It's 2003 and the children are 3 years old. Episode focuses on popularity.
Sweet Test
Child can either take 1 sweet immediately or a whole plate if they wait a while (use of timer). Concept of waiting and taking turns. Children who wait are more likely to be more successful in later life.
Omega 3
Fish oils have been proven to have a calming effect on children. Googling "fish oil" "child of our time" brings some interesting results
TV
Effects of television and the impact it has on children's behaviour. Monkey see, monkey do. scary shit
Thursday, 6 October 2005
Thursday, 18 August 2005
The beginning of the end?
Gaza Strip - Something Paul Gascoigne used to wear when he played football.
- Two Cheers, BBC
Merkavas loaded with flechette rounds which are used against civilians, an organisation which convinces young men and women into blowing themselves up in sidewalk cafes and in buses full of civilians. Neighbours that have publicly declared they wanted to annihilate me, neighbours who routinely blow up suspected terrorists using Longbows, never mind if they got a few bystanders too. No white or black here, it's all shades of grey.
Midnight of 17 August 2005 marked the deadline set by the government of Ariel Sharon for Israeli settlers to voluntarily leave the Gaza Strip. Named after the main city in the area, it is home to approximately 1,300,000 Palestinians and 8,000 Israeli settlers, all snuggled up nice and warm on a piece of land 360 km². Well, it's not home to the Israelis anymore. Under a unilateral disengagement plan, all settlements in the Gaza Strip and 4 in the West Bank are to be closed down in addition to the military installations and personnel built to protect the settlements.
55,000 Israeli soldiers and police yesterday moved in on foot to remove the more hardcore of the 8,000 who had refused to leave voluntarily. Strengthened in numbers by people sympathetic to their cause, the settlers were still no match for the IDF. I had expected some violence and possibly gunplay but happily the latter did not materialize. The IDF clearly did it's homework and applied overwhelming numbers in order to encourage, cajole, order and finally physically carry out those who did not want to leave.
Of course, being called Nazis by your fellow Jews was probably something that didn't occur everyday to the soldiers and police involved in the operation. The BBC showed a clip of a group of girls wearing paper Star of Davids on their chest as they walked out of their settlement crying and wailing, a terribly low and cheap shot in my book. Playing around with the Holocaust like that just insults the memory of the event and is an all too common trump card used by too many Jews when painted into a corner (but that's another story). Other shots of men yelling at impassive soldiers were commonplace. And of course, there's that nutjob who dangled his baby boy out a window Jackson style. You'd have to be inhuman not to let it get to you and several men and women in uniform did break down. Soldiers who disobeyed orders to do their duty were promised court martials, damned if you do, damned if you don't. Still, it seems that by and large, the men and women of the IDF and police did a sterling job of getting it done. Of course, the cynic might ask where were the cameras and reporters when Palestinian homes were razed eh? It's not as if the IDF came in behind armoured bulldozers and shot first and asked questions later.
Symbolically, the withdrawal from the Strip by the Israelis is a milestone. The Israelis don't give up anything easy, especially land they grabbed way back in '67. Doing it unilaterally gives Sharon a lot of brownie points. Sacrificing the homes of 8,000 or so settlers is a small price to pay for gaining the moral upper ground, sort of, "there, now I've done my part, you (Palestinian Authority) do yours and stop all those terrorists running around your backyard". Which gives him all the more reason to blast them back past the Stone Age if the Hezbollah and company decide to start up again. Tack on to that, the money saved from maintaining all those military installations and the spare manpower that can be redeployed elsewhere, we got us a winner here.
What would be interesting would be to see what develops from here on. The West Bank is home to 230,000 Israeli settlers and that's a whole new ballgame from 8,000 baby. I can't remember the last time the Hezbollah blew up something or shot at someone, so someone somewhere must be doing something right, but what happens the next time they do? Too much blood has been spilled for things to go on as smooth as they have for this long a time. Witness the shooting to death of 3 Palestinians by a settler in the West Bank, what happens to people like him anyway?
- Two Cheers, BBC
Merkavas loaded with flechette rounds which are used against civilians, an organisation which convinces young men and women into blowing themselves up in sidewalk cafes and in buses full of civilians. Neighbours that have publicly declared they wanted to annihilate me, neighbours who routinely blow up suspected terrorists using Longbows, never mind if they got a few bystanders too. No white or black here, it's all shades of grey.
Midnight of 17 August 2005 marked the deadline set by the government of Ariel Sharon for Israeli settlers to voluntarily leave the Gaza Strip. Named after the main city in the area, it is home to approximately 1,300,000 Palestinians and 8,000 Israeli settlers, all snuggled up nice and warm on a piece of land 360 km². Well, it's not home to the Israelis anymore. Under a unilateral disengagement plan, all settlements in the Gaza Strip and 4 in the West Bank are to be closed down in addition to the military installations and personnel built to protect the settlements.
55,000 Israeli soldiers and police yesterday moved in on foot to remove the more hardcore of the 8,000 who had refused to leave voluntarily. Strengthened in numbers by people sympathetic to their cause, the settlers were still no match for the IDF. I had expected some violence and possibly gunplay but happily the latter did not materialize. The IDF clearly did it's homework and applied overwhelming numbers in order to encourage, cajole, order and finally physically carry out those who did not want to leave.
Of course, being called Nazis by your fellow Jews was probably something that didn't occur everyday to the soldiers and police involved in the operation. The BBC showed a clip of a group of girls wearing paper Star of Davids on their chest as they walked out of their settlement crying and wailing, a terribly low and cheap shot in my book. Playing around with the Holocaust like that just insults the memory of the event and is an all too common trump card used by too many Jews when painted into a corner (but that's another story). Other shots of men yelling at impassive soldiers were commonplace. And of course, there's that nutjob who dangled his baby boy out a window Jackson style. You'd have to be inhuman not to let it get to you and several men and women in uniform did break down. Soldiers who disobeyed orders to do their duty were promised court martials, damned if you do, damned if you don't. Still, it seems that by and large, the men and women of the IDF and police did a sterling job of getting it done. Of course, the cynic might ask where were the cameras and reporters when Palestinian homes were razed eh? It's not as if the IDF came in behind armoured bulldozers and shot first and asked questions later.
Symbolically, the withdrawal from the Strip by the Israelis is a milestone. The Israelis don't give up anything easy, especially land they grabbed way back in '67. Doing it unilaterally gives Sharon a lot of brownie points. Sacrificing the homes of 8,000 or so settlers is a small price to pay for gaining the moral upper ground, sort of, "there, now I've done my part, you (Palestinian Authority) do yours and stop all those terrorists running around your backyard". Which gives him all the more reason to blast them back past the Stone Age if the Hezbollah and company decide to start up again. Tack on to that, the money saved from maintaining all those military installations and the spare manpower that can be redeployed elsewhere, we got us a winner here.
