Archive for the 'On Today’s Show…' Category

Feb 03 2010

Traffic Police Blow It!

Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

Driver Fined For Blowing His Nose
A motorist has expressed disbelief at being fined for blowing his nose while his vehicle was at a standstill. Michael Mancini, from Ayrshirehad, England, stopped his van in traffic and wiped his nose with a handkerchief.
When he moved off, he was pulled over by police who told him he had not been in control of his vehicle.
He was then handed a £60 fine and docked three points on his driving licence.
Mr Mancini has refused to pay the penalty. His solicitor wrote to prosecutors earlier this month explaining the offence could not have occurred because Mr Mancini’s handbrake was on.
But prosecutors replied the next day warning that if the fine wasn’t paid, the case would be taken to court, which Mr Mancini fully intends to do.

What do you think? Did he deserve the penalty?

  • Hi Denise, that will be ridiculous if he has been stopped though he had abide the law. Unless he is not doing so ie he may be squeezing and any oh how throwing out of window. Hmm …yee.. yaks….Otherwise the traffic police must be trying 2 meet his quotas of offenders so he is the unlucky one.
  • its ridiculous n dumb. Was it when da light was red? If so n already stopped da vehicle then ntin wrong. cops over there need to b retrained or someting
  • Vanity, Thy Name is Moob!
    There has been an 80% jump in the number of men having a breast reduction operation, say the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
    It’s claimed many of the moob (man boobs) operartions were prompted by men feeling pressure to live up to the the role-models in movies, TV shows and magazines.
    I wonder if the male patients opted to enhance other parts of their body with the excess stuff from their moobs? Eeew. Chest a joke!

    Clairvoyant Cat?
    A cat has “predicted” the deaths of 50 elderly patients by curling up with them as they are about to die, according to a new book.
    Staff at the nursing home say Oscar the cat often sits with old people who are approaching their final hours.
    In one case workers at the home were convinced a patient was about to die.
    But Oscar thought otherwise and snuggled up to another person.
    The cat and his sixth sense were proved right and the staff wrong.
    However, scientists insist there’s nothing supernatural or spooky going on. Instead, they think he ‘smells’ the pheromones released by the patients as they near death.
    This is one cat I certainly don’t want to have as a pet. He’d make my whole family nervous.

    Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBER THREE

    3 – One in 3 people worldwide believes the sun revolves around the earth. So let make it official once and for all, just in case you’re part of the statistic. The earth revolves around the sun. So do all the other planets in out solar system.

    3 – 3% of couples getting married this year met on the internet.

    3 - For every fork in the world, there are 3 spoons and 10 knives.

    5 Things
    Denise has been attempting to learn how to Tap Dance. Every Tuesday evening, she takes a beginners’ class and every Wednesday morning she wonders why she bothers. Her body aches in ways she has never known before! So in a bid to motivate herself, here’s…

    5 REASONS WHY ADULTS SHOULD LEARN TO TAP DANCE
    1. To annoy your annoting neighbour downstairs.
    2. You never know when you need to hang a picture and you’ve got the nails, but your hammer’s nowhere to be found.
    3. If Tony Danza from Who’s the Boss can, so can you!
    4. To drown out the din of your noisy kids.
    5. To become an expert pest exterminator. Put on those shoes and crunch away at those bugs!

    The Gold Health Guide
    Super Brain Foods
    4. Make sure you are getting enough vitamins, particularly C, E, B12 and folate, preferably from food sources rather than supplements. There is some indication that these vitamins may help in reducing one’s risk of developing dementia. However, Mayo Clinic warns against taking large dosages of vitamin E because it increases the risk of bleeding, especially if you are taking blood thinners.

    MAKAN KAKIS
    This week, we hunt down the BEST HOKKIEN MEE in town. Share your recommendations!

  • Hi Denise, have you try the Hokkien Mee at the Food Republic at VIVOCITY? I think it looks very tempting in the special leaf-liked plate on which it was served with big prawns. If only they can remove the prawns’ skin ‘cos i don’t like to do it esp in public…Valerie
  • holkien mee store name is swee guan . Geylang lorong 29 coffeeshop. Price range from 3 to 20 with big prawn . Best to go with their sambal chilli and they are still using the traditional cooking method ( charcoal) thx francis goh
  • Dear Denise. Geylang Lor 29 Hokkien Mee is located in 396 East Coast “food ‘r us” hawker centre. I have been in Singapore the last 24 years and I cannot think of any better hokkien mee stall. The prawns are very fresh and large the mee is the right mix of mee (the thin and the large) and they are blended with a super gravy made of the heads of the prawns (cholesterol punch) but who cares. The lard is chanky and crispy. And last but not least Alex is cooking on charcoal, which gives an estraordinary smooky flavor to the mee. What can I say I can die for it. My biggest problem is that I leave nearby. Only a walkinging distance. So very tempting ah ah. Cheers Ettore Palazzi.
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    Feb 02 2010

    Toilet Paper, Trains, Tattoos

    Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

    The Best Office Gadget of 2010

    A Japanese company has invented, possibly, the cleverest office gadget of the year: a machine that turns waste paper into lavatory paper.
    Instead of sending shredded documents to a recycling centre, incurring expense and energy, office managers will soon be able to feed them into a machine and turn them into lavatory paper.
    Pop in 40 sheets of regular A4 paper, and a half-hour later, the paper has been shredded, mixed with water, turned into a pulp, flattened, dried and converted into a roll of lavatory paper.

    Tattoo of Love & Trains

    An Australian man has had a train company logo tattooed on his back – so his parents can get free rail travel around Europe.
    Grant Burton had wanted to get his parents something special for their 40th wedding anniversary, but being unemployed he didn’t have much spare cash.
    Knowing his parents always wanted to go to Europe, Grant contacted train firm EuRail and asked them if they would give him two passes if he did something crazy to promote their brand.
    He offered to have their logo and website permanently tattooed on his back and amazingly they said yes!
    Parents – what if your kids did this for you?

  • i think giving expensive gifts doesn’t show additional love and respect for ur parents – Sudeshna
  • i think giving expensive gifts doesn’t show additional love and respect for ur parents.
  • good morning, tattoo for free trip its a no no for me as i don like tattoo. Emotionally i will be touched of course. Geneva
  • When Recession Hits, Hit the Ice Cream!
    An Italian “university” dedicated to ice cream has seen a 90% rise in enrolments as high-flying executives laid off in the recession seek to forge new careers producing the country’s beloved gelato.
    At the Gelato University in Bologna, students come from all over the world, with budding gelato maestros attending from Australia, China, Sudan, Lebanon and Britain.
    They have one dream in common: to learn how to make the world’s best ice cream in the institute’s high-tech laboratories and then use their new-found expertise to open gelaterie back home.
    As well as learning how to concoct familiar flavours such as chocolate and vanilla, students experiment with more outlandish tastes, including gelato made from red wine, olive oil, Parmesan cheese and basil.
    In China, they have even experimented with fish-flavoured gelato!Pear with Parmesan and lemon with basil are some of the more unusual ones students have come up with.

    Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBER SIX

    6 - On average, a toilet seat in a residential bathroom gets replaced every 6 years, 4 months and 3 days.

    6 – Wrigley’s chewing gum was originally marketed for six years as Wrigley’s chewing rubber, their sales tripled in the first month after changing to their current name.

    6 – The human body contains 6 miles of nerves.

    Today in 1997, Brazilians went cockroach crazy – catching cockroaches by the thousands and selling them to a Rio de Janiero lab involved in allergy research. The lab needed 600-thousand cockroaches and was paying $120 a pound. It takes roughly 54,545 roaches to make a pound.

