So much useful information has been offered to adults at digi.talk. Now, Digi.talk isn’t just for adults, it’s for everyone.

Images courtesy of Grolier: The New Book of Popular Science

Did you know that the NLB website offers plenty of electronic resources that are not only useful to adults but teenagers and children too. Nature.com, Grolier: The New Book of Popular Science, CAMIO: Catalog of Art Museum Images Online, EBSCOHost Searchasarus are some of the many databases available at the NLB website, that are suitable for teenagers and children to use.

Images courtesy of Grolier: The New Book of Knowledge

With these useful resources, the young ones could bask in the search for scientific discoveries by great scientists, wax lyrical about nature with information from the databases, indulge in research for renowned pop personalities, and even immerse themselves with historical information about the world.

Want to know more?
Check this out.

There will be a training session specially organised for young people digital resources.

Subjects covered:
1) Science, Technology, Nature (Nature.com)
2) History, Art, Literature (Pop Culture eCollection)
3) Art (Grove Art Online)
4) Popular Science & Knowledge (Grolier)
5) Asian, African, Latin American & Western Art Images (CAMIO: Catalog of Art
Museum Images Online)
6) Animals & Search database for children (EBSCOHost Animals & Searchasaurus)

This session is FREE-OF-CHARGE and is suitable for everyone who are interested in Young People's digital resources. There are only 46 places available. Don't think twice. Register with us now!

Training session: Young People by Digital Library Services, NLB
Date: 6th of December 2006, Wednesday
Time: 1.00 pm to 3.30pm
Venue: Nobel & Carnegie Training rooms, Toa Payoh Community Library
(6 Toa Payoh Central)

For enquiries/registration, please contact:
Privina Abhisegaran
Digital Library Services, National Library Board
DID: 6846 6741
Email: Privina_ABHISEGARAN@nlb.gov.sg

Posted by digitalk team at 06:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Under the title "Harry's Island - is PBL dinky-di? The Sydney Morning Herald comments as the pace hots up for the appointment of a consortium to deliver Singapore's new Integrated Resort. The iconoclastically named Eighth Wonder are looking to Deepak Chopra and Pele to be the "aum" and "oomph" factors.

Read the full story at Newsbank [cut and paste the article title above into the Newsbank search box]

"

Posted by digi.talk team at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Far away...

Posted by digi.talk team at 01:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Integrated Resort is a hot topic in Singapore right now for those who have not been following the events of the last few months below are a sample of articles from

Factiva

Kerzner-CapitaLand Sentosa Casino Bid Above $1.5B -Exec
Dow Jones International News, 11:44, 12 July 2006, 328 words, (English)
SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--The consortium of Kerzner International Ltd. (KZL) and CapitaLand Ltd. (C31.SG) would spend more than $1.5 billion to develop a casino-resort on Singapore's Sentosa Island if they are the successful bidders, Kerzner ...

Three bidders for Sentosa integrated resort submit models and plans
Channel NewsAsia, 19:51, 9 October 2006, 493 words, (English)
Concepts for Singapore's second integrated resort arrived in Sentosa by the truckloads on Monday. The three bidders for the IR project are Kerzner-CapitaLand, Genting International and Eighth Wonder.

Five groups plan bid on Sentosa; Harrah's, Kerzner, CapitaLand among those expecting to submit proposals
Daily Variety, 15 May 2006, 234 words, (English)
Five consortia have shown early interest in the Sentosa Integrated Resort (IR) project since guidelines were issued at the end of April. Expected to submit proposals by the Oct. 10 deadline are: Harrah's Entertainment and Keppel Land; ...

First 2 contenders enter race for Sentosa IR
Straits Times, 3 June 2006, 432 words, (English)
TWO of the five possible contenders for the Sentosa integrated resort officially threw their hats into the ring yesterday. The Kerzner International-CapitaLand consortium as well as US casino developer Eighth Wonder Asia and partner ...

Three-Minute Digest
Business Times Singapore, 31 August 2006, 477 words, (English)
Kerzner earmarks 99% of Sentosa IR jobs for locals NINETY-NINE per cent of the jobs at the Sentosa integrated resort will go to Singaporeans if Kerzner International wins the bidding, and the company will set up a staff training institute ...