What would be interesting would be to see what develops from here on. The West Bank is home to 230,000 Israeli settlers and that's a whole new ballgame from 8,000 baby. I can't remember the last time the Hezbollah blew up something or shot at someone, so someone somewhere must be doing something right, but what happens the next time they do? Too much blood has been spilled for things to go on as smooth as they have for this long a time. Witness the shooting to death of 3 Palestinians by a settler in the West Bank, what happens to people like him anyway?
Monday, 15 August 2005
VJ day - 60 years on
TO OUR GOOD AND LOYAL SUBJECTS:
After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.
We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration.
To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors and which lies close to Our heart.
Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement.
But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone - the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people - the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.
Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should We continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.
Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.
We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to Our Allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently cooperated with the Empire towards the emancipation of East Asia.
The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains Our heart night and day.
The welfare of the wounded and the war-sufferers, and of those who have lost their homes and livelihood, are the objects of Our profound solicitude.
The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable.
Having been able to safeguard and maintain the structure of the Imperial State, We are always with you, Our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity.
Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion which may engender needless complications, or any fraternal contention and strike which may create confusion, lead you astray and cause you to lose the confidence of the world.
Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith in the imperishability of its sacred land, and mindful of its heavy burden of responsibility, and of the long road before it.
Unite your total strength, to be devoted to construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude, foster nobility of spirit, and work with resolution - so that you may enhance the innate glory of the Imperial State and keep pace with the progress of the world.
- Gyokuon-hōsō (玉音放送)
After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.
We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration.
To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors and which lies close to Our heart.
Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement.
But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone - the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people - the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.
Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should We continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.
Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.
We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to Our Allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently cooperated with the Empire towards the emancipation of East Asia.
The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains Our heart night and day.
The welfare of the wounded and the war-sufferers, and of those who have lost their homes and livelihood, are the objects of Our profound solicitude.
The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable.
Having been able to safeguard and maintain the structure of the Imperial State, We are always with you, Our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity.
Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion which may engender needless complications, or any fraternal contention and strike which may create confusion, lead you astray and cause you to lose the confidence of the world.
Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith in the imperishability of its sacred land, and mindful of its heavy burden of responsibility, and of the long road before it.
Unite your total strength, to be devoted to construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude, foster nobility of spirit, and work with resolution - so that you may enhance the innate glory of the Imperial State and keep pace with the progress of the world.
- Gyokuon-hōsō (玉音放送)
Tuesday, 9 August 2005
A light in the sky
It's been 60 years since anyone alive today saw the flash of an atomic weapon detonated in anger and lived to tell the tale. The second of only two atomic bombs used on live targets detonated over Nagasaki at the precise time of this post.
But really, does anyone care?
EJ is exactly 14 weeks old. She's come a long way since that day in May when she was forcibly removed from her temporary lodging and brought out into this world of harsh lights and sounds. She's been able to recognize and respond to her primary caregivers for a while now and has recently been taken out for short jaunts into town, giving her a chance to charm strangers who smiled at her or commented on her cuteness by giving them a smile of her own. She's grown a fair bit and is able to hold her head up more or less unassisted. She can communicate through the use of different sorts of short cries and her repertoire of sounds has grown by leaps and bound. She has also recently started to use her face to show her displeasure, a step up from when she first started smiling at people.
Then again, like anyone gives a shit.
And today's the day Singapore celebrates 40 years of independence. That's all that matters doesn't it? Wave the flag, thump the chest,see the fireworks. Oooh, ahhh, it's all good.
But really, does anyone care?
EJ is exactly 14 weeks old. She's come a long way since that day in May when she was forcibly removed from her temporary lodging and brought out into this world of harsh lights and sounds. She's been able to recognize and respond to her primary caregivers for a while now and has recently been taken out for short jaunts into town, giving her a chance to charm strangers who smiled at her or commented on her cuteness by giving them a smile of her own. She's grown a fair bit and is able to hold her head up more or less unassisted. She can communicate through the use of different sorts of short cries and her repertoire of sounds has grown by leaps and bound. She has also recently started to use her face to show her displeasure, a step up from when she first started smiling at people.
Then again, like anyone gives a shit.
And today's the day Singapore celebrates 40 years of independence. That's all that matters doesn't it? Wave the flag, thump the chest,see the fireworks. Oooh, ahhh, it's all good.
Saturday, 6 August 2005
And time stood still
Saturday, 30 July 2005
Let me get this straight
Got this off another blogger, I shouldn't run on the platforms or concourses of the Tube, especially if I'm carrying a rucksack, wearing a big coat or look a bit foreign. We're already tarring the Muslims with the same brush anyways, let's just do a double jeopardy on Muslims (majority of whom are not Caucasian and therefore foreign) and who might just come from a climate where 17 degrees C is indeed cold and therefore warrants a big coat. Let's not forget the backpacker tourists from warmer climates who are visiting London this time of the year too. Stereotyping, gotta love it.
I've already said my piece about Jean Charles. I understand the need for acting in the interest of the safety of the majority but what like the Telegraph opinion piece says,
On the same day, Mr de Menezes's jacket cost him his life, the Telegraph ran a page of portraits showing the dead of July 7. Many were like him: young adults of vaguely foreign extraction for whom English was a second language. Possibly they, too, had suspicious quirks of dress. Certainly, at any moment of the day the Tube's full of foreigners with heavy coats and bulky bags. They're on the Piccadilly line heading to Heathrow, the Victoria line to pick up the Gatwick Express, the Docklands to City Airport, the Northern to Euston. I doubt whether many Bulgars or Croats or Mauritians or Quebeckers or many of the rest of the vast tide of humanity sweeping through London every day would be sufficiently familiar with the Met's new policy to prostrate themselves quickly enough before plain-clothes marksmen.
The more I think of it, the more ridiculous it seems, Menezes was observed from the time he went out of his flat, got on a bus and then into a Tube station, if authorities had suspected him of carrying explosives at that time, why didn't they take him down sooner? Why let him get on a bus in the first place? Isn't that also a target? I know it's not kosher to second guess the coppers, it's a shitty situation, damned if you shoot, damned if you don't. I know I wouldn't want to be in the shooter's shoes right now but the Met apprehended the 4 suspected bombers, alive.
Perhaps the shooting of J.C. was a knee jerk reaction to the events of the previous day but when you see the 4 suspected bombers alive and Menezes dead something does not compute. If authorities can track someone who they think is carrying explosives all the way from his house to a Tube station and then decide to do something about it only when he gets there, something about the whole things is terribly, terribly wrong. Menezes part 2 cannot be allowed to happen again, no matter what Sir Ian Blair says.