    Hamish’s 5 Things

    5 MORE THINGS ADULTS LEARN FROM KIDS

    5. Plastic toys do not like ovens

    4. Super glue is forever

    3. THE SPIN CYCLE ON A WASHING MACHINE WILL MAKE CATS DIZZY

    2. You probably do not want to know what that odor is

    1. Quiet does not necessarily mean don’t worry

    The Gold Health Guide
    Super Brain Foods
    3. Instead of snacking on cookies, chips and other unhealthy junk foods, grab a handful of nuts instead. Almonds, pecans and walnuts are a good source of vitamin E – a powerful anti-oxidant. Research suggests that it may have a protective effect on brain cells.

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    Feb 01 2010

    Freaky February

    Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

    The word “February” comes from the Latin word februare, meaning “to purify.” The ancient Romans had their annual purification ceremony during this time each year.

    Hot on the heels of reports that Argentine President Cristina Kirchner believes eating pork is as effective as popping a Viagra pill to spice up your sex life, comes yet another World Leader with unusual eating habits…

    Margaret Thatcher’s Victory Diet!
    As Baroness Thatcher plotted her victorious election campaign of 1979, one key part of her strategy was so closely guarded that it has never before been revealed: her crash diet.
    For two weeks in the run-up to her historic win, the Iron Lady stuck rigidly to a regime which included 28 eggs per week, steak, salad, and her favourite tipple, whisky.
    Each day she ticked off every item on a typed sheet of paper kept tucked in a pocket of her personal diary, with the goal of losing 20lb to help look her best when she became prime minister.
    The diet was discovered among thousands of personal papers which are being published for the first time by the Margaret Thatcher Archive Trust, and which provide a fascinating insight into life with Lady Thatcher.

    Fired for Full Figure?
    An editor at Bridal magazine was recently fired for unbuttoning her shirt in the confines of a Conde Nast office – simply to show her newly augmented breasts to two of her close colleagues. Keep in mind, there was no nudity involved; she simply stripped down to her sports bra.
    What do you think? did she overstep her boundaries as an employee? Or was HR being harsh?

  • Come to my room n show me too! Nick
  • as a boss myself I think they just used this as an excuse to fire her. There were probably some other issues. As for “showin” her goods I tend to agree w Hamish. – Jay
  • VERY NARROW MINDED BOSS ! :-D Have a great day, every day = Victor n Patrina Reutens :-)
  • Hi, JACINTA here. It’s within her comfort zone. D company must b crazy 2 fire her over such an excuse! Must b jealous about her new possessions.
  • Morng guys:-)She doesn’t deserve 2 b fired!I tik e co.must b unhappy wiv her n finds every excuse 2 terminate her.Vanessa Goh
  • HR drastic measure uncalled for, am sure e company dont have any rule against her showing off newly gained ornaments, probably e HR dont have much ‘chest’?
  • First, she must cultivate her friends. Then I think it was too drastic of the HRD to fire her… By the way is the head of the HRD a woman and not well endowed! Perhaps if… a man… Scorned?!!
  • Whats the problem what is done in private is private x maybe the boss is looking for a reason to sack her x did not like her in the 1st place x or if is just a prude x Andrew
  • she should have shown the boss too. Maybe he’s jealous that he wasn’t involved. Nor
  • management certainly went over board. They must be jealous that they weren’t privy to e show ;-) – sylvia, sunset way
  • Today in 2006, a 100-pound woman ate 26 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes at a New York restaurant to win the World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship. Sonya Thomas won $8,000 but said she was disappointed in her performance. She wanted to eat 30 sandwiches. Thomas held other eating records, including 46 dozen oysters in 10 minutes, 11 pounds of cheesecake in 9 minutes, 48 chicken tacos in 11 minutes, and 37 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes.

    Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBER EIGHTY-SEVEN

    87 – 87% of the food products purchased in the world, by dollars spent, have at least one added artificial flavour.

    87 - The airline industry estimates that 87% of potentially redeemable frequent flier miles are never claimed.

    87 - 87% of airline passengers made a phone call within 5 minutes of disembarking from the plane.

    Hamish’s 5 Things

    ITS THE START OF ANOTHER MONTH – START OF ANOTHER WORK WEEK AND SOMEWHERE RENTAL NEEDS TO GET PAID – HERE ARE 5 FUNNY LETTERS TO LANDLORDS TO MAKE YOU SMILE ON MONDAY

    5. I request your permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen.

    4. Will you please send someone to mend our cracked sidewalk? Yesterday my wife tripped on it and is now pregnant.

    3. 50% of the walls are damp, 50% have crumbling plaster and 50% are plain filthy

    2. Our lavatory seat is broken in half and is now in three pieces.

    1. Our kitchen floor is very damp, we have two children and would like a third, so will you please send someone to do something about it.

    The Gold Health Guide
    Super Brain Foods
    According to Alzheimer’s Association, a brain-healthy diet is one that essentially promotes good blood flow to the brain, reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and is low in fat and cholesterol. These tips from the US-based organisation may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
    1. Eat more dark-skinned fruits and vegetables that contain high levels of naturally-occurring anti-oxidants. For example:
    • Beets
    • Brussels sprouts
    • Broccoli
    • Corn
    • Onions
    • Spinach
    • Blackberries
    • Cherries
    • Oranges
    • Prunes
    • Raisins
    • Red grapes
    • Strawberries
    Research suggests that the anti-oxidants in these foods can protect brain cells.

    2. Up your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital for normal brain function. This is found in:
    • Mackerel
    • Salmon
    • Trout
    • Tuna
    • Flax seeds
    • Kiwi fruit
    • Walnuts

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    Jan 29 2010

    Ban on PJs, Fat Tax & Cheap Food!

    Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

    Welcome to Abbaworld!
    ABBA exhibit has opened to public that will completely immerse fans into the world of ABBA’s music. London’s ABBAWORLD is a new “museum-cum-theme park” that has 25 rooms and 30,000 square feet devoted to the Swedish sensations! The exhibition plays the glorious music of the band throughout the attraction, letting visitors explore old memorabilia, recreate the band’s sound at interactive mixing desks and sing alongside an animated ABBA via “holographic video” technology. There is even an audioguide to lead you through the attraction, narrated by Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard, one of the stars of the film version of Mamma Mia.
    Click here for the full story!

    Supermarket Dresscode

    A British chain of supermarkets has introduced the dress code – which also forbids bare feet – due to a spate of people doing their weekly shop in their nightwear.
    Customers in Cardiff, South Wales, are now greeted by signs warning them of the new rules. They were put up in response to customers complaining that the relaxed shopping habits of some made them uncomfortable and embarrassed.
    The new signs read: “To avoid causing offence or embarrassment to others, we ask that our customers are appropriately dressed when visiting our store (footwear must be worn at all times and no nightwear is permitted).”

