Blog 18th Anniversary - These Still Apply

 Pay more attention to what they actually do, than what they say.

Pay more attention to what they omit saying, rather than what they overly recite like a script.

A dog's breakfast of opinions from governments, varying views from experts and whether the whole truth is told to each of us.

Maybe the truth is just there for us to see and judge, rather than what is told to us.

Often we can be hidden from the truth, but that is all right, for it forces us not to readily accept spun truths and cherry picked untruths.

I enjoy more of reading between the lines.

#yongkevthoughts

Blog 18th Anniversary - Relative Advantage of Singapore

 Singapore is surrounded by a peninsular, islands big and small, trading routes, channels and seas. It is an island itself, albeit with reclaimed land fringes, but it is also an island beyond the geographical meaning of the term.

Singapore thrives on differentiation.  Its dynamics, governance drivers and ability to grow thrive on offering something which its neighbours cannot, to the same degree.

Most of Myanmar is still under military rule, despite the emergence of varying successful rebellions. Vietnam is communist, together with Laos.  The Phillippines and Kampuchea have had more tumultous experiences in politics.  Thailand and Malaysia are technically constitutional monarchies.  Timur-Leste and Papua New Guinea became fledging democracies after independence, but have not reached maturity in governance.  Indonesia is a federation of several cultural regions that has so much land size and population in comparison to the city state of Singapore.

So what captivates the rest of South-east Asia to offerings by Singapore?  Reassurance, relative stability, better reliance and constant progress - just like Switzerland to Europe.  Not just in being a transport hub, infrastructure provider, banker, shipping safety harbour, medical and education excellence provider, a place with good social cohesion structure,  technology facilitator, military capability displayer and strategic planning thinker - Singapore is ever the middleman, broker and trader.  As long there are transactions to be churned and there are problems elsewhere,  there is commission, value add and profit to be made, as Singapore beckons the talented, the visionary and the adventurer.

Both Indian and Chinese cultures have significantly infused the South-east Asian make up for umpteen years, before the arrival of Islam and Colonialism added further layers of social and political influences.  Today's Singapore can be said to be a microcosm of this historical accumulation and interaction - and yet the thinking and actions of its leaders and society stand apart.

So what abhors its neighbours about Singapore?   Perhaps the very same things that attracts them -  the better quality of life, its persistently stronger currency, its First World economic prowess.   Its sheer dependence on migrant labour in construction, house help and jobs its citizens will not do can cause an Achilles heel which makes it vulnerable to supply forces from its neighbours.

Singapore, small as it is, buys more arms than Australia, Indonesia or New Zealand.

Singapore has no royalty aristocrats to pander to.   It has maintained to a higher intensity the use of the English language and promoted the prominence of Mandarin spoken amongst its population.  Its leaders impose a strict political discipline for its citizens, resulting in a social order that contrasts with the waves of political instability of its neighbours.   Singapore's ensuing ability to hugely attract international business and talent belies its absence of natural resources.

Likewise, Australia and New Zealand can also empathise with how contemporary Singapore feels.
Both these two Antipodes countries find themselves different from their neighbours in the Asia- Pacific hinterland and ocean backyard.


The three nations have a Westminster based systen of government.   They are the outcomes of British trading, military and expansionist initiatives from the 18th to the 20th centuries.   They have attained an economic status which is the envy of their neighbours, short of China, Japan and South Korea.   Each of these three nations of Australia, New Zealand and Singapore were also built on the contributions of historical migrants.

They all offer a high measure of social stability, governance and economic wealth, but Singapore has the lowest taxes.

One lacks land size, another has too much and the third can be so remote from rhe rest of the world.  Both New Zealand and Singapore governments dare to stake our more independent positions in contemporary geopolitics. The Australian government continues to not seize an opportunity to assert its own refreshing values in international diplomacy and political moves.

In terms of wartime risks, Singapore geographically lies in a highly likely flashpoint, while Australia is most vulnerable in its exposed northern coasts and its affiliation with the South Pacific.

Nww Zealand has taken huge consistent steps to embrace its Indigenous heritage ( recent domestic politics are challenging that), when compared with its cross-Tasman neighbour.  Singapore is most conscious of balancing the implications of its multiracial population.

Singapore is what it is today, despite not having any natural resources.  Australia is blessed with many natural resources and yet its financial centres are behind that of Singapore.   All three countries utilise high levels of immigration to supplant population growth (at least before Covid 19).

Australia and New Zealand have proved to be bastions of relative stability, governance and reliability like Singapore.  They have attracted investors as places to park excess funds in search of higher returns, buy properties as back up refuges and place children for higher education.  Where people originate from nations with political instability but higher economic opportunities, all  three countries can be heaven sent as lower risk alternatives for escape to in the worst of times.

#yongkevthoughts

A Mostly Unpleasant Encounter

 Some People Will Never Change.

There is this restaurant by the sea.
It offers dishes for which it charges diners more than a bit, especially since Covid began.

Recently a couple, whom I know well, had a meal there. The wife ordered Barramundi. When she was served, she took a first bite and sensed something was not right. The fish served was flaky, most likely an indication of the seafood being not fresh.

When the wife let a wait staff know, the latter, right in front of the diners, took a bite of the Barramundi as well from the plate, as if not trusting what the customer said.  Only then did the staff take away the flaky fish.

The wife then only had her plate re-served.

