Couch surfing catching on here in Singapore

Wow, Wow, times fly. The couch-surfing community is growing at a very significant rate. From 17 in 2004 to now, 5090. I remember writing about this surfing community on 17 Feb 2008. To read more about this community, visit the website at : http://www.couchsurfing.org

Take a look and share with us here of any comment that you have. We welcome your sharing.

Diploma in interactive media, Get Govt Funding

At the age of 40 & above and thinking of taking a course in interactive media ? If you are one of them, good news for you. The Govt is giving up to 90% of the Course Fees in this Booming Industry - Interactiv Media. Apparently there will be some 10,000 jobs are expected to be created in the media industry over the next 6 years, according to Media Development Authority. Position as a Graphic Designer, Web Page Designer and/Developer, Animation Artist, Video & Audio Editor, Advertisement Designer, Multimedia Designer, Web Marketer, Games Developer and many more.

Reported by CHANNEL NEWSASIA and published in Today Newspaper, 6 of March 2009, pg 8.Singapore Govt has approved some funding (UP TO 90% FUNDING OF COURSE FEES) for working Singaporeans/ PR to take up (skill upgrade) a 1 year part time Diploma (UK Diploma) In Interactive Media - a course which is approved by MOE and also SDF funding.

The funding comes with 2 option :

Funding1. Those below 40 yrs old = monthly $133.75 for 12 months

Funding2 Those 40 yrs old & above = monthly $44.58 for 12 months

One time Registration fees of $165.85 when you get the approval from the Govt for the Funding and start the class. In addition to this funding, if your monthly salary is below $1500, you will get extra training allowances (more than the course fees) in addition to the funding by the govt.

If you are interested or want to know more, call AEC Edu Group at 64120702/97701007 and ask for Diploma In Interactive Media course. Course will be held at AEC Edu Group 167 Jalan Bukit Merah, Connection OneTower 4, #02-13, Singapore 150167 Tel: +65 6412 0702Fax: +65 6412 0750 Website: http://www.aec. edu.sg/soim_ dip_im.php Only 12 months in part time mode.

Choose only 1 session :

1) Tues & Thurs (7pm - 10pm) OR

2) Mon & Fri (7pm - 10pm) OR

3) Sat (10am - 4pm) OR

4) Wed & Sun (7pm-10pm and 10am to 1pm)

The above info was published in Today Newspaper, 6 of March 2009, pg 8.

If interested get in touch with Mr Abdul Hamid : 97701007 OR email : ahamid@aec.edu. sg

Do share with us how it has benefited after attending the course. We welcome you to share with us.

New Ez-link card, Cepas-compliant and Top-up

Members of the public started to exchange their ez-link cards for new cards that are CEPAS-compliant in a free one-for-one card as early as 9 Jan 2009.

The card replacement exercise is conducted in stages. Replacement of cards for holders of the ez-link Adult Anonymous cards started on Jan 9.

It was followed by the replacement of cards for holders of concession cards from 16 February.

The new cards are required for the next generation e-payment system for public transport, Symphony for e-Payment (SeP) which was launched by the Land Transport Authority in December 2008. SeP is based on the Singapore Standard for Contactless ePurse Application (CEPAS) and allows more card issuers to issue CEPAS-compliant cards for use in Singapore's public transit system, thus giving commuters more choice.

The one-for-one card replacement exercise will end in September 2009, when the current EIFS fare system will be discontinued.

Let us take a look at what are the features of the new Cepas-compliant and old ez-link cards.

Extracted this information from The Sunday Times Sep 20, 2009

1) Minimium cash balance

Old : none

New : $3.00

2) What happens when the card balance falls below $3.00 ?

Old : Cards can be used to pay for transport on the MRT.

New : Cards cannot be used to pay for transport on the MRT.

3) What happens when the card balance falls to zero ?

Old : Cards can be used once for travel.

New : Cards cannot be used for travel.

4) Giro top-up application

Old : It can be done immiediately at general ticketing machines.

New : A form must be submitted manually and the process can take up to 21 days.

5) Giro top-up application fee

Old : None

New:A one-time $1.50 fee applies, but this is waived until Feb 26.

6) Giro top-up fee

Old : None

New : 25 cents a transaction.

With all these new changes, is it more costly to maintain the new Cepas-compliant card ?

We welcome your sharing and comments here.

Singapore is Top Easiest Place to do Business

In the recent World Bank's survey on ease of doing business, Singapore has been ranked as the easiest place in the world to do business.

Singapore has continued to implement more reforms over the past year, helping it to remain on top for the fourth time. A lot of emphasis on implementing e-government initiatives, making everything as transparent, easy and efficient as possible for local businesses.

However, property registration remained Singapore's weakest point. It was ranked 16th in the world in this area, lagging behind countries such as Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Thailand.

The World Bank noted that in Singapore, property registration requires three procedures and five days. It said Singapore could perhaps learn a thing or two from some of the economies that came out tops in this area.

"One example is Norway. In Norway, you go through your lawyer, there's an electronic system, the land cadastral is mapped directly to the registry. "Everything is done electronically, very secure and the land transfer is a question of an hour. It's the most efficient system that we have seen globally, and that could maybe be an inspiration for how to move forward in Singapore."

New Zealand came in second, while Hong Kong took the third place.

Four more Asia-Pacific countries clinched the top 20 places in the survey, with Australia at number 9, Thailand in 12th place, Japan in 15th and South Korea in 19th.

Do share with us the news in your country or any comments. You are welcome here.

Porsche 911 VS Boeing 747

It was a race never before seen in Asia. In a bid to rake up publicity for the Formula 1 night race taking place later this month, and as part of the launch activities for the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Singapore’s Changi Airport organised a race between a jet plane and a sports car.

It had got everyone excited to know what the result. So what's the conclusion?

While many couldn’t figure out who won in the end, judges ruled it was the car. The car was driven by Yuey Yu Tan Hian, 27, by just 0.4 seconds ahead the jumbo aircraft.

Take a look at the video and have some excitements with a jubilant Yuey Tan getting the trophy in the end.