[World's most expensive soup] 'Monk Jumps Over the Wall' US$44billion: Buffett to Gates: Spend It!

I took my article from http://www.spiritof.info/giving/articles/time/giving.time.story2.html

The costly question: “Should foundations focus on perpetuating their resources or spending them?”

It is reported in the latest Berkshire annual report that Warren Buffet states strict rules concerning the spending of his shares that will go to charity after his death. After the closing of his estate, he wishes that every dollar of his gifts must be used within ten years. For readers who still do not know what Warren Buffet has done, I would like to reiterate that he stunned the business world when he publicly announced that he would donate $44 billion of his Berkshire Hathaway fortune to charity. Imagine using up $44 billion within ten years. And this is $44 billion in US mind you. This is equivalent to buying 30,137 PS3’s DAILY FOR TEN YEARS! Charities are now put in a spot because Buffett’s endorsement is a landmark moment in philanthropy.

Charities rarely exceed the minimum spending ratio of 5% of their entire organization’s asset value because they operate with the intent of lasting forever. Buffet’s new condition has disrupted the plans of many foundations due to this “time-limit” factor. On the good side, this “spend-down model” will provide donors with a greater control over how their money is spent. This will ensure that money is put into good use and spent promptly because “as organizations grow over time, the risk of bureaucracy and mission drift grows”.

I feel that this “spend-down model” is quite an effective method in ensuring that money is used wisely because it forces foundations to plan out the use of money without letting funds drift around aimlessly. If funds are kept loosely without a predetermined agenda, charities run the risk of misusing funds.

I would like to bring up the example of NKF’s misuse of funds. NKF had been telling Singaporeans that its reserves of S$262 million (as of June 2005) would not last more than three years. However, even if NKF had stopped fundraising all together, it would still have enough funds to see through its operations for 30 years. NKF had underutilized its funds by spending far less on dialysis than the public had been led to believe. This perfect example clearly shows that a “spend-down model” is effective in ensuring that money is promptly put into good use to ensure that funds do not get wasted on other things like pay rises.

However perfect this model may seem, it does have its downside too- wild spending. In a bid to use up the funds, organizations tend to spend extravagantly and unwisely, which often results in wastage of funds too. A good and balanced management is essential for wise usage of funds.

So be it US$44 billion or 1 rupiah, be it the “spend-down” model or the “safe-up” method, do your part to help the less fortunate to make OUR world a better place.

word count: 476 words

Canned soup "MADE IN CHINA": China declares 'war' on tainted products

I took my article from http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/08/24/china.safety.reut/index.html

My response:

Made in China

The sticker on your microwave oven says ‘Made in China’. The tag on your pair of basketball shoes says ‘Made in China’. Even the words printed on your toothpaste say ‘Made in China’. These three words appear on virtually anything you use, wear, eat and own. The only thing in your entire house that probably does not have ‘Made in China’ printed all over it is your birth certificate. However, the connotations of such a label are not positive. Words like ‘inferior’, ‘cheap’ and ‘mass-produced’ are qualities that are attached to this label. Pushing quality aside, words like ‘hazardous’, ‘toxic’ and ‘unsafe’ now add on to the list of negative characteristics. People are now paranoid that these products will take their lives. So why do consumers have bad impressions on China products?

China’s product scares have hit the world’s panic button. Consumers’ worries are not unfounded. Millions of China-made toys were deemed hazardous due to use of improper lead paint and small parts that could be easily swallowed. Cough medicine containing deadly chemicals killed dozens of patients in Panama. Toxic toothpastes containing dangerous levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) were circulated all over the world. The list of examples doesn’t just end there. I have even read an article recently this year about cardboard being used in char siew baos as 60% of the filling. Unscrupulous vendors saved about US$132 a day by using this method due to rising pork prices from a supply shortage.

China is already trying to salvage their battered image by trying to stamp down on products that have dented consumers’ confidence. Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi has launched a four-month “war” on tainted food, drugs and exports in an attempt to “protect the health and personal interests of the public and to protect the reputation of Chinese goods and the national image” by using “an autocratic, top-down approach using campaigning methods”. It will probably require another few more years before people can safely buy Chinese products without having to examine the ingredients.