    What do you think if Supermarkets in Singapore decide to enforce such a dresscode?
    NAY

  • dress code?for what? Just pretend it’s hallowen then hor liao lor -wan
  • dress code 4 supermarket? Siao! Then must wear coat n tie?
  • if I wear Bikini/hot pants because the store is at a resort/beach then am I under dress too. The bottom line if I can pay WHY WORRY ABT MY CLOTHS. What is Next ? Tks Lucia
  • We are not allow to chew gum, not allow to drink water on MRT. Now we are about to be told how to dress in super market. Do we have any human right in this FINE FINE city?
  • It wont be long b4 you know it, the supermarket is GONE if it follows.
  • I wud like Hamish in a thong at a supermarket. Majella
  • i doesn’t matter what we wear. as long comfortable n we got money to pay. elf
  • YAY

  • being a paying customer doesn’t mean u ignore social etiquette. Its a matter of propriety n sense. What is wrong w Singaporeans these days! We’re never going to be a gracious society if people think rights n money is everything!
  • Going t supermarkets should at least dress appropriately.. You dont own the place, have to be considerate to others. janice
  • home clothes, it’s meant for home. Your PJs are meant for sleep. Let’s have some self respect n dress approriately. Cheers lena
  • people shud dressed appropriately to neighbourhood supermarkets. It’s social etiquett! I don’t wanna be shoppg my grocerries next to someone in their PJ or nightie cuz God knows what they’ve been up to the night b4.
  • Lydia Dress code shld be casual and comfortable BUT no pyjamas.
  • YES. These days ppl don’t have a proper sense me dressing anymore. As a lady, i too get appalled by the bad dressing.
  • mohan – never mind the pyjamas inconsiderate singaporeans go to supermarket immediately after their morning jog. They drip sweat and stink where fresh food is sold. This cannot be hygienic.
  • Mrng Danish ! Yeah i m wif Hamish. What’s meant for the bedroom, pls keep them for the bedroom! There must be dress codes for every occassions! Period. Nick
  • there definitely should be a dress code. Can’t understand why some women dress so badly that they are such turn off.
  • Fat Tax for Overweight Fliers?
    Air France was last week mistakenly accused of launching a new fee for obese fliers which has re-ignited the debate over whether airlines should charge more when an extra seat is needed.
    More than three-quarters of people believe that airlines should charge a “fat tax” according to a new poll by a travel website. Less than a quarter of the people surveyed disapproved of forcing those who can not fit into a standard airline seat to purchase a second seat, normally at a discounted rate. Others suggested that charges should be calculated on the weight of the person and baggage combined.
    In 2008, Air France was ordered to pay £5,000 in damages to a 172kg passenger who had his waist measured at an airport check-in desk before being told he would have to purchase two seats.
    The so called ‘Fat Tax’ is a very sensitive issue for airlines – they will have to tread carefully so as not to alienate heavier passengers. On one hand, it’s not unreasonable for airlines to charge passengers extra if they occupy more than one seat. On the other, many would argue that it should be the responsibility of airlines to adjust their standard seat size, enabling them to comfortably accommodate all passengers.
    What do you think?

  • Why not call it volumemetric tax? There is a fixed volume for each seat. You don’t want to be sitting between 2 obese ones. I chose biz class when I was more than 98kg. Biz class seats are already larger than econ ones. Cheers Fairley
  • forget the fat tax, they should implement body odour tax…an absolute must!
  • i agree with denise it should not be called the fat tax! Thats rude!
  • Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBER THIRTY-SIX

    36 – A football freestyler has set a new world record by keeping a football in the air for 13 hours while completing a 36 mile tour of London.
    Dan Magness, Watched by adjudicators from Guinness World Records, visited London’s five Premier League grounds which finished at White Hart Lane. He was allowed to keep the ball off the ground using all parts of his body, except his hands. He even kept the ball up while conducting several TV and radio interviews!

    36 - Worldwide, 36 miles (58km) of hair grows every day.

    36 – Washing machines account for 36% of household water use.

    36 - Since the moon’s gravity is only 1/6 that of Earth’s, it is possible to jump 36 (six squared) times higher there! Imagine all the basketball games you could win!

    Hamish’s 5 Things

    ITS FRIDAY – SO HERE IS YOUR REWARD – 5 OF THE MOST IRRITATING THINGS KIDS ASK OF PARENTS

    5. WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?
    4. WHERE DID I COME FROM?
    3. ARE WE THERE YET?
    2. HOW DO YOU KNOW VEGETABLES DONT FEEL PAIN?
    1. CAN I HAVE MY ALLOWANCE NOW?

    The Gold Health Guide
    Common Health Myths #5

    Can thong underwear cause infections down there?
    Prevention magazine’s advisor, Dr Mary Jane Minkin says that she has not received any complaints from her patients who wear g-string underwear. However she says that it may be theoretically possible for infections to occur. The thin sliver of cloth that is at the back of the thong usually rests where it makes it possible for fecal bacteria to infect the private parts. A thong can also create tiny cracks in the skin, leading to mild irritation. Here’s the good news: if your g-string does not bother you, there’s no medical reason to stop wearing it!

    MAKAN KAKIS
    GOOD FOOD THAT’S EASY ON THE WALLET?

  • mrng Ham n Den, dunno if a/one told u abt prata set (1 piece + drink) for $2 @ banquet clifford ctr. Delicious too! – Sali
  • Retro breakfast prices! How often do we yearn for gd old traditional breakfast of porridge, Chee Cheong Fun or rice sheets, simple yet full of flavour Yam Cake? Fret not. Joo Chiat Kim Choo at #02-29 at the Tiong Bahru Mkt cooked food ctr serves these traditional fares at fantastic prices to match. One bowl of peanut conpoy prridge, full of tasty ingrdients only $1.20. CCF with soya sauce and oil only 0.70 cts. Yam cake eith chilli and sweet sauce only 1.00! Shiok!
  • toa payoh blk 127, 2nd fl stall 02-30 white carrot cake very well fried chrispy and yummy only for $2. David soh
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    Jan 28 2010

    Balls!

    Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

    Better Than Ronaldo

    Japanese scientists have created an engine-driven “free kick” machine which can kick a ball faster and more accurately than Cristiano Ronaldo.
    The contraption can kick a regulation ball at speeds of 200km per hour – compared to around 130km by the most powerful players.
    It is the the result of work by BP Castrol – one of the sponsors of the World Cup in South Africa – and will be taken on tour to promote the tournament.

    Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBER FORTY-FIVE

    45 – The Guinness Book of World Records lists the record height for flipping a coin at 45 meters.

    45 – There are at least 45 foods that have been shown in separate studies to prevent one kind of cancer, but cause another. For example, pineapples help prevent breast cancer, but increase the risk of skin cancer.

    45 – Some 45% of wives say their husbands snore. But only 5% of husbands will admit it!

    Hamish’s 5 Things

    SSC looking for 950 race officials
    SINGAPORE: The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) is looking to recruit 950 officials for this year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
    While it is expecting the return of some 600 race officials from the previous years’ races, it also hopes to train new blood, who can be assigned to trackside roles such as observers, track marshals and flag marshals.
    Race officials will go through extensive training sessions, both theory and practical, specifically tailored to each role.
    Trainee race officials can expect to go for approximately seven days of training, most of which will be conducted over weekends. Training for the general officials’ modules – where trainee race officials can expect to be briefed and trained on safety aspects, Formula One protocols and basic track and flag signals – is slated to begin in May 2010.
    Interested participants can register to be a race official via the official website:raceofficials.singaporegp.sg.
    Successful applicants will be notified of their selection by the end of March.

    5 ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS NEEDED IN ORDER TO SECURE THE RACE OFFICIAL STATUS

    5. LOVE THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER

    4. BE ABSOLUTELY AT PEACE AMID DEAFENING 180 DECIBEL SOUNDS

    3. HAVE NO FEAR OF CROWDED PLACES

    2. PREFERS SPEEDING TO THE FINISH AS OPPOSED TO TAKING HIS TIME

    1. ABLE TO KEEP EYES ON THE CAR AND OUT OF THE STANDS FILLED WITH HOT WOMEN.

    Occupations that Turn Women On
    A survey of women who had signed up to a online dating site quizzed them about their ideal partner.
    Top 5 turn on jobs for women
    Firemen
    Doctors
    Teachers
    Police officers
    Fitness instructors
    Top 5 turn off jobs for women
    Bankers
    Estate agents
    Politicians
    Lawyers
    Traffic wardens
    No news on DJs though!

    MAKAN KAKIS - CHEAP & GOOD FOOD!

