WriterJournal

Protected: Dot-com fever stirs sense of déjà vu

The first

This is the first very sensitive post of many to come. Of course, sensitivity is subjective. What one may find to be sensitive may not be as such to another.

I believe many Singaporeans would have moaned or cursed or were already immune to the recent request by SBS Transit and SMRT for, yet again, another fare hike estimated to be capped at 1.8%.

While I have no idea how public transport fares are determined, I do have some very good ideas (IMHO) how the public transport system should be run as illustrated (yes, I know. There’s no real drawings.) by the fictional story below.

At this moment in time, in most cities, everyone pays the same fare for the same trip taken. Well, in my fictional World of Please Accumulate Pennies (WPAP), things are quite different.

Citizens of World of Please Accumulate Pennies (CoWPAP) are all issued an Identity Card (IC) at birth. This IC is an amazing artwork of technology and all CoWPAP are to carry it with them at all times. They use it for everything. From buying food at the supermarket to entering a paid toilet to receiving salary & bonuses to paying income tax. CoWPAP cannot do without their IC. And of course, they use this IC to travel. Motto of the IC - One Card for All!

And because each IC is unique and traceable back to a CoWPAP, the Government of WPAP (GWPAP) knows exactly how much each CoWPAP earns and spends. GWPAP is very particular about pennies and hates to see pennies being wasted. Therefore, GWPAP is very proud of the IC which was their first (and only) invention. Each CoWPAP who damages or loses their IC more than twice in their lifetime will not be issued with a third. A CoWPAP without an IC will need to apply for a Temporary Identity Card Visa (TICV) which is similar to the ones used by Foreigner CoWPAPs (FCoWPAP) staying in WPAP. And the TICV must be renewed every two weeks at the cost of a shocking WPAP$150 per renewal which will take three workings days during which the TICV applicant must report his/her every movements at the nearest available WPAP Police Station (WPAP-PS) which are opened only between 8am to 10pm. Effectively, TICV applicants are not allowed to be out after 10pm and before 8am.

Back to the issue on transportation.

In WPAP, because each IC is unique and traceable back to a CoWPAP, the GWPAP knows exactly how much each CoWPAP earns and spends, all expenditure are determined by the CoWPAP’s income.

Let’s look at two CoWPAPs.

CoWPAP-Geraldine earns WPAP$5000 a month. This places her into the middle-income group of WPAP. CoWPAP-Henry earns WPAP$500 a month. This places him into the low-income group of WPAP.

Both CoWPAP-Geraldine and CoWPAP-Henry travels to work on a train every day. For TICV holders, the train fare is WPAP$3 per trip. For CoWPAP-Geraldine, the train fare is WPAP$5 per trip and for CoWPAP-Henry, the train fare is WPAP$0.50 per trip.

The GWPAP works on a very simple principle. Earn more, pay more. Earn less, pay less. TICV are exceptionals because they are already paying WPAP$150 every two weeks.

Are CoWPAP-Geraldine and CoWPAP-Henry happy?

Obviously CoWPAP-Geraldine is not. But CoWPAP-Henry is. CoWPAP-Geraldine rationalises that GWPAP is out to suck her of all her pennies while CoWPAP-Henry feels GWPAP is a government with a real heart caring for the people’s pennies. And TICV holders? Well, they have no rights to say anything anyway.

Now that you have read how much two CoWPAPs pay for their transportation fares, are you happy?

Next issue to address will be housing. When? When my work schedule allows. Till then, be a Happy CoWPAP! Count not your blessings and you will want not more.

Protected: A Difficult Sales Job - Globalisation is ugly in the abstract, but must be defended

Something very lame

Guess the name of a company when a gorilla passes a plum?

Protected: Just say NO to the new managerial cult of Yes

Protected: Google’s view into the lives of others

World Business Forum - Jack Ma & China & the Internet

INNOVATION PLUS SCALE: HOW TO PAVE THE WAY TO LEADERSHIP

* Getting ready for the next wave: The growth of e-commerce in China
* The incumbent perspective: Key success factors for western companies entering the Chinese market
* China as a source of web-based innovation
* From entrepreneur to challenger: The next steps in Alibaba.com’s strategy
* Growing both ways: Organic growth and acquisitions
* The quest for positioning in China: Designing products and services truly geared for the market

BIO
Jack Ma is the CEO, Chairman, and founder of Alibaba.com, China’s largest e-commerce company. With a team of 18 employees, he created the company in an apartment in Hangzhou, China, in 1999. Since then, Alibaba has grown to host more than 50 million registered members from more than 200 countries. Alibaba.com is ranked as the #1 “Most Popular [web site] in International Business and Trade” on Alexa.com, a subsidiary of Amazon.com that provides independent website tracking data.

In 1995, Ma founded China Pages, widely regarded to be China’s first Internet-based company. He then accepted an invitation from China’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation to head the information department of the China International Electronic Commerce Center, a position he left to create Alibaba.

Ma has been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a “Young Global Leader.” In 2004, he was selected by China Central Television (CCTV) and its viewers as one of the “Top 10 Business Leaders of the Year.” And in 2005, FORTUNE ranked him as one of the “25 Most Powerful Businesspeople in Asia.”

World Business Forum - Jack Welch & Management & Strategy

A DIALOGUE WITH JACK WELCH ON STRATEGY AND SUCCESS

* The everlasting rules for winning: Exploring the building blocks of a strong business foundation
* Managing today’s new business and career challenges
* Strategies to successfully navigate transformation and change
* Delivering sustainable results: What should leaders do to make strategy happen
* How to keep the innovative spirit alive—and the bottom line going up
* Building a powerful team: The importance of putting the best players on the field

BIO
Jack Welch is the most admired CEO in the world. During his 20 years as Chairman and CEO of General Electric, he transformed the company from a bureaucratic behemoth to a dynamic and revered powerhouse. During his tenure, GE market value grew from $13 billion to $400 billion. In the process, Welch’s management innovations made him the most influential CEO of his era.

Welch is the author (with John A. Byrne) of the international bestseller JACK: Straight from the Gut, which provides an intimate glimpse into his life and management concepts. With his trademark candor, he discusses his management style and theories in presentations all over the world, speaking to people at every level of an organization, answering their questions on dozens of wide-ranging topics. These sessions were the inspiration for his new book, Winning, written with his wife, Suzy Welch.

In 2000 he was named Manager of the Century by Fortune. In 2005, he was voted Most Admired CEO of the past 20 years by Chief Executive magazine readers and the World’s Greatest Leader Today in a Fast Company magazine survey. Welch is currently the head of Jack Welch, LLC, where he serves as an advisor to a small group of Fortune 500 business CEOs.

World Business Forum - Alan Greenspan & The Global Economy

A CONVERSATION WITH THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE US FEDERAL RESERVE

* Europe, the United States, the World: The future of the global economy
* Facing great global economic challenges: Of balances and imbalances
* Oil price and its impact on microeconomy: Energy, growth, and economic policy
* The sustainability of global consumption
* Inflation, debt, savings, deficit: United States and investment trends
* The moderating effects of productivity growth
* China’s role in global and regional economies

BIO
For five terms encompassing 18 years, Alan Greenspan served as Chairman of the US Federal Reserve. A post held continuously since appointed by President Reagan, Greenspan’s footprint is still clearly felt on American domestic and monetary policy.

He was appointed a member of President Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board, the Commission on Financial Structure and Regulation, and the Task Force on Economic Growth. From 1974 to 1977, he served as Chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers under President Ford.