When the husband went to pay the bill, this couple was charged with two serves of the 50 dollar Barramundi dish. 

Many other friends had also experienced similar treatment at this same restaurant.  It does not seem to be a one-off.

So what can we learn from.the antics observed at this restaurant?

There is a lack of finesse and attention to detail at this restaurant.
Staff employed never seem to learn, dwelling in a world of their own.

When a restaurant charges upmarket prices, the onus on them is to deliver better and treat customers on a more ethical basis.

Have you come across such self centeredness in people or businesses you deal with, whether as a customer, volunteer, donor, supporter or worker.

When diners at that restaurant make time and effort to let staff know of the problem, it is also because they want to continue supporting that restaurant.

The diners do not want to hear
excuses, only hoping for the
restaurant and staff to earnestly make things better - and not inflict the same negative experience on others.

What is it they say, you can try to lead a horse to water, but not make it drink.

In such circumstances, I have never gone back to patronise that restaurant, when they have been patronising to me and other diners.
Let my time, effort and funds be utilised for better causes.

Customers can see through pretense, lack of courtesy and sub standard service.

Some People Will Never Change.

#yongkevthoughts

Consequences of More Self Service

 Self servicing will reign supreme, unless you pay a fee for what we take for granted now.

When customers process their own transactions on line or in physical reality, any mistakes made, honest or not honest, will place the onus of responsibility back on to them.

The place of interaction between customer and service will be minimised with human interaction.
It can be cheaper to use Artificial Intelligence or other software to communicate with the customers. It implies a much less need to set up physical offices, shops and presence. Beware the commercial real estate industry!

Businesses earn more revenue by offering service for extra fees charged.  This can be already seen in the contemporary arrangements of having to stack up so many frequent flyer points to be eligible  to enter an airline lounge waiting for a flight.

There is no such thing as a free lunch to access the airline lounge - you already pay annual fees and in money to convert to points at a ridiculously low rate.  It may feel free to you if your business or employer pays for your annu al credit card charges, airfare and reward points.  Current frequent flyer credit cards on offer in the market require the holder to minimum spend within 3 months,  thousands of expense money to be charged to the cards, before they are eligible for the promised many points.

So this premium service I cite above, as coming from airlines and participating credit card issuers, can be compared to the masses
having to pay extra charges for normal transactions in the future.

In Australia, I notice some elderly
people can be enjoying much needed social chats at the counter in supermarkets, post offices, newsagents and when physically pay their bills.  The quality of their mental and social health can be negatively impacted if they cannot do this anymore. Would this group pay a fee to have this continued pleasure?

Even before the 21st century began, customers have sensed a deterioration of service when making complaints for poor or under performing service.  Customers are put on hold for long periods on the phone before they get any commencement of any help.
Chatbots on apps want to help you, you have to write everything as if we cannot speak and then even a resolution to our problem is not forthcoming.  In the near future, if I want to speak to a live human being to sort out problems regarding my purchase, I will have to pay an extra fee.

Will the price of goods and services be any better, when we have to self transact, self service and self manage?   I do not reckon so - underlying reasons like the lack of labour, supply chain logistics, materials in short supply, the decreasing exchange value of currency and so forth will be cited as reasons.

If true, will these predictions cause a backlash in the mindsets of customers when dealing with providers? 

Will new business oppprtunities be created to service customers who will pay brokers to help them?

Go reckon.

#yongkevthoughts

Egg Prices Two Years Ago

 Fresh eggs are basic consumption items, mostly undervalued, used on a daily basis in nutritious recipes and harvested on a massive scale across the globe.

The spike in prices of many goods, services and produce, after the end of Covid related lockdowns, has also affected the price of eggs around the world.  I inquired with friends based in several cities as to how much they pay for them, in April 2023.

My conclusion is that fresh eggs are most reasonably priced in Toronto, Canada and Singapore.

The most expensive fresh eggs are found in Auckland, New Zealand and London UK.

Eggs are sold with myraid labels, descriptions and weight in grams.
They can be sold as organic (more natural fibrous feed for the chickens), free range in living space, or both.  Organic hens need not be free range - and free range chickens need not be organic.

In Sydney, eggs sold per dozen range from 600 grams to 700 and 800.  Those sourced from regional areas tend to be from valleys, unique named farms and relatively remote areas.  Eggs from rural Malaysia (kampungs) are perceived to have better quality in suburbs of Peninsular cities and the island of Singapore.

Egg prices can differ widely between the 3 main supermarket chains, independent groceries, fresh produce markets, health food outfits and family producers.  More people are not getting fussed about best use dates.  Eggs used for baking can be different from those used in omelettes, health concoctions and steamed custards.

Eggs can be sold in trays of 30, like in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.  Halfcut trays of six eggs are offered with premium eggs across Greater Sydney. 

The flavour and taste of eggs vary, more pronounced when you try the same dish in different continents, like Eggs Benedict, sunny side fried egg in a burger or Onsen styled egg in ramen soup.  Are bigger sized eggs better than smaller ones? I reckon it all boils down to personal preference.

Do we seriously want to know the exact source of the eggs we purchase?  I reckon so, knowing the origin of such eggs enhances the experience of savouring them.  These days, even milk sold at Coles Down Under are just stated as using " Australian milk".  There is no further information - and one does not know exactly where across this continental island was the milk squeezed out.

#yongkevthoughts