md5sum and OpenSolaris

Currently downloading OpenSolaris 2009.6 distro to play around. Will post about it soon.



md5sum


(osol-0906-x86.iso) = 86e19c89a30c9b91cbb096a758dea737

To verify the data integrity of the file, in this case, the *.iso file:

1) open terminal
2) locate the directory to check the downloaded file
3) md5sum osol-0906-x86.iso
4) it should print out: 86e19c89a30c9b91cbb096a758dea737 and the *.iso in 1 line


If both string of characters match, the downloaded file is correct. If not, there might be a problem during downloading or problem with server.

- wong chee tat :) 

Survey shows poly graduates in high demand despite downturn

Survey shows poly graduates in high demand despite downturn
By Mustafa Shafawi, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 January 2010 1136 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 Office workers in Singapore
	Video Survey shows poly graduates in high demand despite downturn

SINGAPORE: Despite the recession, diploma-holders appear to have no trouble finding work. A recent survey by Singapore's five polytechnics showed that nearly nine in 10 graduates last year were employed, with a growing number seeking temporary jobs.

Fresh grad employment rate stood at 88.3 per cent, while post-NS employment rate was 87.7 per cent.

Renugah Balachandran graduated from Republic Polytechnic last year. Within a month, she found a job with the Singapore Navy, under a scheme that will bond her for four years.

She said: "I wanted a stable job once I graduated so that I don't have to sit down and think that - 'why did I study?'"

Stability is certainly a big draw for the growing number of diploma holders who are looking at the public sector, which also started hiring more aggressively in 2009.

The healthcare and education sectors were among those that stepped up recruitment efforts.

The survey showed that 18.9 per cent of fresh polytechnic graduates found jobs in the civil service, up from 14.3 per cent in 2008 and 12.3 per cent in 2007.
Among post-NS graduates, the proportion went up to 27.3 per cent.

Tan Hang Cheong, principal, Singapore Polytechnic, said: "Last year, the government opened up more places because of the recession. The public sector has now offered better career development, advances, for diploma graduates.

"We hear stories of graduates who've joined the public sector and they've been offered scholarships for further studies and further development if they're doing well in their job."

Pay could be another reason.

Renugah earns about S$2,300 a month including allowance, much higher than the S$1,776 gross her peers earn on average.

Post-National Service graduates earn about S$2,130 on average.

Starting salaries for fresh diploma-holders have dipped and recruiters said anecdotally, wages at bigger firms have gone down to a bigger extent than what smaller firms are offering. Still, the draw remains.

Peter Haglund, country manager, Manpower Inc Singapore, said: "Most of what these MNCs have is a whole package of career management, career prospects and personnel development, which many of the small companies don't have.

"These benefits cost money as well. If you look at the whole employment package, they might not offer less value, but they might offer you less gross salary."

Highest earners are those in the maritime category, with starting pay of S$1,970 gross. Media and Design graduates got the least, at just S$1,642 gross.

With the economy still in recession early last year, more poly graduates chose part-time or temporary work - one in four compared to one in five in the previous survey.

The reasons are varied. Some are holding out for better job opportunities while others have opted for further studies.

Recruiters added that as companies find increasingly flexible ways to manage their manpower, the type of contract work that is being offered has also become increasingly attractive.

Graduate employment data for degree holders is expected to be out in March.
But a survey by the Singapore Human Resource Institute showed that in August 2009, while entry level pay for diploma holders rose slightly from February, that for degree holders dipped.

For instance, those with engineering degrees were offered on average S$2,451, compared to S$2,500 six months before. 

- CNA/vm

 - wong chee tat :)

Financial sector much better but still fragile: financial chief

Financial sector much better but still fragile: financial chief
Posted: 10 January 2010 0535 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 Mario Draghi

BASEL, Switzerland : The Financial Stability Board said Saturday the situation in the financial sector had improved but remained still very fragile.