Dr. Greenspan graduated summa cum laude from New York University and continued his studies at Columbia University. He has received numerous honorary degrees and distinctions, among them the Legion of Honor from France and the United States’ Medal of Freedom. He also is an Honorary Knight of the British Empire.

Now head of Greenspan Associates, Dr. Greenspan’s memoirs will be published during the second half of 2007.

The Dance

We meet again
In a dream

Soft music playing
Smiles and laughter

We dance
In the pool

The water warm
Like a blanket of love

Yet I know not your name
And you know not mine

Only our souls
Recognise each other

In a dream
Of our love
We meet again

Buddha & a Monk

Not exactly that.

But I’d seem to be reading my way through two books about religion.

One is Deepak Chopra’s BUDDHA - A Story of Enlightenment.

Bestselling author Deepak Chopra brings the Buddha back to life in this gripping novel of the young prince who abandoned his inheritance to discover his true calling. This iconic journey changed the world forver, and the truths revealed continue to influence every corner of the globe today.

The other is George Crane’s BONES OF THE MASTER - A Buddhist Monk’s Search for the Lost Heart of China.

They are the most unlikely of friends: one an American poet in love with words, a self-described ne’er-do-well and sensualist with a finely honed suspicion of authority; the other an ageing Chinese monk steeped in an ancient tradition and devoted to the memory of his ascetic meditation master. Their lives come together in this extraordinary journey, which takes us from Inner Mongolia to modern Hong Kong.

Will do a detailed review on each book once I’m done reading.

Marc Andreessen’s blog entry on How to hire the best people you’ve ever worked with

I have been wanting to update the links field and write this entry for a couple of days past.

Marc Andreessen is the co-creater of Netscape (which erm, not sure what happened to it). Anyway, he’s got this blog on now at blog.pmarca.com which is great.

His entry on “How to hire the best people you’ve ever worked with” is informative and witty.

Just to summarise, Marc’s opinion is that Drive, Curiosity and Ethics make up the Criteria to hire. Sounds good.

My opinion…That’s passion for you. Passion for life, passion for doing what you do. Personally, I think Passion is the most important factor.

One quote-worthy para from his entry:

realize that you’re usually doing the person you’re firing a favor — you’re releasing them from a role where they aren’t going to succeed or get promoted or be valued, and you’re giving them the opportunity to find a better role in a different company where they very well might be an incredible star

read the full entry here.

Script Frenzy 2007

Not the first time. I didn’t complete the last NaNoWriMo nor the one before that. November Rain is still raining drizzling. Haha!

I didn’t know that I had signed up for scriptfrenzy before. But apparently I did because I managed to log in, anyway. Which means, had I signed up last year and clean forgot all about it?

For the uninitiated, Script Frenzy is similar to NaNoWriMo except obviously, one is about script writing and the other writing a novel.

If you are interested, sign up at scriptfrenzy.org. Especially Singaporeans. We are pathetic in terms of numbers. (But we still win Malaysia. Hehe.) That said, we need quality work.

I’ve yet to complete a whole screenplay by myself. As in a 90 - 120 minutes (which works to about the equivalent pages or slightly more). The furthest I ever went was a 5 minutes. Which is not a big deal. But that’s about 5% of the whole movie. Which makes it a big deal to me (and my pockets).

Another dream of you

Like before
I see you
in my dream

You are sad
I can feel

Words unsaid
just
a brief hug

Yet we know
this feeling
cos we love

love needs no
words
not even
in our dream

love needs no
words
when i dream
of you

鬼谷子 - 中經

1. 中經: 中經，謂振窮趨急。施之能言、厚德之人；救拘執，窮者不忘恩也。能言者，儔善博惠；施德者，依道；而救拘執者，養使小人。蓋士遭世異時危，或當因免填坑，或當伐害能言，或當破德為雄，或當抑拘成罪，或當戚戚自善，或當敗敗自立。故道貴制人，不貴制於人也。制人者，握權；制於人者，失命。是以“見形為容，象體為貌”，“聞聲知音”，“解仇鬥隙”，“綴去”，“卻語”，“攝心”，“守義”。本經紀事者，紀道數，其變要在持樞、中經。

2 中經: “見形為容，象體為貌”者，謂爻為之生也。可以影響、形容、象貌而得之也。有守之人，目不視非，耳不聽邪，言必《詩》《書》，行不淫僻。以道為形，以德為容，貌莊色溫，不可象貌而得之，如是隱情塞隙而去之。

3 中經: “聞聲知音”者，謂聲氣不同，則恩愛不接，故商角不二合，徵羽不相配，能為四聲主者，其唯宮乎！故音不和則不悲，不是以聲散傷醜害者，言必逆於耳也。雖有美行盛譽，不可比目合翼相須也。此乃氣不合、音不調者也。

4 中經: “解仇鬥隙”者，謂解羸徵之仇；鬥隙者，鬥強也。強隙既鬥，稱勝者，高其功，勝其勢；弱者，哀其負，傷其卑，汙其名，恥其宗。故勝者聞其功勢，苟進而不知退；弱者聞哀其負，見其傷，則強大力倍，死而是也。隙無極大，禦無極大，則皆可脅而并。

5 中經: “綴去”者，謂綴己之繫言，使有餘思也。故接貞信者，稱其行，厲其志，言可為，可復，會之期喜。以他人之庶，引驗以結往，明款款而去之。

6 中經: “卻語”者，察伺短也。故言多必有數短之處，識其短，驗之。動以忌諱，示以時禁，其人恐畏，然後結信以安其心，收語蓋藏而卻之。無見己之所不能於多方之人。

7 中經: “攝心”者，謂逢好學伎術者，則為之稱遠；方驗之道，驚以奇怪，人繫其心於己，效之於人，驗去亂其前，吾歸誠於己。遭淫酒色者，為之術，音樂動之，以為必死，生日少之憂喜，以自所不見之事，終以可觀漫瀾之命，使有後會。

8 中經: “守義”者，謂守以仁義，探心在內以合者也。探心，探得其主也。從外制內，事有繫，曲而隨之也。故小人比人，則左道而用之，至能敗家奪國。非賢智不能守家以義，不能守國以道，聖人所貴道微妙者，誠以其可以轉危為安，救亡使存也。

鬼谷子 - 持樞

1 持樞: 持樞，雄而不滯，其猶決水轉石，誰能當禦哉！持樞，謂春生、夏長、秋收、冬藏，天之正也；不可干而逆之。逆之者，雖成必敗。故人君亦有天樞，生、養、成、藏，亦復不可干而逆之；逆之者，雖盛必衰。此天道、人君之大綱也。

鬼谷子 - 損兌法靈蓍

1 損兌法靈蓍: 損兌者，機危之決也。事有適然，物有成敗，機危之動，不可不察。故聖人以無為待有德，言察辭，合於事。兌者，知之也；損者，行之也。損之兌之，物有不可者，聖人不為之辭。故智者不以言失人之言，故辭不煩而心不虛，志不亂而意不邪。當其難易，而後為之謀；因自然之道以為實。圓者不行，方者不止，是謂大功。益之損之，皆為之辭。用分威散勢之權，以見其兌威，其機危乃為之決。故善損兌者，譬若決水於千仞之堤，轉圓石於萬仞之谿。而能行此者，形勢不得不然也。

