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"To err is human. To forgive divine." - Alexander Pope To take on a career in photography is to commit yourself to a lifetime of struggle against light and GAS. And recently I've been getting quite a severe bout of the latter. No, I'm not talking about the flatulence that Julian is prone to letting fly in the office, but rather about Gear Acquisition Syndrome - the dangerous compulsion to get more equipment and better lenses in the (usually misplaced) assumption that they will make your photos better. For those interested, I'm planning to write about how one can manage this strange phenomenon in the coming months, but for now, let's just say recently I gave in to this horrible affliction and committed myself to some rather hefty (in the context of what pittance a writer/photographer can afford) purchases. One of these is this rather lovely piece of glass you see in the picture above (the body, unfortunately, belongs entirely to Sgcarmart). It's a Zeiss Touit 32mm F1.8, and it's admired for the fact that it delivers images full of specular highlights, otherwise known as soap bubble bokeh. For those interested to know more about the lens, may I recommend this short film on the lens by GxAce? But surviving on that aforementioned wafer-thin budget requires prudence, so some homework was necessary before I swung down with what little was left in my bank account to make this purchase. And along the way, I stumbled across this other rather interesting video: In the video, YouTube channel Overexposed highlights (excuse the pun) the role which Zeiss played in supporting the German war machine in the Second World War, as well its use of forced labour during the war to support its operations. I'm sure the many automotive enthusiasts gathered here are also familiar with the fact that many of our beloved brands, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, alongside Renault, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler were also all involved (with varying degrees and levels of culpability) in the conflict. Which brings me into today's topic of discussion: Should we be concerned about what our favourite brands do or have done? Opioids available for purchase - Let's remember that the standards of the past differ greatly from those of today I'm sure many of you have heard about the McDonalds boycott currently ongoing in Malaysia. And I think it's not hard to see why there has been so much support for it. The spectacular rise of global MNCs and the increasing embrace of neoliberal policies by many states in the last decades has, I'm certain, shifted the perceived perception of the global balance of power in favour of these global corporations at the expense of the state. So, the common man, even if he/she may not articulate it as such, feels that his/her dollar has, more than ever, the ability to change the direction of current affairs more so than the cross he/she marks out at the voting booth. Carl Zeiss would eventually get split as either side of the Iron Curtain were eager to get their hands on the optical know-how that supported the German war machine (The half that ended in East Germany adopted this Carl Zeiss Jena name) But an ongoing conflict is entirely different from one that has happened in the past. And this, I think, is an important distinction that needs to be made. I'm all for putting an end to the bloodshed in Palestine (even though the realist in me would like to borrow from that famous line from Arthur Koestler to say that just as the beating of war drums have reverberated all through the history of mankind, this is likely one of those conflicts that was stay with us for the foreseeable future), but the idea that we should abstain from a firm's products because of its involvement in atrocities of the past looks, frankly, a little absurd. Let's get real. A business is out there to make a profit - whether it be to fatten a greedy owner, or to tease the pockets of its diligent employees - and it will make decisions that are in its own best interests, even if they may be morally questionable. And yes, you can argue that we should expect more out of the corporations that now play such a huge role in global affairs. But I retort with this: Let’s not act as if we