I've already said my piece about Jean Charles. I understand the need for acting in the interest of the safety of the majority but what like the Telegraph opinion piece says,
On the same day, Mr de Menezes's jacket cost him his life, the Telegraph ran a page of portraits showing the dead of July 7. Many were like him: young adults of vaguely foreign extraction for whom English was a second language. Possibly they, too, had suspicious quirks of dress. Certainly, at any moment of the day the Tube's full of foreigners with heavy coats and bulky bags. They're on the Piccadilly line heading to Heathrow, the Victoria line to pick up the Gatwick Express, the Docklands to City Airport, the Northern to Euston. I doubt whether many Bulgars or Croats or Mauritians or Quebeckers or many of the rest of the vast tide of humanity sweeping through London every day would be sufficiently familiar with the Met's new policy to prostrate themselves quickly enough before plain-clothes marksmen.
The more I think of it, the more ridiculous it seems, Menezes was observed from the time he went out of his flat, got on a bus and then into a Tube station, if authorities had suspected him of carrying explosives at that time, why didn't they take him down sooner? Why let him get on a bus in the first place? Isn't that also a target? I know it's not kosher to second guess the coppers, it's a shitty situation, damned if you shoot, damned if you don't. I know I wouldn't want to be in the shooter's shoes right now but the Met apprehended the 4 suspected bombers, alive.
Perhaps the shooting of J.C. was a knee jerk reaction to the events of the previous day but when you see the 4 suspected bombers alive and Menezes dead something does not compute. If authorities can track someone who they think is carrying explosives all the way from his house to a Tube station and then decide to do something about it only when he gets there, something about the whole things is terribly, terribly wrong. Menezes part 2 cannot be allowed to happen again, no matter what Sir Ian Blair says.
Friday, 29 July 2005
Thursday, 28 July 2005
IRA gives up armed struggle
Hopefully, with this statement more than 30 years of low intensity conflict which saw the deaths of more than 3,500 people all told will be brought to a close. Civilians, royalists, republicans, military and members of the security forces.
Having grown up in a time when the mention of the IRA would strike fear into the hearts of people the end seems like a cop out. This was the organisation that introduced knee capping with a drill to the world. Being a Roman Catholic, I remember being horrified to learn the IRA was born of the Roman Catholic community when I was in Secondary School. What the IRA did flew in the face of everything I had faithfully absorbed about the Church. How could people who professed the same faith as I did turn around and gun down innocents? Like all children and teens, I was an idealist. It was disheartening and left me terribly disillusioned. Just one of the many bitter lessons of the realities (and general wackjobness) of life to come.
Here's hoping this one will finally stick.
A Timeline
Having grown up in a time when the mention of the IRA would strike fear into the hearts of people the end seems like a cop out. This was the organisation that introduced knee capping with a drill to the world. Being a Roman Catholic, I remember being horrified to learn the IRA was born of the Roman Catholic community when I was in Secondary School. What the IRA did flew in the face of everything I had faithfully absorbed about the Church. How could people who professed the same faith as I did turn around and gun down innocents? Like all children and teens, I was an idealist. It was disheartening and left me terribly disillusioned. Just one of the many bitter lessons of the realities (and general wackjobness) of life to come.
Here's hoping this one will finally stick.
A Timeline
Wednesday, 27 July 2005
Jean Charles de Menezes (1978 - 2005)
The shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes by plainclothes police officers of the London Metropolitan Police in a Tube station on 22 July was shocking to say the least. Police justified the shooting by saying he had come from a block of flats which was under observation for being a suspected bomber hideout as well as being dressed in a heavy jacket on a warm day, 17°C being the temperature of the day in question. Jumping over the ticket barrier and running for the train didn't help his cause. Coming a day after 4 bombs fizzled in a botched attempt at a second wave of bombings targeting London's transport system it seemed as if the authorities had finally scored one for the good guys when they announced the shooting was "directly linked" to the bombing investigations.
The next day, the Met revealed the identity of Menezes along with the even more shocking revelation that he wasn't remotely linked to the attempted bombings and more damningly, wasn't carrying any explosives at the time of his death. The Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, apologised to the Menezes family and called the death a "tragedy" but maintained the "shoot to kill" policy concerning suspectedsuicidee bombers would stay.
How Jean Charles de Menezes came to die on the floor of a Tube train presents us all with a little problem. An innocent died at the hands of the police. To be sure, he's not the first. Amadou Diallo comes to mind, but we can explain Diallo away as a case of trigger happy policemen who shot first and asked questions later.
But wait, Menezes looked like a bomber, acted like a bomber. He was shot because he looked like a threat to the policemen of an already frazzled city which had suffered two bomb attacks in the space of two weeks. No matter which way you cut it, Menezes was in the wrong place at the wrong time and wearing the wrong thing. Then again, he's Brazilian, where I'm from, 17°C is pretty damn cold to me, I'm sure it was to him. Okay, so why did he run when police told him to stop? Men dressed in plain clothes start waving guns at you. English isn't your first language. Maybe the accent wasn't didn't help. I don't know. Whatever the case is, Menezes was shot in the head because he looked like a suicide bomber, acted like a suicide bomber. Hindsight is 20/20, don't diss the cops for doing their job.
Sir Ian Blair says Menezes may not be the last, the "shoot to kill" policy stays. To put it crudely, the first time was a freebie, but Menezes Part II? A bit much innit? Where does one draw the line? Locking people up without need to show cause is already a bit much, especially if they're innocent. But to shoot me in the head just because I happen to fit the profile of a suicide bomber? Remind me to wear a singlet if I ever manage to get to London and ride the Tube. Some stuff I rather not regurgitate here and here.
And to top things off, just this morning, Brit police apprehended a suspected bomber of the 22/7 bombings, apparently he had on him a backpack with a "device" in it at the time of his arrest. Uniformed officers took him down with a Taser. Food for thought.
Technorati tags: Singapore, Jean Charles de Menezes
The next day, the Met revealed the identity of Menezes along with the even more shocking revelation that he wasn't remotely linked to the attempted bombings and more damningly, wasn't carrying any explosives at the time of his death. The Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, apologised to the Menezes family and called the death a "tragedy" but maintained the "shoot to kill" policy concerning suspectedsuicidee bombers would stay.
How Jean Charles de Menezes came to die on the floor of a Tube train presents us all with a little problem. An innocent died at the hands of the police. To be sure, he's not the first. Amadou Diallo comes to mind, but we can explain Diallo away as a case of trigger happy policemen who shot first and asked questions later.
But wait, Menezes looked like a bomber, acted like a bomber. He was shot because he looked like a threat to the policemen of an already frazzled city which had suffered two bomb attacks in the space of two weeks. No matter which way you cut it, Menezes was in the wrong place at the wrong time and wearing the wrong thing. Then again, he's Brazilian, where I'm from, 17°C is pretty damn cold to me, I'm sure it was to him. Okay, so why did he run when police told him to stop? Men dressed in plain clothes start waving guns at you. English isn't your first language. Maybe the accent wasn't didn't help. I don't know. Whatever the case is, Menezes was shot in the head because he looked like a suicide bomber, acted like a suicide bomber. Hindsight is 20/20, don't diss the cops for doing their job.