  • Crawford mkt / food court. Carrot cake $1.50 prawn mee $2.00. Prata kosong $1.20. Benedict tan
  • LOR MEE AMOY ST FOOD CTR. Selling $2.00 with lots ingredients and also the nasi lemark nxt to it. Selling below $2.50. Try it with no regrets. Tasty n yammy. Jeannie
  • The Gold Health Guide
    Common Health Myths #2

    Does exercising on an empty stomach burn more fat?
    Prevention magazine says that it is possible, but overall fat burn wil be minimal. During exercise, the body burns both fat and carbohydrates for calories. Studies have shown that working out without eating might burn a few more calories. However, the total amount of calories expended is still about the same, continued the Prevention report.

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    Jan 27 2010

    The Foreign-Local Debate

    Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

    FLAMING HOT TOPIC!
    Employers’ Dilemma: Foreigners Willing to do what Locals Won’t even with More Pay?
    When entrepreneur Adam Khoo wrote a blog entry titled “The Expats Will Rule Singapore”, he did not expect the flurry of hate mail that followed.
    Mr Khoo, 35, co-founder and executive chairman of Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group, had described how, when he advertised to hire a marketing executive, more than 60% of applicants were foreigners. He wrote that some of the foreigners had master’s degrees and were willing to work for less than $2,000 a month, compared to local fresh graduates who asked for at least $2,500.
    Mr Khoo’s blog post was also copied and flamed in online forums.
    But Mr Khoo has explained that his words were taken out of context.
    The father of two young girls said that he felt foreigners were less picky than locals, and he was worried about how his daughters and other young Singaporeans would be able to compete with them in future. He added that it didn’t mean he preferred hiring foreigners.
    Mr Khoo said that his office here has about 90 staff and only three are foreigners.
    Mr Khoo said that when Law Minister K Shanmugam said at a dialogue with Yew Tee residents last Sunday that foreign workers were not stealing jobs from Singaporeans, but were really doing jobs shunned by Singaporeans, it struck a chord with him.
    Employers in other sectors are also lamenting the reluctance of Singaporeans to take up certain jobs.
    For e.g. Owner of the Paradise Group of restaurant Eldwin Chua claims he has no choice but to hire foreign staff – his attempts to hire and retain Singaporeans have mostly failed. “Singaporeans complain so much… But do they know that when locals take up the jobs, many of them turn up for just two days before quitting, because they can’t take the long hours of standing?”
    The Paradise Group has 200 waiters and waitresses in its eight restaurants, and 90% are either permanent residents or foreigners from China and Malaysia.
    Mr Kunasegaran, who has been in the cleaning business for 16 years, said: “I advertise for cleaners in the papers but when Singaporean applicants call up, they ask about the salary and whether they need to wash the toilets. Of course toilets have to be cleaned. And when I say so, they never contact me again.”
    THE SMSes Came in Fast & Furious:

  • absolutely true. I worry for the next generation. Parents have made them too soft.
  • true n not true. Employer sh follow sbs transit. For locals, pay extra instead of peanuts. David soh
    David’s obviously referring to last week’s news reports that SBS Transit announced it would increase salaries of new bus captains to $1,375 a month, up from the current $1,196, in an attempt to recruit more Singaporeans. Together with other allowances, they can earn more than $1,900 a month in their first year of employment. SBS Transit has 5,500 bus captains, of which only 38% are Singaporeans.
  • S’poreans are v. pampered & so picky dat dey tend to choose jobs coz dey r confident of getting e job. Foreigners try to achieve jobs wth their skills & once selected dey try to gv their 100%. Dey r definitely not stealing jobs……CR
  • Agree S’poreans r a pampered lot. Nowadays a simple ‘scolding’ either leads to resignation or the other extreme – they talk back … Angrily. They hv no patience. Cheers. Al.
  • Hamish, my question is: How did we managed to not only survive but prosper before this influx of foreign workers?
  • i think singaporean are willing to do the jobs foreigner do but the employers are the ones who are not willing to pay a little bit more to us. They dont mind the smaller paycheck cos it is big money back home but how are we to survive here wif the same paycheck? Noraini
  • not true , in the service industry eg food , even if u pay locals more they r not willing to work . tried advertising for locals once they heard must work on Sun they just disappeared.
  • jobs are not being stolen by the foreign ‘talents’. Instead, they create an environment where wages are suppressed. In your cleaners scenario, you fail to mention that the pay for these workers and cleaners are only like 500 to 800 a month. Imagine a local with two kids and a wife trying to survive on this while paying the monthly fees on the overpriced hdb? Think about it.
  • our business is suffering. We employ some skilled foreign workers but MOM require us to employ a number of local staff. But they are not interested. Don’t turn up for interviews. No commitment. And just don’t turn up for the slightest reason. We need to change.
  • employers have a diff idea of “high” pay than employees. Aidil.
  • weren’t our forefathers ‘expats’ in a sense? Not quite what we associate as expats today tho but I Wld think similar. is this just another cycle then? AD
  • Foreign workers is cheap labour and should only be meant for the construction industry. Others need to employ singaporeans and pay more as things are expensive.
  • I m working as a supervisor in the cleaning ind. Locals dun like to work as a cleaner b cos of face value n they dun like to work long hours even OT is paid. Cherry.
  • family businesses normally survive 2 generations, then the 3rd gets greedy and kills it. Worrying, we are entering our 3rd generation.
  • say on equal scenario both locals n foreigners r pay d same 2k/mth we locals need 2 contribute 2 cpf which makes d nett pay home lesser. N we locals have 2 pay for our children education n in singapore it is not cheap 2 send your child to local university.
  • in my opinion it is singapore employers r not willing to pay the dues local employees deserved. they wanna cut cost and thus, making more profits.
  • hi hamish, denise…jain here. The foreigners are contributing to Singapore’s productivity by achieving more for less. Good for them.
  • singaporean u pay them $1500 thay oni do $750 of the job, cos thay tink highly of thamslf, end of the day u hav 2 pay them 3k 2 do the same job. Does it make cents?
  • In the tender sector, if u wan a job, u need to price right n low so to cut cost, companies tend to hire low cost workers as locals are not able to cope with the low income. And these jobs are usually shun by locals. JL
  • Felix ask any Singaporean if they were jobless and would work as a construction worker or cleaner and chances are they will say no bec the work Is too hard and pay is too low ! so why r we begrudging the foreigner who is willing to do it ?!
  • If public sector is alrdy paying bonuses, nothing wrong 4 any oth employers to maximise profit margins! If i am an employer, i wud recruit @ the zoo if the primates there can sing & dance, even if they can’t talk ! :)
  • Speaking of Primates…
    Film Made by Chimpanzees to be Shown on BBC

    11 chimps at Edinburgh Zoo were given animal-proof cameras by scientists in a bid to see how they view the world around them.
    For 18 months they used the ‘Chimpcams’ – which were housed in a study plastic box and had a viewfinder on the top – by carrying them around their enclosure.
    The chimps then selected the clips they most liked to watch by using a touchscreen monitor on a wall in the research room.

    Optimum Number of Friends You Should Have on Facebook
    Many people have over 1,000 friends on Facebook, but experts say our brains can’t cope with more than 150. Academics from Oxford University claim humans are only capable of managing an active network of 150 friends because it’s the result of having lived for centuries in small tribes and villages.
    Evolutionary anthropologist Prof Robin Dunbar, argues that while you may have over 1,000 friends on Facebook, you will only be able to maintain a worthwhile relationship with 150.

    A Royal Flush
    One of history’s great inventors died 100 years ago this week. Then again, maybe he didn’t. It depends on whether he ever lived. You see, while Sir Thomas Crapper is widely recognized as the inventor of the flush toilet, some say that he lived only in the mind of British author Wallace Reyburn, who wrote the alleged biography entitled Flushed With Pride. According to the bathroom history, Clean And Decent by Lawrence Wright, the island of Crete had flush toilets as early as 2500 B.C. so you can see that leaves Sir Thomas right in the Crapper!

    Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH TOILETS!

  • In a lifetime, the average person uses 657 miles (1057km) of toilet paper.
  • The average toilet is flushed 2.56 times every day.
  • In 47 of the 50 American states, the average voting machine lever has more germs than the average public toilet flush lever.
  • The Chinese invented toilet paper in 450 BC.
  • The water tank for the first flush toilet had to be suspended 12 feet (3.6m) above the toilet bowl.

    MAKAN KAKIS - CHEAP & GOOD FOOD!

    ST Forum ONLINE STORY Jan 25, 2010
    Wonton mee stall won’t up price – out of concern for poor retirees
    I HAVE been a customer of a wonton mee stall in Block 6 Jalan Bukit Merah since the 1980s until today.
    In the 1980s, they sold wonton mee at $1.50, and today they sell it at only $2. It is the lowest-priced mee stall in the market.
    Despite the increase in costs over the past 30 years, the stall owners have increased the price by only 50 cents. Their bowl of mee is not only cheap but also delicious. They open their stall as early as 5.45am to enable early workers to fill their stomachs before they go to work.
    I believe their wonton mee is worth at least $2.50. So I suggested that they increase the price to $2.50. They thanked me and explained to me why they did not increase the price. It was because they had a heart for poor retirees, many of whom live from hand to mouth.
    I was touched by their empathy. The least I could do was write this letter to thank them on behalf of all their customers, retirees and others.
    May they continue to be healthy so their customers will not miss their cheap but delicious and fulfilling wonton mee.
    Loke Kong

    Based on the story above, we were inspired to hunt down more delicious, super affordable food in Singapore. Share with us your foodie finds – any dish, as long as it’s no more than $2.50!

  • hey 2.50 is way too easy. Anyway cambridge road market is the place to go. There is a carrot cake stall that goes for 1.50 or more. Stall has been there since 30 odd years ago! The old man still fries the carrot cake. Sometimes his son. Also there is a chicken, char siew duck rice stall selling each plate at 2. Comes with a bowl of peanut soup! No kidding! But no mixing of meats. Former is a long queue. Yum. :)
  • cambridge rd mkt near owen rd blk 41. I heard of the carrot cake its gd. 12 ys ago. Same price. David
  • Mixed rice stall at Bedok North St. 2 bk128 selling each plate rice + any 3 dishes (fish, veg, meat, egg.. many dishes to chose) 2each only. Think the only mixed rice stall that giving really good Value for yr mney 2 for 3 different dishes n good serving. Must also salute them for their cheerfulness in serving normal workers n heartlander folks patrons. Sometime, I also note they make exception to sell below 2 to the elderly folk who just want 1 or 2 dishes + rice. I think since they hv been selling for some years at such price n still make a decent living, reckon the affortable rental fm Hdb / Nea must be the factor n they passed the saving to their customers. We shud honour more of such stall owners to reconizise their effort in serving the community their own little way to the small man in the street . Terrence
  • at east coast lagoon hawker center, satay beehoon at $2 ,one of the best in singapore ,warning be prepare to q for about an hour, open at 6pm sharp
  • mee rebus in blk 18 bedok south. At 1.50/bowl. Taste fantastic. Price just increased 0.20 about 1yr ago. Mustaffa lim
  • Chicken rice stall at Tampines St.81 blk 82 selling each basic plate $1.30each (good serving), used to sell $1 per plate in the ’90s and increase by 30cents few years ago. Terrence
  • Hi DEN-ISH, wow ! What good tips 4 abling us 2 find nice food with such fantastic prices still existing. Thank you 4 the tips conveyed through Gold 90.5. Must go and try. Haha. Good day. Adeline
  • Hamish’s 5 Things

    A LITTLE MIDWEEK MADNESS – BECAUSE WE NEED IT – 5 HILARIOUS ACTUAL WARNING LABELS

    5. “Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish.” — On a bottle of shampoo for dogs.

    4. “For external use only!” — On a curling iron.

    3. “Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover.” — On a pair of shin guards made for bicyclists.

    2. “Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage.” — On a portable stroller.

    1. “Fits one head.” — On a hotel-provided shower cap box.
    Add Image
    The Gold Health Guide
    Common Health Myths #2

    Are dental fillings that contain mercury dangerous?
    Probably not, says Prevention magazine’s medical advisor.
    Some critics claim that amalgam fillings may lead to health problems such as Alzheimer’s as they release minute amounts of mecury when they are placed in or removed from teeth, and when a person chews. However, almost every major health organization in America has declared such fillings safe. Two extended studies of about 500 children each who had amalgam fillings found no significant changes in IQ, attention span and memory.

    Never Too Young for Compassion – 7-Year-Old Cycles for Haiti

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    Jan 26 2010

    Fake It Till You Make It!

    Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

    Pontang Kings and Queens
    A British study of 5,000 workers looked for the names of those who were most likely to ring in sick and fake their illness to get the day off work.
    It was found that men named Andy and women called Sarah were most likely to call in sick when they were not!
    The survey also discovered that for the average employee, out of 3 days they called in sick, they were actually not sick at all for 2 of those 3 days. Which means
    Excuses like “the car won’t start” or ” my child is ill” were the most common, along with tried and tested excuses of food poisoning, migraines, and sore throats.
    Odd and imaginative excuses for a day off work:
    * An call-centre worker who rang up her boss and told him ‘I’m still too drunk to do any work’.
    * ‘My daughter’s got chewing gum stuck in her hair and I’m trying to get it out’.
    * An IT technician who claimed ‘My car blew up on my way into work, and I’m with the Firemen now’.
    But be warned – if you’re not careful, you’ll get yourself in hot water by going too far trying to keep up the illusion. It is a tangled web we weave when we deceive!
    We’re not sure how this reflects the Singaporean office worker, but have a go – have you called in sick when you weren’t? What excuse did you use?

  • Yes i’ve done it several times esp on rainy day & Mondays. MC excuses- food poisoning, rashes. Rather save leave for travelling.
  • grandmother pregnant, i can’t come to work.
  • excuse: I had to bathe my goldfishes, & they were difficult tìs morning. David
  • My secretary had resigned in a huff over a small issue and gave the required 1 month’s notice. On her last day of service, she was required to hand over her fhles amd duties to the new replacement. Knowing that this was an important thing to do, she refused to do it and said that she was going to report sick to our company doctor to avoid handing over and put us in a bit of fix. When she left for the clinic, I rang the doctor and informed him of her intention. So what the doctor did was to give my leaving secretary a B Complex Injection. This is one of the most painful injections and acts as a booster and no harm. The doctor then told her to go back to work as he did not give her medical leave. Hence, she was back in the office with a painful bottom and had to hand over to the new staff. Good lesson learnt. G. Surajan.
    But now she has the excuse to call you a pain in the butt! Haha.
  • Beer: the next health drink?
    Benjamin Franklin said it best: “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” And sometimes, beer loves us back too: Studies have suggested that, when consumed in moderation, beer has many health benefits.
    Good for the Heart
    At least if you drink moderately. An Emory University study involving over 2,200 elderly men and women discovered that those who consumed at least 1.5 drinks daily had up to a 50% lesser risk of suffering from heart failure. Another study conducted by Germany, France and the United Kingdom found that moderate consumption of beer or wine may have anti-inflammatory properties, which can lower the risk coronary heart disease.
    Good for the Brain
    Using an MRI, a Boston scientist discovered that light drinkers (one to six drinks a week) to moderate drinkers (seven to 14 drinks a week) have fewer strokes than nondrinkers — probably because of alcohol’s effect in thinning the blood and preventing the formation of tiny blood clots in the brain. Note, however, that although heavy drinkers (more than 15 drinks a week) have the least amount of strokes, they also suffer the most atrophy or wasting of brain tissues.
    Moderate amounts of alcohol can also help reduce stress, decrease anxiety and self-consciousness, and improve your mood. Beer in particular has plenty of nutrients, such as protein, B vitamins, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, iron, niacin, and riboflavin.
    Beer can also be unhealthy
    Before you go out and celebrate with a few pints, keep in mind that all of the studies above point out that beer is only healthy if you drink moderately.
    What all doctors and scientists agree on, is that the health risks of drinking larger amounts of alcohol will quickly outweigh its benefits; and to make matters worse, alcohol can impair your judgment, thus making it hard for you to stop at just a drink or two.
    Remember that you bear the ultimate responsibility for your health — and if you love beer, this means understanding the health benefits and risks of alcohol, as well as drinking only in moderation. Taking care of your liver by taking liver-friendly supplements should also be a part of your daily health routine.