are, as individuals, are such great arbiters of right or wrong to begin with. Perhaps a bit of reading about the Milgram experiment will convince those unpersuaded by my point here. That may be a Beetle in the diagram, but Ferdinand Porsche (pictured, lower left) was also responsible for the development of some of the tanks of the German war machine The reality is, Man can be compelled to do silly and even reprehensible things whether it be in in the name of duty, patriotism, or perhaps even by sheer simple greed (and hence Koestler's observation that conflict has followed through all the history of mankind). And like it or not, it's these same everyday men and women that lead businesses. So expect corporations to make mistakes, to err, and to falter. And expect them to continue to make embarrassing decisions. But don't get yourself too caught up with what any firm has done in the past, or abstain from any product just because of the mistakes of a few past business leaders. Life is short, and the threat of conflict is never non-existent, so you might as well go out there and enjoy the moment. Go out there and buy that Mercedes-Benz or BMW, or that Zeiss or Hugo Boss that you've been eyeing. But if you want to afford many nice things, don't take on a job with any firm as a writer or a photographer. - Clarence Images courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, Porsche Newsroom

You are in the right section, since it is about auto manufacturer... It is not uncommon for large corporation to venture into businesses that is not directly related to what they are best known for, such as Fujitsu and Hitachi have gone into agriculture business (high tech farming), or for that matter, Nokia started off as a manufacturer of toilet paper, Geely with fridge, etc. For a start, let make a guess what is this item number for, under VW's official part list? 199 398 500 A (siting right between the wiper blades and lug nuts)? Nope, it is not bumper, headlight, engine oil, key chain or stuffed toy, but something edible. And nope, not the coffee or biscuit you had while waiting for your car to be service, but something that is very much popular in western... ... ... ... First created in 1973, Volkswagen has made its own currywurst sausage ever since, and in the process turned it into a symbol of the company throughout Europe. While it’s a staple of the factory cafeterias in Wolfsburg and other European Volkswagen plants for breakfast or lunch, it’s also sold in grocery stores under the “Volkswagen Originalteil” (German for “original parts”) brand. Dealers in Germany often give five-packs of them to customers as gifts. And it’s a huge hit: last year, Volkswagen made 6.8 million currywursts – more than the number of vehicles the VW brand sold worldwide in 2017. What does the VW currywurst taste like? To an American palate accustomed to bratwursts and other sausages typically labeled “sweet” or “hot,” the currywurst walks the broad space in between. There’s a strong yellow curry flavor, but with a kick from the pepper and ginger in the spices. The actual recipe, as devised by the original Volkswagen butchers in 1973, is an official company secret known only to a few people. It’s typically served either intact or chopped into bite-size slices on a paper bowl and drenched in ketchup – preferably the curry-flavored variety also made to Volkswagen’s recipe. Since its inception, the currywurst has been made in-house by Volkswagen employees. Today, about 30 workers, most of them trained butchers, oversee the process at VW’s flagship plant in Wolfsburg. Three times a week, the plant takes in fresh pork from nearby farms and grinds choice cuts into a precise mix. “Our currywurst has a fat content of only 20 percent. Normally, it’s around 35 percent,” explains Head Butcher Franco Lo Presti, who has been making VW currywurst since 1979. After mixing in the spices and packed into casings, the sausages are dried, smoked over beechwood and steamed for 100 minutes at 176 degrees. The final product is weighed, inspected and packaged for shipping to other Volkswagen plans or retailers, with a typical output of 18,000 sausages a day. For those workers who don’t prefer meat, VW has also made a vegetarian variant since 2010. And VW also made their own ketchup...

