Victim of Botnet

If you are revisiting this site, you might be wondering why the format looks funny as there are empty spaces on the right column. If you had noticed, those used to be "Ads by Google" and it is just some way to monetise my blog. However, i just received notice from Google Adsense that my account has been disabled!!

So sad.. I realised that I could have been a victim of a botnet software. Botnet is a jargon term for a collection of software robots, or bots, which run autonomously and automatically. Apparently, there is some "doubleclick.net" bot that could have been remotely clicking on my google ads without my notice. So suddenly I have a huge surge in advertising clicks and Google Adsense singled my blog out.

I just purchased a new laptop on Monday and seems like the preinstalled softwares or changes made by the supplier could be the source, because that was the period when all these things started.

Interesting to note is I used reputable anti-virus softwares like AVG and Adware but they doesn't seem to be able to identify any issues. These bots are not considered malicious. The bot I found was scanned out by Spybot1.5, so you might consider downloading that. Frankly, I'm not even sure if that is the bot causing these problems as there could some others that are yet to be scanned out. I'm not sure, any other good softwares (hopefully freeware) to suggest?

Sigh.. I have just appealed to Adsense and hopefully, they would enable my account again.

Fire Insurance

Fire Insurance is likely part and parcel of our home ownership plans. I tried to look up some statistics published by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and it shows that about 3056 fire incidents occurred in residential properties in the year 2005. This may seem low compared to the 1.1 million homes in Singapore in that same year (probability is 0.028%), but are we willing to take that risk?

There are different policies available depending on your dwelling type:
1. Landed property
2. Private apartment (strata titled) (leasehold)
3. Private apartment (non-strata titled) (freehold)
4. Housing Development Board (HDB)

This is a general fire insurance guide for residential properties published by the General Insurance Association of Singapore that you might take a look.

As the majority of Singaporeans (>90%) reside in HDB apartments, it is important to understand what is the coverage of our policy. Most purchases from HDB comes packaged with a HDB Fire Insurance, which is very cost competitive. The premium I paid a few years ago was only about S$9 for 5 years and the sum insured was about S$47k. I thought this was very good value for money until I realised that it only covered structure, fixtures and fittings provided by the HDB.

This means it doesn't cover any of your personal belongings inside the apartment (furniture, renovations, etc). Also, if your unit catches fire and causes damages to your neighbouring apartments, you have to pay them damages (no third party liability). I have been pushing back plans to buy extra fire insurance because I had considered our home to be relatively new, as I had this conception that older units that have ageing electrical wirings, apartment design and conditions are more prone to fire incidents. I think I have to re-evaluate my options now that our home is not so "new" anymore, and the extra premiums seems reasonable.

Any good suggestions?

Lasik Surgery: Worth The Risk?

The last flag raised by the Ministry of Health was the concerns of misleading advertisements by Lasik surgery centres that could have mislead the public into unrealistic expectations, with results being oversold and side effects being downplayed. Guidelines would be set in due time, and likely focused on several NOs like advertising the number of success stories or the use of celebrities.

Lasik is so popular nowadays in high myopia countries like Singapore, where about 44% of adults are myopic. And with the lowering of costs through wider consumer adaptation, better technology and coupled with the booming economy, many are queuing to have the cosmetic surgery done. But is it worth the risk? After all, we only have a pair of eyes....

There are many centers touting the best technology and here are some links
Singapore National Eye Centre
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Parkway Eye Centre

But one must evaluate the risks involved before making a decision. Some side effects widely published include Dry Eyes, Over or under-correction, Halos, Light Sensitivity, Astigmatism, Floaters, etc. These side effects are minimal with the improvement of technology, but still they are not covered by any insurance as this is a cosmetic surgery. The question that I always have is if lasik is so good, why are some ophthalmologists still wearing spectacles, just like the other example where some myopic optometrists prefer to wear specs and not contact lenses?

So bottom-line, assess your risk/reward. For some, it may be the worst nightmare. But for many, it is a lifetime of convenience.