I personally think the problem lies within the producers’ ethics. This drop in quality has come about due to poor production conditions, low quality standards, weak reliability and unscrupulous business management. All these problems are a result of poor moral ethics. This problem does not just lie with China’s products but applies to exporters all over the world. Quality is plummeting as companies seek only to earn back the most from giving as little as possible because everyone is only focused on economic-growth targets. I shudder to think of the implications if this problem carries on, especially when more than half of the products we use are ‘made in China’. Safety has overtaken quality to become the underlying consideration for consumers. How can we work on saving the world from environmental problems if we cannot even save ourselves from brushing our teeth with toxic toothpaste?

word count: 484 words

Thin tagliatelle in puréed tomatoes with peas: "US schools ban iPods at exams"

This article was taken from Weekend Today in the Voices section on Saturday, April 28th 2007.

Savoy cabbage and cannellini beans in beef stock: "Response to article 5"

Using iPods to cheat in exams? To be honest, I initially thought that using an iPod was a rather Creative™ way to cheat.* However, I soon realised that the abuse of technology to cheat is definitely not something new. Cell phones were banned from examination halls when schools found out that these communication devices led to the spreading of answers. Students could save notes in their inbox and refer to them during tests. In the same way, this harmless music player is also capable of becoming a storage device for answers.

Objectively, I find cheating something that is impossible to prevent. As quoted from a 17 year old student from the article, “People who are going to cheat are still going to cheat, with or without [them].” People with the intent of cheating will cheat no matter the circumstance. With or without their iPods, they will find ways and means to sneak answers into the examination hall. Short of making it a rule to enter examination halls stark naked with only the bare necessities, schools will definitely be unable to clamp down on each and every individual case of cheating. However, even with such a rule in place, I still believe that some desperate students may scribble down answers on body parts or on their stationery. Thus, to completely eradicate cheating, confiscating the external cheating devices will not suffice. The solution lies with the removal of the main internal cheating device- the mentality to cheat.

People cheat for fear of doing badly because they lack confidence in their own mental capabilities. Often, students who cheat are not prepared for the tests or are just, if I may dare say in Singlish, “kiasu”. They are afraid to lose out to their fellow peers and think that having the answers with them will secure them with a definite advantage over the rest. Since all the reasons for cheating originate from the mind, the only way to prevent cheating is to tackle the source of the problems- the mind itself. I would like to quote our very own Rafflesian Principle of Honour. “In intellectual pursuit, I shall reflect discipline and passion for learning and in personal conduct, I shall live in integrity and regard individuals, groups and the community with kindness and respect, and in so doing, uphold the Rafflesian Principle of Honour.” This principle sums it all. By enforcing strict discipline and emphasizing on the fact that we should live in integrity, students will soon realise that cheating is something not worth committing. They are not only cheating the school but also cheating themselves because they will never be able to realise their true potential. By taking the test with an advantage over the rest, they are not only downgrading themselves but also losing the respect of their peers by cheating. Using technology is but only one method of cheating.

It is ironic that the apple, an educational symbol of good grades, now marks the new generation of cheating devices. **

* Creative™ is a strong competitor of Apple in Digital Entertainment products (especially in the area of MP3 players), with its Zen being comparable to Apple’s iPod.

** Apple™ is the creator of iPods

Word count: 498

Rasam with lentils and seeds: "Public transport system not quite 'first class' "

This article was taken from Weekend Today in the Voices section on Saturday, April 28th 2007.

Chicken noodle cream with celery: "Response to article 4"

I found the title of this article rather disturbing. I mean how would you react when you read ‘Public transport system not quite ‘first class’’? Haven’t we always been praised for our efficient and well-planned public transport system?

However harsh this statement may be, I could not help but agree with the many points brought up; the points about the inefficiency of buses, the long waiting times, the filthy or non-working air conditioners, the crowdedness and the low level of cleanliness in many of the buses. Yes, I continued nodding my head in agreement as I recalled all the many times I had to wait close to an hour for a bus, the numerous times I had to squeeze onto a bus carrying my heavy softball bag and still trying to keep my balance on the steps and the countless times I could not sit down because the seats were mouldy all over. I was in complete agreement with the article when it suddenly dawned on me that all this while the writer was only criticizing the bus transport system. As I scanned through the article, I found very few non-bus examples of a poor public transport system. The writer had written out of point by narrowing his view and only focusing on our poor bus system alone. As his main focus was on the hygiene level, he lacked elaboration on factors such as efficiency, accessibility or cost, thus making his criticism on the entire public transport system as a whole very weak. I find the title very inappropriate and should be changed to ‘Public transport hygiene level not quite ‘first class’’ instead.