"The situation is much better than one year ago," said Mario Draghi, governor of the Italian central bank and chairman of the FSB, a global watchdog made up of senior representatives of national financial authorities.

"It's improving, but it has many fragilities," he added at a news conference at Bank for International Settlements headquarters.

The Financial Stability Board which is working on a number of steps to strengthen the banking system and avert another financial crisis will present its preliminary conclusions to Group of 20 nations in June, Draghi said.

The G-20 group of major economies was established in 1999 to bring together systemically important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy.

- AFP /ls

- wong chee tat :) 

Companies still concerned about rising costs, inflation

Companies still concerned about rising costs, inflation
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 January 2010 0042 hrs

SINGAPORE : Even as the Singapore economy shows signs of recovery, companies have said they are still concerned about rising business costs and inflation.

But economists believe excess capacity around the world may somewhat cushion the impact.

The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) said two key thrusts for the year are manpower training and tapping on opportunities in the services sector. But uncertainties in Western markets remain a threat.

Speaking at a seminar on Friday, Teo Siong Seng, president, SCCCI, said: "We hope there will be fewer surprises like the Dubai credit crunch, and also cost - manpower cost and oil prices firming up. There is a concern whether there will be an inflation pressure in 2010."

But some economists said excess global capacity may keep inflationary pressure in check for now. And companies re-stocking inventories could provide support to world economies.

David Cohen, director of Asian Economic Forecasting, Action Economics, said: "So far, all we have had is just a slowing in the reduction in inventory. We have not seen much rebuilding yet, so that could potentially still remain supportive for at least the near term. I do not think it poses a major threat to the outlook for 2010."

Mr Cohen also expects the MSCI Asia-Pacific Equity Index to grow by about 10 per cent this year, in line with global economic recovery. The index mounted a strong rebound at the end of 2009, gaining some 34 per cent.

Still, observers have warned that there may be some headwinds that could restrain recovery in 2010. They include sluggish G7 growth after the crisis, weak consumer spending in the US and potential foreign exchange pressures.

Industry players also expect central banks to tighten their monetary policy this year.

Speaking at the seminar, UBS said the three-month Singapore Interbank Offered Rate could reach 0.8 per cent by end-2010, from the 0.5 per cent currently.

Going forward, observers expect Asia to lead the global turnaround, partly due to stronger balance sheets and robust rebound in manufacturing and trade. In particular, the prospects for China, India and Indonesia are most promising.

Professor Bernard Yeung, dean, NUS Business School, said: "New growth has to come out from very sharp resource allocation.

"The challenges would be how do we deal with allocation efficiency problem, how do we deal with productivity enhancement issues, how do we deal with cleaning up the environment, giving people good education, good healthcare that we can keep ourselves as a high skill, high productivity, innovative economy."

Experts also warned about asset bubbles which could push prices beyond fundamentals.

- CNA/ms

- wong chee tat :)

Japanese logistics firm Yamato sets up parcel delivery service in S'pore

Japanese logistics firm Yamato sets up parcel delivery service in S'pore
By Mok Fei Fei, 938LIVE
     
SINGAPORE: Japanese logistics firm Yamato is setting up shop in Singapore. Yamato Transport, a unit of Yamato Holdings, has launched its express door-to-door small parcel delivery service in Singapore.

The service, called TA-Q-BIN, is the firm's first independent domestic operation outside Japan

The firm said Singapore was chosen because it offered a pro-business environment and sophisticated consumer base.

Anchoring Yamato's Singapore operations will be its standard express door-to-door delivery service, which the firm expects will be heavily utilised by firms.

Yamato will also launch a chilled and frozen refrigerated delivery service that allows users to send perishable items such as seafood and ice-cream.

Currently, 10 million domestic deliveries are made in Singapore each year and Yamato expects the figure to rise with its entrance.

Beyond Singapore, Yamato also plans to establish operations in other parts of Asia, starting with Shanghai, China in 2010.

- 938LIVE/vm

- wong chee tat :)