Other articles that you can read
Article

Travel Insurance; Too many options

Besides the insurance you receive when you charge your air tickets to your credit card, you may need to buy additional travel insurance, say for the rest of the family. In our last trip to Taiwan, we bought travel insurance because we redeemed our miles. There are many providers like
ACE
AIG
AXA
NTUC Income
Tenet
Even banks are offering them
Citibank
DBS
HSBC
OCBC
UOB

There are just too many of them. AIG, NTUC Income or Tenet are the more popular ones, so we decided to shortlist them. After going through, we realised it is also quite tough to compare "apples to apples" because the terms and coverages are listed differently, so we had to make the best estimates and we figured they are almost the same.

But one thing to note is your trip duration. Let's say that you are going on a 10day trip. For AIG, you would need to pay based on the 7-10 days premium bracket, while for Tenet, you may need to pay more for the 10-13 days premium bracket instead. Seems like NTUC made some recent changes and now charges premiums on each subsequent day after the first 5 days.

We finally took up NTUC in the end because we realised that there was a 15% discount if we applied online. So do check out these links to their websites to see if they have any promotions on.. have a safe trip.

Insurance, deal or no deal?

There are so many types of insurance out there. Why do we buy insurance? Perhaps it is human nature that drives us, perhaps it is fear. The fear of losing, fear of taking chances, even though the probability could be less than 0.01%. Because when we lose, we may lose big. You see, we even buy insurance on the black jack tables =) I surfed by the GIA (General Insurance Association of Singapore) and I learned something new today... there really are many types of insurance..

Of course we are familiar with the common ones like motor, house/fire, life, personal accident, travel, health insurance etc. There are many others like glass, fidelity guarantee, computer material damage, public liability insurance etc which I don't hear of. But even looking at the ones we know of like personal accident, living and health policies, there are so many providers that packages different policies. Seems to me like "if you cannot convince, you confuse them." Many a times we read newspapers reports that agents may be overselling to unknowing consumers until they are over-insured.

I know of friends who do not buy insurance other than Medishield. I'm not sure what is their reason or view of insurance. But to me, I guess I'm driven by human nature, I'm not afraid to pass on from this world, but I'm afraid of the financial burden that I will give to my loved ones if I cannot pass on and remain bedridden (touch wood!!)

Bottom-line is get a good advisor, know what is important to you and buy within your means.. cheers

Investments: 20 Timeless Money Rules

I read this article sometimes ago and I thought it is really helpful. I'm still considered a young investor and still learning, although I've been investing in equities for many years. Sometimes you need to refresh and get back to fundamentals.

Thanks to Carla Fried of Money Magazine for writing this article:

20 Timeless Money Rules
1. Be humble
When you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it--this is knowledge.--Confucius

Investing is a big bet on an unknowable future. The mark of wisdom is accepting just how unknowable it is. Granted, that's not easy. Our brains are built to think the future will be like the near past. And we're too ready to act on the predictions of pundits, who are no more clued in than we are about what lies ahead. Being humble in the face of uncertainty keeps you from costly mistakes. You won't jump on yesterday's bandwagon. And before you invest, you'll be more likely to ask a key question: "What if I'm wrong?"
Intelligent Investor, by Jason Zweig

2. Take calculated risks
He that is overcautious will accomplish little. --Friedrich von Schiller

The returns you get are proportionate to the risk you take. This is a fundamental law of the markets. It's why five-year CDs typically pay more than six-month ones and why you're disappointed if your emerging markets fund does no better than its stodgy blue-chip stablemate. History unequivocally supports this "no free lunch" principle. Going back to 1926, stocks (high risk) have paid more than government bonds (medium risk), which in turn have beaten low-risk Treasury bills.

Among many, many other things, this law suggests:
-To earn returns high enough to build true wealth, you have to put some of your money in risky assets like stocks--the only investment to handily beat inflation over time.
-If a financial salesperson tries to tell you his product offers a high return with no risk, get that claim in writing. Then send it and his business card to the SEC.

3. Have an emergency fund
For age and want, save while you may; no morning sun lasts a whole day.--Benjamin Franklin

The first step in constructing any serious financial plan is to create an emergency cash fund--ideally, three to six months' living expenses--stashed in a low-cost ultrasafe bank account or money-market fund. Without this financial cushion, any unexpected expense can derail your long-term plans. These days, happily, that emergency stash won't just sit idle. Top bank accounts like the one at UFB Direct and perennially competitive money funds like Vanguard Prime now pay more than 5%.