    Growing number of men ‘use partner’s makeup’, survey says
    A growing number of males admit to secretly dipping into the make-up bag owned by their female partner to help make them look beautiful.
    More than a third of men questioned admitted to using these items in secret, despite 31% of women claiming to have caught their partner using them.
    Just outside the top ten included hair straighteners, fake tan, nail varnish and eyeliner or mascara.
    Surprisingly, the average cost of beauty damage by men to the home equates to about $565 each per year compared to $425 by women.
    Top ten beauty products and appliances that men borrow are:
    1. Tweezers (39%)
    2. Moisturiser (37 %)
    3. Hair dryer (36%)
    4. Nail file / buffer (29%)
    5. Hair styling products (22%)
    6. Lip balm / lip gloss (22%)
    7. Face mask / facial scrub (15%)
    7. Shaver (15%)
    9. Concealer / foundation (10%)
    10. Hair removal cream / wax (8%)
    Just outside the top ten included hair straighteners, fake tan, nail varnish and eyeliner or mascara!

    Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBER THIRTY-SEVEN!

    37 – As seen above, 37% of men admit to secretly “borrowing” their female partners’ moisturise to use.

    37 - 37% of professionals working in wedding based businesses will never marry. 79% of those who do will divorce before two years of marriage.

    37 - On average, an adult male will get his hair cut once every 37 days.

    37 - The typical bedroom closet/cupboard contains 37% more clothing than it was designed to hold.
    Denise: Which is more than I can say for my brain!

    37 - 37 hours. 102 sets. Two tired strangers. One Guinness World record! Gavin White, 39, and Jeganathan “Jega” Ramasamy, 48, both from Sydney, Australia, set out last Friday to play the world’s longest continuous singles tennis match. Battling shocking heat throughout Saturday, followed by rain, fatigue, sleep depravation and even delirium, the pair were supported by a team of family and friends as they smashed the Guinness World Record by almost an hour! Gavin had placed an ad in the local paper, keen to find a partner to break the previous record of 36 hours and 36 minutes and raise money for the Haitian earthquake victims. Jega was the man who answered the call.

    Hamish’s 5 Things

    LETS MAKE TUESDAY A WARM AND FUZZY DAY – 5 KIDS LETTERS TO GOD ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL WARM AND FUZZY

    5. DEAR GOD – My teacher is mean. She always yells at us. She’s old and ugly. Why did you make bad and mean people?

    4. DEAR GOD – I don’t like brussel sprouts. Do I still have to eat them? I don’t like milk, either. Mostly I like pizza.

    3. DEAR GOD – Would you make me a little brother? I want to have someone to boss around like my brother does me.

    2. DEAR GOD – Why do old people smell funny?

    1. DEAR GOD – Do you listen to my prayers every night? Do you really know when I only pretend to brush my teeth? Don’t tell Mommy, O.K.?

    The Gold Health Guide
    Common Health Myths #1
    Will eating after 8 or 9pm cause weight gain?
    Most people think that metabolism slows down at night, but that is not true. Eating at night may cause you to gain weight if you consume more calories than what your body usually expends. Many people practise emotional eating at night – out of boredom or otherwise – and they end up consuming more calories than is needed for the day. The extra calories are stored as fat. Therefore it’s about how much you eat, NOT what time you eat! Bookmark and Share

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    Jan 25 2010

    Service & Secret Passwords

    Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

    Service literacy test to up F&B standards

    Foreign workers in the Hotel, Retail and Food and Beverage (F&B) industries
    will have to pass a Service Literacy Test (SLT) in order to qualify for skilled
    levy status.
    With the implementation of the test, MOM aims to enhance
    service standards, raise productivity levels and the quality of the foreign
    workforce in Singapore.
    The test will apply to new non-Malaysian work permit
    holders, as well as existing non-Malaysian work permit holders who have received
    their renewal notice from MOM.
    The new criterion is in addition to all other
    skilled levy requirements, such as possessing the requisite academic
    qualifications or passing certain skill/trade tests.
    While the additional
    criterion will be implemented only in July this year, employers will be allowed
    to register for the test from April 2010.
    This is to ensure that employers
    will have sufficient time to consider sending their work permit holders for
    English language course before they sit for the SLT.
    About the test
    The test was developed based on general work settings in the
    three industries.
    Work permit holders will have to pass both components of
    the test – Speaking and Listening.
    In the Speaking test, work permit holders
    will be asked questions through a pre-recorded video clip and respond by
    speaking into an attached microphone. A computer system captures the responses
    for scoring later.
    In the Listening test, work permit holders will listen to
    a conversation, instruction or comment, and subsequently be asked to select a
    suitable response from a list of multiple-choice answers.

  • I don’t think it is sufficient to prove a person, foreigner or locals alike, service oriented. the service industry firstly needs an attitude overhaul, then work on the english. no point having perfect english but the wrong attitude. = Di
  • I’m Toh. Ideally more shud b done. This basic literacy thing is long over due.
  • english language first then go beyond to quality svc. Shd apply to locals as well. Our svc quality has a long long way to go. It’s not something that comes naturally unfortunately. AJ
  • Good morning! I agree with Denise. I think this service literacy test should apply to BOTH foreigners and locals.But a workshop is more effective to educate both in good service and language standards. Cheers, diane
  • Stop complaining Singaporeans! U r the ones who don’t want to work in the service industries in the first place, so we need to hire foreign workers.
  • perhaps è 10% service charge should b removed n let è staff earn their tips, u may get more motivated staff.
  • Gd morn’ guys. I had a Sri Lankan maid who came with hardly a working knowledge of English. But when she went home after her contract she could write letters to me although not in 100% perfection. It’s the willingness to improve that’s impt. right? Valerie :-P
  • Most Common Internet Password
    Security experts have issued a warning after discovering the number of people who use common passwords to protect themselves online.
    A recent study of 32 million passwords found 20 percent of people use common words or phrases such as abc123, iloveyou and Password.
    Experts claim this makes some users particularly susceptible to hackers and identity theft – even by just guessing at random passwords.
    As 20% of people use one of the 5000 most common passwords, it’s claimed that it would take only one attempt to guess 0.9% of the users passwords. This is a rate of one success per 111 attempts.
    They have even compiled a worrying list of the top 5 most common passwords:
    1. 123456
    2. 12345
    3. 123456789
    4. Password
    5. iloveyou
    The experts suggest that when selecting a new password you should not go for a name, a slang word, or any word in the dictionary. It should also not include any part of your name or your e-mail address or use consecutive digits and adjacent keyboard keys.

    Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBER THIRTY!

