Friday, September 28, 2012

Rich Zodiac Poor Zodiac



From the Economist - oxes lead a hard life, ploughing the rice fields from dawn to dusk.

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Saturday, September 22, 2012

The export of Taiwanese labour

A very interesting article on the predicament that is facing Taiwan today.

The article bemoans the poor economic situation of Taiwan, where the average wage (which I don’t think have been corrected for inflation) of those below 34 years old have dropped to wage levels 15 – 17 years ago. Coupled with rising inflation and unemployment in Taiwan, the article highlights the third wave in the export of Taiwanese labour: where young Taiwanese seek employment in blue-collar jobs in Australia (e.g. in abattoirs, farms and mines) where they can earn up to 4 times what they would otherwise receive in a white-collar job back home.


台灣進入「台勞」時代!/文﹕南方朔

【明報專訊】今年是台灣退化的關鍵年。剛剛過完第二季,台灣的GDP成長率竟然為負0.18%,在亞洲12個主要國家及地區,居然排名最末,而且是唯一的負成長。台灣這幾年是四小龍之末,現已成為亞洲之末。

台灣人收入 最多倒退17年

不僅成長率退化而已,台灣的國民平均年收入也在退化之中。根據行政院主計總處的統計,去年台灣的每人平均年收入,未滿30歲的年齡層,平均只有台幣41.6萬元,倒退回了15年前水準,30至34歲這一層,則為台幣55.6萬元,倒退回17年前水準,收入最好的是45歲至54歲這一層,他們的平均年收入為台幣73.3萬元,也倒退回了6年前。今年的情只會更差,不可能更好。

由於成長減緩,年所得倒退,再加上今年以來台灣的物價上漲,8月份消費者物價指數上漲達3.42%,其中單單食物類即上漲8.66%,平均每戶人家今年每月開支增加大約台幣2000元,因此今年台灣過生活的艱苦程度已大大增加,特別是15至29歲的年輕人的失業率已高達12%,因此,當今台灣青年人是相當苦悶的,他們工作難找,縱使找到工作,待遇每月也只有台幣2.4萬元至2.6萬元之間,有碩士學位的稍好一點,但每月也只有3.2萬元。這樣的所得條件和就業環境,已使台灣的年輕人被稱為「青貧族」,青年人已不可能儲蓄,不可能購屋買產,甚至不敢結婚生育子女。

澳洲做粗活 薪金四級跳

於是,一種新的現象遂告出現,那就是台灣有很多大學畢業生由於找不到好工作,寧願遠走澳洲的屠宰場、農場、礦場去作工,這種工作雖然屬於粗活,不算白領工作,但報酬卻是台灣平均工資的4倍。據台灣的外交部統計,2011年申請到澳洲打工的有1.3萬人,2012年有9600人。目前在澳洲作工的約有3萬人,台灣已成了「台勞」輸出的地方,許多「台勞」甚至還是台大、清大、政大等不錯的大學畢業生。台灣以前有「菲勞」、「泰勞」、「越勞」等,現在終於出了「台勞」,雖說職業無貴賤,但台灣搞到大學畢業生出國當「台勞」,畢竟使人感嘆!

根據台灣官方的統計,目前大學畢業生的平均工資及薪資每月只有26,577元,而澳洲的打工,最低的時薪約為台幣495元,周薪可達台幣1.9萬元,勞力更密集也更辛苦的如看護工則更高,因此一個「台勞」去打工,每月平均可掙到台幣9萬至12萬,相當於台灣的4倍。就有一個台灣清華大學經濟系的27歲畢業生,因為在台灣找不到好工作,而去澳洲的肉品工廠作工,專門為冷凍羊肉去皮,同一工廠即有「台勞」150人,他們每個月可掙台幣10萬,大家都有個心願,那就是辛苦工作兩年,即可帶台幣200萬回家。

但當「台勞」也並不是每個人都幸運,有人在礦場被炸斷手,有人被騙被打或被性騷擾。這些都是在台灣的「泰勞」、「菲勞」、「菲傭」,大陸的「漁工」等常發生的事,現在這種事已發生在「台勞」上,這也證明了風水輪流轉的道理。

職業無貴賤,一個國家的人去外國打工,這並不是丟臉的事,但這種勞力外流,人民去外國打工的現象,對該國而言,則無疑是個重大的問題。台灣近年來,經濟每下愈,由於經濟惡化,工作機會增加緩慢,工資也逐年下降,這已造成了好幾波「移出」的現象。