However, even though the writer’s stand is rather harsh, we cannot deny the fact that much improvement can be made to raise the hygiene level. The writer accurately points out that the problem lies with “high touch” surfaces (pull handles) and dirty air-con filters. Though these problems may sound minor, my father told me about a friend of his who contracted Herpes Simplex Eye Disease just by rubbing his eyes after touching an infected blood stain on a pull handle. Shocking but true. Thus, I find his suggestions for the implementation of stringent operational maintenance standards for buses and trains to be cleaned and disinfected every day very relevant.

In conclusion, even though the article was quite well written, I found the title lacking in terms of precision. The title suggested that the main issue would address the poor public transport on a whole inclusive of factors such as efficiency or comfort but the article only seemed to focus on the poor hygiene level rather than on the big picture. However, it redeemed itself by identifying the health hazards and providing useful suggestions to raise the hygiene level. With more precision, I feel that this article would be effective in putting the message across to LTA that much improvement can still be made to raise the hygiene level in our public transport system.

Word count: 496

Lobster and tomato bisque: Apologies

To all my dear readers, I apologise for my inability to prioritise my time. The past few weeks have somehow zoomed by, leaving me with no choice but to publish my responses in... yes microsoft word -.- i shall now publish 2 responses at one go :)

Note: I have finally fixed the problem with my posting by shifting the content of each post around. The order is as follows from top to bottom:

Apologies
Article 2 and 3
Response to Article 2 and 3
Article 1
Response to Article 1
Welcome

Please grade me on Article 1 first, then 2 and 3. thankyou :)

Blended spinach with cheese soup: "It's a question of need" and "The other benefits of work, besides income" (Article 2 and 3)

These two article were taken from Today in the Voices section on Friday, February 9th 2007.

Potato and leek stew: "Response to articles 2 and 3"

I found it interesting that two contradictory articles were placed on the same page. They both refer to the article “Ageing- but still ‘actively engaged” in which NTUC Income is said to retain older employees. The first article’s writer disagrees with older Singaporeans working because he feels that they are causing the job shortage and should leave the jobs to needier people. The second article’s writer applauds NTUC Income for retaining older employees as he feels that it benefits them both physically and mentally.

I personally think that the first article has a very biased perspective. He makes the assumption that the older Singaporeans who work are ‘just working to pass time’ and are ‘depriving others from jobs’. I find the use of the word “depriving” very strong, and it makes the older Singaporeans seem as though they are the main cause of job shortages. Another assumption he made was that all these people are financially independent and do not need a job to sustain themselves. He wrote that they are supported by their children or have sufficient savings and pensions. But what if they need the money to survive because their children are not providing for them? This contradicts his title of “It’s a question of need” because they the elderly will be the needy ones in this case. An interesting inference that I made from this article was that either the author is jobless or that he knows someone in their 40’s or 50’s who is jobless. The phrase “in their late 40’s and 50’s” comes out quite often and there are very specific examples provided that leaves me the impression that the author is describing his own situation.

Throughout the whole article, from the title to the very last sentence, readers get the impression that the argument is one-sided due to the relentless complaining. The way the writer presents his case is very aggressive and he lacks empathy to such a large extent that he actually comes across to readers as rude.

To me, the most disturbing issue was the fact that although he kept on saying that there were no jobs for the needy, he kept on referring to the “needy” in the age group of 40’s and 50’s. He forgets that the greatest impending problem that post-university students face as they enter the working world is the lack of jobs. Unemployment rate is high in Singapore and it is affecting NOT just the people in their 40’s and 50’s but also in the younger age groups. Young adults also need jobs to survive and doing away with the older generation will not decrease job shortages. Our population is constantly growing and the best his short-term solution can do is to provide a few jobs. In the long run, Singapore has to come up with a better solution to ease the demand for jobs.

The second article gave readers a more balanced view about the issue. It stressed on the other benefits of work for elderly people besides income. The first writer only thought that the elderly people’s purpose of working was to earn income but the second writer was able to bring to light other important reasons why they should continue working. Besides relieving financial pressure by providing for themselves, elderly people gain health benefits. Working keeps them physically and mentally active and this is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. At their age, their bodies degenerate easily and forced inactivity of retirement will lead to old age diseases like Alzheimer’s if they remain inactive. It is a healthier way to live too because it is definitely better than staying at home and watching television. By socializing and earning an income, it gives them “a sense of self-worth”, thus allowing them to feel useful, and not as though they were living off their children’s money.