Sir Ian Blair says Menezes may not be the last, the "shoot to kill" policy stays. To put it crudely, the first time was a freebie, but Menezes Part II? A bit much innit? Where does one draw the line? Locking people up without need to show cause is already a bit much, especially if they're innocent. But to shoot me in the head just because I happen to fit the profile of a suicide bomber? Remind me to wear a singlet if I ever manage to get to London and ride the Tube. Some stuff I rather not regurgitate here and here.
And to top things off, just this morning, Brit police apprehended a suspected bomber of the 22/7 bombings, apparently he had on him a backpack with a "device" in it at the time of his arrest. Uniformed officers took him down with a Taser. Food for thought.
Technorati tags: Singapore, Jean Charles de Menezes
Monday, 25 July 2005
Nation Kena F***ed
Seeing I'm regurgitating from memory, my apologies if I've gotten anything wrong or misrepresented, always welcome to email me to set the record straight, please don't sue me.
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF), mightiest of the charities in Singapore
1. has $262,000,000 in reserves as of July 2005. Enough for anything from 5 to 30 years of operations depending on how you slice the cake. No, wait, NKF says that's only enough to last 3 years.
2. had a CEO, T.T. Durai, who worked as a volunteer for 21 years before becoming it's CEO in 1992 with a starting salary of $12,000, turning down the initial $20,000 he was offered. Mr. Durai's salary for last year was north of $500,000, his monthly basic of $25,000 and what really pissed people off, a 10-12 month bonus.
3. had a board which approved the above salary package.
4. misrepresented the number of patients under it's care. So is it 2,000 or 3,000 dudes?
5. had a board which included one Ms. Matilda I-can't-remember-the-surname, who was first an NKF employee, left the NKF, started a call centre business with abovementioned CEO and then proceeded to bid for and win a contract to run NKF's call centre.
6. had gold taps which cost $990 before discount installed in the CEO's bathroom before said CEO thought they might be a little too expensive and had them swapped for cheaper alternatives. $990, I could live on that for two months and still have change to buy a bag or two of peanuts.
7. had a patron, Mrs. Goh Chok Tong, wife of the SM, who probably got an earful from the husband when he found out she had justified T.T's salary by saying for someone who managed $262,000,000 his salary was peanuts. Engage brain before mouth Mrs. Goh, if you had just kept it zipped and smiled a sad smile for the cameras and walked away you could have come off smelling like roses but you just had to say something *throws hands in the air*
8. has a new board and Chairman/CEO, Mr. Gerard Ee, I hope he doesn't stop smiling after a couple of weeks of wading in the neck high shithole he's stepped into. Bravo on your decision to not take a cent for your post. Seeing as how the entire nation would have been terribly interested to know your salary you defused that potential bomb with aplomb.
It's 14 days to the day the defamation suit that kicked over this whole anthill started, heads have rolled and people in suits are poring over the nooks and crannys of the NKF. People power came to Singapore 2 weeks ago, it was the first solid expression of the power of the masses and what that power was capable of, gives me the tingles just thinking about it. Just imagine, apathetic Singapore has got a voice and we're not afraid to use it.
Well, not really. The NKF issue was one that united all because it was a victim of it's success. 2 out of 3 Singaporeans donated to it. It galvanised the people in such numbers precisely because so many people were affected by the revelations. Will we see such an awe insipring display of the power of the masses again?
The buck seems to have stopped at the resignation of T.T. and gang, people have gone back to their lives. Wait damnit, where you all going? It's not the end yet, is it?
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF), mightiest of the charities in Singapore
1. has $262,000,000 in reserves as of July 2005. Enough for anything from 5 to 30 years of operations depending on how you slice the cake. No, wait, NKF says that's only enough to last 3 years.
2. had a CEO, T.T. Durai, who worked as a volunteer for 21 years before becoming it's CEO in 1992 with a starting salary of $12,000, turning down the initial $20,000 he was offered. Mr. Durai's salary for last year was north of $500,000, his monthly basic of $25,000 and what really pissed people off, a 10-12 month bonus.
3. had a board which approved the above salary package.
4. misrepresented the number of patients under it's care. So is it 2,000 or 3,000 dudes?
5. had a board which included one Ms. Matilda I-can't-remember-the-surname, who was first an NKF employee, left the NKF, started a call centre business with abovementioned CEO and then proceeded to bid for and win a contract to run NKF's call centre.
6. had gold taps which cost $990 before discount installed in the CEO's bathroom before said CEO thought they might be a little too expensive and had them swapped for cheaper alternatives. $990, I could live on that for two months and still have change to buy a bag or two of peanuts.
7. had a patron, Mrs. Goh Chok Tong, wife of the SM, who probably got an earful from the husband when he found out she had justified T.T's salary by saying for someone who managed $262,000,000 his salary was peanuts. Engage brain before mouth Mrs. Goh, if you had just kept it zipped and smiled a sad smile for the cameras and walked away you could have come off smelling like roses but you just had to say something *throws hands in the air*
8. has a new board and Chairman/CEO, Mr. Gerard Ee, I hope he doesn't stop smiling after a couple of weeks of wading in the neck high shithole he's stepped into. Bravo on your decision to not take a cent for your post. Seeing as how the entire nation would have been terribly interested to know your salary you defused that potential bomb with aplomb.
It's 14 days to the day the defamation suit that kicked over this whole anthill started, heads have rolled and people in suits are poring over the nooks and crannys of the NKF. People power came to Singapore 2 weeks ago, it was the first solid expression of the power of the masses and what that power was capable of, gives me the tingles just thinking about it. Just imagine, apathetic Singapore has got a voice and we're not afraid to use it.
Well, not really. The NKF issue was one that united all because it was a victim of it's success. 2 out of 3 Singaporeans donated to it. It galvanised the people in such numbers precisely because so many people were affected by the revelations. Will we see such an awe insipring display of the power of the masses again?
The buck seems to have stopped at the resignation of T.T. and gang, people have gone back to their lives. Wait damnit, where you all going? It's not the end yet, is it?
Flashbacks
The London bombings of 7th July were quite the nasty epilogue to the city's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics. Four bombs, three placed on Tube trains and 1 on a double decker bus, went off within minutes of each other around 0900hrs local time killing 50 odd commuters and wounding over 700. Compared to the Madrid bombings of a year and a half ago the Brits got off pretty lightly. The Spaniards lost more than triple the number in dead and over 900 wounded on an above ground system. Considering the Tube has had several incidents of station fires where there was loss of life due to suffocation and/or smoke inhalation someone must be counting their blessings.
Scenes of streets being filled with emergency services vehicles and personnel dressed in all sorts of bright colours with their job designation spelt out at the back of their jumpsuits was a site to see. No scenes of mass panic, somewhat frazzled commuters being herded away from incident sites by simliarly frazzled police was about as panic stricken as you could get. Some credit the famous stiff upper lip of the Brits, others the wave of bombings by the IRA in the 80's, others still the relatively small impact the bombs made to explain the relative calm exhibited by the majority of Londonors in the immediate aftermath and days following the attack.