Eighth Wonder out to turn tables on older rivals
Straits Times, 25 July 2006, 515 words, (English)
'Rookie' firm says Genting's Universal Studios proposal forSentosa IR not something new AMERICAN bidder Eighth Wonder is pitching itself as Singapore's

Unsuccessful Marina Bay bidders gear up for Sentosa race
Business Times Singapore, 29 May 2006, 586 words, (English)
CapitaLand, Genting focusing on second IR (SINGAPORE) The three losers in the Marina Bay integrated resort-cum-casino project are set to gear up for their next race for the second IR at Sentosa, having lost the bigger IR site to Las Vegas ...

Other IR bidders may join Genting in SGX plans
Business Times Singapore, 10 September 2005, 492 words, (English)
(SINGAPORE) Genting International may be the first integrated resort (IR) bidder eyeing a listing on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) main board, but it's unlikely to be the last.

A waiting game begins for bidders
Business Times Singapore, 11 October 2006, 485 words, (English)
Eighth Wonder reveals trump card while Kerzner still hush-hush over plans THE dice have been cast, with all three bids for the Sentosa integrated resort (IR) submitted, marking the start of the final judging process that will see one of ...

Race is on as rules for Marina Bay IR are released
Straits Times, 16 November 2005, 585 words, (English)
THE bidding process for Singapore's first integrated casino-resort at Marina Bay began in earnest yesterday, when the twice-delayed document setting down the rules for the resort was finally released.

In order to access these articles above go to Factiva, cut and paste the article title into the search box. You can find more by going to

Factiva

Posted by digi.talk team at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There's a lot of talk in Singapore recently about Eighth Wonder which makes you wonder about the other seven, which brings us rather clumsily to to the new 7 Wonders Launched in September of last year, New 7 Wonders is precisely what it says - an attempt to identify a new set of seven wonders of our world, this time based on a campaign where the whole world gets to vote.
The New 7 Wonders of the World will be announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007 (for those into numbers that is 07.07.07). The election/selection procedure is backed up by a panel of experts consisting of :
The former Director-General of UNESCO, Spain's Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor Zaragoza, has been appointed president of the panel.

Cesar Pelli, architect of the Battery Park buildings in New York, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Canary Wharf in the UK and the second tower of the new Hong Kong Financial Centre.

Zaha Hadid became the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize when she did so last year. She has designed buildings around the world and was described by judges as being "one of the most gifted practitioners of the art of architecture today."

Tadao Ando awarded the Prizker Prize, in 1995. One of his most acclaimed projects is the Church of the Light in Osaka, Japan.

Yung Ho Chang, one of China's most accomplished contemporary architects and the founding director of the Graduate Center of Architecture at Peking University, Head of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Architecture since July 2005.

Aziz Tayob graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand as the first non-white architect in South Africa in 1969. Over the past 35 years, Mr. Toyab has striven to create buildings that are honest, functional, thought provoking and innovative.

At the end of 2005, tthe panel must choose 21 potential wonders from among the 77 sites which have attracted the most votes throughout the campaign. The choice of the international experts will be based on the architectural and cultural importance, as well as the beauty of the monuments and structures.

In January 1 2006, a short list of 21 candidates was drawn up and now n7w has initiated the final round of voting. As far as the Asia/Pacific region is concerned the following candidates are up for selection:

Angkor Wat

The Great Wall

Kiyomizu Temple

Taj Mahal

Sydney Opera House

The Easter Island Statues

Image Citations:

2. href="http://www.nlb.gov.sg/CPMS.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=CPMS_page_eResources_database">
"Taj Mahal." PhotoDisc®, Volume 89: Wish You Were Here. Facts On File, Inc.
from our database

Modern World History Online

3. The Great Wall Photo by Alice Schalek/Three Lions/Getty Images from our database

4. Angkor - from our database

5. Kiyomizu Temple - from our database

EBSCOHost Academic Search Premier

Posted by digi.talk team at 09:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Take a "whistlestop tour" of the wide range of databases which NLB digital library members have access to (If you are not a member you can JOIN HERE

B is for Bibliographer

If titles such as " Hybridity, ethnicity and food in Singapore" get you really excited then the

Bibliography of Asian Studies

Posted by digi.talk team at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Forget your worries" exhorts the The Economic Times of Bombay, as they look at GPS and mobile devices which come together to make sure that you can keep track of your kiddos. Singapore is mentioned as one of the countries where the technology is being used.