鬼谷子 - 轉圓法猛獸

1 轉圓法猛獸: 轉圓者，無窮之計也。無窮者，必有聖人之心，以原不測之智；以不測之智而通心術，而神道混沌為一。以變論萬象類，說義無窮。智略計謀，各有形容，或圓或方，或陰或陽，或吉或凶，事類不同。故聖人懷此，用轉圓而求其合。故與造化者為始，動作無不包大道，以觀神明之域。

2 轉圓法猛獸: 天地無極，人事無窮，各以成其類；見其計謀，必知其吉凶成敗之所終也。轉圓者，或轉而吉，或轉而凶，聖人以道，先知存亡，乃知轉圓而從方。圓者，所以合語；方者，所以錯事。轉化者，所以觀計謀；接物者，所以觀進退之意。皆見其會，乃為要結以接其說也。

鬼谷子 - 散勢法鷙鳥

1 散勢法鷙鳥: 散勢者，神之使也。用之，必循間而動。威肅內盛，推間而行之，則勢散。夫散勢者，心虛志溢；意衰威失，精神不專，其言外而多變。故觀其志意，為度數，乃以揣說圖事，盡圓方，齊短長。無則不散勢者，待間而動，動而勢分矣。故善思間者，必內精五氣，外視虛實，動而不失分散之實。動則隨其志意，知其計謀。勢者，利害之決，權變之威。勢敗者，不以神肅察也。

鬼谷子 - 分威法伏熊

1 分威法伏熊: 分威者，神之覆也。故靜意固志，神歸其舍，則威覆盛矣。威覆盛，則內實堅；內實堅，則莫當；莫當，則能以分人之威而動其勢，如其天。以實取虛，以有取無，若以鎰稱銖。故動者必隨，唱者必和。撓其一指，觀其餘次，動變見形，無能間者。審於唱和，以間見間，動變明而威可分也。將欲動變，必先養志伏意以視間。知其固實者，自養也。讓己者，養人也。故神存兵亡，乃為之形勢。

鬼谷子 - 實意法螣蛇

1 實意法螣蛇: 實意者，氣之慮也。心欲安靜，慮欲深遠；心安靜則神策生，慮深遠則計謀成；神策生則志不可亂，計謀成則功不可間。意慮定則心遂安，心遂安則所行不錯，神自得矣。得則凝識氣寄，姦邪得而倚之，詐謀得而惑之；言無由心矣。故信心術守真一而不化，待人意慮之交會者，聽之候也；計謀者，存亡之樞機。慮不會，則聽不審矣；候之不得，計謀失矣，則意無所信、虛而無實。故計謀之慮，務在實意；實意必從心術始。

2 實意法螣蛇: 無為而求，安靜五臟，和通六腑，精神魂魄固守不動，乃能內視反聽，定志慮之太虛，待神往來。以觀天地開闢，知萬物所造化，見陰陽之終始，原人事之政理。不出戶而知天下，不窺牖而見天道；不見而命，不行而至；是謂道知。以通神明，應於無方，而神宿矣。

鬼谷子 - 養志法靈龜

1 養志法靈龜: 養志者，心氣之思不達也。有所欲，志存而思之。志者，欲之使也。欲多則心散，心散則志衰，志衰則思不達。故心氣一則欲不徨，欲不徨則志意不衰，志意不衰則思理達矣。理達則和通，和通則亂氣不煩於胸中，故內以養氣，外以知人。養志則心通矣，知人則職分明矣。將欲用之於人，必先知其養氣志。知人氣盛衰，而養其志氣，察其所安，以知其所能。

2 養志法靈龜: 志不養，則心氣不固；心氣不固，則思慮不達，思慮不達，則志意不實。志意不實，則應對不猛；應對不猛，則志失而心氣虛；志失而心氣虛，則喪其神矣；神喪，則彷彿；彷彿，則參會不一。養志之始，務在安己；己安，則志意實堅；志意實堅，則威勢不分，神明常固守，乃能分之。

鬼谷子 - 盛神法五龍

1 盛神法五龍: 盛神者，中有五氣，神為之長，心為之舍，德為之大；養神之所，歸諸道。道者，天地之始，一其紀也。物之所造，天之所生，包宏無形，化氣先天地而成，莫見其形，莫知其名，謂之神靈。故道者，神明之源，一其化端，是以德養五氣，心能得一，乃有其術。術者，心氣之道所由舍者，神乃為之使。九竅十二舍者，氣之門戶，心之總攝也。

2 盛神法五龍: 生受於天，謂之真人；真人者，與天為一。而知之者，內修練而知之，謂之聖人；聖人者，以類知之。故人與生生一出於化物。知類在竅，有所疑惑，通於心術，心無其術，必有不通。其通也，五氣得養，務在舍神，此謂之化。化有五氣者，志也、思也、神也、德也；神其一長也。靜和者，養氣。氣得其和，四者不衰。四邊威勢無不為，存而舍之，是謂神化。歸於身，謂之真人。真人者，同天而合道，執一而養產萬類，懷天心，施德養，無為以包志慮思意而行威勢者也。士者，通達之神盛，乃能養志。

鬼谷子 - 符言

1 符言: 安徐正靜，柔節先定。善與而不靜，虛心平意，以待傾損。
右主位。

2 符言: 目貴明，耳貴聰，心貴智。以天下之目視者，則無不見；以天下之耳聽者，則無不聞；以天下之心思慮者，則無不知；輻輳並進，則明不可塞。
右主明。

3 符言: 德之術曰：勿堅而拒之，許之則防守，拒之則閉塞。高山仰之可極，深淵度之可測，神明之德術正靜，其莫之極歟。
右主德。

4 符言: 用賞貴信，用刑貴正。賞賜貴信，必驗耳目之所聞見，其所不聞見者，莫不闇化矣。誠暢於天地，通於神明，見姦偽也。
右主賞。

5 符言: 一曰天之，二曰地之，三曰人之。四方上下，左右前後，熒惑之處安在。
右主問。

6 符言: 心為九竅之治，君為五官之長。為善者，君與之賞；為非者，君與之罰。君因其政之所以求，因與之，則不勞。聖人用之，故能賞之。因之循理，故能久長。
右主因。

7 符言: 人主不可不周。人主不周，則群臣生亂，寂乎其無常也，內外不通，安知所開，開閉不善，不見原也。
右主周。

8 符言: 一曰長目，二曰飛耳，三曰樹明。明知千里之外，隱微之中，是謂洞天下姦，莫不闇變。
右主參。

9 符言: 修名而督實，按實而定名。名實相生，反相為情，故曰：名當則生於實，實生於理，理生於名實之德，德生於和，和生於當。
右主名。

鬼谷子 - 決篇

1 決篇: 為人，凡決物，必託於疑者。善其用福，惡其有患；善至於誘也，終無惑偏。有利焉，去其利，則不受也；奇之所託。若有利於善者，隱託於惡，則不受矣，致疏遠。故其有使失利者，有使罹害者，此事之失。

2 決篇: 聖人所以能成其事者有五：有以陽德之者，有以陰賊之者，有以信誠之者，有以蔽匿之者，有以平素之者。陽勵於一言，陰勵於二言，平素、樞機以用；四者微而施之。於是度之往事，驗之來事，參之平素，可則決之。

3 決篇: 王公大人之事也，危而美名者，可則決之；不用費力而易成者，可則決之；用力犯勤苦，然而不得已而得之者，可則決之；去患者，可則決之；從福者，可則決之。故夫決情定疑，萬事之機，以正治亂，決成敗，難為者。故先王乃用蓍龜者，以自決也。

