I’m back to work after a long weekend of Christmas. Lucky Plaza certainly looks like it needs a major cleanup. But catching on the news, the PUB announced that “there was no flooding at Orchard Road. However, water ponded at the open area of Liat Towers, the underpass between Lucky Plaza and Ngee Ann City and the basement of Lucky Plaza due to sustained heavy downpour.”
The dictionary said that to pond (verb) is to collect in a large puddle. Anyone who has seem pictures of water cascading down the stairs will see that “ponded” is hardly the word to describe what happened in that underpass. Meanwhile, the $200,000 barrier at Liat Towers failed to work. It has been reported that up to 8 gates at Marina Barrage were opened to maintain water level at Marina Reservoir within normal range. All it took was 3 hours of continued downpour. No, it didn’t rain all day, we’ve spent millions trying to prevent this from happening and we don’t have anything close to a Chao Praya nearby. People who complain about it are unreasonably demanding. The situation looks like failing your PSLE after you’ve prepared for your A Levels.
Punggol Tidal Gates
And I wonder what could have happened if the 8 gates at Marina Barrage were not opened on time. If the floods were not caused by the Marina Barrage, why bother to open the gates? Wouldn’t it have flooded with or without the barrage? The experts told us so.
Another panel of experts have been working on reviewing salaries of the President, Prime Minister, political appointment holders and MPs. The committee said that it has completed its deliberations and is “finalising” the report.
Mr Gerard Ee said: “We are commissioned by the PM and it is only right that we submit the report to him.” With regard to how and when the report will be made public, the committee will stand guided by the PM.
No further comments from me. I’ll just eat my cornflakes.
There is a new game in town. It’s called follow the leader. And while price fixing amongst members of the same trade or profession is considered illegal, following the leader is not. Why couldn’t doctors and modelling agencies in Singapore play the same game? If a certain clinic wants to increase charges, another clinic can charge lower and “poach” some patients from them. There is nothing the first clinic can do to influence the other clinic. One doctor’s meat is another doctor’s poison. That’s because doctors and practices have different styles, patient profiles and strategies. That’s the beauty of real competition. It diversifies the market. It kills off some of the weaker establishments and today’s leader may be replaced tomorrow.
Now take a look at our public transport system. Is there any diversification? Do you see or feel any difference in our taxis apart from their colours? Why are our taxi companies all so uncreative in the way they market to different segments of our population? Why must they play “follow the leader” to show that they are not price-fixing. Are there any unwritten rules and regulations (enforced by the leader) even more restrictive than those in the dental profession?
Looks like I’ll have to eat my cornflakes for this one too.
And yes, we’ll be welcoming the new year in a few days’ time. A hastily prepared letter tells me that dentists’ registration and practising certificate fees are going to go up by 50%. Gosh, I’m so stunned that I’ve lost all my exclamation. No more surprises, priest, priest, priest….
Nothing to rejoice at the start of 2012, but we still need some painkillers. You can be sure that the feasting, boozing and partying will go on. If you think that drink driving is serious, what about getting into the wrong bed? Fellow blogger Holly Jean has this to say about getting drunk and having sex. A little harsh, but as I mentioned, many of my patients lost their dentures when they got drunk and have absolutely no idea how they lost them. If you happen to be one of them, you’d be thankful that I charge you a little less for your new dentures. Happy New Year.