4. Mix it up
It is the part of a wise man to keep himself today for tomorrow and not to venture all his eggs in one basket.--Miguel de Cervantes

Nothing can break the law of risk and reward, but a diversified portfolio can bend it. When you spread your money properly among different asset types, a rise in some will offset a fall in others, muting your overall risk without a commensurate drop in return. It's the closest thing to a free lunch there is in investing. To make the alchemy work, you must load up on assets whose up and down cycles don't run in sync: stocks (both U.S. and foreign, as well as large-company and small), bonds (of varying maturities), cash, real estate and commodities.

5. It's the portfolio, stupid
Asset allocation...is the overwhelmingly dominant contributor to total return. --Gary Brinson, Brian Singer and Gilbert Beebower

Most investors concentrate on trying to choose the best stock and pick the perfect moment to buy or sell. It's a waste. What really matters to your long-term returns is asset allocation--that is, how you split up your portfolio. Since researchers dropped this bombshell 20 years ago, experts have debated the size of the asset-allocation factor. Some say it accounts for 40% of the variation in investors' returns; others (like the original researchers) say 90%. But no one refutes that it's major.

6. Average is the new best
The best way to own common stocks is through an index fund.--Warren Buffett

Here's the logic behind index funds, which aim simply to match the return of a market index: The average fund in any market will always earn that market's return (because in aggregate investors are the market) minus expenses. Since index funds match the market but have much smaller expenses than other funds, they will always beat the average fund in the long run. It's hard to argue with the math, and history bears it out (see the performance stat at right). Besides, if the Greatest Investor of Our Time believes that index funds are superior for most investors, shouldn't you?

7. Practice patience
It never was my thinking that made the big money for me. It was always my sitting. Got that? My sitting tight!--Edwin Lefevre

This blunt warning was issued in Lefevre's 1923 fictional memoir, reportedly based on legendary trader Jesse Livermore and treated by many financial advisers like the Bible. Some 77 years later, behavioral finance professors Terrance Odean and Brad Barber's research into transactions by some 66,000 households between 1991 and 1996 found that those who traded least earned seven percentage points a year more than the most frequent traders. Moral: Once you arrange your assets into your ideal allocation, don't tinker. Rebalance once a year to keep your mix on track, but otherwise, listen to Livermore and sit tight.

8. Don't time the market
The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.--Peter Lynch

It would be so nice, wouldn't it, to sell before every market downdraft and then get back in just as the good times roll again. But it's too hard to pull off. Nobody knows when markets will turn (see Rule No. 1). And when they do, they tend to move in quick bursts. By the time you realize an advance has begun, most of it's over. Miss that initial stretch and you'll miss out on most of the gains. The lesson: The surest way to investing success is to buy, then stick to your guns.

9. Be a cheapskate
Performance comes and goes, but costs roll on forever.--Jack Bogle

If you choose a fund that eats up 1.5% a year in expenses over one that costs 1% (let alone the 0.2% that index funds may charge), your fund's return will have to beat the other's by half a point a year just for you to come out even. Past returns are no guarantee of the future, but today's low-cost funds are likely to stay low cost. Buying them is the only sure way of giving yourself a leg up.

10. Don't follow the crowd
Fashion is made to become unfashionable.--Coco Chanel

Or, as the legendary financier Sir James Goldsmith has said, "If you see a bandwagon, it's too late." In the late 1990s, there was no more fashionable bandwagon for investors than Firsthand Technology Value Fund. It returned 23.7% in 1998, but investors really piled into it after it rocketed an incredible 190.4% in 1999. But by then, the bust of 2000 was about to unfold, and Firsthand was soon to become as passé as plaid trousers. The result was a chilling example of the perils of following the herd: While the fund posted a respectable 16% annualized gain over the four years through 2001, the average shareholder in the fund actually lost more than 31.6% a year.

11. Buy low
If a business is worth a dollar and I can buy it for 40 cents, something good may happen to me.--Warren Buffett

The best Dow stocks of the past 10 years don't include Microsoft or Intel. But Caterpillar (Cat) makes the cut with a 212% return. In 1997, in the midst of tech madness, the market was so bored by the company's industrial-machinery business that investors paid just $11.50 for each dollar of earnings. If the stock's current value of 16.1 times earnings is right, that's nearly a 30% discount. Smart investors didn't need to foresee the coming construction boom. They only needed to call a bargain a bargain and trust the market to eventually wise up.