鬼谷子 - 謀篇

1 謀篇: 為人，凡謀有道，必得其所因，以求其情；審得其情，乃立三儀。三儀者：曰上，曰中，曰下。參以立焉，以生奇；奇不知其所壅，始於古之所從。

2 謀篇: 故鄭人之取玉也，載司南之車，為其不惑也。夫度材、量能、揣情者，亦事之司南也。

3 謀篇: 故同情而相親者，其俱成者也；同欲而相疏者，其偏害者也；同惡而相親者，其俱害者也；同惡而相疏者，其偏害者也。故相益則親，相損則疏，其數行也：此所以察異同之分其類一也。故墻壞於其隙，本毀於其節，斯蓋其分也。

4 謀篇: 故變生事，事生謀，謀生計，計生議，議生說，說生進，進生退，退生制；因以制於事，故百事一道，而百度一數也。

5 謀篇: 夫仁人輕貨，不可誘以利，可使出費；勇士輕難，不可懼以患，可使據危；智者達於數、明於理，不可欺以不誠，可示以道理，可使立功：是三才也。故愚者易蔽也，不肖者易懼也，貪者易誘也，是謂因事而裁之。

6 謀篇: 故為強者，積於弱也；為直者，積於曲也；有餘者，積於不足也：此其道術行也。

7 謀篇: 故外親而內疏者，說內；內親而外疏者，說外。故因其疑以變之，因其見以然之，因其說以要之，因其勢以成之，因其惡以權之，因其患以斥之；摩而恐之，高而動之，徵而證之，符而應之，擁而塞之，亂而惑之，是謂計謀。

8 謀篇: 計謀之用，公不如私，私不如結；結比而無隙者也。正不如奇，奇流而不止者也。故說人主者，必與之言奇；說人臣者，必與之言私。其身內，其言外者，疏；其身外，其言深者，危。無以人之所不欲而強之於人，無以人之所不知而教之於人。人之有好也，學而順之；人之有惡也，避而諱之：故陰道而陽取之也。故去之者，縱之；縱之者，乘之。貌者不美又不惡，故至情託焉。

9 謀篇: 可知者，可用也；不可知者，謀者所不用也。故曰：事貴制人，而不貴見制於人。制人者，握權也；見制於人者，制命也。故聖人之道陰，愚人之道陽；智者事易，而不智者事難。以此觀之，亡不可以為存，而危不可以為安；然而無為而貴智矣。智用於眾人之所不能知，而能用於眾人之所不能見。既用，見可否，擇事而為之，所以自為也。見不可，擇事而為之，所以為人也。故先王之道陰。言有之曰：“天地之化，在高與深；聖人制道，在隱與匿。”非獨忠信仁義也，中正而已矣。道理達於此之義，則可與語。由能得此，則可以彀遠近之誘。

鬼谷子 - 權篇

1 權篇: 說之者，說之也；說之者，資之也。飾言者，假之也；假之者，益損也。應對者，利辭也；利辭者，輕論也。成義者，明之也；明之者，符驗也。難言者，卻論也；卻論者，釣幾也。

2 權篇: 佞言者，諂而干忠。諛言者，博而干智。平言者，決而干勇。戚言者，權而干信。靜言者，反而干勝。

3 權篇: 先意承欲者，諂也。繁稱文辭者，博也。縱舍不疑者，決也。策選進謀者，權也。他分不足以窒非者，反也。

4 權篇: 故口者，機關也；所以開閉情意也。耳目者，心之佐助也；所以窺見姦邪。故曰：參調而應，利道而動。故繁言而不亂、翱翔而不迷、變易而不危者，睹要得理。故無目者不可示以五色，無耳者不可告以五音。故不可以往者，無所開之也；不可以來者，無所受之也。物有不通者，聖人故不事也。古人有言曰：“口可以食，不可以言。”言者，有諱忌也。眾口爍金，言有曲故也。

5 權篇: 人之情，出言則欲聽，舉事則欲成。是故，智者不用其所短，而用愚人之所長；不用所拙，而用愚人之所工：故不困也。言其有利者，從其所長也；言其有害者，避其所短也。故介蟲之捍也，必以堅厚；螫蟲之動也，必以毒螫。故禽獸知用其長，而談者知用其用也。故曰：辭言有五：曰病，曰恐，曰憂，曰怒，曰喜。故曰：病者，感哀氣而不神也；恐者，腸絕而無主也；憂者，閉塞而不泄也；怒者，妄動而不治也；喜者，宣散而無要也。此五者，精則用之，利則行之。

6 權篇: 故與智者言，依於博；與博者言，依於辯；與辯者言，依於要。與貴者言，依於勢；與富者言，依於高；與貧者言，依於利；與賤者言，依於謙；與勇者言，依於敢；與愚者言，依於銳：此其術也，而人常反之。是故，與智者言，將以此明之；與不智者言，將以此教之；而甚難為也。故言多類，事多變。故終日言不失其類，故此不亂；終日不變，而不失其主。故智貴不妄、聽貴聰、智貴明、辭貴奇。

鬼谷子 - 摩篇

1 摩篇: 摩者，揣之術也；內符者，揣之主也。用之有道，其道必隱。微摩之以其所欲，測而探之，內符必應；其所應也，必有為之。故微而去之，是謂塞窌匿端，隱貌逃情，而人不知，故能成其事而無患。

2 摩篇: 摩之在此，符應在彼，從而用之，事無不可。古之善摩者，如操鉤而臨深淵，餌而投之，必得魚焉。故曰：主事日成，而人不知；主兵日勝，而人不畏也。聖人謀之於陰，故曰神；成之於陽，故曰明。所謂主事日成者：積德也，而民安之，不知其所以利；積善也，而民道之，不知其所以然；而天下比之神明也。主兵日勝者，常戰於不爭，國不費，而民不知所以服，不知所以畏，而天下比之神明。

3 摩篇: 其摩者，有以平，有以正；有以喜，有以怒；有以名，有以行；有以廉，有以信；有以利，有以卑。平者，靜也。正者，直也。喜者，悅也。怒者，動也。名者，發也。行者，成也。廉者，潔也。信者，期也。利者，求也。卑者，諂也。故聖人所以獨用者，眾人皆有之；然無成功者，其用之非也。

4 摩篇: 故謀莫難於周密，說莫難於悉聽，事莫難於必成：此三者，唯聖人然後能任之。故謀必欲周密，必擇其所與通者說也。故曰：或結而無隙也。夫事成必合於數，故曰：道數與時相偶者也。說則聽必合於情，故曰：情合者聽。故物歸類；抱薪趨火，燥者先燃；平地注水，濕者先濡；此物類相應，於勢譬猶是也。此言內符之應外摩也如是，故曰：摩之以其類，焉有不相應者；乃摩之以其欲，焉有不聽者。故曰：獨行之道。夫幾者不晚，成而不拘，久而化成。

鬼谷子 - 揣篇

1 揣篇: 古之善用天下者，必量天下之權，而揣諸侯之情。量權不審，不知強弱輕重之稱；揣情不審，不知隱匿變化之動靜。

2 揣篇: 何謂量權？曰：度於大小，謀於眾寡；稱貨財有無之數，料人民多少、饒乏、有餘不足幾何？辨地形之險易，孰利孰害？謀慮孰長孰短？揆君臣之親疏，孰賢孰不肖？與賓客之智慧，孰少孰多？觀天時之禍福，孰吉孰凶？諸侯之交，孰用孰不用？百姓之心，去就變化，孰安孰危？孰好孰憎？反側孰辯？能知如此者，是謂量權。