A cleaner mopping the floor of an empty hall at a convention centre in Singapore. Cleaning businesses in Singapore will have to be licensed within five months of the Environment Public Health (EPH) Amendment Bill coming into force, which is expected to happen in April, said the National Environment Agency (NEA). The Bill was introduced in Parliament on Monday (Jan 20). The licensing regime will require cleaning businesses to have mandatory written employment contracts, to provide training and to implement the Progressive Wage Model (PWM). This is to ensure that cleaners receive wages that commensurate with their skills, training and productivity. NEA estimates that 55,000 resident cleaners will benefit from those requirements. Businesses offering cleaning services at premises or any public spaces will need to be licensed, while businesses that deal in specialised cleaning are exempted from the mandatory licensing regime. These include the cleaning of facades, pipelines and utility features, construction sites, clean rooms, hazardous or bio-hazardous areas, animal enclosures, swimming pool or aquariums and domestic cleaning. Cleaning businesses will have to be registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) Singapore or the Registry of Societies and show relevant experience. NEA said cleaning businesses should have at least 50 per cent of their staff trained in at least one module within the Singapore Workforce Development Agency’s WSQ Environmental Cleaning (EC) Framework at the point of the first application. At the time of licence renewal, 100 per cent of their staff should be trained. Under the provisions of the Bill, cleaning businesses found operating without a valid licence will be liable to a maximum fine of S$10,000 or up to 12 months jail or both and S$1,000 every day for continuing offences. Service buyers who engage unlicensed cleaning businesses will also be liable to a maximum fine of S$10,000 and S$1,000 every day for continuing offences. Licensed cleaning businesses found to be in breach of licensing conditions may also face a maximum financial penalty of S$5,000 and risk having their licences suspended or revoked. http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapores-cleaning-businesses-must-soon-get-licences

Looks like I have to shelve my travelling to MY ...... Things have not settle down yet ..... latest from yahoo: 'Racial' boycott will spook investors, stall economic reforms, warn business experts The Malaysian Insider

Feb 23, 2011 Boycott pass-the-buck businesses I REFER to last Saturday's report ("Changes for firms"), which quoted Mr Ivan Lee, founder of restaurant chain Thai Express, as saying that the rise in foreign worker levy would be passed on to consumers most of the time, which is why prices of food and services continue to go up. His remark seems to imply that the Government can introduce any manner of levies and all businessmen need to do is pass on the cost to customers. Any rise in the prices of food and services can, therefore, be attributed to the Government. His comment reveals an unacceptable attitude by businesses towards customers and suggests an indifference to the spirit and objective of the foreign worker levy. From a customer's viewpoint, such a remark, especially coming from the boss himself, is wrong. I, for one, shall not be patronising his restaurants. Gan Teck Lee Another unhappy fella in our land. Business can't survive on charity leh. Ivan oso shud have thought out his statement. Cud have said they wl look for ways to cut costs. Anyways, can always hire PRs wat, why must specifically hire FW?

Businesses, motorists will be worse off in long run if ERP eased By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 July 2008 1858 hrs http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin.../360266/1/.html SINGAPORE : Easing up on congestion charging on Singapore roads will be detrimental to both motorists and businesses in the long run, according to Transport Minister Raymond Lim. His comments on the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) followed complaints by motorists and businesses over higher ERP charges and added gantries. New gantries along the Singapore River were put up a week ago. Mr Lim said initial reports have shown that traffic speeds have gone up and vehicle volume has decreased. While some businesses within central Singapore, like in Clarke Quay, have argued that it is driving customers away, Mr Lim noted that not having ERP will be even more detrimental to retailers. He said, "If you look at the experience in London, they have the same concern - the retail establishments. But after congestion charging was put in, their business over time actually improved. It became easier to get into London, to the restaurants there, to shops there. Similarly, the experience we had in Orchard Road was the same." And on comments that evening ERP charging is taking a toll on family life, Mr Lim said the alternative would be to get stuck in traffic and still end up getting home late. He said, "I think the critical decision for us as a people is that whether as a people we are willing to take sometimes difficult decisions, painful decisions, that we know will benefit Singaporeans as a whole. Or do we postpone difficult issues, difficult measures, do the popular