1. AirAsia flight QZ8501 Updates - AirAsia flight QZ8501 found
Both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered. The plane's fuselage was located on Wednesday (Jan 14) by MV Swift Rescue, according to Singapore's Defence Minister.
This will CLOSE my follow up as things are clearer and clearer with the investigation team entering into painstakingly long and tedious digging through whatever wreckage, data and information uncovered.
Rest in peace to the victims and live strong for the surviving families and friends.
2. "Charlie Hebdo: Cartoonist explains why he drew cover of latest issue - ST 14 January 2015
"This was not the front page the world wanted us to draw, it was our front page," Renald Luzier said.
"This is not the front page that the terrorists want us to draw, as there are no terrorists in it, just a man who cries: it's Muhammad. I am sorry that we drew him again, but the Muhammad we drew is a Muhammad who is crying above all," he said on Tuesday."
A poignant and extremely emotional moment. I also learned that Charlie Hbedo has been in this line for the last 22 years and it has only a print of 60k copies each week. NOW, this week print will be around 3-5 million! I guessed the 'murderers' did not bargain for this! Their brutal act helped the magazine to become known to the WORLD now! How silly the murderers looked now!!
3. "One-stop support centre to be set up for social enterprises - CNA 14 January 2015
SINGAPORE: Social enterprises can soon get help from a one-stop support centre, to be ready by the second quarter of 2015. Announcing the move on Wednesday (Jan 14), Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing described it as a milestone for the sector.
The centre will give social enterprises better support by bringing together various payers from the ministry, voluntary welfare organisations and even corporates. It will also help social enterprises in areas such as networking, mentorship and business strategies from before they are set up, till after they are up and running.
"So social enterprises consciously look out for the abilities of the disadvantaged group and see how they can mesh those abilities into a working model that is self-sustaining."
Indeed, keeping such businesses afloat can be a challenge. BlisSE Restaurant, located at the People's Association Headquarters, was launched in 2012. This social enterprise employs people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including ex-convicts, single mothers and people with learning disabilities.
The restaurant now has four outlets employing 50 people, of which about 15 to 20 are beneficiaries of the social enterprise at any one time. It also has a central kitchen for catering. However, like any other business, it has its fair share of challenges such as rising rental costs and labour shortage.
Of the 84 social enterprises that have received Government funding from ComCare Enterprise Fund since 2003, only about 30 are still surviving today. However, the sector is growing and industry players estimate that about 500 social enterprises are currently in operation."
Lessons for me are:
1. I am NOT SURE why social assistance by the government are 'giving the men and women a fish' instead of 'teaching the men and women to fish'? Surely the first step is to 'give fish' BUT thereafter it has to be 'teaching they how to fish' to be sustainable right?;
2. I have observed social enterprises development for a while. It is DEFINITELY not for the faint hearted and the 'flavour for the month/year' folks. This is especially challenging when you consider issues like: what is a 'reasonable wage' for social enterprise workers and the management? Of course for those in the F&B and retailing arena, the rental cost is always a big burden!;
3. semi-social enterprises will be those that make lots of money under the capitalistic system and mandated certain % of the Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) to charities and NGOs the owners or employees support. The FULL social enterprises are those that want to employ their 'clients' to be work. That is more challenging. For those who succeeded, they have my utmost admiration. It CANNOT be sold on a 'sympathy' basis. The paying customers MUST get quality products, services and solutions from any other sellers, and on a sustainable basis. That is the MOST difficult to achieve.
Will the ONE-STOP Support Center help? Hopefully.
Both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered. The plane's fuselage was located on Wednesday (Jan 14) by MV Swift Rescue, according to Singapore's Defence Minister.
This will CLOSE my follow up as things are clearer and clearer with the investigation team entering into painstakingly long and tedious digging through whatever wreckage, data and information uncovered.
Rest in peace to the victims and live strong for the surviving families and friends.
2. "Charlie Hebdo: Cartoonist explains why he drew cover of latest issue - ST 14 January 2015
"This was not the front page the world wanted us to draw, it was our front page," Renald Luzier said.
"This is not the front page that the terrorists want us to draw, as there are no terrorists in it, just a man who cries: it's Muhammad. I am sorry that we drew him again, but the Muhammad we drew is a Muhammad who is crying above all," he said on Tuesday."
A poignant and extremely emotional moment. I also learned that Charlie Hbedo has been in this line for the last 22 years and it has only a print of 60k copies each week. NOW, this week print will be around 3-5 million! I guessed the 'murderers' did not bargain for this! Their brutal act helped the magazine to become known to the WORLD now! How silly the murderers looked now!!
3. "One-stop support centre to be set up for social enterprises - CNA 14 January 2015
SINGAPORE: Social enterprises can soon get help from a one-stop support centre, to be ready by the second quarter of 2015. Announcing the move on Wednesday (Jan 14), Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing described it as a milestone for the sector.
The centre will give social enterprises better support by bringing together various payers from the ministry, voluntary welfare organisations and even corporates. It will also help social enterprises in areas such as networking, mentorship and business strategies from before they are set up, till after they are up and running.
"So social enterprises consciously look out for the abilities of the disadvantaged group and see how they can mesh those abilities into a working model that is self-sustaining."
Indeed, keeping such businesses afloat can be a challenge. BlisSE Restaurant, located at the People's Association Headquarters, was launched in 2012. This social enterprise employs people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including ex-convicts, single mothers and people with learning disabilities.
The restaurant now has four outlets employing 50 people, of which about 15 to 20 are beneficiaries of the social enterprise at any one time. It also has a central kitchen for catering. However, like any other business, it has its fair share of challenges such as rising rental costs and labour shortage.
Of the 84 social enterprises that have received Government funding from ComCare Enterprise Fund since 2003, only about 30 are still surviving today. However, the sector is growing and industry players estimate that about 500 social enterprises are currently in operation."
Lessons for me are:
1. I am NOT SURE why social assistance by the government are 'giving the men and women a fish' instead of 'teaching the men and women to fish'? Surely the first step is to 'give fish' BUT thereafter it has to be 'teaching they how to fish' to be sustainable right?;
2. I have observed social enterprises development for a while. It is DEFINITELY not for the faint hearted and the 'flavour for the month/year' folks. This is especially challenging when you consider issues like: what is a 'reasonable wage' for social enterprise workers and the management? Of course for those in the F&B and retailing arena, the rental cost is always a big burden!;
3. semi-social enterprises will be those that make lots of money under the capitalistic system and mandated certain % of the Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) to charities and NGOs the owners or employees support. The FULL social enterprises are those that want to employ their 'clients' to be work. That is more challenging. For those who succeeded, they have my utmost admiration. It CANNOT be sold on a 'sympathy' basis. The paying customers MUST get quality products, services and solutions from any other sellers, and on a sustainable basis. That is the MOST difficult to achieve.
Will the ONE-STOP Support Center help? Hopefully.
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