3 揣篇: 揣情者，必以其甚喜之時，往而極其欲也；其有欲也，不能隱其情。必以其甚懼之時，往而極其惡也；其有惡也，不能隱其情。不能隱情欲，必失其變。感動而不知其變者，乃且錯其人勿與語，而更問其所親，知其所安。夫情變於內者，形見於外，故常必以其見者而知其隱者，此所謂測深揣情。

4 揣篇: 故計國事，則當審權量；說人主，則當審揣情。謀慮情欲，必出於此。乃可貴，乃可賤；乃可重，乃可輕；乃可利，乃可害；乃可成，乃可敗：其數一也。故雖有先王之道，聖智之謀，非揣情隱匿，無可索之。此謀之大本也，而說之法也。常有事於人，人莫能先，先事而至，此最難為。故曰：揣情最難守司。言必時其謀慮。故觀蜎飛蠕動，無不有利害，可以生事美。生事者，幾之勢也。此揣情飾言，成文章而後論之也。

鬼谷子 - 忤合

1 忤合: 凡趨合背反，計有適合。化轉環屬，各有形勢，反覆相求，因事為制。是以聖人居天地之間，立身、御世、施教、揚聲、明名也；必因事物之會，觀天時之宜，因以所多所少，以此先知之，與之轉化。

2 忤合: 世無常貴，事無常師。聖人無常與，無不與；無所聽，無不聽。成於事而合於計謀，與之為主。合於彼而離於此，計謀不兩忠，必有反忤；反於是，忤於彼；忤於此，反於彼。其術也，用之於天下，必量天下而與之；用之於國，必量國而與之；用之於家，必量家而與之；用之於身，必量身材能氣勢而與之；大小進退，其用一也。必先謀慮計定，而後行之以飛箝之術。

3 忤合: 古之善背向者，乃協四海，包諸侯忤合之地而化轉之，然後以之求合。故伊尹五就湯，五就桀，而不能有所明，然後合於湯。呂尚三就文王，三入殷，而不能有所明，然後合於文王。此知天命之箝，故歸之不疑也。

4 忤合: 非至聖達奧，不能御世；非勞心苦思，不能原事；不悉心見情，不能成名；材質不惠，不能用兵；忠實無真，不能知人；故忤合之道，己必自度材能智睿，量長短遠近孰不如。乃可以進，乃可以退；乃可以縱，乃可以橫。

鬼谷子 - 飛箝

1 飛箝: 凡度權量能，所以徵遠求近。立勢而制事，必先察同異，別是非之語，見內外之辭，知有無之數，決安危之計，定親疏之事，然後乃權量之。其有隱括，乃可徵，乃可求，乃可用。

2 飛箝: 引鉤箝之辭，飛而箝之。鉤箝之語，其說辭也，乍同乍異。其不可善者，或先徵之，而後重累；或先重以累，而後毀之；或以重累為毀；或以毀為重累。其用或稱財貨、琦瑋、珠玉、璧帛、采邑以事之。或量能立勢以鉤之，或伺候見??而箝之，其事用抵巇。

3 飛箝: 將欲用之於天下，必度權量能，見天時之盛衰，制地形之廣狹、阻險之難易，人民貨財之多少，諸侯之交孰親孰疏、孰愛孰憎，心意之慮懷。審其意，知其所好惡，乃就說其所重，以飛箝之辭，鉤其所好，乃以箝求之。

4 飛箝: 用之於人，則量智能、權材力、料氣勢，為之樞機，飛以迎之、隨之，以箝和之，以意宣之，此飛箝之綴也。用之於人，則空往而實來，綴而不失，以究其辭。可箝而縱，可箝而橫；可引而東，可引而西，可引而南，可引而北；可引而反，可引而覆，雖覆能復，不失其度。

鬼谷子 - 抵巇

1 抵巇: 物有自然，事有合離。有近而不可見，有遠而可知。近而不可見，不察其辭也；遠而可知者，反往以驗來也。

2 抵巇: 巇者，罅也。罅者，??也。??者，成大隙也。巇始有朕，可抵而塞，可抵而卻，可抵而息，可抵而匿，可抵而得，此謂抵巇之理也。

3 抵巇: 事之危也，聖人知之，獨保其身；因化說事，通達計謀，以識細微。經起秋毫之末，揮之於太山之本。其施外兆萌牙櫱之謀，皆由抵巇。抵巇之隙為道術用。

4 抵巇: 天下紛錯，上無明主，公侯無道德，則小人讒賊、賢人不用、聖人竄匿，貪利詐偽者作；君臣相惑，土崩瓦解而相伐射，父子離散，乖亂反目，是謂萌牙巇罅。聖人見萌牙巇罅，則抵之以法。世可以治，則抵而塞之；不可治，則抵而得之；或抵如此，或抵如彼；或抵反之，或抵覆之。五帝之政，抵而塞之；三王之事，抵而得之。諸侯相抵，不可勝數，當此之時，能抵為右。

5 抵巇: 自天地之合離終始，必有巇隙，不可不察也。察之以捭闔，能用此道，聖人也。聖人者，天地之使也。世無可抵，則深隱而待時；時有可抵，則為之謀。此道，可以上合，可以檢下。能因能循，為天地守神。

鬼谷子 - 內揵

1 內揵: 君臣上下之事，有遠而親，近而疏；就之不用，去之反求；日進前而不御，遙聞聲而相思。

2 內揵: 事皆有內揵，素結本始。或結以道德，或結以黨友，或結以財貨，或結以采色。用其意，欲入則入，欲出則出；欲親則親，欲疏則疏；欲就則就，欲去則去；欲求則求，欲思則思。若蚨母之從其子也；出無間，入無朕。獨往獨來，莫之能止。

3 內揵: 內者，進說辭也；揵者，揵所謀也。欲說者務隱度，計事者務循順。陰慮可否，明言得失，以御其志。方來應時，以合其謀。詳思來揵，往應時當也。夫內有不合者，不可施行也。乃揣切時宜，從便所為，以求其變。以變求內者，若管取揵。言往者，先順辭也；說來者，以變言也。善變者：審知地勢，乃通於天，以化四時，使鬼神，合於陰陽，而牧人民。

4 內揵: 見其謀事，知其志意。事有不合者，有所未知也。合而不結者，陽親而陰疏。事有不合者，聖人不為謀。

5 內揵: 故遠而親者，有陰德也；近而疏者，志不合也。就而不用者，策不得也；去而反求者，事中來也。日進而不御者，施不合也；遙聞聲而相思者，合於謀、待決事也。

6 內揵: 故曰：不見其類而為之者，見逆。不得其情而說之者，見非。得其情乃制其術，此用可出可入，可揵可開。故聖人立事，以此先知而揵萬物。

7 內揵: 由夫道德、仁義、禮樂、忠信、計謀，先取《詩》《書》，混說損益，議論去就。欲合者用內，欲去者用外。外內者，必明道數。揣策來事，見疑決之。策無失計，立功建德，治名入產業，曰揵而內合。上暗不治，下亂不寤，揵而反之。內自得而外不留，說而飛之，若命自來，己迎而御之。若欲去之，因危與之。環轉因化，莫知所為，退為大儀。

鬼谷子 - 反應

1 反應: 古之大化者，乃與無形俱生。反以觀往，覆以驗來；反以知古，覆以知今；反以知彼，覆以知此。動靜虛實之理不合於今，反古而求之。事有反而得覆者，聖人之意也，不可不察。