Read the full story at Newsbank [cut and paste the article title above into the Newsbank search box]

Posted by digi.talk team at 04:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

J. Frank Brown, newly appointed Dean of Insead, in a recent interview "A Global Casting Call For Corporate Boards," reflects on the appeal of the multinational board, asking why more 30 Dow Jones industrial companies do not consider putting more directors from their target international markets on their boards.

Read the full story at Newsbank [cut and paste the article title above into the Newsbank search box]

Posted by digi.talk team at 04:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NLB and the SGX-Factor

As from today "investing in our libraries" takes on a new meaning. Leveraging on a partnership between SIngapore Exchange and National Library Board, NLB patrons will be able to access financial and investment information through special terminals at Lee Kong Chien Reference Library. They will be able query SGX's databases which cover independent research reports, market data, trading tools and all of the Archived Investment Resources after 1998, patrons can now ponder on their next investment steps in a connected conducive setting. The service also offers annual reports, IPO documents and other company information from Singapore and selected regional exchanges will be available in print and soft copy.

This service is possible through SI Station, an innovative software which provides market quotes, news and a charting software capability. This enables our patrons to stream real-time data on stock quotes, intraday time and sales and a trade summary matrix; browse fundamentals through factsheets, company financials/ratios, Insidertrades and share events; monitor stock alerts, prepare watchlist and portfolio tracking and calculate price spreads; and chart Intraday, historically and based on volume distribution.
IRIS (The Investment Resource Service) will also offer human domain expertise to back up the digitally delivered data offering complementary professional information services and a suite of training courses, talks and seminars which serve to deepen and broaden our patrons understanding of investment and the role of libraries in providing finance-related information.

Posted by digi.talk team at 01:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Take a "whistlestop tour" of the wide range of databases which NLB digital library members have access to (If you are not a member you can JOIN HERE

A is for Ancient, Art and Asia!

Ancient and Medieval History Online

Art FullText and Art Index Retrospective

Are you art buff? Need to consult international art periodicals? Are you invovled in Advertising Art, Architecture, Art History, Contemporary Art, Costume, Graphic Arts, and Photography. This is the database for you! Art Index Retrospective complements this by offering articles from 1929-1984. A must for any form of research in art or even in the social sciences. A great resource for the artistically inquisitive
Available at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library (4 users can access the e-resource at any one time)

Arts & Humanities Search

Need a quick route to 1,300 of the world's leading arts and humanities journals? Looking for social and natural science journals? This database draws on a wide selection of the major sources giving access to comprehensive and up-to- date view of the evolution of society and culture - its norms and its peculiarities.

Available at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library only

Asia Intelligence Wires

Hot off the Newswire! Newspaper articles and journal articles from over 200 sources. Comprehensive Geographic coverage of the Asia Region including Cambodia, China, India, Hong Kong, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Available at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library only

Asia ROM

Straight from Australasia's leading agencies and institutions we offer a vast range of Australasian sources of information. Includes APECLIT, ASIANRES, BERITA, BIPE, INTAN MAS, INDBIO, PDIP, PDIR and Informit e-Library. A key resource for the serious researcher.

Available at all libraries and from home

Asia-Studies Full-text Online

Drawing on the region's most prestigious research institutions and bringing together thousands of full-text reports covering business, government, economic and social issues - this is a peerless e-resource for the Asia region. Country coverage includes all of Asia, Australia/New Zealand, the Americas Pacific Rim countries, and Pacific islands.

Available at all libraries and from home

Posted by digi.talk team at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Middle East in International Relations by Fred Halliday Publisher: Cambridge University Press Subject(s): Politics Language(s): English Description The international relations of the Middle East have long been dominated by uncertainty and conflict. External intervention, interstate war, political upheaval and interethnic violence are compounded by the vagaries of oil prices and the claims of military, nationalist and religious movements. The purpose of this book is to set this region and its conflicts in context, providing on the one hand a historical introduction to its character and problems, and on the other a reasoned analysis of its politics. In an engagement with both the study of the Middle East and the theoretical analysis of international relations, the author, who is one of the best known and most authoritative scholars writing on the region today, offers a compelling and original interpretation. Written in a clear, accessible and interactive style, the book is designed for students, policymakers, and the general reader. To access this title! Click on OVERDRIVE

Posted by digi.talk team at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Canberra Times, in a piece entitled "Orient Express," celebrates the wonders of Fried Rice beloved of everyone from 1 to 91 via a recent cookbook from the renowned chef Tham Yui Kai

Read the full story at Newsbank [cut and paste the article title above into the Newsbank search box]

Posted by digi.talk team at 01:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So the digi.talk team had a “jolly good time” at the Asian Children’s Festival last weekend meeting some of you, showcasing our eContent for our younger digital users and signing up nearly 400 new users over the three days.

