Tax revenue as % of GDP
Tax as % of GDP
Country
Tax %Denmark
49.1%
France
44.2%
Germany
39.3%
UK
37.4%
New Zealand
36.0%
Canada
33.3%
Australia
30.6%
USA
28.3%
Japan
27.9%
China (PRC)
17.1%
Malaysia
15.5%
Philippines
14.4%
Thailand
13.0%
Singapore
13.0%
Hong Kong
12.8%
Indonesia
11.0%
It seems that the first world countries have a ratio above 25%. Even the USA, has a tax rate of 28.3%. Singapore has one of the lowest tax rates and competes with Hong Kong and Indonesia.
Interesting!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Thursday, December 10, 2009
凌晨12点
这个时候，聆听着陈伟联的<<触摸>>，很有感触。
像是一首为他量身订做的歌。
他唱得投入，用心，特别是到了高潮的时候，我感动得起了鸡皮疙瘩。
听说南方从来不会有寂寞
听说在海边世界没有尽头
你哭覂告诉我
你和他梦想的种种
我会是你雨天的湖泊
拥抱你的温柔
好想看你的笑容
对离开的他说
你心中那份美丽
怎么找都不会再有
轻轻触摸未来遥远的风
有一天你会找回你的梦
幸福是看得透而不是
舍不得他的所有
慢慢触摸天空暖暖的火
我在这天黑了也不会走
你的快乐除了他
还有我永远守候
不要难过
听说冬天叶子熟了会脸红
听说在天空有迷人的星座
一起去探险吧
也许你会喜欢而感动
你沉默的时候
我知道你的心还很痛
真想看你的笑容
对你的他大声说
这个时候，聆听着陈伟联的<<触摸>>，很有感触。
像是一首为他量身订做的歌。
他唱得投入，用心，特别是到了高潮的时候，我感动得起了鸡皮疙瘩。
听说南方从来不会有寂寞
听说在海边世界没有尽头
你哭覂告诉我
你和他梦想的种种
我会是你雨天的湖泊
拥抱你的温柔
好想看你的笑容
对离开的他说
你心中那份美丽
怎么找都不会再有
轻轻触摸未来遥远的风
有一天你会找回你的梦
幸福是看得透而不是
舍不得他的所有
慢慢触摸天空暖暖的火
我在这天黑了也不会走
你的快乐除了他
还有我永远守候
不要难过
听说冬天叶子熟了会脸红
听说在天空有迷人的星座
一起去探险吧
也许你会喜欢而感动
你沉默的时候
我知道你的心还很痛
真想看你的笑容
对你的他大声说
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
今天刚学到一句俗语:重于泰山,轻于鸿毛
这句话是古人用来判断死后价值的标准.
若自身的价值重于泰山,固然听得沾沾自喜
相反的,假设自己的价值轻于鸿毛,那是件可悲的事
很多时候,自己的价值其实是别人心里头用金钱或地位用来衡量的尺码.
说实在的, 这太现实了.
自身价值问题复杂,到最后,其实这说明了我们太在意别人的估价和意见,反而忘记珍惜自己的真实本领.
自身价值究竟重于泰山,轻于鸿毛,对我来说,似乎不太重要了.
因为,自身的快乐幸福,才是无价.
这句话是古人用来判断死后价值的标准.
若自身的价值重于泰山,固然听得沾沾自喜
相反的,假设自己的价值轻于鸿毛,那是件可悲的事
很多时候,自己的价值其实是别人心里头用金钱或地位用来衡量的尺码.
说实在的, 这太现实了.
自身价值问题复杂,到最后,其实这说明了我们太在意别人的估价和意见,反而忘记珍惜自己的真实本领.
自身价值究竟重于泰山,轻于鸿毛,对我来说,似乎不太重要了.
因为,自身的快乐幸福,才是无价.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I feel like a over-stretched balloon today - a balloon that's going to burst anytime.
Its not just me,a number of colleagues feel the same way.
Everyone is just hanging on and biting their teeth.