12. Invest abroad
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.--St. Augustine

Over the 10 years through 2006, a portfolio split 80%-20% between U.S. and international large-cap stocks would have returned an average 8.4% a year, roughly the same as a portfolio invested 100% in domestic stocks. But because U.S. and foreign markets partially offset one another's ups and downs, the global portfolio was 4% less risky than the all-American (see Rule No. 4). Most Americans have less money in foreign funds than the 15% to 25% experts recommend. But you don't have to be like most Americans.

13. Keep perspective
There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.--Harry Truman

When the Dow sheds 300 points in a day, it's natural to feel doomed. And when the market surges, it's easy to be convinced that stocks have entered "a new paradigm," to echo a bubble-era phrase. Don't delude yourself. As Sir John Templeton notes, "The four most expensive words in the English language are, `This time it's different.' " To keep your perspective, remember:
-In every bull market since 1970, stocks have dropped by 10% or more at least once. Average time to get back to even: 107 days.
-Over time, markets tend to stick close to their long-term trends, called "regression to the mean." Manias and panics never last.

14. Just do it
It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan. --Eleanor Roosevelt

Financial planning is an unnatural act. The brain is wired to make us undervalue long-term goals and exaggerate the cost of short-term sacrifice. Yet studies show that people who do even a little retirement planning had twice the savings of those who did almost none. Heed the words attributed to Mrs. Roosevelt by doing the following:
-Set concrete, attainable goals. "I'll pay an extra $100 a month on my credit card" is more likely to succeed than "I'm going to get my act together."
-Then commit. Tell someone your plan and agree to a penalty--you'll do your spouse's chores for a month if you haven't saved $10,000 extra by June.

15. Borrow responsibly
As life closes in on someone who has borrowed far too much money on the strength of far too little income, there are no fire escapes. --John Kenneth Galbraith

Face this truth: If you let them, lenders are only too willing to advance you more than is good for your family. Mortgage banks and credit-card issuers don't care if your monthly payment makes it impossible for you to sock away money in your 401(k) or fund your kid's 529 plan. You need to set your own rules, including:

-No credit-card debt. Period. It's never okay to pay 15% to borrow for consumption.
-Borrow only to buy assets that appreciate. A home, yes. Education, sure. A vacation, a fancy dinner or even a 50-inch flat-screen TV? No way.

16. Talk to your spouse
"In every house of marriage there's room for an interpreter."--Stanley Kunitz

Your most important financial partner isn't your broker. It's your spouse--you know, the one who probably owns half of all you do and whose fate is inextricably linked with yours. But research shows that spouses often don't agree on even such basic info as their income and savings. Wake-up call: To make smart decisions, you need to talk, and if you're like most couples, to do a better job at it.
-Men: Don't assume she doesn't care about this stuff. She does. But you need to lay off the jargon and speak English.
-Women: Don't just leave it all to him. At a minimum, know where the key papers are and how your money is invested. ˙
-Both: Focus on goals, not on being right. It's not a contest.

17. Exit gracefully
Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. --Pablo Picasso

Despite the words he reportedly uttered, Picasso was willing to die without planning his estate. It took years for his heirs to reach a settlement with French authorities. Although you may not have masterpieces to bequeath, you have no excuse not to take elementary steps to make life easier on those you'd leave behind. Covering the basics shouldn't cost more than $1,500. To find a lawyer, ask friends and colleagues for recommendations or get referrals online at the website of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (aaepa.com). For tips on dividing emotion-laden personal belongings--more often the flash point for family tension than money or big-ticket items--check out the website Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate? (yellowpieplate.umn.edu).

18. Pay only your share
The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that carries any reward.--John Maynard Keynes

It's all well and good to put time into choosing the right investments. But being conscious of taxes puts money in your pocket too (at least it keeps it from being taken from your pocket, which amounts to the same thing), and the payoff is swift, certain and there for the taking. So take full advantage of tax-deferred benefits at work, like 401(k)s and flexible spending accounts. Stick with tax-efficient investments like index funds. And claim every deduction you're entitled to. According to the Government Accountability Office, taxpayers who could itemize but chose not to ended up overpaying by $450. Don't be one of them.