We were showing off TumbleBook Library, NLB Overdrive eBook collection and Grolier: The New Book of Popular Science just to name a few.

TumbleBook Library was very popular with our visitors, with its colourful and extensive range of “read and hear” eBooks, catching everyone’s attention, young and old.

So just to show you how “happening” our booth was, let the pictures tell the story!

The Asian Children’s Festival continues until this Sunday, 26th of November. We won’t be there in person but it is still worth giving it a visit!

Posted by digi.talk team at 05:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My have we been busy! Check out these new database additions for your digital wealth and pleasure!

This database offers research services from Informa Finance covering topics such as:
Regulation and Compliance, Tax and Accounting, International Trade Finance, International Payments and Pension.
(Instructions for use can be found at I-Financial.com type in any email address and click ‘enter’)
Available at all libraries and from home

offers access to leading legal publications such as Arbitration Law, Copyright World, Intellectual Property Decisions, and Lloyd’s Law Reports Plus etc. Specific areas of practice include: Maritime & Commercial Law, Competition Law, Insurance Law, Construction Law, Intellectual Property Law and Arbitration.
(Instructions: Go to I-Law.com type in any email address and click ‘enter’)
Available at all libraries and from home

brings together in a convenient package leading insurance publications such as Insurance Day, World Insurance Report, the Re Report and The Review.
(Instructions: Go to Idnewscentre.com type in any email address and click ‘enter’)
Available at all libraries and from home

DIRECT LINKS
1. Image courtesy of EBSCOHost Academic Search Premier

Posted by digi.talk team at 04:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

“Because the world is radically new, the ideal encyclopedia should be radical, too.” -Charles Van Doren (1)

‘The Singapore Encyclopedia’ was released recently. Weighing in at 3.2 kg, this comprehensive tome on everything and anything about Singapore features 2500 entries and about the same number of photos, maps and illustrations. (2) The encyclopedia is so popular that it is already on its second print run – the first 8000 copies having sold out in three weeks! (3)

While ‘The Singapore Encyclopedia’ might be the first of its kind here in Singapore, encyclopedias have been around for more than 2,000 years. (4) According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, an encyclopedia refers to “a compendium of all available knowledge, complete with maps and a detailed index, as well as numerous adjuncts such as bibliographies, illustrations, lists of abbreviations and foreign expressions, gazetteers, and so on”.

There are various types of encyclopedias, ranging from a single volume on a specific subject or country, to giant multivolume sets on everything topic imaginable. For instance, there are encyclopedias specifically for children, the first of which appeared before the 19th century. It is interesting to note that in the past 2,000 years, at least 2,000 encyclopedias have been published in various parts of the world. Imagine the shelf space these volumes would take up if a library owned copies of them all!

Fortunately, electronic encyclopedias have now come into the picture. Besides being more space-efficient, these encyclopedias are usually rich in multimedia content, often featuring video and sound recordings.

There are several electronic encyclopedias available via NLB’s eDatabases. (5) Here is a selection of some of the titles:

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
Britannica Online consists of the complete encyclopaedia, the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus, the Britannica Student Encyclopaedia and the Britannica Book of the Year. Together, these quality reference sources provide the user with over 118,000 articles, 14,000 images, 215,000 dictionary entries as well as 300,000 links to websites selected, rated, and reviewed by Britannica editors.

Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia
Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia provides reference information and news on all subjects using learning tools and rich media. Currently includes more than 40,000 encyclopedia articles with associated pictures, flags, maps and media, with video, sound, animations, panoramas and cutaways. The Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Online is updated monthly.

