TR EMERITUS

Dear readers, We have received feedback from readers that some were unable to access our site during random period of the day since 7 days ago. Our in-house technical have consulted with our host and the issue is attributed to a massive increase in our daily traffic by almost 7 times (700+ request per sec) causing increase load and demand on our present server cluster.  As it stands now, our 2 server's capabilities are almost maxed.   We have since instructed our host to standby another server adding to the present cluster to handle the additional traffic and would like to urge our readers to avoid visiting our site during peak hours ( lunch and dinner time ) till the new server is deployed. With the massive increase in traffic and readership, we have now reached a stage where we can no longer keep our site up without the need to excercise access restrictions (ie: restricting access from certain netblocks). It is therefore with mixed feelings that we announce the following access restriction policy (if need to) till we are able to afford a new server to add to our existing cluster: 1. 220.255.0.0/18 :  8 am to 2 pm ( SingNet ) 2. 218.186.10.0/24  : 2 pm to 8 pm ( StarHub )  [Amended: 01092010] The following netblocks are blocked PERMANENTLY for suspected malicious activities: 1. 203.126.242.0/24, 203.116.50.0/24, 203.127.112.0/24, 141.0.0.0/8, 170.148.0.0/16, 203.116.208.0/24, 192.193.0.0/16 and 203.120.205.0/24.  2. Any network IP/s generating multiple simultaneous requests including but not limited to genuine users using an offline browsing client (known to generate massive multiple requests). * Other direct allocation netblocks will also be restricted depending on the number of connections originating from them on a need-to basis. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but this is necessary to ensure that our site is accessible at all times (although not to all readers) till we are able to get the new server deployed and running. Our present servers are 2 x Xeon 3240 HT c/w 8gb RAM and we will be adding another CoreI7 920 with 16gb RAM (50mbps dedicated) to the cluster. Presently, our site is 100% sustained by our advertising revenues and we have not been soliciting for donations. However, advertising can only help so much and with the new server, it will be added cost for us which is beyond our budget. As such, we would like to urge readers who genuinely believe in our cause to make a token donation towards our new server by using the "Support Our Site" form on the widget bar or the donation panel below. Donations received will be used solely for the initial setup and configuration of the new server while the server leases will still be covered by our advertising revenues. Once we have received the targetted amount for the new server, our donation request will be removed. Non-recurring donation can be made with Debit or Credit card through MoneyBookers (www.moneybookers.com) and all information provided will remain STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL with our processor, we will only have your email address.   If you do not wish to make a donation, please consider order a TemasekVPN from us instead. Thank you.   Molina Han, Managing Editor, Temasek Review * Please note that we DO NOT accept PayPal and our previous PayPal account is no longer in use.  Read More →