19. Give wisely
The time is always right to do the right thing.--Martin Luther King Jr.

Granted, Dr. King did not have money on his mind when he spoke these words. But they also ring true in your financial life, since giving back is always the right thing. Still, there are more right and less right ways to do it.
-Look beyond the headlines. It's fine to give money to disasters like the tsunami, but don't forget about smaller charities that go wanting.
-Don't give over the phone. Telemarketers often take a cut of 50% or more.
-Focus. Identify a cause that really speaks to you. Then devote most of your energy and charitable dollars to the organizations that best support it.

20. Keep money in its place
A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart. --Jonathan Swift

People who say they value money highly report that they are less happy in life than those who care more about love and friends. Enough said.

My Dog Oreo; Be a responsible pet owner

We have an Australian silky terrier and he was a stray when our father-in-law picked him up. We named him Oreo as he is brown obviously but I guess he doesn't have white or brown cream in between =)

He is such a cheerful fellow and always enjoys company, even fearless when he approaches dogs of much bigger sizes. Frankly, I wasn't accustomed to having dogs in the house until we have him. Whenever we walk him, we would meet some parents (non-Muslims) who would tug their kids away from him, or would comment "don't go near, or he will bite". It's kind of sad that these parents do not understand and do not wish to expose their children to dogs.

A recent newspaper article notes the rise in dogs being abandoned by irresponsible owners after the recent requirement for all dogs to be registered, even pedigrees like our Oreo. Seems like animals abandonment numbers increases after their zodiac sign year have passed, especially rabbits and dogs. Non-zodiac sign pets like the "Nemo" clown fish and the Lo Han fish are also victims as well. Fortunately, not all zodiac sign animals are that quite suitable for domestic keeping =)

Please support SPCA, if not, please help condemn those irresponsible owners !!!

My Travels: Taiwan Accommodation

There are dozens of websites and forums that can help you to find lodging in Taiwan. I like Trip Advisor but the best is still by word of mouth.

A good friend recommended us to stay at the Handsome Hotel 函舍商務旅店 in Ximending 西門町area. It is a business hotel with nice service, typically of most Taiwanese services. Coupled with clean sheets, located in a nice district such as Ximending 西門町 and reasonable price of NT$1780 (S$80) per night/double bed room, I couldn't ask for more.

There is another hotel nearby named Rainbow Hotel. The price is similar and it is right at the heart of Ximending.

The rest of our accommodation was provided as part of our package tour. There are some local 5 star hotels and you might consider them as they are really nice.

- TaiChung Freshfields Hotel. Hot spring in your room..nice =)
- Kaoshiung The Spendor Hotel. This is the tallest in Kaoshiung at over 85 storeys & have a magnificant view of the harbour.

My Travels: Taiwan Must Eats

Taiwan is known for its many night markets 夜市 and snacks. We went to many of them and I try to list the items that you must eat at each night market as well as snacks that you can buy back home:

Taipei Shilin Night Market 士林夜市
Hao Da Chicken Steak (Hot star large fried chicken) 豪大大雞排
Oyster Omelete 蚵仔煎
Lemon Jelly Drink 檸檬愛玉
"Seven miles fragrance" (BBQ chicken backside) 七里香
"Small Biscuit wrapped in Big Biscuit" 大餅包小餅
Pork Rib Soup 排骨汤
Fried/Steam Bun 老士林水煎包
Dumpling soup













Kaoshiung LiuHe Night Market 六合夜市
Pepper Biscuit 胡椒餅
Dan Zhai Mee
Fried Squid
Oyster Omelete
Tu Tuo Yu Gen (fish soup)










Tachung Fengjia Night Market 逢甲夜市
"Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang" (small intestine in big intestine)大腸包小腸
Smelly Toufu 臭豆腐











Ximenting 西門町
Ah Zhong Mee Sua 阿宗麵線
Ice shavings 三兄弟 甜品店











Jiufen 九份
Fishball noodle
Beef noodle
Mochi, sun cake 太阳饼 and preserved snacks, 啊信的店

Taipei
Pineapple and green bean paste tarts Vigor Bakery House 維格食品有限公司

These are value for money items that I hope you will enjoy as well.

