Intelligence is Value

Have you heard about two sisters getting into jail for stealing and housebreaking? The Pasupathy sisters were assistant coach to St. Andrew’s cricket team. The sisters were sentenced to imprisonment (of not more than fifteen months) and asked to do  community service (of not less than one hundred fifty hours) with bond (of not less than five thousand dollars). The accomplice, who was the head coach at that time confessed to his involvement. He was reprimanded too.

Housebreaking and stealing is prevalent in all parts of the world. Despite the tightening of the penalties, there are still people who choose to break the law. Before they commit a crime, they should carefully consider the punishments they need to endure in the near future. You cannot foresee a housebreaking however you can consider preventive measures so thieves will be discouraged. You can implement the following measures:

Lock the doors and windows

The basic thing that you can do is to lock the doors and windows when you are out or when you go to sleep. Even if you will be gone for a short while, you need to lock everything.

Do not hide keys in obvious places

If you always lock your keys inside, naturally you will put a spare outside. It is okay to put spare keys outside just remember not to hide it in obvious places like under the doormat, flowerpot, etc. You have to seek inconspicuous areas for your keys.

Leave a light

If you will sleep at night, be sure to leave a light. This will give an impression that there are occupants at home. If you go out for the night, you should never forget to leave a light.

Install alarm system

Modern houses install alarm system. The system will notify the occupants if there is an intruder. When you go to sleep, do not forget to turn it on. When you go out, always remember to turn it on. Actually, it would be easy if you make it a daily habit.

If you are into the affairs of the state, you should know that TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) will take place on February 22-25, 2014. The venue will be at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. TPP is a trade agreement between Singapore and other countries such as Vietnam, Australia, United States, Brunei Darussalam, Peru, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico and Malaysia.

Trade Ministers from the 12 countries will come together to discuss trade agreements. TPP will tackle trade issues like liberalization (of goods and services), labour, environment, intellectual property rights, sanitary and many more. TPP is also a corridor to FTAAP (Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific). The TPP member countries signify 1/3 of world trade and 40% of global GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

There were nineteen formal rounds since its establishment in March 2010. The first round was hosted by Australia and the next meeting will occur here in Singapore. What are the goals of TPP? TPP is specifically concerned about enhancing trade & investment, innovation, economic growth & development and creation & preservation of jobs.

The goal of TPP is noble but there are many issues and criticisms circulating around the organization. The organization is famous for its secrecy of the trade negotiations. With that, advocacy groups called to open the negotiations and agreements to the public. But the organization still stand by its “discretion and confidentiality” term.

No country lives on its own. It needs the alliance of other countries so it can perform well. Despite of the affluence of Singapore, it still needs other countries to optimize its resources and function perfectly. Businessmen are surely interested in the drafts. A little transparency will mean a lot. Let us see where this leads.

Calling out gourmands out there! Let us welcome the World Gourmet Summit this year. Singapore is notable for its different socio-cultural backgrounds. Despite the differences, there is one thing that binds everyone here in Singapore – food. There is nothing wrong if you appreciate and you are fond of food. In line with this, you will surely enjoy the World Gourmet Summit.

So, what is the summit all about? If this is not your first time to encounter the word, you know what will transpire during the event but if it is your first time to hear this, you should look forward to it. Here are the things that you should know about this notable event:

Background

The World Gourmet Summit is an annual event here in Singapore. This event is notable because many people join and participate. In fact, you will be glad to know that famous chefs are joining the said event. The best thing about this event is it is held in fine dining restaurants throughout the city. The event emphasizes fine cuisine. The goal of this event is to give gourmands the chance to plunge themselves in the finest cuisines in the world.

Time and Date

If you are interested, the next concern would be the time and the date of the event. The festival is divided into many days from March to April. You have no reasons not to come because you are given plenty times. It will start on March 26, 2014 at 9am. There is another session on March 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 at 9am. As it is not enough, the festival will stretch until April 5, 2014.

Event Details

The venue is not hard to locate. You should head to A La Carte Productions. It is found at 7 Jalan Kilang, Bukit Merah. You can take a cab or you can simply commute. You have to remember that there is no restriction. All ages are welcome to join the festival. For ticket information, you can call directly the ticketing office at 6377-6016.

You are not a gourmand if you do not consider this event. You will surely get many things out of this event. What are you waiting for? You should book your ticket right away and get ready to be amazed. You will surely learn many things that you can apply when you try to make something. Besides the learning, you should have fun.

There was a survey conducted by Gallup between 2010 & 2012. The survey is called PNMI (Potential Net Migration Index). The index showed countries desired by most people should they decide to migrate. In the index, it showed that Australia is the top pick next to New Zealand. Singapore holds the third spot and Cyprus, the fourth.

The fifth spot goes to Malaysia followed by Thailand, Indonesia, Turkmenistan, India, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Laos, Japan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, South Korea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Taiwan, Mongolia, Bangladesh and Cambodia. Developed countries indicated decrease in migration while developing countries show increase. The decreased migration in developed countries are attributed to the global economic recession.

In this case, if you choose to migrate to Singapore because of job opportunities, you should know the Immigration Visa Schemes so you will not be lost. Here are some schemes you should know:

EP Pass Scheme

EP (Employment Pass) is intended for skilled employees or company owners who will work in Singapore. You should have a fixed monthly salary of not higher than S$3300 and you should be a graduate from a reputable school with relevant experience. EP is valid as long as you are still employed in the company. You are eligible for PR (Permanent Residence) application in time.

