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From ChannelNewsAsia news about MM Lee visiting dying Suharto, I guess there are a couple of good points that MM Lee brought up. MM Lee said: “Yes, there was corruption. Yes, he gave favours to his family and his friends. But there was real growth and real progress. I think the people of Indonesia are lucky. And the younger generations – both in Indonesia and in the world – do not remember where Indonesia started. I do.” It doesn’t mean by doing so many good, that we ignore the bad things, coz two wrongs don’t make a right. No amount of good can cover one bad thing (by the way, this is one basic principle of Christianity), but I think it’s about giving credit where credit is due.

It’s just a pity that his end and his legacy don’t reflect well on what good he has done over that 32 years he has built.

It’s an amusing read.

FOR MEN MAKING 500000 OR OVER – A QUESTION FROM A REAL WOMAN

What am I doing wrong?
Okay, I’m tired of beating around the bush. I’m a beautiful
(spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I’m articulate and classy.
I’m not from New York . I’m looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City , so I don’t think  I’m overreaching at all.

Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around 200 – 250. But that’s where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won’t get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she’s not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I get to her level?

Here are my questions specifically:
- Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars,
restaurants, gyms
- What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won’t hurt my feelings
- Is there an age range I should be targeting (I’m 25)?
- Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east side so plain? I’ve seen really ‘plain jane’ boring types who have nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I’ve seen drop dead gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What’s the story there?
- Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows – lawyer, investment
banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?
- How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for
MARRIAGE ONLY

Please hold your insults – I’m putting myself out there in an honest
way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I’m being up front about it. I wouldn’t be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn’t able to match them – in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a nice home and hearth.

it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial
interests.
PostingID: 432279810

THE ANSWER
Dear Pers-431649184:
I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament.

Firstly, I’m not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your
bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here’s how I see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a crappy business deal. Here’s why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here’s the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity…in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won’t be getting any more beautiful!
So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you’re 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold…hence the rub…marriage. It doesn’t make good business sense to “buy you” (which is what you’re asking) so I’d rather lease. In case you think I’m being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It’s as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as “articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful” as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn’t found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn’t need to have this difficult conversation.
With all that said, I must say you’re going about it the right way.
Classic “pump and dump.”

I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of
lease, let me know.

About 7+pm Singapore time, there was an earthquake in Bengkulu province. I was having my dinner and I didn’t feel anything. At 7.46pm, someone sms-ed me telling me there was an earthquake. I checked with my parents, but they said they didn’t feel anything. Well, I guess it’s good that nothing happened.

They were wary about the possibility of another tsunami, but until now I haven’t read any further news on that, so I guess we’re safe.

Powerful quake strikes Indonesia (CNN)
Singapore buildings sway after strong quake hits Indonesia (Channel News Asia)
BMG: Kepastian Tsunami Diketahui Pukul 20.00 WIB (Liputan 6)

On a totally unrelated side-post, we are no longer allowed to give money to beggars in Jakarta, or you will be fined between Rp. 10,000 to Rp. 20 million. (about S$1.60 to S$3,232) What do you think about this new regulation?

It may not sound like much, but coupled with recent increase in SMRT and buses fares, this news could mean additional transport expenses in the coming months. They increase current booking charges up to $4, waiting time fares, staggered surcharges for midnight starting from 11.30 pm, and so on.

Read more from ChannelNewsAsia. Will you be affected by this? How much?

I always thought Indonesia rupiah has the highest exchange rate in the world, standing at 1 USD = IDR ~9700. But I have just found that Turkish Lira has even higher exchange rate. As of end 2004, 1 USD was equal to ~1,400,000 TRL In a similar move to what Indonesia did in 1970s when Indonesia “devalued” their currency by 1000, Turkish government have cut their exchange rate by 1,000,000 for the new currency called New Turkish Lira with the new code TRY.
So, as of 1st January 2005, 1 USD = ~1.4 TRY (note the code change). And Indonesia rupiah is back to the ‘coveted’ spot to have the highest exchange rate in the world. And if currency exchange rate tells a lot about a country wealth, it doesn’t look very good for Indonesia, does it? Or, do you know any other currency that has higher exchange rate?
On a same note, if you run Office Update or Microsoft Update, you will notice quite a number of updates for Office products such as Word, Excel, Access, Visio, or Infopath to recognize the new currency.

Lois and Clark was one of my favorite TV show.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lane Smith, a longtime character actor who played a small-town district attorney who crossed words with Joe Pesci in “My Cousin Vinny,” died Monday. He was 69.
Smith, who also played Richard Nixon in the TV movie “The Final Days” and Daily Planet editor Perry White in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” died at his home in Los Angeles, according to his wife, Debbie Benedict Smith.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Smith appeared in numerous films and television shows. Most recently, he appeared in the 2000 movie “The Legend of Bagger Vance,” starring Will Smith and Matt Damon.
Lane Smith also appeared in the original stage production of “Glengarry Glen Ross” and the revival of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
Film credits include “The Distinguished Gentleman,” “Son in Law,” “The Mighty Ducks” and “The Hi-Lo Country.”
Besides his wife, Smith is survived by his son Robbie, 18, and a brother and sister. He also has a 19-year-old stepson. [via CNN]

Microsoft has reached a deal with Indonesia over the tens of thousands of pirated versions of Windows programs used in government departments.
Ministers said Microsoft had agreed an amnesty under which a token sum of one dollar will be paid for every computer found to be using illegal software.
In exchange, the government has promised to buy Microsoft merchandise legally in future. Indonesia has one of the world’s highest rates of pirated programs.
What do you think? Will this crush software piracy in Indonesia?
(read more at BBC)