For me, the defining scene of this sorry episode was a shot of an ambulance just outside the doors of a hospital ER, a paramedics performing CPR on a stretcher case as they offloaded the poor sod off the vehicle and into the hospital. Someone's life was slipping away as I was sitting down to dinner half a world away. Made me really mad at whoever did it. Made me want to rail at the injustice of it all. But then I got around to reading this a couple of days after.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9422.htm
Quote:
"It is easy for Tony Blair to call yesterdays bombings "barbaric" - of course they were - but what were the civilian deaths of the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq in 2003, the children torn apart by cluster bombs, the countless innocent Iraqis gunned down at American military checkpoints? When they die, it is "collateral damage"; when "we" die, it is "barbaric terrorism".
If we are fighting insurgency in Iraq, what makes us believe insurgency won't come to us? One thing is certain: if Tony Blair really believes that by "fighting terrorism" in Iraq we could more efficiently protect Britain - fight them there rather than let them come here, as Bush constantly says - this argument is no longer valid."
Food for thought. While I don't remember anyone calling Iraqi civilian deaths "collateral damage" I also don't remember hourly coverage of the latest car bomb casualties or if anyone did a story on the survivors of the last family car to get blown away cos they were approaching the American manned checkpoint a little too quickly. In this age of 24/7 coverage, how the media chooses to project a story can greatly influence the perceptions and opinions that people take away from the story. Witness the aftermath of 9/11 and the London bombings, endless coverage, live briefings from authorities. Juxtapose that image with a ten second shaky video shot of the remnants of the latest car bomb to hit Baghdad in the distance and accompanying sound bite, something not right, can't quite figure out what. I know! The danged cameraman! They need to get someone who isn't high on hashish or something when he's filming. Sheesh, shaky video images, you'd think the BBC/CNN could do better.
I also picked up something from the July 12 edition of The Daily Show, well, not the whole show, just the clip on onegoodmove.org. Never really noticed the newscasters on CNN being like that before, or maybe I did but could never really put my finger on it. BBC rocks in any case.
Still, CNN is only guilty of sensationalising or at most, spinning a story so people could point to London and say "See? We got 'em on the run, that's why they're bombing London." Fox News on the other hand.....where in the hell do they get these people?
Footnote, the botched attempts at Wave 2 on July 21st totally blindsided everyone, you'd think lightning never strikes twice, perhaps that's what Wave 2 was all about, a sucker punch from a direction you never expected. ie. the same place. Not that it's any comfort to the poor sod that got shot cos he was wearing a heavy jacket in the middle of summer and refused to stop when plainclothes police officers told him to. More on this when I've had time to organise my simple mind.
Scenes of streets being filled with emergency services vehicles and personnel dressed in all sorts of bright colours with their job designation spelt out at the back of their jumpsuits was a site to see. No scenes of mass panic, somewhat frazzled commuters being herded away from incident sites by simliarly frazzled police was about as panic stricken as you could get. Some credit the famous stiff upper lip of the Brits, others the wave of bombings by the IRA in the 80's, others still the relatively small impact the bombs made to explain the relative calm exhibited by the majority of Londonors in the immediate aftermath and days following the attack.
For me, the defining scene of this sorry episode was a shot of an ambulance just outside the doors of a hospital ER, a paramedics performing CPR on a stretcher case as they offloaded the poor sod off the vehicle and into the hospital. Someone's life was slipping away as I was sitting down to dinner half a world away. Made me really mad at whoever did it. Made me want to rail at the injustice of it all. But then I got around to reading this a couple of days after.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9422.htm
Quote:
"It is easy for Tony Blair to call yesterdays bombings "barbaric" - of course they were - but what were the civilian deaths of the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq in 2003, the children torn apart by cluster bombs, the countless innocent Iraqis gunned down at American military checkpoints? When they die, it is "collateral damage"; when "we" die, it is "barbaric terrorism".
If we are fighting insurgency in Iraq, what makes us believe insurgency won't come to us? One thing is certain: if Tony Blair really believes that by "fighting terrorism" in Iraq we could more efficiently protect Britain - fight them there rather than let them come here, as Bush constantly says - this argument is no longer valid."
Food for thought. While I don't remember anyone calling Iraqi civilian deaths "collateral damage" I also don't remember hourly coverage of the latest car bomb casualties or if anyone did a story on the survivors of the last family car to get blown away cos they were approaching the American manned checkpoint a little too quickly. In this age of 24/7 coverage, how the media chooses to project a story can greatly influence the perceptions and opinions that people take away from the story. Witness the aftermath of 9/11 and the London bombings, endless coverage, live briefings from authorities. Juxtapose that image with a ten second shaky video shot of the remnants of the latest car bomb to hit Baghdad in the distance and accompanying sound bite, something not right, can't quite figure out what. I know! The danged cameraman! They need to get someone who isn't high on hashish or something when he's filming. Sheesh, shaky video images, you'd think the BBC/CNN could do better.
I also picked up something from the July 12 edition of The Daily Show, well, not the whole show, just the clip on onegoodmove.org. Never really noticed the newscasters on CNN being like that before, or maybe I did but could never really put my finger on it. BBC rocks in any case.
Still, CNN is only guilty of sensationalising or at most, spinning a story so people could point to London and say "See? We got 'em on the run, that's why they're bombing London." Fox News on the other hand.....where in the hell do they get these people?
Footnote, the botched attempts at Wave 2 on July 21st totally blindsided everyone, you'd think lightning never strikes twice, perhaps that's what Wave 2 was all about, a sucker punch from a direction you never expected. ie. the same place. Not that it's any comfort to the poor sod that got shot cos he was wearing a heavy jacket in the middle of summer and refused to stop when plainclothes police officers told him to. More on this when I've had time to organise my simple mind.
Saturday, 25 June 2005
Hiatus
I hate computer viruses, I hate the geekoids who came up with them, I hate the idiot in me who clicked on the link without thinking, you'd think after god knows how long of sucessfully siaming all the spammers, trojans and assorted whatnots of the virus world I'd at least have suspected that something smelt like fish when I first read the email....bleah.
Anyways, a short work jaunt to Cebu later and here me are, blog blog blog.
Early morning, leaving on a jet plane
Shot this as I was about to get on the plane, it was a shitty rainy morning the day I left and the planes taking off left pretty impressive trails of water as they blasted off into the wild blue yonder. Pity I overexposed the shots, only so much PS can do to cover up a sucky photographer. Heh.
View from the hotel window, the buildings in Cebu rarely climb above 5 stories save for some hotels, commercial and government buildings. Income disparity is insane, a buffet lunch for two with drinks can equal the monthly take home pay of a housekeeper. I read somewhere the Philippines was the strongest economy in Asia at the time of it's independence, what the hell went wrong?
