As tired and stressed as I am, it wouldn't be fair for me not to post something about the great man who brought so much joy to Reds like me.
Yet another Manchester United hero whom I grew up watching has hung up his boots. And in Ole's case, it was much more frustrating for we were deprived of his services just when he seemed to have finally established himself firmly as a first team regular. And that was on top of his willingness to play the role of a substitute to the best of his abilities. His selflessness was further displayed in the famous hack on Rob Lee to prevent a Newcastle winner, earning himself a red card (without any complaints) in the process. Who can forget the wonderful 4 goal salvo against Forest, the winner against Liverpool in the treble season, and of course THAT goal in Barcelona. Perhaps there is destiny after all, that someone who gave so much loyal service would be the one to score the winner in the biggest game for the club in decades.
His popularity also stems from the fact that he always had the interests of the supporters at heart. None more so than when he became Shareholders United's patron. One of the rare breed who thinks about those cheering in the stands in this age of egoistic overpaid footballers.
I guess I will be only one out of the billions who will be sad at Ole's retirement, but I would still wish him success in whatever roles he takes up in future. He deserves it, unlike some scum who would throw his legend status away to play for the sworn arch rivals.
Thanks for the memories Ole! You were indeed the sunshine in our lives...
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_2690166,00.html
http://www.manutdnews.co.uk/?p=123
http://www.unitedonline.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=821&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=25
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
What's the worth of a banker, compared to an engineer?
Another letter on the forum which I do agree with to a certain extent. Some young people nowadays are too misguided on the importance of their profession, mistaking importance with glam. I have no doubt that for the world to advance, technological progress is important. That is not to say bankers are useless. Financial intermediaries are important too because they are a more efficient allocation of funds to investment projects. However, they are forever just that, intermediaries, not wealth creators! Think Albert Einstein, think Thomas Edison, you get the picture?
Anyway it's not that I regret studying Econs. I do not, I love Econs, even if I realise I won't fit into the "Albert Einstein world changing discovery" mould. My point is, study what your interests lie in, do not be seduced by the temporary boom or glam factor or certain occupations. And the world will be a better place for it!
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From The Straits Times
What's the worth of a banker, compared to an engineer?
I TRULY believe that the greatest contributors to the world today are the people who made what the world is today compared to 500 years ago.
Every nation is highly dependent on advance biomedical technologies, telecommunication, the Internet, drugs or aviation, et cetera. Professionals, engineers or research scientists play a major role in these developments since then. They are undeniably the people who contribute to the changing of an era.
There is today an overwhelming response of applicants for university courses on banking and finance. Instead, the number of applicants applying for engineering and science is going down.
Prospective students come to this decision most likely because of the booming financial sector now. These graduates receive higher pay packages compared to those of the other industries.
Banking and finance make only a small impact on the standard of living today compared to science and engineering. For example, a remisier or financial adviser assists an investor to make millions of dollars. They invest their money in funds and securities. This cycle keeps rolling. In what way does this contribute to improve technology to make a better world?
Compare this to engineers or research scientists. Which group makes a greater contribution that changes the world today? Do bankers deserve such income?
Teo Chet Hou
Anyway it's not that I regret studying Econs. I do not, I love Econs, even if I realise I won't fit into the "Albert Einstein world changing discovery" mould. My point is, study what your interests lie in, do not be seduced by the temporary boom or glam factor or certain occupations. And the world will be a better place for it!
-------------------------------------------------------
From The Straits Times
What's the worth of a banker, compared to an engineer?
I TRULY believe that the greatest contributors to the world today are the people who made what the world is today compared to 500 years ago.
Every nation is highly dependent on advance biomedical technologies, telecommunication, the Internet, drugs or aviation, et cetera. Professionals, engineers or research scientists play a major role in these developments since then. They are undeniably the people who contribute to the changing of an era.
There is today an overwhelming response of applicants for university courses on banking and finance. Instead, the number of applicants applying for engineering and science is going down.
Prospective students come to this decision most likely because of the booming financial sector now. These graduates receive higher pay packages compared to those of the other industries.
Banking and finance make only a small impact on the standard of living today compared to science and engineering. For example, a remisier or financial adviser assists an investor to make millions of dollars. They invest their money in funds and securities. This cycle keeps rolling. In what way does this contribute to improve technology to make a better world?
Compare this to engineers or research scientists. Which group makes a greater contribution that changes the world today? Do bankers deserve such income?
Teo Chet Hou
I don't want to be the middleman!
This is what I have noticed ever since this so called boom in Singapore is taking place. Everyone is talking about jobs in banking and the finance sector, and some are actually totally ignorant about what it entails and just wants to be in it for the glam factor and the money. This is yet another result of micro managing. And this cannot be the case! When will Singaporeans realise that it is important to study what you really like? One moment it's life science, another moment is banking, what will the next fad be? The only constant is yourself!!
And it is common knowledge in growth theory that long term economic growth can only come about through technological innovations. And this can only come about through sciences and engineering! If everybody goes into banking, we will forever be the middleman, helping the super rich to manage their wealth, and never becoming the super rich ourselves! Because we are not creating our own wealth!!!!! Sigh....
-----------------------------------------------------------------
From The Straits Times
Not enough takers for engineering scholarships
Defence technology agency DSO worries that switch to 'softer' courses will spell trouble for Singapore
By Liaw Wy-Cin
BETWEEN five and 10 of the 40 defence engineering scholarships offered to Singaporeans each year are not taken up.