NLB Gale Virtual Reference Library
A growing collection of encyclopaedias and reference eBooks for multidisciplinary research across a range of subjects, e.g., arts, biography, education, history, information and publishing, law, literature, medicine, multicultural studies, nation and world, religion, science, and social sciences. Previously available only in print at selected libraries, these reference titles can now be accessed online at any of our libraries or remotely 24/7.

DIRECT LINKS:
1. Encyclopedia Quotes, http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/encyclopedia.html, last accessed 2 November 2006.

2. First Singapore Encyclopedia is launched; TODAY (Singapore), 12 September 2006, 239 words, (English)

3. Revised edition of encyclopedia out; Straits Times, 24 October 2006, 404 words, (English)

4. encyclopaedia. (2006). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 2, 2006, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9106030

5. NLB eDatabases,
http://www.nlb.gov.sg/CPMS.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=CPMS_page_eResources_database, last accessed 2 November 2006

6. Image of Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe courtesy of http://stellargraffiti.com/My%20Pictures/O.%20Encyclopedia%20Galactica.jpg)

Posted by digi.talk team at 04:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Social SciSearch
An international, multi-disciplinary index to the literature of the social, behavioural, and related sciences, produced by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI®). It contains all of the records published in the Social Sciences Citation Index.
Business, Finance and Industry, Education, Health and Medicine, History, Language and Literature, Law and Government, Philosophy, Psychology and Religion

Arts & Humanities Search
Covers 1,300 of the world's leading arts and humanities journals, plus relevant social and natural science journals, and has additional records from the Current Contents series of publications.
Arts, History, Language and Literature, Philosophy, Psychology and Religion, Social Sciences and Humanities

Consumer Reports
Contains the complete text of all articles and product recalls from Consumer Reports magazine, plus articles from Consumer Reports Travel Letter and Consumer Reports on Health. Goods and services covered include appliances, cars, electronics, foods, health, home, personal and travel.
Business, Finance, Industry, Computers and Information Technology, Health and Medicine, Sports, Recreation and Travel

Asia Intelligence Wires
Contains an extensive collection of newswire stories, newspaper articles and journal articles from a wide variety of over 200 sources. Geographic coverage includes Cambodia, China, India, Hong Kong, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Business, Finance, Industry, Computers and Information Technology, Law and Government News, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Sports, Recreation and Travel

[ALL THE ABOVE DATABASES ARE AVAILABLE
TO NLB STAFF AND PATRONS OF LEE KONG CHIEN REFERENCE LIBRARY]

DIRECT LINKS
1. Images courtesy of EBSCOHost Academic Search Premier

Posted by digi.talk team at 04:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Economics for the Common Good Two Centuries of Economic Thought in the Humanist Tradition Series: Advances in Social Economics by Mark A. Lutz This volume provides an introduction to economics in terms of human rather than material welfare. In the face of increasing marketization, declining community and growing inequality, the author argues the case for a broader, more sensitive economic science. Building on a venerable social economics tradition, the volume proposes a more rational economic order and develops new principles of economic policy. The issues covered include: * the inadequacy of individualistic economics in guiding policy formation * a logical critique of economic rationality * rethinking of the modern business corporation * a critique of modern trade theory and unregulated international competition * how standard economic theory encourages major ecological problems Economics for the Common Good introduces social economic concepts and demonstrates their continuing relevance to the ills of an increasingly global society. In approaching problems generally conceived to be purely economic, from a social and ecological perspective centred on basic material needs, human dignity, and the laws of physics, the author explores the vital interface between economics, ethics and politics. The reader is challenged to look beyond the confines of mainstream economic thinking to find new solutions to some of the fundamental issues facing us today. As such it will be of interest to students of economics, philosophy, sociology and politics. To access this title! Click on OVERDRIVE

Posted by digi.talk team at 02:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"There is no such thing as a free lunch"
Milton Friedman (1912 - 2006)

Posted by digi.talk team at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"The whole object of comedy is to be yourself and the closer you get to that, the funnier you will be."
- Jerry Seinfeld, US comedian & television actor (1954 - )

Posted by digitalk team at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

“Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.”
- Jawaharlal Nehru, Indian Prime Minister, 1889-1964

Singapore is culture-rich despite being a small country in size and young in age when compared to neighbouring countries. Yet there’s so much to explore in this small sunny island.

“Uniquely Singapore” we are, having a variety of different races and religions all living in this island, in harmony most importantly. Being multi-racial sure does have it benefits.

