Lava Flow

Effective Date : 1 July 2005. Increment(S$0.10 to S$2.10, original amount is bracketed right beside the increment): Motorcyles - S$0.10(S$0.50), Taxis - S$0.30(S$2.40), Cars - S$0.50(S$3.20), Buses - S$0.50(S$3.90), Vans/Small Lorries - S$1.00(S$7.30), Big Lorries - S$2.10(S$14.50). Percentage of increment : 12-20%. Reason : LTA announced that Singapore's toll rates are pegged to those set by Malaysia for the use of the Causeway and Second Link. A similar hike was introduced by Malaysian authorities in May 2005. Last Revision : 1 March 2002, after the Malaysian toll rates hike in January 2002.

Another burden to Singaporeans travelling to Malaysia via Second Link? Especially for those with businesses? Whatever the reasons for the hike, this is just one of the small hikes making THEIR way into OUR lives. And THESE small hikes can accumulate to quite a tidy sum, per month, for those affected. Unofficial hikes from shops, vendors and other business, in my opinion, hit the end consumers the most. Cumulative effects either affect those at the top of the chain the most, or those at the bottom.

So are we spending more? Unwillingly or willingly? I do remember that a feeder bus trip used to be only 15cents and a meal at the market used to be only $1.50.

Most of the times, we would have no choice but to accept each hike, maybe with some complaints and murmurs to ourselves and friends. Prudent ones would review whether they can do without that expenditure. Others would just get used to paying more. But I am still glad that our GST and Income Tax rates are still much lower compared to some other countries.

BUT maybe we should be better prepared, financially and mentally, that price hikes are just so inevitable - Be prepared to pay the same cost for the same thing(or the same class/category) years later. YOU want to get it, YOU better be willing to pay for the price, be it lower, same or higher. Else, let go of it and live without it.

Money is meant to be spent? Or saved?

A nationwide craze, of both the participants with lively enthusiasm, and the audience providing the most essential X-factor in any competition - the unfaltering support, cheers, movitation and applause.

Lots of credit must indeed be given to the organisers for coming up with the "baby" of this year. Earlier this year, MediaCorp announced that their biennial talent-scouting event Star Search would not be held this year as scheduled. They are holding if off at the moment due to some makeover plans. As such, the local talent-scouting scene desperately need some fresh ideas to continue where the Singapore Idol left off last year. "Strike the iron while it is hot." Carry on from the success of the Singapore Idol and the crowd would grow.

This inaugural event has many attributes that signify several issues and trends. Judges no longer have all or most of the say in the determination of the final results and the winners. The viewers have the upper hand now. After the initial auditions, from the Quarter Finals all the way till the Grand Finals, viewers' SMS votes would account for 70% of the final score. For the Grand Finals, the male and female winner would have their try in recording singles and the records' sales would contribute to 30% of their score. The most heart-breaking and decisive couple of hours would be when both of them pit against each other on the final day, singing "live" in the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Due respect must be given to everyone and anyone who is involved in this, from the organisers, to the participants, even the ones who are eliminated right from the start and who might have became the laughing topics of others, to the judges, to the viewers, and of course the supporters, friends and families of those who had made it to the last 32. You can laugh at the guy who sang like a monkey during his audition, but the very least he is better than you is that he has taken a bold step and give it a try. BUT as long as one is self-aware and exercise self-discretion and self-responsibility, no one can fault him.

More exposure, experience, and that is REAL experience indeed-in front of strangers and might be lots of them, not the regular friends in KTV sessions. Critics hit hard, unpleasant comments splash across. Learning experience or failing experience, it's up to each to ponder, reflect and decide upon. Afterwhich, is there going to be plans and efforts for improvements and re-evaluation? YES or NO, both works, no right or wrong here.

Who is THE SuperStar? Someone whose image, appearance and singing piece together to fit into a typical Singaporean's idol? OR someone who has the excellent ability in the musical arena but looks plainly regardless of his/her dressing? OR someone dashing/appealing and posesses the ultimate x-factor and carries average vocals? Much debated about I feel. Again, the decision lies with the majority of the viewers, and the finalists' supporters. An up and coming style and structure in the entertainment industry-let the public decide what they wish to see, and the results would show for themselves. Afterall, it's them who would lend their ears and wallet as well to the records. Does that mean talented composers cum singers have an even tougher road ahead? I really wonder when we would see another talented composer here again. Then again, there's always the National Song Writing Competition, which sad to say, is much less known among Singaporeans.

Another form of art. But many deem it to be on the depreciation mode. Time would reveal everything. Maybe we can term it Modern Art?

Seriously hope that by the year 2010, I would have garnered my courage and passion to advance further in the arts arena, by giving a try in serious composing.

Quick Extract: The standard of living across all households, including those in the lower income group, has improved during 1993 to 2003, according to the latest Household Expenditure Survey. The survey is conducted once every five years to provide data for the compilation of the Consumer Price Index. .....more Singaporeans are living in four-room and larger HDB flats..... The proportion of households living in private properties also went up. In fact, housing expenditure surpassed spending on food as the most important expenditure group for households in 2003. This was followed by spending on transport and communication, with food ranked third. With the slower economic growth between 1998 and 2003 and the ageing population, more households have lost their only breadwinner. The percentage share of households with no working persons jumped from 4.5 percent in 1998 to 7.4 percent in 2003....

Excellent piece of news amist the reports of increasing employment rate, increasing GDP, increasing productivity rate etc. So it is proven statistically that we have grown wiser and fuller in the financial aspect and of course in our expenditure.

All around us, we would see familiar faces shifting residence, more often than not to a more spacious and/or prestigous place. Secondary school students and even younger ones yakking away on their mobiles phones or smsing with atrocious speed, aunties and uncles calling family members and friends on the buses and mrts, youngsters and working adults in the queue for taxis on weekends' nights and wee hours of the mornings, the MP3 players dangling down the jeans and shirts, digital cameras snapping fun shots of friends in chalets and restaurants, kids playing war or shooting games with their SGD2000/3000 PCs....... All these are so commonly seen and heard nowadays. Back in the old days, how many of us would be able to do that? All these alone would suffice to indicate our rising standard of living.

So what brings about all these? We are earning more bucks than ever? The economy is booming? Technology has creeped into our lives at an alarming rate? We are growing into "greedier" creatures? The same thing cost less now? Or the same thing costs more now? We are more exposed to more "useful" products at many more convenenient locations with easier payment and credit terms? We are more willing to purchase items to pamper ourselves than previously? We are doing our part to "contribute" to the economy? All play their respective part(role) and more of such factors are affecting and grappling us , maybe even without our awareness.

Sad to say, it's absolutely inevitable that all these would make their grand appearance to us at some stage of our life. But anything that goes up would have to come down eventually. The only qualm is when and how. But I do hope that it wouldn't come down too hard in a too short span of time, else alot of Singaporeans out there would have to accept it that hard or much harder.

You have it, flaunt it. You HAVE the wealth, FLAUNT IT. BUT please be reminded to check your remaining savings before you decide to flaunt anything.

Bear in mind that this is the Household Expenditure Survey. Not a Household Income Survey.

Perhaps I would write about the "trendy" topic of whether Singaporeans especially youngsters are pampered.