熱話「台勞」 三波「移出」

第一波「移出」是「台商」的移往中國大陸,當然也伴同資金的移出。它造成了台灣產業的空洞化及新投資的不足。這一種移出在馬政府上台後達到頂點。

第二波「移出」,則是最近這幾年才出現的技術人力的移出,許多在台灣有經驗的中高階技術人員、教書工作者、技術管理階層,分別往中國大陸、新加坡、香港,甚至南韓等移出,這可說是「挖角式的人力移出」。就以中國大陸為例,它對台灣的挖角條件是「在台灣領多少錢,我們就給多少人民幣」,一差就差了4倍多。

第三波「移出」,即是現在正發生的「台勞」。台灣由於退化的速度加快,年輕高學歷的人就業困難而且薪資條件不佳,他們遂乾脆到澳洲去做辛苦的工作,這已談不上是什麼人生理想,只是要掙多一點錢。

因此,「台勞」問題最近已在媒體及網絡上成了台灣最熱門的話題,這個話題多少都使人有點感傷。台灣過去曾是亞洲四小龍之首,由於社會在發展,就業及所得都不是問題,但從1990年代起,進入全球化的年代,台灣卻顯然日益失去了自己的位置,台灣經濟無法轉型,整個社會遂只能在原地踏步,最後是整個原地踏步所造成的壓力,全都由年輕人所承擔。從今年起,台灣正式進入「台勞時代」,這實在是台灣的悲歌!

南方朔 《亞洲週刊》主筆

Friday, September 21, 2012

日本語

Found it interesting that someone whom I thought has better Japanese than me – and had studied it to JLPT2 level in school – still made the rookie mistake of saying 「私は」, which is redundant and culturally awkward, given that in Japan – and in Japanese – the usage of “you” and “I” are rare.

It was strange hearing it three times, at the start of three consecutive sentences, in a brief conversation to introduce the self. And particularly so because I think most of us had it hammered out of our system in Japanese class somewhere along the way.

The other observation was the usage of 「ありがとうございました」. This was interesting in a different way, as it made me reflect that I only really kinda understood when to use the past tense, and when not to, only after going to Japan. I’m sure my teachers had made the difference known to us, but it was only when I got really confused from sometimes hearing people use -ます and at other times say -ました that I asked, had it explained to me, and processed it better with further observation.

I’m really not sure how much my Japanese benefitted from me being in Japan. This someone has powerful reading skills – could translate a brief news report very fast and in very well-written English (the same would have taken me much longer and way more effort) even with (supposedly) very rusty Japanese. My reading was quite good when I was still in Japan, but I think even then it may not have taken me that short a time to process that article.

Feeling 残念 for the deterioration in my Japanese skills. It’s time to try even harder to pick it back up again.

Formula One Night Race 2012 in Singapore!

I was really lucky to have won tickets to the Formula One this year. Granted it’s just the practice session, but the cars are the same, the VROOOMs are the same, and to be honest I’m most curious about what it’s like to be there on the track itself – mainly because I don’t follow F1.

I was lucky as I won’t be participating in the ballot next year, and also because if I hadn’t fallen sick I’ll be in Guangxi, China at the moment with only Sunday’s tickets to ballot for (and a lesser quantity available than today as well). It’s also the reason why these pictures aren’t on Facebook – out of consideration for my colleague (and boss) who had to do my work instead cos I wasn’t well to travel :S

I went with my mum for the first practice session – ironically it’s not “night” yet:

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The skyline of Singapore is beautiful from the Bay Grandstand, with a gorgeous view of Marina Bay. It had poured earlier in the afternoon and threatened to rain still:

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The cars are all a blur from where we were. Actually our seats were for much higher up, but there were so many empty seats available so we just plonked ourselves down. We are also not allowed to stand near the railings to take photos, and the ushers have to constantly remind people to return to their seats:

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Red Bull is easy to spot:

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It’s obvious why people aren’t allowed at the railings when you’re trying to take pictures from your seat, but it’s really annoying when you want a good shot!

