Sperm test procedure (semen analysis)

So last week, I went down to the Andrology to get my semen analysis done. It was for medical reasons so I just did it.

Of course, for anyone who has done it before or about to undergo this process of masturbating yourself to get your sample out, I understand how you feel... Kinda pricks the Pride abit.

So I just want to share my experience with all of you. Afterall, some of you need not undergo such test in your life. But anyway, it's an experience.

So my wife and myself kept exchanging thoughts on what type of materials will the hospital provide in order to get me into the mood.. Will there be like TV with tons of porn films or would they provide magazines , just like how some old films we watched when we were young. Anyway, NONE of those happened

So upon reaching the hospital, I was given an empty bottle and was told to proceed into this room and read the instructions that was on the wall. 

The "room" looks exactly like a toilet but without a toilet bowl. It has a shower  facility and a lamp which I suppose, to  help you get into the mood. The toilet bowl was replaced with a "comfortable" chair, that comes with a soft cushion

Yup so no sight of magazines or TV films BUT a wifi password! WOW! How useful..I suppose they expect all adults know where to find their fantasy.. The wifi signal was so bad, couldn't get it connected. My phone battery was running low on battery and I was thinking to myself.. So if my battery runs flat, am I suppose to like "err excuse me Mdm, can I borrow your iPhone?" Or "I prefer to watch it on a bigger screen, do you have an iPad that I can borrow?" 

So anyhow, I managed to get myself fixed after a while and went out to hand the sample to the nurse.

The cost of the analysis is about $58.++ inclusive of gst. I won't name the hospital that I went to but they are strictly by appointment. Even on weekdays, they are full! 

So anyhow, that's my experience. Buzz some of my own myth about sperm test .

Till then..

How much Do I need to own a car in Singapore

This is a very common question in Singapore. You can browse through popular forum like hardwarezone and you will notice that there is a sticky post in the car section because every now and then, someone will ask for advices on how much do I need to earn before I own a car in Singapore..!!!

Everyone plans their budget and everyone have commitments. Could be phone bills, renovation loans, allowances to your parents etc etc. 

For I can only give you my perspective, it is up to you to decide whether if it is applicable to you. 

Like any newly wed couples, we got our Reno loans, bills and other monthly misc credit card bills piling up every month, waiting for me to clear. 

When my wife and I decided to buy a car, it was purely for convenience sake. We travel to our parents place 4 times a week after work and grocery shopping is always a chore since we had to take the train/bus to the central of the estate. So anyhow, we worked out math and we decided to take the chance.

Please note that the below is based on a resale car of 8 years old, 1.5L:

Monthly loan : $900 

Annual Road tax : $556 ($46 per mth)

Monthly Petrol : $280 (after disc)

Monthly Season Parking : $160 (multi storey + office hdb parking)

Monthly Insurance : $142 (if you know how to choose the correct insurance, FYI- I am a first time driver)

Monthly Cash card top-up : $90 (send wife to work + visit to parents place)

All in all, the magic round number is $1,600. Of course there are cheaper car model. You can look out for QQ or picanto. But, $1,600 should be the figure if you plan to own one.

Of course you got your car servicing/maintenance which I have yet to factor in but if you choose a reliable car, it shouldn't require much maintenance. Just some parts here and there. 

Downpayment as well! So I suggest for couples who plan on buying a car, buy it when you receive your year end bonus or both of you plan a 1year saving agreement and each save $500 per month to pay the Downpayment.

To own a car these days is a luxury. So I am considered fortunate enough to be able to afford one. Praise God. 

Till then..

How to appeal for rejected short term visit visa to Singapore

I've got a long distance cousin who wanted to visit Singapore recently. So I tried to apply for him via SAVE (Submission of Application for Visa Electronically) , with me as his sponsor/local contact. The cost for the application is SGD$30, regardless whether the application got rejected or approved.

So after 1 working day, I received an email from ICA, telling me that his visa was rejected. (Reminder: please remember to check your spam box because that's where the mail landed in)

So if you wish to appeal for the rejected visa, here's what you need to do:

Draft an email to ica_save_helpdesk@ica.gov.sg with the title : Appeal for entry visa application

Do provide Visa ref no. and reiterate your appeal reason in the email. Short and sweet will be sufficient.

If you do not want to encounter further delays in your appeal, here are the important items you need to attach in the email:

1) screenshot of applicant passport

2) screenshot of applicant passport photo

3) screenshot of local contact passport biodata page

4) screenshot of local contact NRIC front and back

It is said that the processing time will take up to 14 days. So fingers cross and I hope your appeal will be successfully.