2 反應: 人言者，動也；己默者，靜也。因其言，聽其辭。言有不合者，反而求之，其應必出。

3 反應: 言有象，事有比；其有象比，以觀其次。

4 反應: 象者，象其事；比者，比其辭也。以無形求有聲。其釣語合事，得人實也。其猶張罝而取獸也。多張其會而同之，道合其事，彼自出之，此釣人之網也。常持其網而驅之。

5 反應: 其不言無比，乃為之變。以象動之，以報其心、見其情，隨而牧之。

6 反應: 己反往，彼覆來，言有象比，因而定基。重之、襲之、反之、覆之，萬事不失其辭。聖人所誘愚智，事皆不疑。

7 反應: 故善反聽者，乃變鬼神以得其情。其變當也，而牧之審也。牧之不審，得情不明。得情不明，定基不審。變象比必有反辭以還聽之。欲聞其聲，反默；欲張，反斂；欲高，反下；欲取，反與。欲開情者，象而比之，以牧其辭。同聲相呼，實理同歸。或因此，或因彼；或以事上，或以牧下。此聽真偽，知同異，得其情詐也。動作言默，與此出入；喜怒由此以見其式；皆以先定為之法則。以反求覆，觀其所託，故用此者。

8 反應: 己欲平靜以聽其辭，察其事、論萬物、別雌雄。雖非其事，見微知類。若探人而居其內，量其能，射其意也。符應不失，如螣蛇之所指，若羿之引矢；故知之始己，自知而後知人也。其相知也，若比目之魚；其見形也，若光之與影也。其察言也不失，若磁石之取鍼；如舌之取蟠骨。其與人也微，其見人也疾；如陰與陽，如陽與陰，如圓與方，如方與圓。未見形，圓以道之；既見形，方以事之。進退左右，以是司之。己不先定，牧人不正，事用不巧，是謂忘情失道。己審先定以牧人，策而無形容，莫見其門，是謂天神。

鬼谷子 - 捭闔

1 捭闔: 粵若稽古聖人之在天地間也，為眾生之先，觀陰陽之開闔以名命物；知存亡之門戶，籌策萬類之終始，達人心之理，見變化之朕焉，而守司其門戶。故聖人之在天下也，自古至今，其道一也。

2 捭闔: 變化無窮，各有所歸，或陰或陽，或柔或剛，或開或閉，或弛或張。是故，聖人一守

3 捭闔: 司其門戶，審察其所先後，度權量能，校其伎巧短長。

4 捭闔: 夫賢不肖、智愚、勇怯、仁、義有差。乃可捭，乃可闔；乃可進，乃可退；乃可賤，乃可貴；無為以牧之。

5 捭闔: 審定有無，與其實虛，隨其嗜欲以見其志意。微排其所言而捭反之，以求其實，貴得其指。闔而捭之，以求其利。或開而示之，或闔而閉之。開而示之者，同其情也；闔而閉之者，異其誠也。可與不可，審明其計謀，以原其同異。離合有守，先從其志。即欲捭之，貴周；即欲闔之，貴密。周密之貴，微而與道相追。

6 捭闔: 捭之者，料其情也；闔之者，結其誠也。皆見其權衡輕重，乃為之度數，聖人因而為之慮；其不中權衡度數，聖人因而自為之慮。

7 捭闔: 故捭者，或捭而出之，或捭而納之。闔者，或闔而取之，或闔而去之。捭闔者，天地之道。捭闔者，以變動陰陽，四時開閉，以化萬物；縱橫反出，反覆反忤，必由此矣。

8 捭闔: 捭闔者，道之大化，說之變也。必豫審其變化，吉凶大命繫焉。口者，心之門戶也。心者，神之主也。志意、喜欲、思慮、智謀，此皆由門戶出入。故關之以捭闔，制之以出入。

9 捭闔: 捭之者，開也，言也，陽也；闔之者，閉也，默也，陰也。陰陽其和，終始其義。

10 捭闔: 故言長生、安樂、富貴、尊榮、顯名、愛好、財利、得意、喜欲，為陽，曰始。

11 捭闔: 故言死亡、憂患、貧賤、苦辱、棄損、亡利、失意、有害、刑戮、誅罰，為陰，曰終。

12 捭闔: 諸言法陽之類者，皆曰始；言善以始其事。諸言法陰之類者，皆曰終；言惡以終其謀。

13 捭闔: 捭闔之道，以陰陽試之。故與陽言者，依崇高。與陰言者，依卑小。以下求小，以高求大。由此言之，無所不出，無所不入，無所不可。可以說人，可以說家，可以說國，可以說天下。

14 捭闔: 為小無內，為大無外；益損、去就、倍反，皆以陰陽御其事。

15 捭闔: 陽動而行，陰止而藏；陽動而出，陰隱而入；陽還終陰，陰極反陽。

16 捭闔: 以陽動者，德相生也。以陰靜者，形相成也。以陽求陰，苞以德也；以陰結陽，施以力也。陰陽相求，由捭闔也。此天地陰陽之道，而說人之法也。為萬事之先，是謂圓方之門戶。

何日君再來 - 邓丽君

好花不常開　好景不常在
愁堆解笑眉　淚灑相思帶
今宵離別後　何日君再來
喝完了這杯　請進點小菜
人生難得幾回醉　不歡更何待
〔來來來　喝完了這杯再說吧〕
今宵離別後　何日君再來

停唱陽關疊　重擎白玉杯
殷勤頻致語　牢牢撫君懷
今宵離別後　何日君再來
喝完了這杯　請進點小菜
人生難得幾回醉　不歡更何待
〔哎　喝了一杯　乾了吧〕
今宵離別後　何日君再來

我只在乎你 - 邓丽君

如果沒有遇見你　我將會是在那裡
日子過得怎麼樣　人生是否要珍惜
也許認識某一人　過著平凡的日子
不知道會不會　也有愛情甜如蜜

＊任時光匆匆流去　我只在乎你
心甘情願感染你的氣息
人生幾何　能夠得到知己
失去生命的力量也不可惜

＃所以我求求你　別讓我離開你
除了你我不能感到一絲絲情意

如果有那麼一天　你說即將要離去
我會迷失我自己　走入無邊人海裡
不要什麼諾言　只要天天在一起
我不能只依靠　片片回憶活下去

重唱　＊,＃,＊,＃

What some people Hate to Love - Chocolates

You heard it before, hadn’t you? That that bar of chocolates was the cause of your acne. That that bar of chocolates added 10 pounds to your weight. That that bar of chocolates was sinful. That that bar of chocolates was junk food.

Now, how about this?

Many years ago, John Scharffenberger suggested that chocolate could work as a softener in skin creams but no one believed in him. But as research has shown and the roaring spa business has proven, a chocolate soak can get you soft skin which lasts for weeks.

First, they told you chocolates are sinful.
Then, they told you dark chocolates have antioxident properties.
Now, they tell you to eat and bath in chocolates.

Whatever next?

The Battle for Barrels - Peak Oil Myths and World Oil Futures (SGD35)

The Battle for Barrels - Peak Oil Myths and World Oil Futures
by Duncan Clarke

ISBN 1846680123
February 2007
Original Price £20.00
BUY NOW @ only SGD35
Hardback, 224 pp.

It is widely accepted that global discoveries of conventional oil have peaked and that the era of cheap oil has gone forever. This book demonstrates that the doom and gloom of the “Peak Oil” theory is mistaken.