S$1 = 30 pesos approx.
Anyways, a short work jaunt to Cebu later and here me are, blog blog blog.
Early morning, leaving on a jet plane
Shot this as I was about to get on the plane, it was a shitty rainy morning the day I left and the planes taking off left pretty impressive trails of water as they blasted off into the wild blue yonder. Pity I overexposed the shots, only so much PS can do to cover up a sucky photographer. Heh.
View from the hotel window, the buildings in Cebu rarely climb above 5 stories save for some hotels, commercial and government buildings. Income disparity is insane, a buffet lunch for two with drinks can equal the monthly take home pay of a housekeeper. I read somewhere the Philippines was the strongest economy in Asia at the time of it's independence, what the hell went wrong?
S$1 = 30 pesos approx.
Tuesday, 14 June 2005
IR Idiots
So, the MacRitchie Treetop Walk has been classified as "not user friendly" by some of the people who have tried the route since it opened in November last year.
Oh for crying out loud, what were you people expecting? Just getting to the walk itself requires a 4.5/2.5km walk depending on where you start out from. I haven't walked it myself but I did a couple of hikes that skirted the area back when I was a Scout and it defintely ain't no walk in the park.
Just seeing the TV pictures of families carrying strollers and hearing of them not packing enough water or food brought tears to my eyes. Of course it's tough if you're lugging a stroller through the forest and hoping you won't pass out from lack of food. It's got to be this thing that Singaporeans have, the island is so devoid of any meaningful activity spots (shopping and eating can only get you so far) that everytime something new comes up, people just have to die die try it, jump right in without looking, witness the hordes that descended on Lim Chu Kang when the bunch of farmer wannabes there opened up their properties to the public.
Anyways, I wanted to rant more about this, but that was before I stumbled on Merv's take on this, took the words out of my mouth. Horses for courses, ya farktwats. It's a wonder CNA aired the stoopid segment in the first place, like the world needs to be reminded how soft and senseless Singaporeans are.
In other news, we got us a new MRT line, to be completed by 2012 at the cost of S$1,400,000,000, this line will have 5 stations and will be run by SMRT.
Starting with...
Millenia on the Circle Line
Bayfront, which serves IR No.1 and Botanical Gardens No.2 (which IMHO is just plain sited wrongly)
Landmark, near 1 Raffles Quay, the new business and financial centre
Cross Street
Chinatown on the Circle Line
I wonder what they'll call this line?
Money, money, money....Money! Line
IR Line
Integrated Line
Technorati MacRitchie Treetop Walk, Singapore
Oh for crying out loud, what were you people expecting? Just getting to the walk itself requires a 4.5/2.5km walk depending on where you start out from. I haven't walked it myself but I did a couple of hikes that skirted the area back when I was a Scout and it defintely ain't no walk in the park.
Just seeing the TV pictures of families carrying strollers and hearing of them not packing enough water or food brought tears to my eyes. Of course it's tough if you're lugging a stroller through the forest and hoping you won't pass out from lack of food. It's got to be this thing that Singaporeans have, the island is so devoid of any meaningful activity spots (shopping and eating can only get you so far) that everytime something new comes up, people just have to die die try it, jump right in without looking, witness the hordes that descended on Lim Chu Kang when the bunch of farmer wannabes there opened up their properties to the public.
Anyways, I wanted to rant more about this, but that was before I stumbled on Merv's take on this, took the words out of my mouth. Horses for courses, ya farktwats. It's a wonder CNA aired the stoopid segment in the first place, like the world needs to be reminded how soft and senseless Singaporeans are.
In other news, we got us a new MRT line, to be completed by 2012 at the cost of S$1,400,000,000, this line will have 5 stations and will be run by SMRT.
Starting with...
Millenia on the Circle Line
Bayfront, which serves IR No.1 and Botanical Gardens No.2 (which IMHO is just plain sited wrongly)
Landmark, near 1 Raffles Quay, the new business and financial centre
Cross Street
Chinatown on the Circle Line
I wonder what they'll call this line?
Money, money, money....Money! Line
IR Line
Integrated Line
Technorati MacRitchie Treetop Walk, Singapore
Monday, 13 June 2005
Pit Stop
Dang it, wanted to blog but the wifey looks like she's coming down with something, must go see to her needs so I'll just leave you loyal readers with a little something, yes, all 3 of you, I know who you are, well, sort of, blame statcounter.com. Bless you guys for religiously checking every other day to see if I've posted anything new, makes me feel wanted. LOL.
{Nori123} You don't know jack shit
{VioletSky} That's not true, I know him well
{Nori123} Haha
{VioletSky} I'm serious
{VioletSky) Jack is the son of Awe Schitt and O. Schitt. Awe Schitt, the fertilizer magnate, married O. Schitt, the owner of Needeep N. Schitt Inc. They had one son, Jack. In turn Jack Schitt married Noe Schitt, the deeply religious couple produced 6 children
{VioletSky} Holie Schitt, Fulla Schitt, Giva Schitt, Bull Schitt, and the twins: Deap Schitt and Dip Schitt. Against her parents' objections, Deap Schitt married Dumb Schitt, a high school drop out.
{VioletSky) However, after being married 15 years, Jack and Noe Schitt divorced. Noe Schitt later remarried Ted Sherlock and, because her kids were living with them, she wanted to keep her previous name.
{VioletSky) She was then known as Noe Schitt-Sherlock. Meanwhile, Dip Schitt married Loda Schitt and they produced a son of nervous disposition, Chicken Schitt.
{VioletSky) Two other of the 6 children, Fulla Schitt and Giva Schitt, were inseparable throughout childhood and subsequently married the Happens brothers in a dual ceremony.
{VioletSky) The wedding announcement in the newspaper announced the Schitt-Happens wedding. The Schitt-Happens children were Dawg, Byrd, and Hoarse.
{VioletSky) Bull Schitt, the prodigal son, left home to tour the world. He recently returned from Italy with his new Italian bride, Pisa Schitt.
{VioletSky) So there.
{FiPo) LOL
{Nori123) I have actually chortled coke through my nose
- quote #515093, www.bash.org
{Nori123} You don't know jack shit
{VioletSky} That's not true, I know him well
{Nori123} Haha
{VioletSky} I'm serious
{VioletSky) Jack is the son of Awe Schitt and O. Schitt. Awe Schitt, the fertilizer magnate, married O. Schitt, the owner of Needeep N. Schitt Inc. They had one son, Jack. In turn Jack Schitt married Noe Schitt, the deeply religious couple produced 6 children
{VioletSky} Holie Schitt, Fulla Schitt, Giva Schitt, Bull Schitt, and the twins: Deap Schitt and Dip Schitt. Against her parents' objections, Deap Schitt married Dumb Schitt, a high school drop out.