What keeps everyone going on? I have heard them complain but as compared to my ex colleagues, they complain much less! Its quite amazing.
To be frank, i admire their resilience and fighting spirit.
And i do like the teamwork here.
Even though everyone is so busy, we will still spare time to help each other.
If i have queries, my peers will extend their help readily.
Maybe this is something i have not experienced before in my previous jobs. Also, the strong leadership displayed by Keppel senior management is also something not found in SPH. They are personable people and i can see the friendship among them. Of cos, they compete and collaborate with one another.
I guess internal competition among departments/ business units is good in a way to keep people motivated.
Sometimes i wonder if i have been brainwashed by Keppel. This is because we have always emphasised on our Can-Do Spirit!
I am surprised by my big boss's decision to work with an SME where they lack many capabilities. She said that we can help build their capabilities and somehow through the pains, we learn more.We will gain more.
She is most happy to see us go through angst and encounter issues and problems. This is because she feels that young people need to go through pains to grow and learn faster.
I experienced that in Feb/March.
Its quite a painful experience producing a journal.
Its our inaugural publication and i had many quarrels with my business unit.
Luckily things took a turn and we have sorted our issues and become friends now.
I do feel proud of Keppel but i do not know if my stamina can keep me going for the next 3-5 years. The thought of working past midnight for two consecutive months during annual report season puts me off. Somemore, i have another journal to complete by April. That might mean three consecutive months!
I pray things will change in March.I do not want to work my ass off.
Actually compared to the 1st 6 months when i first joined, workload is a lot lesser. I can knock off at 7 plus already!
I used to leave office at 9plus or 11pm almost everyday in the past.
I guess, no matter what, there will be all kinds of complaints and grumbles in every job.
Maybe i need to get fit so that i do not always feel tired.
Also, i need to save and invest more rigorously so that i can go without a job for a few months in the years to come. That is to go jobless anytime without any worries and do the things that i enjoy!
Wu Hou Gu Zhi You!
New resolution : Save 1.8k per month!!!!!
But i feel better now after listening to songs. A pity i have no energy to sing. I feel sad that i do not have the time and energy to seriously pursue my interest.
To learn what singing and song writing is really about.
Still, i'm a happy babywong.
Going to bathe now.
Smelly.
Its not just me,a number of colleagues feel the same way.
Everyone is just hanging on and biting their teeth.
What keeps everyone going on? I have heard them complain but as compared to my ex colleagues, they complain much less! Its quite amazing.
To be frank, i admire their resilience and fighting spirit.
And i do like the teamwork here.
Even though everyone is so busy, we will still spare time to help each other.
If i have queries, my peers will extend their help readily.
Maybe this is something i have not experienced before in my previous jobs. Also, the strong leadership displayed by Keppel senior management is also something not found in SPH. They are personable people and i can see the friendship among them. Of cos, they compete and collaborate with one another.
I guess internal competition among departments/ business units is good in a way to keep people motivated.
Sometimes i wonder if i have been brainwashed by Keppel. This is because we have always emphasised on our Can-Do Spirit!
I am surprised by my big boss's decision to work with an SME where they lack many capabilities. She said that we can help build their capabilities and somehow through the pains, we learn more.We will gain more.
She is most happy to see us go through angst and encounter issues and problems. This is because she feels that young people need to go through pains to grow and learn faster.
I experienced that in Feb/March.
Its quite a painful experience producing a journal.
Its our inaugural publication and i had many quarrels with my business unit.
Luckily things took a turn and we have sorted our issues and become friends now.
I do feel proud of Keppel but i do not know if my stamina can keep me going for the next 3-5 years. The thought of working past midnight for two consecutive months during annual report season puts me off. Somemore, i have another journal to complete by April. That might mean three consecutive months!
I pray things will change in March.I do not want to work my ass off.
Actually compared to the 1st 6 months when i first joined, workload is a lot lesser. I can knock off at 7 plus already!
I used to leave office at 9plus or 11pm almost everyday in the past.