Clarke rebuts the arguments of Peak Oil’s adherents and discusses the issues they ignore – rising crude oil prices, new or future technologies, potential improved exploration acreage and/or access to restricted world oil zones, changes in government policies, new corporate strategies, development in unconventional oils, and more.

‘The Battle for Barrels says we should take warnings of impending Armageddon with a pinch of salt. ’
— The Guardian

‘It is a “must read” antidote to the gloom and doom conclusions of oil scarcity.’
— Peter R. Odell, Professor Emeritus, International Energy Studies, Erasmus University, Rotterdam

Duncan Clarke is Chairman and CEO of Global Pacific & Partners, a private advisory firm operating from offices in London, The Hague, Johannesburg and Nicosia. He gained his PhD in economics in 1975, and was a lecturer, economist and advisor, before establishing GP&P, with a focus on economics and strategy in the worldwide upstream industry.

BUY NOW @ only SGD35

Mojito

Mojito is a traditional Cuban cocktail.

What you need -
White rum (1/3)
Lime Juice (1/3)
Sugarcane Syrup (two tablespoons)
Mint leaves
Soda (1/3)

Preparation -
In a tall glass, crush the mint and add the lime juice. Next in, Sugarcane Syrup and fill with crushed ice. Add in the rum, top up with soda and stir that a teeny weeny bit.

You can use spearmint leaves too.

Meaning, Inc. - The Rise of the 21st Century Company (SGD25)

Meaning, Inc. - The Rise of the 21st Century Company
by Gurnek Bains

ISBN 1861978839
January 2007
Original Price £12.99
BUY NOW @ only SGD25
Paperback, 224 pp.

Meaning, Inc. is about achieving happiness, motivation and performance at work for you and your organisation.

Well-motivated people who are happy with their work and where they work are more likely to deliver high performance. People who work for organisations whose purpose they believe in are more likely to go the extra mile to help achieve that purpose. Yet modern organisations too often stifle the enthusiasm and skills of those who work for them. Instead of providing meaning, they prevent it. Meaning Inc. shows the way for organisations to provide meaning to their people through a clearly understood sense of purpose, unequivocal values and day-to-day leadership. This is joined-up business thinking for 21st century leaders and organisations.

Gurnek Bains is CEO of YSC, a global consultancy applying psychology to bring about positive change in individuals, teams and culture. Founded in 1990, YSC’s mainly multi-national client base comprises over a third of the FTSE100 companies.

BUY NOW @ only SGD25

The Shock of the Old - Technology and Global History since 1900 (SGD30)

The Shock of the Old - Technology and Global History since 1900
by David Edgerton

ISBN 1861972962
January 2007
Original Price £18.99
BUY NOW @ only SGD30
Hardback, 320 pp.

Whereas standard histories of technology give tired old accounts of the usual inventions – planes, bombs – The Shock of the Old is based on a different idea. Its thrust is that for the full picture of the history of technology we need to know not about what a few people invented, but about what everyday people used – and when they actually used things, if it was a long time after invention. It therefore reassesses the significance of, for example, the Pill and IT, and shows the continued importance of technology such as corrugated iron and sewing machines.

In taking this approach, The Shock of the Old challenges the idea that we live in an era of ever increasing change. Interweaving political, economic and cultural history, it will show what it means to think critically about technology and its importance.

‘David Edgerton’s The Shock of the Old is a book I can use. I can take it in two hands and bash it over the heads of every techno-nerd, computer geek and neophiliac futurologist I meet.’
— Simon Jenkins, Guardian

‘newfangled things are sexy, but how significant are they?…Edgerton provides a corrective by emphasising some of the overlooked technologies that affect the lives of many.’
— John Sparks, Newsweek

‘he eviscerates our obsession with novelty… ’
— Hugh Pearman, The Sunday Times

‘So the new is old, and the old is new! Marvellous stuff, and absolutely spot-on. ’
— Simon Jenkins

Born in Montevideo in 1959, David Edgerton is one of Britain’s leading historians, and has challenged conventional analyses of technology for 20 years. Currently the Hans Rausing Professor at Imperial College London, he writes for the broadsheet press and is a regular on television and radio. He lives in London.

BUY NOW @ only SGD30

Brown Sugar

Brown Sugar. What comes to your mind?
Clear crystals of sugar to go with that black coffee?
Sweet stuff?

No no…This is has got nothing to do with Mr Brown of mrbrown.com. Sheesh!

The brainchild Yuan Oeij (who used to be in the financial industry), Brown Sugar is the latest addition to an ever-increasing list of smart folks (remember Willin (lawyer) of Wild Rocket?) who dared to take the plunge from the norm of everyday life into what we call - Passion!.

Brown Sugar is Modern Bristo Fare + Desserts!
Located at 277 River Valley Road Stardus Clubhouse. Tel: +65 6333 6612
Opening hours are:
Tuesday to Saturday 12pm-2:30pm (lunch), 6:30pm-11pm (dinner)
Sunday Brunch 10am-4pm
Closed on Mondays
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are Corkage FREE nights!

They’ve got a website too - www.brownsugar.com.sg so you can check out the special promos and more over there.

Prices are pretty reasonable. So eat your hearts out!

很久以前

她：现在几点了？

他：把手升出来。

她：几点了？

他：黑黑一点两点三点。

——–

因为不够爱你而放弃。因为太爱你而没勇气和你走在一起。

——–

我不知道爱你有多少， 现在的我心情真不好。

昨夜的我没一点烦脑， 因为什么今天不同了。

Business Miscellany (SGD18)

Business Miscellany
The Economist

ISBN 1861978669
October 2006
Original Price £9.99
BUY NOW @ only SGD18
Hardback, 2nd edition, 256 pp.

Everything you could possibly want to know about business - and a lot more.

Full of facts and figures about all aspects of business, The Economist Business Miscellany is designed to inform, amuse and give you plenty with which to entertain others. Here is just a taste of what is included:
• Biggest mergers and biggest corporate failures
• Memorable mission and vision statements
• How many accountants and lawyers there are in different countries
• How the names of different companies came about
• Famous advertising campaigns and famous PR disasters
• Biggest business philanthropists and famous business villains
• Best know business gurus and what they are known for
• Most appalling business jargon
• Rules of business etiquette in different parts of the world
• Most valuable brands and most unsuccessful rebrandings
• Salaries compared across countries
• Most popular fringe benefits
• Stockmarket bubbles and crashes
• Investment formulas
• And lots and lots of statistics on business and the markets.

BUY NOW @ only SGD18

Steve Irwin, crocodile hunter, died on September 4th, aged 44

He was filming when a stingray got him. Its tail pierced his chest and stopped his heart.

Mapping the Markets - A Guide to Stockmarket Analysis (SGD35)

Mapping the Markets - A Guide to Stockmarket Analysis
by Deborah Owen and Robin Griffiths

ISBN 1861979371
September 2006
Original Price £20.00
BUY NOW @ only SGD35
Hardback, 224 pp.

How stockmarkets have behaved in the past and how to analyse their future behaviour.

