The book cover and sleeve are ready!
Dear friends, just a small update that the book cover and sleeve are ready. This is apparently the final step in the publishing process. Off to the printers! Book should be ready in about 3 weeks. Exciting! Continue reading The book cover and sleeve are ready!
Response to Law Minister’s comments on Singaporean meritocracy
Dear friends, The past week has been an interesting experience in terms of indirect “engagement” with the government. First, last Thursday, I published a letter in ST’s Forum page, “Scandals exposed flaws in our system” (reproduced below). In it, I pointed out that there may be some potential problems with Singapore’s Darwinian meritocracy. On Sunday, the ST published an article, “System in place to reduce … Continue reading Response to Law Minister’s comments on Singaporean meritocracy
Our work at The Economist Group
Many people, particularly in Singapore, have asked me what exactly happens at The Economist Group, both globally and in the Singapore office. I think this is partly because quite little is known about the people behind The Economist, our flagship “newspaper” (most of the public calls it a magazine), since there are no by-lines on articles. But it’s also because we are a very small … Continue reading Our work at The Economist Group
Post-bicycle trip, starting to write. Aug–Dec 2004
Dear friends, I won’t spend too much time discussing the actual bicycle trip here, as many of those stories have found their way into the book–please read it!!! 🙂 However, I shall chat a bit about the period immediately after we returned from the trip, and as the actual book writing began. When we got back to Singapore, after 30 days on the road, living … Continue reading Post-bicycle trip, starting to write. Aug–Dec 2004
ST Forum: Scandals exposed flaws in our system
Unless there’s some paywall, you can probably read the original on the ST site here. Aug 02, 2012. The Straits Times ALTHOUGH deputy editor Zuraidah Ibrahim makes many good points in her commentary on Sunday (“Scrubbing out sleaze in Singapore”) on recent corruption scandals, in particular, the need for a more watchful, engaged public, I am surprised by one of her conclusions that “everything that … Continue reading ST Forum: Scandals exposed flaws in our system
Preparing for our bicycle trip, May-June 2004
Once Sumana and I had made up our minds to spend 30 days cycling around Malaysia on RM10 (US$3) per day each, we had to prepare ourselves physically, emotionally and intellectually. Physically, because we had no idea how our bodies would react. The most we had ever cycled was some 50km around Singapore. What would happen when we tried to cycle 80km every single day … Continue reading Preparing for our bicycle trip, May-June 2004
Tackling preschool challenges in Singapore
The Straits Times, July 20th 2012 Improving Singapore’s preschool environment can, over time, help to boost birth rates, reduce social inequalities and better prepare people for work in a knowledge economy. These are some of the findings from a new report, Starting Well, published by the Economist Intelligence Unit and commissoned by the Lien Foundation. The research ranks the preschool environments in 45 countries. Singapore … Continue reading Tackling preschool challenges in Singapore
Why I like Sticker Lady
By covering up banal pedestrian fixtures, Sticker Lady has exposed a divide. As soon as she was caught, some labelled her a vandal, lumping her with brats who seriously damage public property for no apparent reason. But that ignores both the impermanence of her work and the laughter her cheekiness provokes. Others try to vilify her by taking her art to its logical extreme, creating, … Continue reading Why I like Sticker Lady
Update: Colour it is…
This is an update to my post, Judging a book by its cover May 26th 2012 Dear reader, Thanks a lot to those who sent me comments and feedback on the book’s cover. It’s really something that has dominated my thoughts over the past couple of weeks–more so than I ever expected. Interesting to see the split in opinions. I got good explanations that have … Continue reading Update: Colour it is…
Judging a book by its cover
May 22nd 2012 Dear reader, B&W or Colour? One thing that has completely blindsided me is the importance of the book’s cover. Who knew? I thought that once the manuscript is done, I could put my legs up. Oh no. I’ve spent countless hours over the past few weeks talking about the cover, driving to Malaysia with bicycle to take new photographs, etc etc. Anyway, … Continue reading Judging a book by its cover