I guess, no matter what, there will be all kinds of complaints and grumbles in every job.
Maybe i need to get fit so that i do not always feel tired.
Also, i need to save and invest more rigorously so that i can go without a job for a few months in the years to come. That is to go jobless anytime without any worries and do the things that i enjoy!
Wu Hou Gu Zhi You!
New resolution : Save 1.8k per month!!!!!
But i feel better now after listening to songs. A pity i have no energy to sing. I feel sad that i do not have the time and energy to seriously pursue my interest.
To learn what singing and song writing is really about.
Still, i'm a happy babywong.
Going to bathe now.
Smelly.
Memorable quote:
Its all about you
Then i googled and found a song
Mcfly Lyrics - All About You
Dedicated to my Yangyang - someone whom i love so much
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX2uCiEvlgY
Danny:]
It's all about you
([Tom:] It's about you)
It's all about you, baby
([Tom:] It's all about you)
It's all about you
([Tom:] It's about you)
It's all about you
[Tom:]
Yesterday, you asked me something I thought you knew.
So I told you with a smile 'It's all about you'
Then you whispered in my ear and you told me to,
Say 'If you make my life worthwhile, it's all about you'
[Danny:]
And I would answer all you're wishes, if you asked me to.
But if you deny me one of your kisses, don't know what I'd do.
So hold me close and say three words, like you used to do.
Dancing on the kitchen tiles, it's all about you.
Yeah...
[Solo]
[Danny & Tom:]
And I would answer all you're wishes, if you asked me to.
But if you deny me one of your kisses, don't know what I'd do.
So hold me close and say three words, like you used to do.
Dancing on the kitchen tiles,
Yes you make my life worthwhile,
So I told you with a smile...
It's all about you.
[Danny:]
It's all about you
([Tom:] It's about you)
It's all about you, baby
([Tom:] It's all about you)
It's all about you
([Tom:] It's about you)
It's all about you
Its all about you
Then i googled and found a song
Mcfly Lyrics - All About You
Dedicated to my Yangyang - someone whom i love so much
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX2uCiEvlgY
Danny:]
It's all about you
([Tom:] It's about you)
It's all about you, baby
([Tom:] It's all about you)
It's all about you
([Tom:] It's about you)
It's all about you
[Tom:]
Yesterday, you asked me something I thought you knew.
So I told you with a smile 'It's all about you'
Then you whispered in my ear and you told me to,
Say 'If you make my life worthwhile, it's all about you'
[Danny:]
And I would answer all you're wishes, if you asked me to.
But if you deny me one of your kisses, don't know what I'd do.
So hold me close and say three words, like you used to do.
Dancing on the kitchen tiles, it's all about you.
Yeah...
[Solo]
[Danny & Tom:]
And I would answer all you're wishes, if you asked me to.
But if you deny me one of your kisses, don't know what I'd do.
So hold me close and say three words, like you used to do.
Dancing on the kitchen tiles,
Yes you make my life worthwhile,
So I told you with a smile...
It's all about you.
[Danny:]
It's all about you
([Tom:] It's about you)
It's all about you, baby
([Tom:] It's all about you)
It's all about you
([Tom:] It's about you)
It's all about you
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Thu, Aug 13, 2009
my paper
Written by -Mr Gilbert Goh
What Asian men can do to make marriage work
ONE in three marriages breaks up in our country and the problem seems set to deteriorate further.
Many of my friends have thrown in the towel and are on their own now, wallowing in the aftermath of their marital woes.
I’ve been told that keeping a marriage going is like running a marathon: You have to put in a lot of effort to maintain the relationship and, just like in a marathon, many feel like giving up once it gets too tiring and painful to carry on.
Of course, I also have friends who have perfect marriages.
These couples respect each other’s views and rarely quarrel despite their differences.
After reading many self-help books on marriage, I realised that very few of such books examine the topic from an Asian perspective, even though there are obvious differences between Western and Asian couples.
