Tuesday 28 August 2007
Asian Casino Cash
Las Vegas Sands proudly presents today the US$2.4 billion Venetian Macau, the world's biggest casino. it's a "massive step" by the company to transform the Chinese gambling enclave into a family entertainment centre that would rival Hong Kong and Japan for the Chinese tourist dollars.
this is how the 3000-suite casino complex looks. the huge investment epitomises the ongoing trend of the Asian casino cash. Japan's considering a casino or two. and Singapore's already rewarded two bids for its Marina Bay and Sentosa Integrated Resorts (IR). and Malaysia has not only a renown casino highland; the country also registers a worldclass casino developer, Genting International.
this is good news. the city of lights Las Vegas would feel the heat from not only a renaissance Macau. the excitement runs across Asia; iconic buildings, concept art houses, performing theatres, MICE centres and etc. are redefining a 21st century casino experience.
just a thing. Las Vegas Sands is also building the Marina Bay Sands IR. it's yet another huge investment that would see Singapore metamorph the country's international image, and develop into a new focal point on the world's casino map. especially when the Sentosa IR comes in 2010. under Genting International.
i'm thinking if this is wise. this thing about Las Vegas Sands' omnipresence in the Asian casino scene. of course it's laissez faire business; the strongest bidder wins. and Asia could well accommodate more than just one casino hub. but what if the Singapore's IR or the Venetian Macau fails? i doubt Sands would, or could, take equal care of both. and the host(s) might suffer.
Tuan ♥
11:46 pm
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Monday 27 August 2007
tell me all your thoughts on God
i beat the alarm clock by 10 minutes. was eager to once be on time for philosophy of religion. a morning class. and fact is, i reached school well before time. but well, God was probably angry (as i didn't do the readings on him proper) He cancelled class and had the few of us (only a few) unaware. well, we underappreciated the Vista Mail. which nobody uses.
very well. i'd have more time to repent on my readings. especially when i've decided to not go to marketing class in the afternoon. well it's a half class, and the cost-benefit analysis favours my decision. well this is against my rule that i would not skip class this term. but yup, circumstances do call for smart flexibility.
anyway, the fall after breakfast was embarrassing. and my palm hurts bad. hmm my arms have been rigorously tested these days. first the elbows. and now this.
hmm and so we were talking over breakfast. and i had to go through that STB thing again. i'm thinking, it must be amazing how i could talk about something so critical with my mind at ease. maybe i'm taking consolation at that it's really difficult to get a GPA of 3.8, and so i need not be too remorseful about my dismal thing called grade. hmm, or maybe i'd been grieved enough. to know what i need to do.
Tuan ♥
11:08 am
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Tuesday 7 August 2007
the dea(r)th of talent
"ST Forum Page letter writer Ace Kindred Cheong: If you are a young man in your 30s and a lawyer, and asked to contribute to Singapore to be a politician and join the PAP, would you oblige and forsake the high-paying salary as a lawyer to be a politician? If yes, why; and if no, why?
MM Lee: It depends on what kind of life I had before I reached 30. If I was brought up poor and I made the grade through government scholarships, then I'd probably feel a certain moral obligation and say, yes, I got to keep this system going because this system gave me that lift. But if I came from a fairly comfortable family and I've never had any hardships, and I got a career path ahead of me... "
so fewer top students are going for government scholarships. in the case of MM Lee's grandson, it was because he didn't wanna serve the bond. which i think mirrors many "scholarly" minds today. in the past, government scholarships were a direct ticket to career success and life fulfillment in Singapore. in today's circumstances, talent is spoilt for choices. and societal change has meant that these people do not feel the need to step up.
"if somebody can do it, let him do it." something that sounds a lot like Vietnam. is it the death of talent, or the dearth of talent?
a government scholarship was, and is, still my choice. despite the gruesome mental torture, and the seemingly pending financial catastrophe. maybe because i'm a foreigner (which is ironic). maybe because i've wanted to be with STB since my J1 (though i never thought it'd come true).
for sure, it is because it's part of my plan. i might not make it the way Mr Slim overtook the Mr Gates' long standing position on Forbes' World's Richest Man ranking yesterday. but that's not my plan anyway. i'd work to be unfucked. to make my plan.
Tuan ♥
1:01 pm
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