However, although I cannot disagree with the first writer that the elderly are taking up jobs, I find it unreasonable that he should push the blame of the job shortage to them when the number of elderly people working is in fact, very insignificant. Recently, the government has also stepped up its efforts in creating more jobs to cater to the unemployed. I have a cousin whose job is finding employment for unemployed people and she states that the main problem with Singaporeans is that they are too choosy for jobs. They are plenty of opportunities, it is just a matter of grabbing it or waiting for a "better" one which might never come.

Personally, I find the complaining excessive to the point that it sounds like whining. Much improvement could be made on the part of the writer to bring his point across pleasantly by using the correct choice of words.

I feel that it was the newspaper’s editor’s intention to put the two articles on the same page. The stark contrast between the two shocked me at first because in the first article, the elderly were being discouraged to work so that they would be more opportunities for the needier ones but in the second article, it actually complimented NTUC Income in its efforts for retaining their elderly workers. One was against the idea, the other for it. One was upset that the elderly were taking up jobs while another presented the benefits of working at an old age. With both contrasting arguments side-by-side, it made it easier for me to compare the different viewpoints.

word count: 908 words

I apologize for my word count that has exceeded 500 words but since I am responding to 2 articles, I hope you can understand that I need more than 500 words. Thank you.

New England Clam Chowder with sour dough: "Ad on family life paints too rosy a picture"

This article was taken from The Straits Times Forum section on Friday, February 2nd 2007.

Ba Kut Teh with pork ribs: " Response to article 1"

I particularly liked the title of this article, ‘Ad on family life paints too rosy a picture’. It simply states that the advertisements the government is promoting about happiness in Singaporean family lifestyles disillusions the public by providing too beautiful a picture.

The author’s main objective is to tell the government that we should not depict an average Singaporean’s family life as ‘highly middle-classed, English-educated with western orientated lifestyles’ as this is not commonly seen in the majority of our families. He fears that people would be disillusioned into thinking that happiness is easily achievable in family life, when in reality, it is not.

There are two viewpoints. One perspective is from the government while the other is from a consultant family therapist who has been in practice for 35 years. The government’s viewpoint is rather biased as they want to encourage marriages with big families by only depicting the side where fun and harmony exist in an average Singaporean family life. However, the less pretty and more realistic sight would be seeing parents struggling to earn enough money to give all their children good education, close to no leisure time and children worrying about balancing school and social life. I tend to agree with the author because his view is more insightful. Being a family-life educator, he has experience in counseling families and is more familiar with struggles in marital relationships and parent-children problems. He even provides an example of family stress in which a father, who is overseas, is overly concerned about his child playing and not finishing his homework.

I can understand the government’s intentions in trying to promote happiness in family life and encouraging marriages and bigger families but they should also present a more realistic approach, something achievable for most Singaporean families. However, I find the author overly concerned with the public being disillusioned and getting a wrong idea of real family life. I am certain that almost every Singaporean knows that our family life is not as relaxing and enjoyable as seen from the advertisement but on the contrary, rather hectic and busy. The public is exposed to the media not only in the form of newspaper advertisements but also in the form television and radio. The ironic thing is that many of our home-made serial dramas on television depict an average Singaporean family life as complicated, full of tension and stress, and not the least bit free and easy-going. Perhaps it is to attract more viewers but this example goes to show that we are well aware of the type of life we are living. Singaporeans’ lifestyles are well-known to be fast paced and busy, having little time for relaxation.

As Singaporeans, we should realise that ‘family’ is more important than ‘work’ and should sacrifice more time in enjoying life as a family. However, as Singaporeans, you know as jolly well as I do that this will never happen. Not anywhere in a hundred years time.

word count: 493 words

Soup of the Day

Welcome to the Soup Kitchen, the place where hungry souls are fed with alphabet soup, soup that fills the stomach and feeds the brain!

I am very unused with the new blogger interface but as you can see, i am having a lot of fun with this new freedom that blogger gives its users.

Articulate
Boundless
Concrete
Delightful
Enlightening
Filling
Glib
Holistic
Insightful
Justifiable
Knowledgeable
Luring
Mature
Novel
Open
Penetrating
Quenching
Rich
Stylistic
Trustworthy
Useful
Valuable
Warm
Xciting
Youthful
Zesty

Feel free to tag your comments -->