One benefit, which is my ultimate favourite, would be the amount of good food we get in Singapore. Chicken Rice, Nasi Lemak, Chili Crab, Fish Head Curry, Nonya Kueh, Pasta (signature dishes of the various races and religions) and more, name it and we have it! There is definitely bound to be a foodie in everyone living in Singapore.

So apart from food, how much do we know about Singapore, it’s heritage and culture? If we’re asked to describe Singapore, will we be able to do so?

Presumably we know most of Singapore’s history, Sir Stamford Raffles, the day Singapore gained independence, the political leaders, the various government ministries we have and other general information.

But do we really know Singapore inside out? Do we know all of the historical spots in Singapore? We could go on pondering about all the possible questions that may arise.

Many organizations here like the National Heritage Board, National Archives Singapore and National Library Board just to name a few, have put in effort in promoting Singapore’s heritage and culture, encouraging Singaporeans and tourists to explore Singapore.

Back in 1998, the National Heritage Board presented a multi-media exhibition. All of its 500, 000 tickets were snapped up. “The Singapore Story – Overcoming the Odds”, a play was presented in this exhibition, unveiling the nation’s history. (5)

The recent Singapore HeritageFest 2006 was a festival held to encourage people to explore Singapore’s natural heritage. Places such as Labrador Park and Kent Ridge Park were highlighted in this festival. It aimed to bring back shared memories and heritage of the local community. (4)

Now, one could even hop on DUCKtours and HiPPOtours, which were launched in 2002 and 2004 respectively, to explore Singapore. These services offer a unique land-and-harbour Singapore heritage tour that bring people around Singapore’s ethnic districts such as Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam, along with other attractive destinations all around Singapore. (7)

There’s definitely so much to say about Singapore. In fact, one should go ahead and explore Singapore instead of just reading about it here. Explore Singapore this weekend, at the National Library Plaza (100 Victoria Street).

Did we mention we’d be there too? Visit us!

Direct Links:

1) Lal, Neeta. Explore: Singapore. Singapore by the spoonful.
India Today Plus; 01/12/2005. P52-56.
Taken from: Factiva.com

2) Shankar, T. S. Explore Singapore.
The Hindu; 22/03/2006.
Taken from: Factiva.com

3) Yap Grace. History via SMS; Project promotes heritage by making use of technology.
TODAY. 04/11/2006.
Taken from: Factiva.com

4) Durai, Jennani. Festival aims to explore identity at five levels.
Business Times, Singapore. 30/06/2006.
Taken from: Factiva.com

5) Tickets all taken.
Straits Times, The. 02/07/1998.
Taken from: Factiva.com

6) WTO – Delegates’ Wives Explore Singapore and more.
Straits Times, The. 12/12/1996.
Taken from: Factiva.com

7) Through the eyes of DUCK and HiPPO
New Sunday Times; 25/07/2004.
Taken from: Factiva.com

8) Yesterday once more in Chinatown.
Travel Trade Gazette Asia; 01/11/2002.
Taken from: Factiva.com

9) Singapore is named ground.
Straits Times, The. 07/11/1999.
Taken from: Factiva.com

Posted by digi.talk team at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well maybe Singapore is not such a jungle as it used to be ... but courtesy of NHB in the coming weeks anybody who is anyone (and the rest of us as well) will be encouraged to "Explore Singapore". The point of this (quickly consults the press release) "...to spark a national passion in discovering and learning about Singapore’s heritage" ...mmm sounds doable... and mildly diverting ...but there is more.

The key prefix is "MULTI" as in MULTIple channels: art appreciation, cultural experiences, historic fact-finding, "edgy" entertainment and lifestyle activities; MULTIple dimensions : events, TV programming, mass media content and new media interactivity. In its own humble way, as part of the "new media explosion, " digi.talk will be playing its part so "watch this space" as the hackeneyed saying goes.

Across geographical Singapore there will be 26 events in museums and libraries - covering heritage and cultural facets of Singapore, old and new. If you prefer to soak it all up form the comfort of your sofa or yoga mat then the TV will be offering six culture-tastic episodes commencing 14 December on Channel 5. This series has specially commissioned by NHB, NLB and MDA.

