesterday January 21, 2009 marked the first day of Obama in office as President and he didn’t waste any time.

One of the most notable decisions that Obama made included taking an initial step in promising to close the detention center in Guantánamo Bay by ordering a halt to all pending war crimes. Some of us may be unfamiliar with what exactly goes on in in the Guantánamo Bay detention centre but essentially Guantánamo Bay has been a used a US naval base since 1898. The US claims to have a “perpetual lease” (whatever that means?) over the area but the Cuban government disagrees claiming that the “lease” is invalid under international law. The detention centre has been used to imprison hundreds of captives claimed to be linked to Al-Qaeda. George Bush use to claim that the these prisoners were not protected under the Geneva Convention (a set of humanitarian treaties) so you can only assume how they were treated. Nevertheless, a smart move on Obama’s half.

Second action item on Obama’s list was issuing a pay freeze to all of senior White House staff. A smart move of leading by example. “Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington,” he said. Not only does this create an example of responsible spending but it also gives the notion of accountability, openness and transparency.

As the popular CNN article suggests…the next 98 days will be a test for the Obama Administration.

Barack Obama being sworn in as President - January 20, 2009

After officially been sworn in as the 44th President of the United States and witnessing such a historic moment, Im interested in hearing what you have to say about Obama’s inauguruation.
What did you think of his speech? What could have been done differently? What was done well?

I think his Presidential speech was just the right mix of graceful, inspiring and symbolic of a renewal of hope. There was no jargon and none of the “yes we can” and “change we can believe in” stuff that is typically found in the Obama speeches. Obama was able to add just the right amount of personalization to the speech as well…something that particulary stood out to me was when he said “This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed – why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.”

Watch Barack Obama’s Pre-Inauguration speech at the National Mall. Obama discusses how anything is possible in this new age.

Obama Express

Although the fesitives have already begun, I thought it was important for me to share this humbling story of the Obama Express.
As Obama and Biden travelled the rails to Washington, it evoked excitement and a new found hope in people. The path the Obama Express is travelling is the same one as the travelled by Lincoln all the up way upto Eisenhower. As Obama went from city to city, he spoke of history, renewal and a new beginning. The hard part behind all this excitment is asking ourselves if we are setting realistic expectations for the Obama Administration? After all, Obama is becoming President in one of the worst financial slums since the Great Depression. I think many of us need to stop and remind ourselves that we can’t expect to see the economy change over night and we can’t expect American troops to withdraw from Iraq immediately. We’re all expecting change but we have to remember it’s not going to happen over night but it will happen.