Tag: Singapore

  • Pulling the (virtual) World to Singapore

    Pulling the (virtual) World to Singapore

    Until the invention of the first electronic general-purpose computer in 1946, humanity sought to bring order to our analog world by sorting and classifying information through manual, then electro-mechanical means. Networking technologies became tinder to the kindle that is computers, eventually becoming the fire of the Internet. Apart from changing the way we create, connect,…

  • Amazon’s entry an urgent wake up call for Singapore’s retailers

    Amazon’s entry an urgent wake up call for Singapore’s retailers

    I authored this essay for TODAY’s commentary column which was run on 4 August 2017. Many thanks to Jason Tan of TODAY for the invitation to contribute my thoughts and to the editorial team for helping with the title. I am republishing my submission as public record. Singapore’s glistening skyline disguises a worrisome decay that has…

  • Once Bonded, Reloaded

    Once Bonded, Reloaded

    Just like Yu-Mei Balasingamchow, I penned my name on a legal document in 2000 that effectively willed 6 years of my life – after the mandatory military service and the sponsored US university education – to the Singapore Public Service.  The ‘golden ticket’ was like a dream come true – a chance for the eldest son…