thing and store up bigger trouble for ourselves in the future. "We have not taken the populist road. We have said if this is the right thing to do and the situation calls for it, we would do it and in the case of congestion charging, I know it's difficult, it's an unpopular measure, motorists who are affected are unhappy, but it is something that is necessary - something that we will do so as to ensure that Singaporeans continue to enjoy living in a city, in a garden, and not a city in a carpark!" The reality is that as cars try to avoid ERP, other roads get congested and more gantries are put up on arterial roads. So really there is no avoiding ERP. The Transport Minister said the alternative is to take public transport. The next phase of electronic road pricing will also see vehicles fitted with new In-vehicle Units (IUs). The new devices are smaller and reflect not just the amount deducted from one's CashCard but also one's CashCard balance. The dual-mode IUs will be fixed on new motorcycles starting next month, while new cars, taxis and other vehicles will have the device fixed from early next year. The cost of the new IUs is S$150, the same as the current ones. Owners of existing vehicles can continue to use the old IUs. Motorists who wish to change to the new device may do so at LTA (Land Transport Authority) Authorised Inspection Centres. They will have to bear the full cost of replacing the IUs. A next generation e-payment system for public transport is also coming up. All new stored-valued cards are expected to be made Contactless ePurse Application (CEPAS)-compliant. These new generation smart cards will allow for automatic top-ups, so one will never be penalised for having insufficient funds in one's CashCard. Funds can be deducted from various payment modes - for example, through GIRO or credit card. Some 1,000 frequent public transport users will test out the new EZ-Link CEPAS-compliant cards between mid-August and mid-October. Meanwhile, LTA will be extending the Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS) to 10 major arterial roads. This is to be phased in over the next four years. A study has shown that EMAS has been effective in cutting delays on expressways, with average time savings of 24 minutes per incident. The shorter delays translate to cost savings of about S$40 million a year. - CNA/ms

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin.../360266/1/.html Businesses, motorists will be worse off in long run if ERP eased By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 July 2008 1858 hrs SINGAPORE : Easing up on congestion charging on Singapore roads will be detrimental to both motorists and businesses in the long run, according to Transport Minister Raymond Lim. His comments on the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) followed complaints by motorists and businesses over higher ERP charges and added gantries. New gantries along the Singapore River were put up a week ago. Mr Lim said initial reports have shown that traffic speeds have gone up and vehicle volume has decreased. While some businesses within central Singapore, like in Clarke Quay, have argued that it is driving customers away, Mr Lim noted that not having ERP will be even more detrimental to retailers. He said, "If you look at the experience in London, they have the same concern - the retail establishments. But after congestion charging was put in, their business over time actually improved. It became easier to get into London, to the restaurants there, to shops there. Similarly, the experience we had in Orchard Road was the same." And on comments that evening ERP charging is taking a toll on family life, Mr Lim said the alternative would be to get stuck in traffic and still end up getting home late. He said, "I think the critical decision for us as a people is that whether as a people we are willing to take sometimes difficult decisions, painful decisions, that we know will benefit Singaporeans as a whole. Or do we postpone difficult issues, difficult measures, do the popular thing and store up bigger trouble for ourselves in the future. "We have not taken the populist road. We have said if this is the right thing to do and the situation calls for it, we would do it and in the case of congestion charging, I know it's difficult, it's an unpopular measure, motorists who are affected are unhappy, but it is something that is necessary - something that we will do so as to ensure that Singaporeans continue to enjoy living in a city, in a garden, and not a city in a carpark!" The reality is that as cars try to avoid ERP, other roads get congested and more gantries are put up on arterial roads. So really there is no avoiding ERP. The Transport Minister said the alternative is to take public transport. The next phase of electronic road pricing will also see vehicles fitted with new In-vehicle Units (IUs). The new devices are smaller and reflect not just the amount deducted from one's CashCard but also one's CashCard balance. The dual-mode IUs will be fixed on new motorcycles starting next month, while new cars, taxis and other vehicles will have the device fixed from early next year. The cost of the new IUs is S$150, the same as the current ones. Owners of existing vehicles can continue to use the old IUs. Motorists who wish to change