{VioletSky) However, after being married 15 years, Jack and Noe Schitt divorced. Noe Schitt later remarried Ted Sherlock and, because her kids were living with them, she wanted to keep her previous name.
{VioletSky) She was then known as Noe Schitt-Sherlock. Meanwhile, Dip Schitt married Loda Schitt and they produced a son of nervous disposition, Chicken Schitt.
{VioletSky) Two other of the 6 children, Fulla Schitt and Giva Schitt, were inseparable throughout childhood and subsequently married the Happens brothers in a dual ceremony.
{VioletSky) The wedding announcement in the newspaper announced the Schitt-Happens wedding. The Schitt-Happens children were Dawg, Byrd, and Hoarse.
{VioletSky) Bull Schitt, the prodigal son, left home to tour the world. He recently returned from Italy with his new Italian bride, Pisa Schitt.
{VioletSky) So there.
{FiPo) LOL
{Nori123) I have actually chortled coke through my nose
- quote #515093, www.bash.org
Wednesday, 8 June 2005
Communication
It's been a while since the last one. Much has been said about much that was done, yet here I am, it's as if nothing out of the ordinary happened, life goes on.
I've always suspected the rifts were there, little clues here and there, every so often. It's gut wrenching to see your loved ones act out what happens when two people do not communicate. It's scary when you start identifying all those danger signs you remember from the marriage prep course from not so long ago. Nothing like a look into the future to scare the beejeezus out of yourself if you don't pay attention to the basics.
EJ's been acting up, she's latched on to the fact that if she cries we'll drop everything to pick her up. Of course we've been subjected to the usual barrage of ill-timed and unwelcomed advice on how not to pick her up whenever she starts going eh-eh-eh in that weird cry that she has for fear of spoiling her but Mummy says to hell with that, cry=pick up. The books say EJ will grow up with a better sense of security if she knows there are people who care about her, works for me.
I've always suspected the rifts were there, little clues here and there, every so often. It's gut wrenching to see your loved ones act out what happens when two people do not communicate. It's scary when you start identifying all those danger signs you remember from the marriage prep course from not so long ago. Nothing like a look into the future to scare the beejeezus out of yourself if you don't pay attention to the basics.
EJ's been acting up, she's latched on to the fact that if she cries we'll drop everything to pick her up. Of course we've been subjected to the usual barrage of ill-timed and unwelcomed advice on how not to pick her up whenever she starts going eh-eh-eh in that weird cry that she has for fear of spoiling her but Mummy says to hell with that, cry=pick up. The books say EJ will grow up with a better sense of security if she knows there are people who care about her, works for me.
Thursday, 2 June 2005
Separation
With the departure of B2 to that last bastion of democracy and equal rights for all during the early hours of this morning my immediate family unit now has representatives in the US and Oz. It will be sometime during Christmas 2006 before we will all be standing in the same physical space at the same time again.
That cliche about not knowing what you got till you miss it rings true at this time, we've never been what you might consider close, I guess that's what you get when all your siblings are male. Seems to me girls have the edge on boys when it comes to building and maintaining sibling relationships, even friendships in general. Of course, there's a chance of bitchiness coming into the equation and fucking things up but in general girl-girl friendships seem to stand the test of time better than guy-guy friendships.
The relationship between the Eggs 3 has always been one of don't ask, don't tell. No one asks about your life, you tell no one about it too. It wasn't always like that, I remember us sleeping on the same bed while we were young, sharing the same room when we couldn't all fit into one bed anymore and just talking about nonsense while we lay in bed waiting for the Sleep Monster to ambush us. Those times were the best, we played hard, fought harder and yet in the quiet time before sleep, we'd always have something to talk about, each cocooned in his own bed staring up at the ceiling (in the case of B2, staring up at the bottom of the top bed of the double decker), just talking. Sometimes a little too excitedly, which brought the Big Daddy Bird into the room threatening in a loud voice and in no uncertain terms what he'd do to us if we didn't quiet down and go to sleep.
We've done a lot of growing up since those days, we've taken different paths along the way and made friends of our own, created our own worlds and our own support structure, to the extent that water seems thicker than blood sometimes. Yet, ironically, for all the distance that seems to separate us, both literally and figuratively, I've come to realise that there is nothing I won't do for either of them. You never know what you got till you lose it, indeed.
That cliche about not knowing what you got till you miss it rings true at this time, we've never been what you might consider close, I guess that's what you get when all your siblings are male. Seems to me girls have the edge on boys when it comes to building and maintaining sibling relationships, even friendships in general. Of course, there's a chance of bitchiness coming into the equation and fucking things up but in general girl-girl friendships seem to stand the test of time better than guy-guy friendships.
The relationship between the Eggs 3 has always been one of don't ask, don't tell. No one asks about your life, you tell no one about it too. It wasn't always like that, I remember us sleeping on the same bed while we were young, sharing the same room when we couldn't all fit into one bed anymore and just talking about nonsense while we lay in bed waiting for the Sleep Monster to ambush us. Those times were the best, we played hard, fought harder and yet in the quiet time before sleep, we'd always have something to talk about, each cocooned in his own bed staring up at the ceiling (in the case of B2, staring up at the bottom of the top bed of the double decker), just talking. Sometimes a little too excitedly, which brought the Big Daddy Bird into the room threatening in a loud voice and in no uncertain terms what he'd do to us if we didn't quiet down and go to sleep.
We've done a lot of growing up since those days, we've taken different paths along the way and made friends of our own, created our own worlds and our own support structure, to the extent that water seems thicker than blood sometimes. Yet, ironically, for all the distance that seems to separate us, both literally and figuratively, I've come to realise that there is nothing I won't do for either of them. You never know what you got till you lose it, indeed.
Wednesday, 1 June 2005
Crybaby
EJ has been acting up at night lately, she has been screaming her lungs out the past 2 nights where she used to only cry when she was hungry or when her diapers were soiled. All attempts at getting her to calm down failed and it was only out of sheer exhaustion that she stopped on both occasions. We think it might be colic but can't be sure, it seems to only happen at night. Both her parents are totally frazzled by her crying although we haven't lost our sanity yet.
Perhaps it's her way of thumbing her nose at us for saying she's a joy to look after. Heh, that's my girl.
In other news, the first of many rounds of makan (in honour of EJ's first month) at our place took place this past weekend. Distant relatives who I don't care for fouled up what should have been an occasion to remember. Bleah.
Perhaps it's her way of thumbing her nose at us for saying she's a joy to look after. Heh, that's my girl.
In other news, the first of many rounds of makan (in honour of EJ's first month) at our place took place this past weekend. Distant relatives who I don't care for fouled up what should have been an occasion to remember. Bleah.
Saturday, 28 May 2005
Recognition
It's 3 in the morning, peaceful night if not for the piercing sound of your cries. I stumble out of bed to check on you after what seems like an eternity of wailing on your part. Mummy's milk is being warmed up after being taken out of the refrigerator but you don't know that and you don't care. You're hungry and you're letting the world know.
