Politicians get Golden Number Bonus.

Singapore political appointees have been rewarded with the new National Bonus which would be 1.618 months salary. (Read news report here)

1.618 is a Golden Number!

In mathematics, the 2 greatest ‘irrational’ numbers are   

    

(Pi) and 

(Phi.)

From our early school days we learned that Pi =3.142,

but lesser is learnt about Phi or that Phi = 1.618.

or 1.618 is also known as the Golden Ratio.

It is believed that this ratio is the perfect balance that human eyes can perceive.

I will not go into the mathematical background as I am hopeless at maths beyond my calculator, but I do know about it from a visual aspect.

There are many structures and buildings that are built to this ratio, i.e. the length against the height of a building will result in a 1.618 ratio, for example, the United Nations building in New York. Another is the Taj Mahal.

The ratio of the low rise to the high rise is 1.618

It has also been calculated that the features of your face is perfect if it falls in the 1.618 ratio. Actors known to have this facial ratio include Brad Pitt, Claudia Schiffer and Angelina Jolie.

The Marquardt Mask is based on the Phi 1.618 ratio.
If your face fits the mask, you are a natural beauty.

Leornado Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, made more famous recently by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, is also based on this ratio. You remember the Vitruvian man? The sketch of the naked four arms four legged man within a circle inside a square?

This ratio seems to be the perfect symmetry and most pleasing to the unconscious human eye.

Being a mathematicians favourite number, is it any wonder why the statisticians in the government came up with this bonus number?

I’ll bet the next ministerial bonus would be 3.142.

Here are some more examples of  the occurrence of the 1.618 golden ratio.

Views from the Well

I know people complaint a lot in Singapore but lately it seems the complaints are of the most frivolous in nature.
Just yesterday, Stomp reported a young lady for Bukit Batok kicking up a big fuss (besides kicking chairs at the outlet) over a late phone delivery order.

Today, I just couldn't stand by to read this letter in the Straits Times.
I wrote back to the editor, though I doubt if it will get published.

Dear Editor,

I refer to today's Straits Times Forum (Page A19) letter "What's wrong with peering into Wicked orchestra pit?".
I am bemused by Ms Scofield's query which was unintentionally answered by herself. Just because they had done it at the Esplanade theatre does not imply they are entitled to do so elsewhere. If there were no attendants around, would she have also visited the make-up rooms or costume dept just to satisfy her natural curiosity?

Imagine the crowd following her at the Wicked who would ask why the Scofields are allowed to peer in and not them? The organisers have drawn a line and ticket holders should know what that ticket entitles them to. It certainly does not give them the extra rights to visit the make up rooms, costume dept or even peer into the orchestra pits if the organisers so deem it as such, perhaps on grounds of security or otherwise.

7-11-12-17-30-31-41

I am not an addict nor a compulsive punter but I do buy 4D and Toto regularly.

It seems like I am helping to supplement the govt’s coffers more often than my own bank account. 

But we all have the same dream of striking it rich, right?

For 4D, I only buy 2 numbers each draw.

One is the last 4 digits of my NRIC and the other is my address.

For Toto, I have a system! So who doesn’t? haha.

The last few years I have collected the results of all the previous draws and buy only the numbers that are regularly drawn. I even have a chart showing the pattern of numbers drawn (not that it helps but it assuages my own bruised ego)

Can you see Jesus?

If you are not aware of it, I'll let you know that the the top 7 (most frequently) drawn numbers in the past 3 years are:

7-11-12-17-30-31-41.

My own great theory (ha ha) is that I would have a better chance if I select only numbers that appear most often. 

So for the last few years, I’ve been basically playing around those numbers within the top 10, on the great theory that eventually a day will come when these numbers will fall in line during one particular draw.

Guess what numbers were drawn yesterday?