    30 – The most Tabasco sauce drunk in 30 seconds is 120 ml (2 bottles) by Andrew Hajinikitas of Australia and was set in the studios of Guinness World Records in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 8 May 2005. Click here to see the incredible record-smashing feat!

    30 - Most Emmy awards won by a series – Frasier, the Cheers spinoff & sitcom starring Kelsey Grammer.
    Incidentally, today in 1949 marked the first Emmys Ceremony, in recognition of excellence in television performance and production, at the Hollywood Athletic Club.

    30 - The record for most skips in 30 seconds is 152 and was achieved by Megumi Suzuki (Japan) at the Japanese Rope Skipping Championships in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, on 10 September 2006.

    The Gold Health Guide
    Cleaning Safety: Housework Hazards
    Cleaning chemicals can cause breathing problems, according to a new study from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Those with asthma reported worse symptoms – such as coughing and wheezing – but cleaning gave even non-sufferers sneezing fits and a stuffy nose. Since a dirty house isn’t an option, breathe easier by trying these tips:

  • Try damp dusting. If you need to avoid chemicals altogether and it works for the surface you’re cleaning, use just a little water on a cloth or sponge.
  • Minimize chemical splashes by adding bleach to water, not the other way around.
  • Consider wearing an N95 face mask, especially if you’re asthmatic.
  • Choose cleaning products that have low health-risk scores as compiled by the America’s National Institutes of Health. The index rates products from 0 (“minimal” for health risk) through 4 (“severe”).
  • Hamish’s 5 Things

    SOMETIMES WHAT WE NEED ARE HOMER SIMPSON QUOTES TO PUT MONDAY IN ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE

    5. Marge, don’t discourage the boy. Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It’s what separates us from the animals!… except the weasels. – Homer

    4. I hope I didn’t brain my damage… – Homer

    3.I saw weird stuff in that place last night. Weird, strange, sick, twisted, eerie, godless, evil stuff… and I want in. – HOMER

    2. What’s the point of going out? We’re just going to wind up back here anyway. – Homer

    1. No, please don’t eat me. I have a wife and kids, eat them. – Homer

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    Jan 22 2010

    Make Babies Then Make Them Behave

    Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

    Blast From the Past! – We Are the World

    Update: Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are planning to record a 25th anniversary edition of the song to benefit the Haitian earthquake victims. So far, artistes like John Legend and Natalie Cole have been asked to sing on the record.

    Go Home and Make Babies!
    South Korea’s health ministry, which is charged with boosting the nation’s low birthrate, is turning off the lights in its offices once a month to encourage staff to go home early and make more babies.
    The ministry said in a statement Wednesday the switches will be flicked at 7.30 pm every third Wednesday in the month to “help staff get dedicated to childbirth and upbringing”.
    Those with urgent duties will be exempt from the switch-off.
    “Going home early may have no direct link to having more kids, but you cannot just completely rule out a possible link between them,” Choi Jin-Sun, who is in charge if the project at the ministry.
    Low birthrate is a pressing issue in this fast-ageing society.
    Health Minister Jeon Jae-Hee told the Korea Times newspaper,”Korea may lose out in the global economic competition due to a lack of manpower. It is actually the most urgent and important issue the country is facing.”
    Married staff at the ministry are not doing their bit, with an average of 1.63 children compared to the average of 1.82 among all civil servants. The ministry aims to increase the figure to 2.0 in two years.
    Ham: I can see the copy for their campaign now… Lights out so you can be Turned On! From midweek to midwife – it can be done!
    Do you think it could work here in S’pore to boost our own flagging birthrate?

  • no it wont. There other factors as well. David
  • Hamish, Lights-out, it does work. Check the statistics on when we had a power black out in S’pore!
  • How about stopping football and Korean dramas on tv for awhile and see what happens.. ruzi
  • Simple Way to Make the Children Behave
    Classical Music is doing a fine job of “disciplining” students at one school in the UK!
    Disruptive students have to listen to classical music like Elgar, Mozart and Verdi in detentions and staff at West Park School in Derby claim the fear of being ‘subjected’ to two-hour stints of the classical music is improving behaviour.
    Pupils are given two warnings before having to attend the Friday afternoon sessions.
    Since introducing the musical aspect to the detention teachers say numbers of disruptive pupils have fallen by more than 60%!

    Wear it, Eat it

    Say I do to this wacky wedding creation – for the bride with a hearty appetite!
    Lukka Sigurdardottir has made a wedding dress that doubles up as dessert.
    Forget having your cake and eating it, now you can have your dress and eat it too!

    Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBER NINETY-FIVE!

    95 – Over 95% of people will yawn within twenty seconds of seeing another person yawn unless they have yawned within the past 90 seconds.

    95 – In a five-minute shower we use 95 to 190 litres of water! Shockingly, baths use less water than a typical shower. Soak in a partially filled tub and you’ll actually use less water than a short shower.

    95 - An estimated 95% of all fireworks ever made were manufactured in China.

    95 – A jellyfish is 95% water, as is a tomato.

  • Approximately 66% of the human body consists of water.
  • Human brains are 75% water.
  • Human bones are 25% water.
  • Human blood is 83% water.
  • Water exists within all our organs and it is transported throughout our body to assist physical functions.
  • The total amount of water in the body of an average adult is 37 litres.
  • Hamish’s 5 Things

    As suggested by Gold 90FM Listener Joseph Ngo (Thanks for the email!):
    5 UNIQUELY SINGAPOREAN REASONS WHY SINGAPOREANS LOVE TOOTING THEIR CAR HORNS:

    5. YOUR CAR IS BLOCKING MY CAR AND I CANT GET OUT OF THE LOT AND YOU ARE MAKING ME LATE.

    4. THATS MY PARKING LOT – I SAW IT FIRST AND NEVERMIND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER AVAILABLE LOTS – I SAW IT FIRST – ITS MINE.

    3. HEY ITS ME – YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, NO I DO NOT WANT TO USE THE MOBILE PHONE AND CALL YOU – I WOULD PREFER TO WAKE UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUST TO SHOW THEM HOW SLOW YOU ARE TO COME DOWN TO THE CAR.

    2. THE LIGHT JUST TURNED GREEN 1 SECOND AGO – WHY AREN’T YOU SPEEDING OFF LIKE ANY GOOD SINGAPOREAN?

    1. KARANG GUNI MAN IS HERE! KARANG GUNI MAN IS HERE!!!

    The Gold Health Guide
    Good Teeth = Good Health

    Tip #5: Eat Right, Don’t Smoke
    Include plenty of dairy and other calcium-rich foods, like sardines, in your diet. Calcium helps maintain strong bones and teeth, and the vitamin C in citrus fruits boosts gum health. Equally important to what you do eat is what you don’t. Sugary and sticky foods that stick to the crevices of your teeth are particularly bad, as bacteria feed off the sugars and release acids that cause cavities. If you do eat candy or other sweets, try to brush immediately afterward or, if that’s not possible, rinse your mouth with water.
    Also, don’t smoke or use tobacco products. People who smoke are four times more likely than nonsmokers to have gum disease, according to a study by the Journal of Periodontology. Using smokeless tobacco increases a person’s risk for oral cancers, including lip, tongue, cheeks, and gums. On a smaller scale, tobacco products contribute to bad breath, or halitosis.

    MAKAN KAKIS
    Where can we find the best Hainanese-style Curry Rice in S’pore?