to the new device may do so at LTA (Land Transport Authority) Authorised Inspection Centres. They will have to bear the full cost of replacing the IUs. A next generation e-payment system for public transport is also coming up. All new stored-valued cards are expected to be made Contactless ePurse Application (CEPAS)-compliant. These new generation smart cards will allow for automatic top-ups, so one will never be penalised for having insufficient funds in one's CashCard. Funds can be deducted from various payment modes - for example, through GIRO or credit card. Some 10,000 frequent public transport users will test out the new EZ-Link CEPAS-compliant cards between mid-August and mid-October. Meanwhile, LTA will be extending the Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS) to 10 major arterial roads. This is to be phased in over the next four years. A study has shown that EMAS has been effective in cutting delays on expressways, with average time savings of 24 minutes per incident. The shorter delays translate to cost savings of about S$40 million a year. - CNA/ms

PLEASE SET UP A NEW GANTRY OUTSIDE MY SHOP ASAP PLEADS SEMBAWANG SHOPKEEPER! ERP helps business, says LTA Congestion, if left unchecked, will have negative impact on the economy By SAMUEL EE (SINGAPORE) ERP rates must go up because the current congestion, if left unchecked, will have a negative impact on the economy, says the Land Transport Authority. From July 7, 2008, electronic road pricing rates will rise sharply and five new ERP gantries will be erected along the Singapore River line to reduce transit traffic using the city area for outbound trips in the evening. This is similar to the concept behind the Orchard Cordon, which discourages vehicles from making use of Orchard Road to get to other areas. But the hikes and gantries have met with protests from motorists, some of whom have questioned whether the moves are necessary, given that traffic congestion does not appear to be as bad as the LTA says it is. LTA chief executive Yam Ah Mee disagrees, saying that the authority's measurements of road speeds in the city area have shown that congestion is gradually building up and becoming more pervasive. He says that within the city, speeds on major routes such as North Bridge Road, South Bridge Road, Stamford Road and Bras Basah Road have fallen by up to 22 per cent in the evening, compared to two years ago. 'ERP changes are necessary to manage congestion effectively,' Mr Yam explains . 'Faster travel times lead to overall lower transport costs and ultimately help businesses to remain competitive. Congestion also adversely impacts family life as people spend more time on the roads.' When asked about the effectiveness of the higher ERP rates, given that Singaporeans seem to eventually accept them after some initial complaints, he says that the actual ERP price levels depend on the choices drivers make and how they weigh the charges to be paid against the other options, such as travelling during non-ERP times or switching to public transport. 'As traffic demand patterns change, ERP rates will also have to respond accordingly because the situation is dynamic,' says Mr Yam. 'If the demand for limited road space goes up over time, it is likely that ERP charges will have to go up as well. This does not mean that ERP is not effective, only that periodic reviews are needed as the situation does not remain static.' He adds that since the system was implemented in 1998, ERP has been effective in encouraging motorists to consider alternatives. As a result, traffic speeds on priced roads have been maintained within their optimal speed range through regular reviews and rate adjustments. 'However, the edge has come off in recent years and that is why we have had to make some enhancements to the system at this time,' he says. 'Having done this, we are confident that the system will be effective again.' As for those diehard motorists who are unlikely to give up their cars whatever the increase in ERP rates, Mr Yam says that the LTA's aim is not to get everyone to stop driving 'as we would then be under-utilising the roads'. 'Rather, the intent is to influence enough car users not to use the roads during congested periods,' he says. 'In doing so, we will be able to optimise the use of the roads. We only need a small decrease of cars on the roads to bring about smooth-flowing roads.' In the case of the five new gantries, LTA is targeting a 17-18 per cent reduction in car trips into the CBD. The LTA reiterates that the system is not a revenue-raising exercise. The government has been progressively shifting from vehicle ownership taxes to usage charges, with road tax to be cut by 15 per cent from July 1, 2008. This will cost the government $110 million annually and follows the 10 per cent cut in ARF or the additional registration fee in March 2008 - at a cost of $200 million. So total cost is $310 million. At the same time, ERP revenue will increase by $70 million a year (total annual ERP revenue is about $100 million). 'ERP places the decision of whether to drive, travel at a different time, use a different route or take public transport, in the hands of motorists,' says Mr Yam. 'Without ERP to keep our roads smooth-flowing, there is no choice as everyone using the road will be caught in gridlock.'