For example, Asian men tend to keep their marital problems to themselves, in contrast to their Western counterparts.
This is why many Asian husbands fail to seek counselling when their marriages start breaking apart.
Men, when given a choice, would not want to disclose their problems to a stranger.
They find it humiliating to do so and some would rather end the marriage than seek help to save it.
Despite being married for 16 years, I still constantly look for ways to enhance my marriage. I accept that mine is not a perfect marriage and can never be.
In my case, I had a difficult time accepting the changes my wife wrought five years into our marriage. She became ambitious and career minded – very different from the easy-going woman I knew before our marriage.
It took me many years to finally accept that she is, in fact, more intelligent and capable than me. That’s quite a blow to the male ego, and a bitter pill indeed for many Asian husbands to swallow!
Couples can build stronger bonds only when they do things that they both enjoy.
Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, and young couples have an especially hard time as they are sandwiched between the twin obligations of looking after ageing parents and caring for their own kids.
Unlike Westerners, we Asians are taught from young not to argue with our parents, and this has harmed our ability to communicate openly with our loved ones.
Too often, couples put up with a lot of misgivings before they start talking with one another, by which time, it’s usually too late to save the marriage.
So, it is not surprising that young people are beginning to view marriage with disdain and to put it off indefinitely.
My wife and I have survived many rough patches in our marriage.
Career changes and children have driven deep wedges
into our relationship. But we’ve worked through the problems and, so far, we are moving along just fine.
I hope my experience will serve to remind others that it takes two hands to clap. No marriage is perfect but, with hard work, it can always work.
Conclusion:
People do change and a couple needs to keep up and accept each other's changes to make their marriage work.
my paper
Written by -Mr Gilbert Goh
What Asian men can do to make marriage work
ONE in three marriages breaks up in our country and the problem seems set to deteriorate further.
Many of my friends have thrown in the towel and are on their own now, wallowing in the aftermath of their marital woes.
I’ve been told that keeping a marriage going is like running a marathon: You have to put in a lot of effort to maintain the relationship and, just like in a marathon, many feel like giving up once it gets too tiring and painful to carry on.
Of course, I also have friends who have perfect marriages.
These couples respect each other’s views and rarely quarrel despite their differences.
After reading many self-help books on marriage, I realised that very few of such books examine the topic from an Asian perspective, even though there are obvious differences between Western and Asian couples.
For example, Asian men tend to keep their marital problems to themselves, in contrast to their Western counterparts.
This is why many Asian husbands fail to seek counselling when their marriages start breaking apart.
Men, when given a choice, would not want to disclose their problems to a stranger.
They find it humiliating to do so and some would rather end the marriage than seek help to save it.
Despite being married for 16 years, I still constantly look for ways to enhance my marriage. I accept that mine is not a perfect marriage and can never be.
In my case, I had a difficult time accepting the changes my wife wrought five years into our marriage. She became ambitious and career minded – very different from the easy-going woman I knew before our marriage.
It took me many years to finally accept that she is, in fact, more intelligent and capable than me. That’s quite a blow to the male ego, and a bitter pill indeed for many Asian husbands to swallow!
Couples can build stronger bonds only when they do things that they both enjoy.
Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, and young couples have an especially hard time as they are sandwiched between the twin obligations of looking after ageing parents and caring for their own kids.
Unlike Westerners, we Asians are taught from young not to argue with our parents, and this has harmed our ability to communicate openly with our loved ones.
Too often, couples put up with a lot of misgivings before they start talking with one another, by which time, it’s usually too late to save the marriage.
So, it is not surprising that young people are beginning to view marriage with disdain and to put it off indefinitely.
My wife and I have survived many rough patches in our marriage.
Career changes and children have driven deep wedges
into our relationship. But we’ve worked through the problems and, so far, we are moving along just fine.
I hope my experience will serve to remind others that it takes two hands to clap. No marriage is perfect but, with hard work, it can always work.
Conclusion:
People do change and a couple needs to keep up and accept each other's changes to make their marriage work.
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