  • WINNER OF THE GOLD GIFT PACK! Congratulations, Richard! whampoa market row facing a condominium. Economic rice hai nam style. Has been patronizing since I was 4 yes old and I am 48 now. Let’s start with the rice. The frangrant and taste has been the same since I was 4. Same goes to the dishes eg chap chye normally finishes at 9am, pork chop, braised egg etc… The curry gravy my son treat it like campbell soup. When I was young my dad use to bring me there. But due to being poor,he will just order rice ,pork chop and chap chye for all 4 of us and we really enjoy it. Listeners listening in, DIE DIE MUST TRY . Richard soH
  • Other Recommendations today:

  • hi denise n hamish! Strange, y no one votd the one frm tiong bahru. Its located diagonally opp tiong bahru hawker entrance where the escalator is. Its a small coffeeshop. In fact, if compared to scissor cut, this one is better. Go try it to find out – ms tan
    Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice (been around for more than half a century!)
    Blk 57 Eng Hoon Street
    #01-88 Tai Kwang Huat Coffee Shop
    8am to 2pm
  • The best hainanese curry rice can be found in the coffee shop next to market at Beo crescent. Crispy pork chop, soft juicy cabbage, spicy chili sotong, fried egg with yoke waiting to spill into the rice, topped with tasty curry and lor gravy. Stanley Chee
  • Beo Cres got two best Hainese curry rice stall one at b/38 n e other at b/40..but i like e one at b/38..e bak pah v crispy n asam fish oso v nice.. cheap oso..give him 9/10
  • Bookmark and Share

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    Jan 21 2010

    Divorce, Sarcasm and Other Fun Morning Stuff

    Published by Denise under On Today's Show...

    Celebrate Divorce With Gifts?
    A UK high street retailer, has launched what is thought to be the first ‘divorce gift list’ for couples ceremonially untieing the marital knot.
    The new service follows the rising popularity of ‘congratulations on your divorce’ greeting cards and divorce celebration parties, made popular by celebrities including Paul MacCartney’s ex-wife Heather Mills.
    A divorce may not be universally seen as an occasion for celebration, but the divorce gift list could become the 21st-century equivalent of the traditional wedding list.
    The tendency for modern couples to live together before getting married means the wedding list – designed to stock the newly-weds’ first home with basic goods – has become somewhat obsolete.
    Divorce, on the other hand, results in one partner leaving the marital home, meaning they may have to furnish their new place with cookware, linens and electric goods.
    A spokesman for the department store said, “Divorcing can be an expensive time and registering for a Divorce Gift List means that family and friends can help the newly separated begin their new life.”
    High on the list of male divorcees: large plasma screen TVs, computer games and non-iron shirts!
    What Do You Think?

  • I THINK THE IDEA ITSELF IS RIDICULOUS! EVEN IF THE MARRIAGE DIDN’T WORK BEFORE THE HONEYMOON PERIOD IS OVER THE COUPLE SHOULD RETURN ALL THE ANGPOWS AND PRESENTS THEY HAD RECEIVED!!… Valerie
  • Thought the registry should be for return of wedding gifts!
  • Express Your Sarky Self!

    Introducing… the SarcMark! Tired of having your text/ email messages misinterpreted? US firm Sarcasm Inc has invented a new punctuation mark that conveys sarcasm. The idea of a specific punctuation mark to indicate double meaning appeared to strike a chord with people tired of having their ironic emails misinterpreted, and the invention has since been picked up across the world.
    Thousands of the sarcasm punctuation marks have been sold in less than a week and the makers are now in talks with websites and digital publishers about making them more widely available.
    The inventors have already secured a sizeable windfall from the humble idea – a dot within a spiral that can be downloaded for US$1.99 – and hopes to make the mark a standard feature of email and text platforms.
    The Michigan-based company has been keen to stress that their invention is more than a gimmick, pointing to its value as a tool for alerting deaf people to sarcasm in subtitles.
    The SarcMark was eight years in the making due to the complexity of making the new punctuation mark compatible with the numerous word processing formats.

    Worried that the SMS Generation Can’t Spell?
    Despite using text-speak like LOL, plz and l8ter, children who are heavy mobile phone users are unlikely to be problem spellers and readers.
    Research carried out on a sample of 8-12 year olds found that texting can even help pupils to spell better!
    Experts from the University of Coventry claim text language word-play, such as cutting the end off a word, contractions and initialism – all show an understanding of English.
    This means texting children are well equipped to learn correct spelling, contradicting previous thoughts.
    OMG! Tt’s Gr8 nuz. LOL!

    Today’s Show is made possible by the NUMBER FIFTEEN!

    15 - In just 15 seconds, 250 electric eels can produce enough energy to power an electric golf cart for 130 minutes.

    15 - By weight, about 15% of produce put on display at grocery stores is never sold, mostly because of bruises or overripeness. Tomatoes are the worst, with 1 in 3 being thrown away.

    15 - If a person rubs a wet bar of soap vigorously against his or her wet skin for 15 seconds, the weight of the bar will be reduced by approximately 4.5 grams. Which means whithin 5 minutes, the average bar of soap (at 90g) will disappear completely!

    15 - The odourless, colourless plasma emitted by a microwave stays in food for up to 15after cooking.

    More Microwave Trivia

  • Microwaves run most efficiently when they are warmed up. Running a microwave empty for three seconds before heating food will reduce overall wattage and cooking time by up to 43%.
  • Properly warming up a microwave will also increase its useful lifetime by an average of 21 months.
  • Technically speaking, microwave ovens use milliwave radiation, but were intentionally misnamed to take advantage of the public’s high interest in microcomputers at the time.
  • Hamish’s 5 Things

    5 OTHER THINGS WE COULD DO IF WE CANT SEE THE WORLD CUP HERE IN SINGAPORE IN 2010.

    5.PRAY THAT INTERNET LIVE STREAMING WILL NOT SUFFER THE SAME FATE

    4. MAKE FRIENDS WITH FRIENDS FROM OUR NEIGBORING COUNTRIES AND SEE IF THEY CAN PUT YOU UP FOR 2 ODD WEEKS TO SAVE MONEY.

    3. IF NO FRIENDS CAN BE FOUND THEN BITE THE BULLET AND BOOK A HOTEL ROOM WITH KAKIS IN SAME NEIGBORING COUNTRIES FOR THE SAME DURATION.

    2. PUT ON A BRAVE FACE, GO INTO DENIAL FOR 2 WEEKS AND SAY ITS ONLY FOOTBALL. (FORGET IT THIS CANT BE DONE!)

    1. IF ALL ELSE FAILS DO THE UNIQUELY SINGAPORE THING – GO SHOPPING

    The Gold Health Guide
    Good Teeth = Good Health

    Tip #4: Brush or Floss First?
    Both brushing and flossing are essential for good oral health, but does it matter which comes first?
    Many dentists suggest that you floss first, then brush your teeth. Flossing before brushing gives you an opportunity to clear out the space between teeth, which will allow the toothpaste to do its job more thoroughly. It also loosens all of the food particles that will be washed away while brushing and rinsing.
    However, the real concern is whether or not you floss. Flossing after you brush your teeth is much better than not flossing at all. Therefore the sequence makes no difference as long as you do a thorough job. Brushing and flossing is the best way to remove decay-causing plaque from your teeth and help maintain optimal oral health.

    MAKAN KAKIS
    Where can we find the best Hainanese-style Curry Rice in S’pore?

  • Scissors Curry Rice @ corner coffeeshop junction of Jln Besar and Kitchener Rd is out of this world. Everyone knows this place v famous. Jim
  • d hainanese curry rice in beo crescent has crispy pork chop to die for. D portions are good and reasonably priced. Must go before 12 to get a table otherwise will have to wait for next available table. Gotta try to believe it. Its good and popular w office crowd from that area. From Winston
    No Name Hainanese Curry Rice
    Blk 40 Beo Crescent
    6.30am to 3pm
    Closed Wed
  • Red Hill Curry Rice Blk 85 Redhill Market has really good pork chop. best in spore!
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