This book is about how to analyse the way markets are likely to behave and it combines the two approaches used by market analysts: technical analysis, which is based on the belief that price reflects everything that is known about a particular market; and fundamental analysis, which takes into account all kinds of factors in order to determine the correct price of an asset. It is in four parts:

• A kind of global overview, at the heart of which is an examination of the business cycle, including how the 50-year Kondratieff, 10-year jugular and 4-year Kitchin waves fit together

• How stockmarkets are affected by the cycles and seasonal and secular trends

• How to identify sectors and stocks to invest in

• Future stockmarket drivers – an analysis of some of the innovations, such as fuel cell technology, that will power the next upward leg of the cycle

‘A fascinating and highly readable book from Deborah Owen and Robin Griffiths – who has long been the City’s doyen of technical analysis.’
— Roger Bootle – Managing Director, Capital Economics

‘It spells out where you should invest to profit from the next big wave of industrialisation and innovation. It is essential reading for all investors.’
— John Murphy - author of Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets and Intermarket Analysis

Deborah Owen runs Investment Research Cambridge (IRC), which has a global reputation for the quality of its analysis of financial markets.
Robin Griffiths has worked in the financial markets since 1964 in London, Japan and New York, and is now Head of Asset Allocation at Rathbones, a leading UK investment firm. He is a regular commentator on Bloomberg news and has been Chairman of the British Society of Technical Analysts.

BUY NOW @ only SGD35

How to Read a Novel - A User’s Guide (SGD18)

How to Read a Novel - A User’s Guide
by John Sutherland

ISBN 1861979460
August 2006
Original Price £9.99
BUY NOW @ only SGD18
Hardback, 192 pp.

This is a book about books, novels in particular: how they work, what they are about, what makes them good or bad and how to talk about them to kindred spirits.
People of all ages, classes and nationalities read novels for much the same variety of reasons – to escape pain or danger, to discover the past or experience the future, to look into the intimate details of other people’s lives. Since classical times readers have been sharing their experiences of literature, today they often do so in the context of a book group. Using a variety of exemplary texts How to Read a Novel forms a series of intelligent conversations, supplying readers with new questions to ask about what they read and the means and confidence to ask those questions.

The word ‘reading’, as we customarily use it, is a very blunt instrument. We assume it’s rather like riding a bicycle. You can do it (you’re literate) or you can’t (you’re illiterate). In fact, reading well is almost as difficult as writing well. This is a kind of guidebook on how to do it.

‘Entertaining’
— The Spectator

‘a fascinating brief sociological history of the literary industry’
— New Statesman

John Sutherland is Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London and a visiting professor at the California Institute of Technology. He has published twenty books (including Is Heathcliff a Murderer? Great Puzzles in 19th Century Fiction) and writes a weekly column for the Guardian. He was chairman of the 2005 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

BUY NOW @ only SGD18

The Seventh Month of the Lunar Calendar

I started this story by writing a para-a-day on each day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar in 2006. Obviously, the project was abandoned due to more ‘important’ projects and actually pure laziness and lack of discipline on my part.
Some notes - Seventh Month of the Lunar Calender is also termed as the Ghost Month in the Chinese-dominant parts of Asia. It is the time whereby the gates of hell are opened for the dead to wander freely on earth…During this period of time, many Chinese will burn paper offerings to the dead, with the belief that the latter will receive these offerings and be appeased.
In Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, where the Ghost Festival is most celebrated, there are Chinese Opera/ Singing outdoor-events with a lot of food and whole ton of paper offerings being burnt.

As and when I get a stray thought about ghosts, or as the character of Xiwen takes form in my head, I will add another para or so. This is written in a typical Singapore short story style.

Ah Beng squatted by the drain next to his father. The warm evening sun was hidden behind the block of high storey flats. Nevertheless, Ah Beng felt beads of sweat on his forehead and the back of his t-shirt was already sticking to his body. The drain was dry but stinking and he could see the roaches and ants crawling about. “Today is the first day of the seventh month,” Ah Beng’s father said, “We need to burn all these for them today. Quick, help me with the candles.”

Grudgingly, Ah Beng took two red candles from the bulging red plastic bag and stabbed it through the yellow grass into the cracked earth. For a moment, Ah Beng thought of using his new Zippo lighter, a gift from Ah Lian, to light the candles but he picked up the box of matches from the red plastic bag instead.

“Ah Beng! Such a good boy to your old father.” It was Auntie Lim from the sixth floor. Ah Beng scrowled. He hated people calling him Ah Beng.

“Yes. My Ah Beng is a good boy,” Ah Beng’s father nodding in approval while laying out the various offerings on the parched grass, “Every year, he will help me with this. You know, his mother died when he was still very young but never once did he cry and ask for her. He understands. He is a good boy.”

Ah Beng stared at the box of matches. This box of matches has been in his family for as long as he could remember. His father had always used the matches from this box to light the candles for big festivals like Qing Ming and the Ghost Month. There used to be a picture of a pretty woman on the box. She was wearing the traditional cheongsam and was holding onto a fan. A faint little smile playing on her lips, oriental eyes, a dash of pink on the cheeks and a very dated hairstyle. Ah Beng remembered that he had found her very pretty and had always wanted to hold the box of matches for his father just so that he could look at her.

Once, many years ago, Ah Beng had asked his father about this woman.

It was also on the first day of the Seventh Month, when Ah Beng’s father told him the story of this beautiful woman. Ah Beng had been waiting for an opportunity to ask his father right from the moment he laid eyes on the box of matches again - the last time Ah Beng had seen it was during Qing Ming, four months back - and he simply could not wait any longer. Secretly hoping that his father would be in a good mood and tell him the story, Ah Beng had performed the ‘duties’ of a filial son by taking the heaviest bag of offerings he could carry and offering to lay out the items in the neat way his father had always done. His efforts were not in vain. After the last of the incense paper turned into a grey pool of ashes, Ah Beng’s father had said, “Come my son, let’s go for a drink at the kopitiam. I will buy you a bottle of Coke. The weather is so warm and you must be tired after the long day in school.”

Her name was Xiwen and she was a singer from Malaysia. She was only sixteen when her songs were heard over the radio and by her seventeenth birthday, she had already toured the whole of Asia. She had even appeared in several programmes on television. Xiwen’s fame brought her an anticipated life of plenty. Coming from a backward village in Malaysia, Xiwen’s family was much poorer than anyone else. She attended no school, learnt no written words and everyday, she would help her mother with the cooking and washing in the big colonial houses far away from the hut Xiwen and her family lived in.

When she was a young girl, she would listen and silently sing along with the maids who worked in the houses. The maids despised Xiwen and her mother because they felt superior in their neat and ironed uniforms while the mother and daughter went about in simple and rather tattered cotton clothes. Also, most of the maids were able to read and write. They had access to the radio too and that was where they learnt all the songs from.

Xiwen would sing silently in her heart because she was not allowed to talk whenever they were around. She was there to help her mother with the cooking and washing, she was not there to talk or to make any noises. Once she sang a little song, which had played in her mind for the entire morning until she could not bear it any longer, in her soft sweet voice and unluckily for her, she was overheard by a maid who was just a few years her senior. Envious of Xiwen’s voice, this maid broke two plates in front of Xiwen and pushed the blame to her.

From that incident on, Xiwen was not allowed to go near the house. She could no longer help her mother with her. Xiwen spent her time at home looking after the even younger children of her neighbours. Alone, Xiwen’s mother worked and worked until one day, she was taken ill.

Economics - Making Sense of the Modern Economy (SGD35)

Economics - Making Sense of the Modern Economy
The Economist

ISBN 1861975457
July 2006
Original Price £20.00
BUY NOW @ only SGD35
Hardback, 2nd edition, 348 pp.

Very substantially revised edition of previously successful title that, with typical Economist style and clarity, provides expert analysis of different aspects of the modern economy. Aimed at those in business and professions and with a special paperback edition aimed at students, it includes sections on:

1- Globalisation – how and why it has gathered pace, and how its critics’ views are understandable but often misguided
2- The phoney rec