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The view of the background got much better as the sky darkened:

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I managed to get shots with cars in them too :)

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I hated this red ribbon barrier, had no idea what it was for and tried but failed to take the section of that band off:

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I managed to take a long video with quite a lot of the cars, to hear the VROOOOM. The engines were very loud (deafeningly so if you were next to the barriers), but the foam ear plugs we bought onsite were of some help. Ear plugs are a MUST.

I pity those crew right next to the track. I hope they have industrial strength ear protection, though it seems like not all of them do. Just walking down to the exit resulted in literally ringing ear drums as the cars went past:

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I got restless and took short walk to the edge of the stand – so gorgeous from here, with a view of another very empty stand:

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Compare the number of people there to mine, which got increasingly crowded as the evening wore on:

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A look at one of the merchandise booths:

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We ambled over to the walkabout section, where I took this shorter video:

We left shortly after, as we had enough of vroom vrooms and neither of us were that keen on the fringe entertainment events. Besides, I didn’t have much sleep last night and was rather tired by then.

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And a parting shot:

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My Formula One curiosity sated :)

Charge up your life, and meditate


Charge up with just 5 minutes:

http://www.5-minutes.net/supercharge-your-health/
 
Or meditate - for beginners:

http://www.5-minutes.net/meditation-for-beginners/

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10 Ways to Improve Your City Through Public Spaces


http://urbantimes.co/2012/09/10-ways-to-improve-your-city-through-public-space/

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

The most dynamic cities of 2025

From McKinsey, on the urban consumers of 2025. China will dominate the scene, as many of its current second and third-tier cities mature and develop. image

Read more here.

Rebalancing a Divided China

AWSJ, 7 Sep 2012

By TOM ORLIK

Conventional wisdom says that China's poor save too much—improving the social safety net would encourage them to hit the shops and rev the consumption engine. The facts disagree.

A 2011 survey from China's South Western University of Finance and Economics found that 55% of China's households had little or no savings for the year. That busts the myth of industrious farmers and migrant workers saving to pay for education, health care and pensions.

image001The survey of 8,000 households also found that the top 10% of China's households control 86% of wealth and account for 56% of household income. That's a considerably higher share of income than the 32% suggested by the official National Bureau of Statistics data and points to a worrying level of inequality.

International and historical comparisons suggest China's wealth gap should be ringing alarm bells. Surveys in 1995 and 2002 found that back then China's top 10% controlled just 30% and 41% of wealth, respectively. In the United States, Federal Reserve numbers show the top 10% are eating 74% of the pie.

Concentrating wealth in the hands of China's few has implications for both financial and social stability.

China's rich are already buying passports and homes abroad. With such a high share of assets in their hands, if they all decide to leave at once, that would leave a big hole in the banking system. China's poor have acquiesced in an iniquitous system because their income is also rising; if that stops, they might not be so tolerant of entrenched privilege.

The main takeaway though is on the prescription for addressing China's consumption-light growth model. The government's efforts so far have focused on extending public health, education and pension services to reduce the need for household precautionary saving and to free up income to spend at the shops.

That won't do the job. The reason the mass of China's households aren't spending isn't because they save too much, it's because their incomes are too low. The reason the rich are saving isn't because they want to, it's because they have too much money to spend all of it. The best way to boost consumption in China is not through extending public services but through a more equitable distribution of income.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Inspire.

Just wanted to quickly jot down some thoughts.

Have a feeling of being inspired today and gained a glimpse into certain directions I wish to pursue and explore further. These bear more thought and reflection, but I must be diligent in setting aside time to do that.

It’s easy to get distracted when you’re trying to keep in touch with friends, find a job, go for ballet, keep up with the demands of work, remain up to date on current affairs and get enough sleep at the same time. Something has to give, and I’m not sure what it will be – at the moment it looks like it’s entertainment (like computer games and TV shows), sleep and fiction books.

But that said, I must remind myself to push those thoughts further and do more reading on various topics, as well as find more sources of reading material. Self-enrichment is the first step to self-enlightenment.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Being Ill

I fell ill yesterday. My sore throat erupted into a bad cough and I had a fever to go along with it.

If memory serves me right, it's the first time I'm ill in the past year or so, which is pretty amazing. I think it's my body protesting for rest - it's been a hectic 7 months - and it's giving me the excuse to lie in bed this weekend guilt-free.

And I am doing my best to comply. 

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Thursday, September 13, 2012

How China Bids for Projects

Funny and very true.


