HRH.PRINCE.NICK

Good management vs Over-control

Friday, October 24, 2008

Extract of The Straits Times Insight article by Clarissa Oon:

Lover of cities seeks extra oomph in Singapore

As for Singapore, he has been here 30 times, usually on one-night layovers and for work. What the infrastructure-rich, efficient city state excels in is giving a great first impression, he says, citing the tree-lined expressway from Changi Airport to the city centre as 'one of the most beautiful drives to and from any airport, anywhere in the world'. Singapore is also moving towards increasing cultural vibrancy and openness, but here, he believes, there is room for improvement.

Speaking to some 200 architects, designers, civil servants and students at the Drama Centre last Monday, he said the lack of tolerance was a key reason why the city state fell in Monocle's rankings this year.

Asked to elaborate by Insight, he says: 'If Singapore wants to push itself from a creativity perspective and wants to build a greater design community, you don't have to read Richard Florida's book on the creative class to know that cities need to be much more tolerant of other lifestyles, be they gay or otherwise.'

Mr Brule is known to be gay. The Guardian reported last year that he has a long-term Swedish partner.

Another tension he alluded to in Singapore's urban development is the fine line between good management and over-planning. For him, cities that have the right balance of strong government and ground-up creativity include Zurich, Copenhagen, Munich and Tokyo - this year's top four liveable cities according to Monocle.

'It's hard, but I believe some things you can't engineer, and that just means being a bit more loose and open. I mean, how can you plan surprises?'

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Comments:

I think Brule really have a point when he said “how can you plan surprises”. Indeed there’s just a fine line between good management and over-planning, or what I prefer to call as over-control. It’s time the administration starts to loose up and let go of the rope it has been holding onto so tightly. Yes, we have definitely release bits of the string but, sadly, not enough to let the kite fly high yet. If we want our kite to soar above that of others, we need to release more of the string and only come in to give it a little pull once in a while.

In this cut-throat world, we need to transform ourselves continually or risk being left behind. Those who are able to change fast and quick, will be those who will see their worth being multiplied. Time for a rethink, i think! Hey, I'm not anti-establishment. I'm merely pro-Singapore.

Labels: nation, news

by order of HRH .
@12:18 PM

what a "payne"!!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

I seldom, or rather never, slam any movie on my blog. But this show is really horrible beyond words. The only exciting bit about the show is maybe the ending credits, cos it means I'm totally done with this trash. The scriptwriter obviously do not know what he wants - whether the show is supposed to be supernatural or sci-fi or action-packed. It's trying to be a bit of everything, resulting in an end-product which sux big time! My advice to anyone who has even the most remote intention to catch this show:

DON'T EVER DO IT!!!

Okie, I think most of you get my point... and my sentiments towards this show. It is really a big "payne" (pain) having to sit through the show. The only nice thing about this whole movie-going experience last nite was the company i had.

My rating: 0.5 star (for the ending credits)

Labels: movie

by order of HRH .
@2:25 PM

mouth watering apple

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The new range of Macbook and Macbook Pro is out. They are simply HOT and SEXY! Man, how i long for one!! Too bad, my Macbook is barely ten months old. No hope of having a new one anytime soon.

Some of the new features:

- new, solid-aluminium unibody enclosure making Macbook thinner, lighter and more durable

- illuminated keyboard for Macbook

- trackpad doubles as button, and everything is at your fingertip

- LED-backlit display in a glass overlay that stretches to the edge of the Macbook

Okie, enough of words. Nothing beats seeing the Macbook in its full glory!

Labels: apple

by order of HRH .
@12:50 PM

death of my former MP

Thursday, October 02, 2008

JB Jeyaretnam, aged 82, passed away on 30 Sep 08 from heart failure. He was once a Member of Parliament for Anson constituency from 1981 - 1986.

My house, now under Tanjong Pagar GRC, used to be part of the Anson constituency. I still remember that there was once a Workers' Party branch office right across my block long long time ago. I also recall seeing the Hammer sign and the Lighting sign being hung on lampposts all over the estate (which means there was an election going on). Well, it had been a long time since there was any such signage being placed on the lampposts.

My estate never have any voting (other than presidential election) ever since 1991 when the GRC system was implemented. It has been one walkover after another walkover for the past 17 years. I wonder will my estate ever see another "JBJ" coming to stake his claim in this former-Anson constituency. Well, we never know.

Nevertheless, my estate should be proud that it had entered the history records of Singapore. Mention Anson by-election, and people will recall that it was the folks from this constituency that first broke the PAP's monopoly (before Potong Pasir or Hougang) by sending an opposition into the Parliament of Singapore.

Labels: life story, nation, news

by order of HRH .
@2:42 PM