If you are more of a WWW wanderer then look no further than www.yesterday.sg. Where through the miracle of new media you can virtually participate in contests, lurk or just plain hangout (videos and podcasts will help the time pass colourfully).

And if you are in a serious frame of mind and you manage to rustle up some questions on Singapore's heritage in the course of your MULTI-explorations then you can (through the diligent thumbing) send NLB a SMS of that burnign question and get an answer within 24 hours.

So what are you waiting for - ASK, FINDOUT, digi.talk about your explorations of Singapore. A good place to take first tentative steps into the unknown is to turn up at the Heritage Roadshow at NLB Plaza on November 11 and 12. With liberal borrowing from the Antiques Roadshow format you are invited to take along mememtos, souvenirs and knick-knacks connected to Singapore history, heritage, or indeed, any local cultural curiousity.
So come on down on Saturday or Sunday to the Plaza and relive those memories - or discover ones you never knew you had!!

Posted by digi.talk team at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Condominiums located around town have always left me intrigued.

Just how much do those beautiful stylistic apartments cost?
Would I be able to afford it, some day maybe?
Just how exclusive are they in the market?

I never did get my answers, and that’s because I never searched for them.

I have to admit I do not understand anything about real estate information. But somehow, the articles in the newspapers last week caught my attention. Did you know one could search for newspapers articles in databases ProQuest Newspapers Complete, Newsbank and Factiva.com? You could access newspaper articles from newspapers all over the world using these databases.

So what’s all this fuss about private property prices in the newspapers lately?

Owners of private properties were made happy last week when average prices were well and rents soared, exactly as it was estimated late last year. According to the figures released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), prices for private properties are now almost 12 per cent higher than the rock-bottom days of early 2004, but still 31 per cent below the mid-1990s peak. (1)

Back in 2004, private-home prices in Singapore fell to a five-year low in the first quarter. (4) Gradually, Singapore private-home prices rose 0.9% in 2004. (3) It was said then that "the recovery will likely accelerate a bit further, with gains of 6% to 8% [in 2006] based on the URA index," by Colin Tan, the head of research and consultancy at property-services company Chesterton International (3).

The Urban Redevelopment Authority is the source for real estate information and it has a database in the NLB website, called REALIS. This database offers all statistics you need for the real estate market. You can access the database for free in the NLB website, at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library.

Get all the juicy details you need for the real estate market such as private residential properties information, commercial properties, industrial properties information and even details about projects that are under development from REALIS.

Speaking of property prices, did you know that we have a street called One Tree Hill, right here in Singapore? Looks like Singapore could come up with its own version of the teenage drama series One Tree Hill, starring our local artists. Houses at One Tree Hill could cost anywhere between $500 000 to from $6 000 000. For example, a freehold HDB resale apartment at One Tree Hill costs $1 150 000. Strangely, the private properties located at Orchard Centrepoint (nearby One Tree Hill) cost much cheaper, from anywhere between $500 000 to $2 500 000.

You never know how much these properties costs, till you check. So use REALIS by URA, to obtain all the real estate information you need.

Direct Links:

(1) Teo, Joyce. “Private home prices, rents post big jumps - Luxury segment closing in on 1990s levels; HDB flat prices dip, however.”
Straits Times, The (Singapore). 28 October, 2006.
Taken from: Newsbank

(2) Sim, Authur. “Private home price gains fastest in 6 yrs - Non-landed properties see highest rise of 3.2%, followed by detached houses at 1.4%.” Business Times, The (Singapore). 28 October, 2006.
Taken from: Newsbank

(3) Lim, Kevin. “Singapore's Housing Market Heats Up, Led by Luxury Units.”
Wall Street Journal. (Eastern Edition). 4 January, 2006.
Taken from: ProQuest Newspapers Complete

(4) Pang, Ai Lin. “Singapore Private-Home Prices Hit 5-Year Low, Damp Recovery.”
Wall Street Journal. (Eastern Edition). 7April, 2004.
Taken from: ProQuest Newspapers Complete

Posted by digitalk team at 04:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

by
Doe Lang

Publisher: Ill NTC Contemporary
Subject(s): Success -- Psychological aspects.
Charisma

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Posted by digitalk team at 03:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Determine never to be idle... It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing."
- Thomas Jefferson , 3rd president of US.

Posted by digitalk team at 03:10 PM | Permalink