Dear Spore Comrades, I’ve always been a proud & loyal Sporean & will always continue to be 1. First of all, let me congratulate Spore on her hosting of the 1st Youth Olympic Games in the world. Having said so, I couldn’t help but felt rather extremely disappointed with the Singapore 2010 YOG Opening Ceremony on 14 Aug 2010. My family & I watched the Opening show on TV at our hm. Particular, my eyes were glued to the Tv, as I was very keen to see how the event turned out, especially so as I was also present during the Combined Rehearsal on 07 Aug 2010. Why did the Flag Bearer & Sign Bearer Screw-Up happen? I mean, had the Flag Bearers not been told beforehand clearly wat to do, who to follow, where to walk?? I don’t expect the event to be failproof, but at least, it must be safe to fail. Comeon, this is a world event, 2 billion viewers watching worldwide. How can this happen?? And happened so many times on world stage??!! Having cooled down for past 18 hrs (after watching YOG Opening on TV), the impt lessons MUST BE LEARNT. In my opinion, maybe the problems could be attributed to: 1. No Prior or Insufficent Comms & Rehearsal to all 204 Flag Bearers: (Or maybe there was, but just that most Flag Bearers don’t understand English? But how did Beijing 2008 do it then?? I still think it’s due to lack of rehearsal for Flag Bearers.) 2. Too Short Airtime for Countries’ Flag Dignity: The Stage was just too short, resulting in Sign Bearers and Flag Bearers having to turn left or right, almost immediately after walking pass the Overhead Archway. After passing under the Archway, Flag Bearers (as part of normal human behaviour) naturally did not follow their Sign Bearers to turn left or right, as they somehow felt the airtime was just too short for them to showcase the dignity, honour & pride of their country flags. Don’t u think so?? (Don’t forget, during Beijing 2008, both Sign & Flag Bearers walk a very long distance forward STRAIGHT, before they were made to turn left into the Central Football Field. Nothing went wrong, as every movement just seemed so natural & rightful.) 3. Monkey See Monkey Do: Many Flag Bearers turned the wrong way because they just followed the Flag Bearer in front of him/ her. They totally forgot that the left and right turns were supposed to be alternately executed by 2 consecutive Flag bearers. Maybe due to sheer nervousness (comeon, dun forget whole world is watching them after all! Of cse, understandable),the Flag Bearers just behaved slightly abnormal (by suffering a temporary mental block) and adopted a Monkey-See-Monkey-Do, without having to think too much. But surely, the Applied Behavourial Science Dept (APSD) should have been called in months ago to offer their Human Factor Engineering expertise comments?? Isn’t the Chairman of Spore 2010 YOG Opening Ceremony from Army?? He surely should have thought of it to make use of the resources from the military to the country’s advantage. 4. Last min Change: From what I observed during 4th Combined Rehearsal (07 Aug 2010), each Flag Bearer had much more airtime than the Actual Day. They walked a far longer distance straight out, after passing the Overhead Arch. I thought the timing, distance and airtime duration was on 07 Aug were then more natural. Maybe,this was how things could go very wrong if Organiser failed to anticipate natural human behaviour under realism. 5. Systematic Error: If only less than 1% of the Flag Bearers out of the 204 countries made the same mistake, then probably the Flag Bearers are at fault (i.e, isolated human error). But this was obviously not the case. I had the impression, more than 1/3 of the Flag Bearers were blur like Sotong!!! The planning of this very CRUCIAL segment of YOG opening was just too important to be overlooked. Worse, I wonder if the Chairman Opening had thought this particular segment was too No-Brainer an activity (i.e., maybe he thought, “Aiyah, the Flag Bearers can’t be so stupid right?? Just follow the Sign Bearers la!!! So easy!!) to be given too much emphasis or energy. Even so this is a no-brainer activity, this Chairman (probably a No-Brainer himself), failed to realise this no-brainer segment is too CRUCIAL to fail. The countries’s flags dignities are at stake; Spore’s reputation is at stake. 6. High Board of Inquiry (HBOI): In my humble but very serious opinion, I think an URGENT HBOI (of the President Level) needs to be convened IMMEDIATELY to inquire as to the true causes for the SCREW UP in the flag bearing segment. The whole Spore’s brand name and reputation is seriously at stake, and can ill-afford another MISTAKE during YOG Closing Ceremony. Unfortunately, 1 or 2 heads might need to be hanged (but before that, I thank you on behalf of all Sporeans for the hardwork and effort), REGARDLESS of RACE, LANGUAGE or RELIGION. Remember someone ever sang the wrong lyrics for National Anthem om NDP 2009 (he later publicly apologised for his grave mistake)? Remember again how someone passed the wrong Firing Command during a particular NDP (forgot which yr, but the Parade Comd shouted 2 instead of 3 firing commands, and even shouted the word, “shit”, when he immediately realised his grave mistake)?? How many times must we make the same mistake?? The true lessons must be learnt, please. Let’s not let history repeat itself for YOG Closing Ceremony, and the entire YOG event, for that matter. Btw, can anyone update what actually happened to the stupid American Sean Kingston?? He wasn’t on stage, with the other 4 YOG singers, who were supposed to represent the 5 continents (5 Olympic Rings). Didn’t come becos on MC, too fat, or becos of $$$ (I heard from LianHe WanBao it’s due to $$$ issues)??. I don’t care, for big events like this, at least must show respect to the whole world. No bloody manners and dignity for the whole world. Better wake up his idea. The whole world should ban him from working in any companies and maybe his country should be banned from next YOG/ Olympics as punishment. I sincerely wish Spore success for entire YOG 2010. Majulah Spore!!! WE CAN!!!   (The above was initially posted as a comment on our site by KTClub)  Read More →

My name is Sam. I am a Singaporean citizen doing my post grade degree in Australia at the moment. I have a post grade degree in Finance and finishing my law masters end of this year. I have an Indonesian friend who did the same 2 degrees with me. We've had similar results over the last 2 years. Both of had applied to a couple of firms in Singapore through a job fair being conducted here. Surprisingly enough a couple of firms picked the my friend over me. Its evident enough to see that the local firms dont want to pick Singaporeans over FT. Why conduct these fairs in other countries and attract Singaporeans to come to these fairs when they dont want to give us the job? Similar qualifications, same prestigious university - yet no job for the Singapore lad. Sucks being Singaporean these days....whislt ppl overseas always think..."oh your Singaporean...no issues in landing a job back home"....Geez   Sam  Read More →