Why I should stop blogging

First, it uses up time and electricity.

Second, just in case I ever get famous enough for this blog to bite back *ominous music*.

Reminiscence

Was reading my friend's blog (which by the way is way cool, funny and honest).

Her post (logged today) has got me thinking of when I felt happiest (OK, so its not a direct link, shoot me).

I think a strong contender would be my primary school days. Nothing to worry about, just go to school, talk rubbish with classmates (the amount of crap would put Stephen Chow to shame), play some ping-pong throwing games (if you are scratching your head, then ignore this), go back home and watch cartoons (Inspector Gadget! Mask! Transformers!). And the occasional treat of a bottle of Yakult (sweet!).

Yeah examinations suck but in a perverse way, I actually enjoyed the stress. And the setting of mock exam papers among friends; so funny when I think about it now!

I never thought about whether my school shoes were "in", what I wanted to be when I grew up, whether I would be able to afford the good life.

Yeah those were simple days. But it slipped by gradually, with nary a warning.

What Are Your 3 All Time Favourite Songs?

I was kinda stumped when I thought about it.

And I was thinking about it because I was trying to complete this survey by Sony Ericsson for their new Walkmanphone (which I think is waaaay cool). Prize? 1(just 1??!!) of that W800 phone.

Eventually, I came up with:
1. Beyond - "Truly Loving You"
2. Stan Getz - Desafinado
3. Depeche Mode - But Not Tonight

(Actually these are 3 songs that I really like, but I am not sure if they are my favouritest...)

They are trying to come up with the 100 favouritest songs worldwide via this online poll. This would of course mean that the songs eventually crowned would probably be those that the younger generation listens to, and not the older classics from the '60s, for instance.

After you have submitted your 3 entries, you can see which position your respective songs are at. OK, mine are nowhere near the top 100.

So, what are your top 3?

BTW... I know which is the top song... as of 18 August anyway!

Saving Your Way To Riches

So I had some time to kill yesterday Tuesday (occupational hazard: stating which day I meant) in the afternoon.

I went to the bookstore and promptly skimmed through/semi-read the book, The Automatic Millionaire.

For those who would like their financial planning reduced to reading a blog entry, you should:


Step 1: Write a book on how just about anyone, even you, can achieve financial independence and live out retirement as a millionaire

Step 2: Sell it along with CDs, companion workbooks, and seminars

Step 3: Sit back and watch the royalties roll in from people who buy your book, CDs, companion workbooks and attend your seminars

- - -

Well actually it was a rather good book. In the sense that it was easy to read and I managed to finish it before my next appointment ($23 saved, baby!). But here's basically what the author is extolling:

Step 1: Pay Yourself First.
Not a new concept; basically, be sure to set aside an amount for your retirement first, ahead of commitments to the bank, splurging on friends etc etc. This would preferably be a percentage of your income, instead of an absolute amount, so you save more when you earn more.

Step 2: Make It Automatic
The author's "big idea". Arrange for the amount determined in Step 1 to be automatically deducted each payday. Very, very few people are disciplined enough to do this manually; having it automated ensures this amount gets saved, and saves you time as well.
(Yeah, you should then invest your savings in a portfolio suited to your risk profile and investment horizon).

Step 3: Buy Your Property
If you are renting, you are making the homeowner rich. You should always aim to own your own home. So each payment builds up your assets column, and not gets erased as an expense year after year (the accountant in me is getting all excited about balance sheets and P&L! Help!).

- - -

So there you have it. 3 simple rules according to the author of that book. By the time you retire, you should have a respectable nest egg (assuming retirement is not 1 year away, of course).

Although I think my own 3 rules would work much faster.

Happiness

Everyone wants to be happy, but very few are.

According to this little piece by Newsweek, the most important determinant of happiness is... drumroll... health. No wonder I am so miserable, with a bloody back that has hurt for more than 1 whole freakin' year!

The second most important factor... no surprise. Money. But not so much the absolute amount, but rather how much you have or earn compared to your peers. So, its all relative, baby.

- - - - -

I recall reading in the past something along the lines that, while we are now more equal than before (as compared to say when an Emperor ruled China and the commoners were dirt poor), it also raises our "status anxiety".

Afterall, if David and you attended the same classes in primary school and you both did equally well then, why are YOU just making ends meet now, whereas he has listed his 3rd company and is celebrating that by flying in his private jet to his private island for some private time with Heidi Klum (yummm...)?

Whereas if you were born a thousand years ago to poor farmers, you would till the fields without complaint, and not begrudge David the Emperor while he is being massaged in his private palace while having some private time with Heidi Klum (yummmm yummmmm). You accept that this is the order of the world, the way things are and should be.

So ironically, being placed on a more level playing field has its problems too. You now have only yourself to blame if you fall short of your own expectations. (Well, kinda).

I would like to end this note with a quick summary of the most important point behind this post: Heidi Yum Yum Klum.

Protest

So, last week 4 dudes linked to the opposition Singapore Democratic Party put on their best tee-shirts and stood silently outside the CPF Building in the CBD. (Oh, thanks for the link!)

They were soon dispersed by riot police wearing helmets and protective gear, after being told they were "committing an offence of public nuisance" by the Men In Blue.

But anyway, am just wondering, what if 4 people gather outside an opposition party's headquarters, and protest against that party?

"Down With The SDP!"

Would the police tell these 4 hypothetical protestors to scram?

Or would we see extensive media coverage telling us how the people are waking up to the ineptitude of the opposition?

Beyond the "GNR" cancellation

The so-called Guns and Roses concert slated for September in Singapore has been postponed due to "differences in opinions among the band members".

Wankers. Not that I care about them.

Which I do a whole lot about a certain HK band performing in Singapore this Oct the 15th. CAN"T BLEDDY WAIT!