Current Cost of Integrated Casinos (Resorts) to hit S$5 billion
See here for Channel New Asia's take on the issue.

"...property valuers expect competitive price tender for the site and construction costs to add up to as much as S$5 billion..."

"...This will make the Marina Bayfront integrated resort one of the most expensive integrated resorts with gaming component in the world..."

As I see it, the eventual cost of the project will hit 9, 10 billion SGD if the bidding process drags on. Besides, the bidders might need to make space for provisions, expecially miscellaneous licensing and building permits (especially so since the Marina site will envelope the Marina Bay Waterfront and will no doubt be liable to the stringent judiciary requirements of buildings being consructed next to water catchment areas.

Underneath all the glam, potential operators should also carefully consider the hidden costs involved in the construction and running of the Integrated Casinos (Resorts). Mark my words, 10 billion is not too far off.

All in a Day's Work

Still recovering from flu.

FA Presentation went well this morning, which brought much relief to the team. Next up: FA Project!

The two-presentations-a-day scheme never worked out, and my Comms presentation has been postponed till Wednesday.

Had a super busy weekend, having been preoccupied with my FA presentation.

Also celebrated Grandma's 90th birthday yesterday evening at the RC below their flat. Turn out was very good, and several fellas had a go at karaoke.

Schedule is currently filled until the end of the week, so I'd better go hit the books (and the sacks) while I can. :)

All in a Day's Work

Still down with a bout of flu, but recovering speedily.

Had a pleasant surprise yesterday when I received an invitation to Xue Lun's 21st. My, we are certainly growing up fast. :)

On a lighter note, I joined dad at his group's 60th birthday celebrations, where they were recollecting the days gone by when they celebrated their own twenty first. Now enjoying fulfilling and relatively successful family lives, they are the epiome of The Singapore Story. Envy!

All in a Day's Work

Back from Tae Kwon Do training. It was a slightly more demanding session today (Had no time to relearn more patterns...) Oh well, finally tried to spar with sir. :) Ha ha... first sparring session since a long time ago... :P And earned myself a blister in the process... bah. But on a lighter note, it felt good to be back on my feet again. Heh...

Anyway, due to my less than friendly schedule, I do offer my sincere apologies on the less than informative write ups.

All in a Day's Work

Fourteen days and one Stats assignment later, I emerge from my lair, all weary and dazed.

Just a rough idea on what's on my current To-Do list:

- Stats Assignment
- Prep for FA Quiz
- FA Group Presentation
- FA Term Project
- Comms Assignment
- Plural perspectives Quiz

A scream rings through my head.

Was almost pulverized by an overenthusiastic wave (yes, WAVE) of vehicles as I was crossing the road near SESS with Michael on Wednesday, after Tae Kwon Do Training.

Comms Quiz (on Wednesday also) was a killer. It was 'Fill in the Blanks'. And they asked right about anything under the sun. Sigh...

All in a Day's Work

Wow, I had at least eight people asking me if I was local, three in the morning (when I went for the AIESEC simulation programme at NTU) and another five in the evening (when I joined Yao Long for the network marketing introduction at Boon Keng. Varying comments put me as a Vietnamese, a Chinese scholar (*gushes), one said I have mixed blood (Which may hold some truth :P) Any comments from the panel?

Are you a Mover or a Shaker? (Source)

A mover and a shaker

Larry Boucher has a reputation for staying ahead of the curve

Douglas E. Caldwell

Why do some Silicon Valley companies succeed wildly and others fall into the "dustbin of history" with barely a whimper? Larry Boucher, founder and CEO of Alacritech Inc., says there are commonalities that set the successful high-tech companies apart.

My take on the issue?

To be an industry shaker, the finer things in life might just count. It is no use promising to help each other out when one is indifferent to even insignificant issues such as giving up a seat to the needy.

Start being a SHAKER today!

I can recall an incident last Friday on campus - A worker was trying to push his trolley up a ramp, but the trolley simply couldn't get onto the ramp. As there were many boxes on the trolley, he was worried they might drop if he was to jerk the trolley onto the ramp. Passers-by opted not to notice, nonchalantly by-passing him as he struggled with the trolley.

A simple act, I'd thought. Just help him lift the trolley onto the ramp. Why didn't anybody rise to the challenge?

For the record, I did, and am glad for having done so. It made the worker thankful for assisting him, but even more so, because that instilled in him confidence in the human spirit of forthcoming assistance, and myself, pride on having made a difference to someone's (otherwise tedious and tremendously mundane) life.

Take another example:

I was on the bus last week, when an elderly man boarded the bus. There were many typical Singaporean commuters (you can recognize them by the way they select their seats - by the aisle) on board. Of course, plonked upon the green seat meant for the aged was this young chap, who promptly shut his eyes and began meditating, as soon as the elderly man boarded. The elderly man tried to squeeze his way across the young lad to his seat, but he did not budge. In the end, in frustration, he shook the young fella awake and promptly got his seat.

Me 1, Society 0

Went to Waterways Watch Society this afternoon to plan for our bicycle patrol. It poured, but that did not dampen our spirits, and we eventually started the patrol proper at four. It was fun cycling down to the Esplanade while keeping a lookout for errant picnic-goers and fishermen. :)

Oh well, will be having lessons tomorrow, so better call it a day.

Probably more on the Groupthink phenomena brought up by Prof Kong (during LTB lesson) in future. It's an interesting concept!

All in a Day's Work

After two weeks of school and two complains that I have not been updating my blog frequently, I finally manage to find some time to make an entry.

The first week passed quite quickly, with 3 days of schooling (My Tuesdays and Fridays are designated 'off' days). Textbooks flew off the shelves like hotcakes (okay, so I didn't manage to get all my textbooks...), most of the profs were nice (at least they do not see the necessity to appear otherwise), I attended a lunch time talk which came with free lunch (so I saved on meals. Clever!)

Yes, a hurried post, no doubt. Will post more juicy stuff when I find time to do so. :P