This could become a serious problem for Singapore.
DSO National Laboratories chief executive Quek Gim Pew told The Straits Times recently that Singapore relies heavily on advanced defence technologies to compensate for what it lacks in size. This means the country needs a continuous supply of engineers in the traditional areas of electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering.
DSO is a defence technology development agency.
Said Mr Quek: 'Most scholarship applicants we interview want to study chemistry and biology and are interested in a career in life sciences, instead of physics and engineering.'
While other sectors can employ foreigners to address the manpower crunch, this is not an option in the highly classified field of defence technology research and development.
The number of scholarship applicants who want to study engineering has decreased by more than 10 per cent from 2002 to this year, he added.
The situation reflects the fact that the brightest students increasingly opt for 'softer' and more glamorous courses - in business and finance, for example.
In recent years, engineering has slipped from its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s as the career of choice among students. The profession had the highest number of job vacancies in the past two years, according to Ministry of Manpower figures.
About one-third of the 3,639 top 10 professional job vacancies last year were in engineering. The proportion was similar in 2005.
DSO has not been able to fill its quota of scholarship places in the past few years, said Mr Quek. And this year, it is 8 to 10 per cent short of its annual target of 40 engineers to conduct research into high-tech weapon systems, for example.
Universities and polytechnics here have also reported a decline in the demand for places in the physical sciences and engineering courses, saying students do not see engineering as promising an exciting career.
In an attempt to arrest the slide, some universities have relaxed criteria for entry to the engineering faculty by allowing those without a physics background to pursue engineering.
And to attract students flocking to courses in business and finance, the universities last year offered engineering double degrees with business courses.
With these options, universities here will hopefully avoid the fates of some others, like Reading in Britain which had to close its physics department due to falling enrolment.
In Singapore, the shortage of local engineers seems to affect smaller companies more than larger ones.
About 75 per cent of Keppel Offshore & Marine's 1,300 engineers are Singaporean, and only 6 per cent of ST Engineering's 2,700 are foreign.
In contrast, most of Sys-Mac Automation Engineering's 20 graduate engineers are from China and Malaysia; only three or four are Singaporeans.
Its managing director Lawrence Sim explained why.
'When I advertised in the local newspapers, I hardly got any response. It was only when I advertised in Malaysia's New Straits Times, could I field candidates for my job vacancies, mainly mechanical engineering positions,' he said.
And it is common knowledge in growth theory that long term economic growth can only come about through technological innovations. And this can only come about through sciences and engineering! If everybody goes into banking, we will forever be the middleman, helping the super rich to manage their wealth, and never becoming the super rich ourselves! Because we are not creating our own wealth!!!!! Sigh....
-----------------------------------------------------------------
From The Straits Times
Not enough takers for engineering scholarships
Defence technology agency DSO worries that switch to 'softer' courses will spell trouble for Singapore
By Liaw Wy-Cin
BETWEEN five and 10 of the 40 defence engineering scholarships offered to Singaporeans each year are not taken up.
This could become a serious problem for Singapore.
DSO National Laboratories chief executive Quek Gim Pew told The Straits Times recently that Singapore relies heavily on advanced defence technologies to compensate for what it lacks in size. This means the country needs a continuous supply of engineers in the traditional areas of electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering.
DSO is a defence technology development agency.
Said Mr Quek: 'Most scholarship applicants we interview want to study chemistry and biology and are interested in a career in life sciences, instead of physics and engineering.'
While other sectors can employ foreigners to address the manpower crunch, this is not an option in the highly classified field of defence technology research and development.
The number of scholarship applicants who want to study engineering has decreased by more than 10 per cent from 2002 to this year, he added.
The situation reflects the fact that the brightest students increasingly opt for 'softer' and more glamorous courses - in business and finance, for example.
In recent years, engineering has slipped from its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s as the career of choice among students. The profession had the highest number of job vacancies in the past two years, according to Ministry of Manpower figures.
About one-third of the 3,639 top 10 professional job vacancies last year were in engineering. The proportion was similar in 2005.
DSO has not been able to fill its quota of scholarship places in the past few years, said Mr Quek. And this year, it is 8 to 10 per cent short of its annual target of 40 engineers to conduct research into high-tech weapon systems, for example.
Universities and polytechnics here have also reported a decline in the demand for places in the physical sciences and engineering courses, saying students do not see engineering as promising an exciting career.
In an attempt to arrest the slide, some universities have relaxed criteria for entry to the engineering faculty by allowing those without a physics background to pursue engineering.
And to attract students flocking to courses in business and finance, the universities last year offered engineering double degrees with business courses.
With these options, universities here will hopefully avoid the fates of some others, like Reading in Britain which had to close its physics department due to falling enrolment.
In Singapore, the shortage of local engineers seems to affect smaller companies more than larger ones.
About 75 per cent of Keppel Offshore & Marine's 1,300 engineers are Singaporean, and only 6 per cent of ST Engineering's 2,700 are foreign.
In contrast, most of Sys-Mac Automation Engineering's 20 graduate engineers are from China and Malaysia; only three or four are Singaporeans.
Its managing director Lawrence Sim explained why.
'When I advertised in the local newspapers, I hardly got any response. It was only when I advertised in Malaysia's New Straits Times, could I field candidates for my job vacancies, mainly mechanical engineering positions,' he said.
Monday, August 06, 2007
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