天堂门坏了,上帝要招标重修。

印度人说:3千元就弄好,理由是材料费1千,人工费1千,我自己赚1千;来个德国人说:要6千元,材料费2千,人工2千,自己赚2千;最后中国人淡定地说:这个要9千元,3千给你,3千我的,剩下3千给那个印度人干。上帝拍案:中标!

后来地狱的门也坏了,招标时吸取教训,制订控制价3000。

德国人看了一眼就走了,印度人报价3000。中国人给了评标的小鬼500,报价3000,中标。德国人印度人都纳闷。再后来,中国人花了500材料500人工,修了一半宣布停工。拖了半年,地狱追加投资3000,完工!

再后来天堂连接地狱的电梯坏了,也要重修。经过前面两次教训后,控制定价3000而且要一次性修好。德国人又来看了一下就走了,印度人报价3000。中国人也报价3000而且还称完工后有茅台(很便宜的)送。中标。拿到钱后中国人开工。材料500人工500。完工后。上帝叫人验收。验收员(事先收了中国人红包500)说不合格要重建。于是追加资金9000重建!

再后来,人间的大门也坏了,投胎的上不来,经过前几次的教训之后,严格定价3000,监理,审计现场跟踪!并且免费保修1亿年,德国人吓跑了,印度人报价3000,中国人来了,无偿修好,免费保修2亿年,但要5千万年的管理权,上帝同意了,于是中国人修好了后在门口设了个收费站,投胎每人每次500,双向收费上不封顶,不给钱的下辈子一律投胎到印尼!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Pinnacle @ Duxton – take 2

I went up to the Pinnacle@Duxton for the second time the other day, and the experience was somewhat different as the initial excitement of being there for the first time was absent.

In a nutshell, I wouldn’t recommend any tourist to visit the Pinnacle@Duxton without being accompanied by a local person – or anyone with a local mobile line.

The reason is because things just don’t work very well at the Pinnacle@Duxton. First, the ezlink payment machine takes forever – and more than one try – to read the card and deduct the $5 admission fee to go up to the Sky Garden. Also, the machine doesn’t accept NETS Flashpay cards, and the group of tourists we encountered had to trot over to the 7-Eleven to purchase compatible ezlink cards. Since we didn’t see them the entire time we were at the Sky Garden, I assume something went wrong and they left without heading up.

Also, the gates to the Sky Garden simply don’t work. There were two of us but out of the 4 attempts to gain access to and from the Sky Garden, only 1 attempt was successful. For the other 3, I had to call the numbers on the notice above the gates to ask them to let us in/out.

Imagine if both of us were typical tourists – we’d have had to spend an unnecessary amount making an overseas call to the hotline on our mobile, or would have had to forfeit the $5 we’d paid cos we simply couldn’t get into the Sky Garden, or worse – we’d have been stuck in the Sky Gardens cos we couldn’t get out. I don’t understand why there isn’t an intercom system or a button you can press to reach the helpdesk if hiccups occur. The first time I visited, I also couldn’t access the Sky Garden and had to call to gain entry.

The fact that we needed to spend a fair amount of time weaving in and out of the walls looking for the ezlink payment machine to make our payment – before realising that we were actually on the 3rd floor and not on the 1st floor where the machine is – put a dampener on the visit, especially when I subsequently recalled that I had similarly spent quite a while searching for the machine the first time I went.

It was nice once we were up though, but I’ll be sharing all these with anyone who expresses an interest to visit  just to make sure they go prepared.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

The past two weeks

It’s way past my bedtime but I wanted to note that the past two weeks were wonderful. I can’t believe that it’s over so soon, that it’s way past my bedtime and that it’s back to work tomorrow.

It was simply wonderful being together again, just going out and cramping all the dates that we’ve missed into two weeks. We watched five movies, ate way too much good food, saw less of Singapore than we probably should have but enjoyed just having each other again.

Somehow saying goodbye this time was harder than the last three times, but at least we know that this separation won’t be for too long – if things go well we will be together again by Christmas, if not earlier. Until then, it’s time to diet and recover from all the amazing stuff we’ve eaten and to press on with the rest of life.

♥♥♥

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Crazy good apple cinnamon waffles at Max Brenner’s Cafe. I hadn’t been back in many years, the waffles weren’t cheap at about $18 but were oh-so delicious and very sweet :)

 
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