1. How do you view the conclusion of the US China talks in Alaska?
E-mail: kinlian@gmail.com. Website: www.tankinlian.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/kinlian
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
1. How do you view the conclusion of the US China talks in Alaska?
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WOTC - MFA statement on handling of Myanmar protesters
Wisdom of the Crowd: 64% of the respondents disagree with the MFA statement on the handling of Myanmar protesters.
WOTC - Urban farming in Singapore
Wisdom of the Crowd: 83% of the respondents are positive about urban farming in Singapore.
Confusing message from Transit Link
I received this message from Transit Link after registering my credit card.
You can now use your card to pay for bus and train rides.If your card comes with EZ-Link/NETS FlashPay functionality, please proceed to the nearest General Ticketing Machine (GTM) located at any train station to switch the payment mode of your card to contactless payment by placing it on the card reader and following the onscreen prompts. Your card can be used to pay for bus and train rides immediately after switching the payment mode.
I have no idea if my card come with the said functionality.
Anyway, when I used the card, it said that I have "low balance". I looks like I have to go to the GTM machine to switch the mode before the card can be used.
If this is the case - why give me such a confusing message?
This kind of idiotic process is quite common in Singapore. It is part of our national culture to be convoluted (as practiced by LHL), confusing and inconsiderate.
Transit link app works poorly
I faced a lot of trouble to use my credit card to pay for my bus fare. It reflects a convoluted and confusing process designed by people who do not understand the experience faced by the public.
Friday, March 19, 2021
WOTC - Voting in elections
Wisdom of the Crowd: 58% of the respondents said that a person should be a citizen for at least 5 years before they are allowed to vote.
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
2. Should we spend $8 billion to build a network of underground walkways?
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https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx
Network of underground walkways
I walked 1.8 km (2,500 steps) from my office in Midview City to Bishan North Shopping Mall.
I walked in the hot sun. The insane ministers require me to wear a mask. I perspire and could not breath.
I suggest that the Transport Minister build a network of underground pedestrian walkways, about 600 km, connecting all parts of Singapore to the town center.
The total cost is only $6 billion (hey - it cost less than the $8 billion spent on the North South Corridor).
The underground pathway will be cool and sheltered from the sun and rain. It allows people to walk a long distance without crossing traffic lights.
Walking is good for health.
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Wisdom of the Crowd - New Issues
1. How can America stop its hate crimes?
2. What is China's contribution to the world?3. When will the US Fed increase interest rate?
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https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/vote.aspx
Simplify password for websites
I have a message for website administrators. Allow the users to set the password to any length or format they they wish. Do not impose any requirement on the password, or insist that the password be changed at regular intervals.
WOTC - Control of social media
Wisdom of the Crowd: 45% of the respondents said that action should only be taken against people who deliberate create false information on social media.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Industrial REITS in Singapore
I give my views about industrial REITS in Singapore. They are recommended by several analysts, but I prefer to avoid them.
High tech farming in Singapore
I wish minister Chan all the best in this endeavor. I support his move towards high tech farming. I hope that he can make it a success.
Who knows - we might even be able to grow cotton with high tech farming, and not get cotton from sheep. Hehehe!
WOTC - Coping with the covid pandemic
Wisdom of the Crowd: 49% of the respondents suggested that people who continued to be impacted from the covid pandemic should be allowed to make withdrawals from the CPF savings.
Special covid vaccination centers
It is a good approach to set up special covid vaccination centers. They have to deal with large numbers of people who needs to be vaccinated.
Being a special center, they can handle a large throughput in an efficient manners.
It is a bad idea to use polyclinics to handle the covid vaccination. It is inefficient and costly.
I hope that the Ministry of Health recognize the advantage of special vaccination centers, and set up more of them.
A better system to elect leaders
The system used in western democracies is flawed and is subject to interference from foreign powers. There is a better system to select leaders.
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
WOTC - National Security Law in Hong Kong
Wisdom of the Crowd: 65% of the respondents agree with the National Security Law in Hong Kong.
Clearing off US growth stocks - 15 March 2021
I have sold $190,000 USD in US growth stocks during the past few nights, realizing a total loss of $11,000.
I am still holding $271,000 in 5 growth stocks with an unrealized loss of $66,000.
Sad or not?
Monday, March 15, 2021
WOTC - Government communication
Wisdom of the Crowd: 42% of the respondents prefer to receive government communication by physical letter.
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Cross Island Land - tunnel cost
The Land Transport Authority has awarded a contract of $356 million 3.2 km tunnel.
The cost is $111 million per km.Here are the details of this contract.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lta-awards-356-million-contract-for-cross-island-line-tunnel-works
The Boring Company started by Elon Musk claim to be able to build a tunnel at $10 million USD per mile. This tunnel has a diameter of 12 feet.
https://www.boringcompany.com/faq
While the size of the tunnel that is needed for 2 tracks of the MRT train is bigger, I wonder if it justify a cost that is 10 times more.
Maybe, we should look at more efficient ways of digging tunnels?
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Excellent customer service from OPPO phone
Transfer to new OPPO phone
I bought a new OPPO phone.
I have to transfer the data and apps from the old phone to the new phone.
I had trouble.
I went to Oppo website and entered a live chat.
The service from Oppo is excellent!
The help staff responded to me immediately.
He advised me to use the Clone Phone app in the old phone and the new phone.
It worked well.
I commend Oppo for their excellent customer service.
I did not have to wait for someone to attend to me.
I do not have to go through all types of troublesome process to get help.
Their service beats the customer service of most large organizations that I deal with.
The most troublesome organizations are the government agencies in Singapore and the large commercial companies in Singapore.
These troublesome organizations should learn from the process used by Oppo.
Well done, Oppo.
WOTC - Quality of the ministers
Wisdom of the Crowd: 75% of the respondents have a negative opinion about the quality of the government ministers in Singapore.
Cosco Shipping group - holding company and subsidiaries
I share my views and financial calculations on the holding company and subsidiaries of the Cosco Shipping group.