Till then..

Trion:Z Review - Negative ions

Been wearing the Trion:Z band for 2 months ever since I bought it from Tokyu hands. Got a mix experience wearing it but overall, I can't really say whether the band works exactly as how it should but I do enjoy some fair share of experience wearing it

The Trion:Z is one of the cheapest model, selling at $29.90 and it is said to have about 200 negative ion output per cubic centimeter. At 200, is not high. Some bands can go as high as 1400. 

Negative ions are said to have health benefits and makes one feel good. Imagine being in front of a waterfall and the water hitting the rock at the bottom of the waterfall. You will feel an energy which is created when the water hits the rock. Those are negative ions from Mother Nature. Similar to surrounding yourself by trees or siting on the sands along east coast park and stare out at the sea.

After 2 months of wearing it, here are some of my personal findings :

o My muscles will not feel as sore in the morning whenever I workout the day before at the gym.

o I wake up fresh, feel more energetic at work and I feel good about myself during my first 2 weeks wearing it

o I experimented once not wearing the Trion:Z band to bed and I find myself not waking up fresh. Literally dragging myself out of bed

o After 2 weeks, I felt like I was back to my normal self, no good feel anymore, it was as though my body was immune to the benefits or the band has ran out of negative ions.

o I tried not wearing the Trion:Z for 2 weeks and wore it back again. Initially, I felt relax and good but slowly I felt otherwise. 

I'm not too sure if the negative ion output is too low for me, considering the fact that I work out 3-4 times a week. It is said that the band's output of ion will not deplete but it seems like it did on me.. 

So I'll let you decide. Share with me your experience too if you wear it before. Perhaps we can exchange notes together

Till then...

Interesting Facts about Singapore

Came across an article that wrote some interesting facts about Singapore and I want to share with you guys!

 o Singapore population : 5.48M

 o GDP : US$307.9B

 o Ethnic groups :

      Chinese - 74%

      Malay - 13%

      Indian - 9%

      Others - 4%

  o Smartphone users : 7M

  o Online Shoppers : 3M

  o internet Users : 4M

  o Rank #2 IP Protection

  o Rank #4 Global Financial Centre

  o Rank #10 fastest internet speed 

  o There are 28k taxis on the island

  o Changi Airport connects Singapore to 320 cities across 80 countries

Till then..

Interesting startups in Singapore

Not sure why but I recently started to get interested in startups. I mean entrepreneurs/ technoprenurs - brainy people, with ideas and very determine to get what they visualized into reality. You don't just stop there, they continue to innovate and improve further.

One example is Friendster. Is no difference compared to Facebook but look how the company has steered from just social platform to news and games.

The digital business is risky and you need fundings, lots of it in order to grow. You need to be fast too. Digital Businesses compete against time. If you don't innovate, you will be left behind. Because in the digital business, especially Classifieds, there can only be room for One.

Fastacash 

Is an interesting concept, where they leverage on social media platforms to handle money transaction. You can transfer your money and notify your friends/transactor via Facebook, Twitter, whatsapp etc.

Fastjobs

Providing blue collar jobs readily on the go, the app will link candidates to the employers directly via contact number or email

Rocket uncle

Iogistics platform providing courier service with a touch of your fingertip. They have a network of dispatchers , ready to take on your job and you can track your delivery real-time. 

Carousell

Finally an app that allows you to buy/sell your old clothes. Back in the days where we use gumtree and locanto to sell our items, carousell has since taken the online classifieds by storm, becoming one of the fastest growing user base in Singapore

If you know of any interesting startups, please share with me too!

Till then..

What is organizational development

After running through videos on youtubes and articles online, I kind of understand what Operational Development, OD is somewhat about.

OD primarily is about streamlining performance and it describes the process model for strategic change. It's focus is on developing the organisation, rather than to develop the staff.

Quotes from Wikipedia : "it is worth understanding what OD is not. It is not training, personal development, team development or team building, human-resource developement, learning and development or a part of HR - although it is often mistakenly understood as some or all of these."

Google actually hires OD consultants to assess, redesign and evaluate work process, need for managing strategic change and input of organizational development.

The main objective is to promote organizational readiness to meet changes.

Management must be willing to go below the water line, sacrificing short term gain to enhance the long term gain and verifying implementations.

As for employees, the company must receive support of mindset shift from the employees, which I am referring to the attitude towards the organisation changes.

Strategic changes must be done in phases and not all at once. 

Evaluate -> review -> adaptation

Hopefully, in the coming months, the things I will be doing, reflect what I wrote above..

Till then..