EntrePass Scheme

EntrePass is intended for newly incorporated companies who desire to relocate here. EntrePass is valid for one year and it is renewable for as long as the business is viable. EntrePass is eligible for owners who desires to incorporate a company not less than 6 months. EntrePass holders can apply for PR in time.

PEP Scheme

PEP (Personalized Employment Pass) is a distinct type of EP pass. In this scheme, you can change jobs without the need to re-apply for a new EP. You can change jobs if you are unemployed for not longer than 6 months. The PEP is valid for 3 years and it is not renewable. PEP holders can apply for PR in time.

S Pass Scheme

S Pass is intended for middle-skilled workers that have a fixed monthly salary of not higher than S$2200. It is evaluated based on your qualifications and quota eligibility. The worker should hold at least a technical diploma. It is valid for 1-2 years. S Pass holders can apply for PR but they should wait for 4 to 5 years and they should have a stable job.

Apart from the schemes mentioned above, there are other work pass schemes to include the miscellaneous work pass, dependent pass scheme PR scheme. If you have specific questions, it is best to contact the immigration office. You can personally go to their office or you can simple scan online for more information. Good luck and may you have prosperous years ahead here in Singapore!

Are you familiar with Flappy Bird? It is a simple game that only gives you the task of keeping the bird afloat through the hurdles. Simple as it may seem but many people are hooked because it presents challenge until the developer decided to pull out the game in Google and Apple stores. Many people were shocked of the news.

If you are a developer with a very popular application, you will enjoy the moment and wish it will last. But not to Nguyen Ha Dong. He pulled the application because he said that he could not take it anymore. The game was released in May of 2013 but it went viral and popular in November of 2013. What made the creator of the game decide to take down the game? Let’s look deeper:

Flappy Bird Made $50,000 a Day

According to reports, Nguyen has brought in $50,000 of advertising profits for the first day alone. Who knows how much he will make on the second, third, fourth day? For sure it will get bigger because every day, the app is getting more popular.

Combination of Other Games

Nguyen cleared that there were no legal issues behind his pull out. The sound and art effect ideas of Flappy Bird are derived from Super Mario Bros. While the bird idea is taken from Piou Piou. But despite that, there were no news about any legal issues.

Public Reaction to the Taking Down of the App

Everyone was shocked when Nguyen decided to twit saying that he will take the game in 22 hours. He did not mentioned the real cause of the taking but he said that it destroyed his life and now he hates it.  As mentioned earlier, he got $50,000 and no legal issues, so why the sudden action?

Creator is Not Interested in Selling the Game

Nguyen stressed that he is not interested in selling Flappy Bird. He said that he made many games which are also quite popular at iOS and Android stores. If people needs to find his game, they should go to these stores but they should not expect that Flappy Bird will be restored.

The Feelings of the Creator

You do not see an app creator earn $50,000 a day and decided to take it down the next day. Many people think that his reaction (of taking down the app) is his way of coping with the success and fame. He also said that he received attacks, threats and criticisms.

Indeed there are many games out there but people are drawn to the game especially now that the creator announced its death. The game intrigues many people and so does the creator. If you want to check other games of Nguyen, you should do so.

If you want to have a newer look for your house, consider repainting it. Hire a painting services company to help you with all your house painting concerns. They will help you plan for the right colour combinations and help you figure out how to solve different lighting situations that may affect the colour of your house. If you live in countries with tropical season, like Singapore, it will be easier for you to pick painting hues since you only have to consider two natural light conditions unlike in countries with four seasons. Also, it is advisable to try the colours first on your house’s wall before buying gallons of it. To help you further, here are some house painting colours you can use for your home.

1.       Bright Colours for Lively Effect

Light and bright colours radiate a relaxing aura, great for living rooms and family rooms. Areas of the house where most of the family gather and relax should be painted with light colours. Ask your painting services provider about the right shades of colour that suits certain spaces. Light colours are also appropriate to small spaces because of its ability to reflect light, thus making the room appear spacious. Use light shades of green and yellow to exude an energetic feeling, or shades of white and light grey for a fresh and classy effect.

2.       Dark Colours for Elegant and Mysterious Appeal

Dark colours are the most suitable for large rooms. They also have the ability to highlight your chunky room decorations compared to light colours. On the other hand, maroon and red colours are advisable for your kitchen since these colours can stimulate a person’s appetite.

3.       Neutral Colours Complement Other Colours

Neutral colours like light orange, grey, beige and cream exudes a soothing effect. You can also have natural shades of green and brown. The said colours can be matched with any other colours. You can safely create your own colour palette with these hues as long as everything is well coordinated.

4.       Accent Colours

Accent house painting colours should blend well with your home’s furniture like beds, paintings, couches, clocks, tables, etc. Find colours that would go well with your current furniture. For instance, use cream or beige to match with deep purple furnishings of your bedroom. To be safe, use natural and neutral colours since they go well with most of the other colours.

Take time in planning the right colours of your house. Contact several painting services company and ask what services they can offer that suits your every painting need. Painting services in Singapore, such as Nippon and Coozy, offer a variety of painting services that specializes most on the common needs of every Singaporean homeowner.