My Travels: Taiwan Must See Attractions

A good way to understand Taiwan is to check out the website from its Tourism Bureau. You can also check out Lonely Planet or Trip Advisor
I must say that there are not many guide books for Taiwan. I have gone to Taiwan for business trips prior to this one, and I must say I did not know the place well until I went on this trip.

From my earlier posting, there are several attractions that I deem that are must sees/do.

Taipei and county
Shilin Night Market 士林夜市
National Palace Museum 国立故宫博物院
Hot springs at Wulai 烏來 or Beitou 北投

Taichung 台中
Sun Moon Lake 日月潭


Hualien 花蓮
Taroko Gorge

Kaoshiung 高雄
Check out the Betel Nut Princesses
FoGuangShan Monastery 佛光山


Please drop me a note if you have any questions on what we did at these places, how much we spent etc.

My Travels; Taiwan Itineary: Free & Easy or Package tour

We travelled to Taiwan recently last Oct and we had a great time. One of the questions we asked initially was whether we should do Free&Easy (like we always do) or go on a package tour, as we weren't familiar with Taiwan roads to drive on our own.

Advantages of Free&Easy:
1. Flexibility to change schedule
2. No side marketing tours to sell you merchandise
3. No need to put up with crying babies on package tour buses =)

Advantages of Package Tours:
1. Itinerary all planned out, no hassle to book air tics, accommodation, entrance tics
2. Tour guide helps to focus on important sights, things to eat & buy at specific places
3. Better for families, especially those with small kids

As we had redeemed our miles from Krisflyer, we decided to do both at the same time. We went on a package tour for the 1st 7 days and Free&Easy for the last 3. Our itinerary was as follows:

Day1: Arrive in Taipei
Day2: Meet with tour group in Taipei, Taipei-Taichung
Day3: Taichung-Kaoshiung
Day4: Kaoshiung-Lukang
Day5: Lukang-Taoyuan
Day6: Taoyuan-Hualien
Day7: Hualien-Taipei
Day8: Taipei
Day9: Wulai
Day10: Taipei

We did some comparisons among tour providers and we decided to go with Chan Brothers Travel. The price was S$850 for a 7days/6nights land tour (without air tics). It was a bit pricey but we figured it was worth it as they put us up in local 5 stars hotels.

If you were to plot out the package tour journey, we did not tour Taiwan in an smooth anti-clockwise journey as per the original itinerary. So we had more bus travel time and had to cut short on some sights. This is one of the disadvantages of going on a tour package.

Will share some other things on Taiwan attractions, accomodations and what/where to eat in later postings.

My Travel Log

I love to visit new places, meet different people and learn their cultures. The world is such a big place and we have so much to learn and experience!!

Till date I guessed I have gone to about 70 cities, for both business and personal reasons. That is not so many when compared with other people I know, so there is much more to experience since I am only in my early 30s. My goal for the past years has been to go for at least one long trip per year with my wife and I'm glad we've been able to do that, since we are still DINKs (Dual Income No Kids). Our favorites must be Rome, Prague, Scottish Highlands, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

In the near future, we hope to go to some countries in the Southern hemisphere like Australia, NZ or South Africa. But I figure we can also do that later. Perhaps we should go backpacking in Vietnam or Cambodia while we still have the energy =)

Happy New Year; Past and Present; Resolutions

Happy New Year !!!
The holiday season has always been a good time for us to look back and learn from our past experiences and look forward to better things going forward.

Looking back, my past year has been eventful and filled with several highs and lows. I travelled to new places, and had a long holiday in Taiwan. Shiok!! I also managed to read more, especially on investment books and yes, I had a decent gain on my investment portfolio.

So have you made any new year resolutions? It is a commitment that we often make at the beginning of the year, but frankly how many times have we actually fulfilled them?

To make it easier for myself this year, I have set a target to try three new things this year. And yes, one of them is to get this blog started =) It's been something that I wanted to do for a while but just didn't have the time to see it through.

Here's wishing you & your family a prosperous and great year ahead in whatever you do! Cheers