Author: coolerinsights

UC Berkley Professor Explains Financial Crisis

January 6, 2009 • Blog • 1 comment

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Have you wondered if this current crisis is going to be bigger than the rest? Or whether the financial stimuli provided by the G8 nations are enough to pull us out of this mess?

Well, I found out some of the answers yesterday at a talk on Understanding the Global Financial Crisis organised by the Civil Service College. Part of the MTI-CSC Economics Speaker Series, it featured Professor Bradford DeLong (a rather prolific blogger I must add) who is the Professor of Economics at U.C Berkeley. Professor DeLong once served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Treasury under the Clinton Administration.

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Las Vegas – The World’s Entertainment Capital

January 2, 2009 • • 8 comments

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Anybody who has been to Las Vegas will get a taste of what a real-life fantasy world feels like. The cornerstone of the economy in the state of Nevada, Las Vegas is all about glitz, glamour and gaming, and is billed as “The Entertainment Capital of the World”. Also known as the “Sin City”, Las Vegas is a hedonistic paradise offering anything and everything that money can buy – food, fun, fashion, and even females (or males, for those who are so inclined). Built entirely from scratch out of a barren desert in Nevada, the city is a veritable Disneyland for adults, while not forgetting the kids.

Here’s a tour of what we did exploring the city. Caution – lots of photos ahead!

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Breathtaking Scenery on the West Coast

December 30, 2008 • • 6 comments

One of the things which struck me deeply about the United States is the sheer size of the country. Roads can stretch for miles and miles uninterrupted, and the surrounding environment can change dramatically from coastal landscapes, green farmlands, coniferous forests to barren semi-arid deserts. The historic Route 66 – a long winding highway linking the Eastern and Western states of the US – offers such an experience amongst other highways.

Naturally, we were captivated by the beauty of what we experienced which unfortunately cannot be reproduced here in its entirety. Nevertheless, I shall endeavour!

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Hitting the road is a common activity for us when travelling from San Francisco in the North all the way to San Diego in the South.

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The Great American Sale

December 26, 2008 • Blog • 3 comments

Unlike other more typical Singaporeans, shopping isn’t really in the blood of my family. We much prefer to spend our time exploring the great outdoors, visiting museums and attractions, or indulging in a good meal. However, as a significnt part of our US tour package includes various shopping stops – an ever popular request amongst Singaporean groups – we had the chance to dive into some festive Christmas shopping in the West.

How was the experience of shopping like in the US? Well, here are some snapshots to give you a glimpse of what we did.

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The US is full of warehouse discount shops like Target here, which are big factory-sized affairs offering free parking, everyday low prices, and money-back guarantees (no questions asked).

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I Left My Heart in San Francisco….

December 24, 2008 • • 6 comments

So goes that age-old favourite by Tony Bennett. Who wouldn’t, after encountering this beautiful coastal city in Northern California. The spirit of the season makes it all the more magical for us during our recent holiday in this city of 4.2 million (about the same as Singapore), which boasts some of the most instantly recognisable landmarks of American culture. I believe that our ubiquitous Swensen’s Restaurant in Singapore was inspired very much by the spirit of San Francisco.

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A view of the streets of San Francisco – in this case the famous Union Square area – by day.

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Our Holiday in California, Nevada and Arizona

December 22, 2008 • Blog • 6 comments

My family and I have just returned from an “epic” two week holiday in the West Coast of the United States. Our trip took us across three states – golden California, silver Nevada and picturesque Arizona – and a journey across cities and counties like San Francisco, Gilroy, Fresno, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Los Angeles. We travelled across thousands of miles of vast land – from scenic Pacific coastal drives to barren desert land – and had a taste of how post-crisis Christmas was like in the world’s largest economy.

The verdict? The United States is truly awesome and brims with opportunities. I must add though that some of the tourist spots are more hyped up than they truly are. We’ll definitely make plans to return here, perhaps touring the national parks next.

To kick off my series of posts (and I promise to inject some “marketing lessons” in my latter ones if time and energy permits), let me first bring you on our whirlwind photographic journey.

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Social Media Intelligence Redefined

December 3, 2008 • Blog • 7 comments

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Brandtology – The World’s First 24×7 Managed Services Provider

As social media platforms and applications gain mainstream prominence, organisations should pay increasing attention to what people are saying about them online. We have seen in recent weeks how social media can either result in a lot of good or a lot of harm. Being oblivious to what your stakeholders think is probably the last thing to do, especially in these times when every customer relationship counts.

This is where social media monitoring, intelligence and participation comes in.

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Dim Sum Dollies at National Museum

November 26, 2008 • Blog • 1 comment

Catch the amazing and adorable Dim Sum Dollies, Singapore’s most animated cabaret trio, this Saturday at the National Museum of Singapore! Held as part of the Explore Singapore! programme, this unique musical performance draws inspiration from Singapore’s history as well as the exhibits at the museum itself. All you need to gain entry is the price of museum ticket…

Wait, there is more!

Apparently, for one day only, you can also visit 2 exhibitions at the special exhibition gallery at the National Museum of Singapore with that same ticket. You can catch Brad Pitt and other stars at the Voom Portraits show by Robert Wilson, as well as another photography special by Chang Chien Chi called “Doubleness”.

Don’t just hear it from me, hear it from them! See you there!