So it is with some surprise, although I should know better, that you quieten down immediately when I look in on you, you look at me with what I hope is recognition on your face as I bend down and talk to you, you remain quiet as I pick you up from your cot and sayang you a bit as we wait for your milk. Dang, just like the books say. You may not know who I am but my voice is familiar to you, you know I'm not mummy cos I don't sound or smell the same but I've been around often enough for you to recognize me voice. All too soon your bottle arrives and you are whisked away from my arms, later gorgeous.
So it is with some surprise, although I should know better, that you quieten down immediately when I look in on you, you look at me with what I hope is recognition on your face as I bend down and talk to you, you remain quiet as I pick you up from your cot and sayang you a bit as we wait for your milk. Dang, just like the books say. You may not know who I am but my voice is familiar to you, you know I'm not mummy cos I don't sound or smell the same but I've been around often enough for you to recognize me voice. All too soon your bottle arrives and you are whisked away from my arms, later gorgeous.
Wednesday, 25 May 2005
A package from Canada
I received a package from Canada today, it cost something like $18 Canadian in postage. In it there were 2 books on babies and a card for the parents of EJ.
It came from a man I barely knew, with whom I had spent all of maybe 4 hours, we met because of business but parted after sharing our views on Psychology (we both studied it) and bringing up kids. I don't know much about him and I think I probably will never see him again, which just amplifies what he did. Two strangers who might never have met had it not been for a phone call. It warms my heart to know that there are people like him, who will spontaneously do something nice for a fellow human being no strings attached, still out there. This planet might still be worthy of redemption yet.
Thanks Larry, I'll see you around.
Technorati: Singapore, Canada
It came from a man I barely knew, with whom I had spent all of maybe 4 hours, we met because of business but parted after sharing our views on Psychology (we both studied it) and bringing up kids. I don't know much about him and I think I probably will never see him again, which just amplifies what he did. Two strangers who might never have met had it not been for a phone call. It warms my heart to know that there are people like him, who will spontaneously do something nice for a fellow human being no strings attached, still out there. This planet might still be worthy of redemption yet.
Thanks Larry, I'll see you around.
Technorati: Singapore, Canada
Monday, 23 May 2005
Grandparents
I can't remember much of my paternal grandmother. I remember the way she smelt, her typical ah-ma clothes, I remember her when she was sprightly, I remember her when she was frail, I remember her last days, I miss her dearly on the occasions I think about her. It seems I was one of her favourites, the feeling was mutual. She used to admonish people around the house not to speak too loudly when I was sleeping in the days after I was just born. People have told me I was the apple of her eye. It's a pity I couldn't speak Teochew fluently enough to carry on a conversation with her. Our conversations were almost always restricted to the obligatory greeting and "jia ba buey?" (Have you eaten yet?). I remember a time towards the end, when she seemed bitter at the world and people around her, my mum told me to sit with her and keep her company, so there she was, sitting alone with me, telling me things in Teochew that I desperately wanted to understand, I remember the sadness in her eyes. I can't remember what I told her but it probably wasn't something of much help. It's a private moment that's stayed with me all through the years. It pretty much sums up my relationship with her, so close, yet so far.
It is a given that most children have 2 full sets of grandparents when they are born, longer average life spans have made it possible for said grandparents to play a part in shaping the lives of their grandchildren well into their teens, sometimes into adulthood. I'm glad both sets of grandparents are around for EJ, I hope they will be around for EJ's siblings and cousins, I hope they'll be around for a long time. I'd like EJ to meet the people who spent their lives bringing her parents up. I'd like EJ to get to know them real well in the time she has with them for they have much to tell. I'd like her to remember and miss them when they have passed for I surely will.
It is a given that most children have 2 full sets of grandparents when they are born, longer average life spans have made it possible for said grandparents to play a part in shaping the lives of their grandchildren well into their teens, sometimes into adulthood. I'm glad both sets of grandparents are around for EJ, I hope they will be around for EJ's siblings and cousins, I hope they'll be around for a long time. I'd like EJ to meet the people who spent their lives bringing her parents up. I'd like EJ to get to know them real well in the time she has with them for they have much to tell. I'd like her to remember and miss them when they have passed for I surely will.
Saturday, 21 May 2005
X-Men 3
Kelsey Grammer of Fraiser and Vinnie Jones of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels/Snatch have both signed up to play Beast and Juggernaut respectively in the upcoming X-Men 3, Variety reports. I'm speechless.
No, wait, on second thought, HOLY MUTANTS BATMAN! Can you imagine that blue wall that is the Beast quoting Shakespeare in the voice of Frasier? Grammer's got the voice and the personality to carry Beast off, the CG and Costume department folks will take care of the rest. If there ever was an actor who was a shoe in for a character, this is it.
And Vinnie Jones, he of Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels/Snatch fame, he of Wimbledon hatchetman fame back when football paid his salary. He as The Juggernaut, I CANNOT WAIT to hear what lines the writers are going to have him sprout, apart from the fact that he too is a shoe in to play a big, big, huge ass, big badboy that is Juggernaut.
Third time lucky for the X-Men franchise?
Bullet Tooth Tony: You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
Bullet Tooth Tony: So, you are obviously the big dick. The men on the side of ya are your balls. There are two types of balls. There are big brave balls, and there are little mincey faggot balls.
Vinny: These are your last words, so make them a prayer.
Bullet Tooth Tony: Now, dicks have drive and clarity of vision, but they are not clever. They smell pussy and they want a piece of the action. And you thought you smelled some good old pussy, and have brought your two small mincey faggot balls along for a good old time. But you've got your parties mangled up. There's no pussy here, just a dose that'll make you wish you were born a woman. Like a prick, you are having second thoughts. You are shrinking, and your two little balls are shrinking with ya. The fact that you've got "Replica" written down the side of your gun. (withdraws his gun) And the fact that I've got "Desert Eagle point five O" written on the side of mine, should precipitate your balls into shrinking, along with your presence. Now... Fuck off.
- Snatch (2000)
No, wait, on second thought, HOLY MUTANTS BATMAN! Can you imagine that blue wall that is the Beast quoting Shakespeare in the voice of Frasier? Grammer's got the voice and the personality to carry Beast off, the CG and Costume department folks will take care of the rest. If there ever was an actor who was a shoe in for a character, this is it.
And Vinnie Jones, he of Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels/Snatch fame, he of Wimbledon hatchetman fame back when football paid his salary. He as The Juggernaut, I CANNOT WAIT to hear what lines the writers are going to have him sprout, apart from the fact that he too is a shoe in to play a big, big, huge ass, big badboy that is Juggernaut.
Third time lucky for the X-Men franchise?
Bullet Tooth Tony: You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
Bullet Tooth Tony: So, you are obviously the big dick. The men on the side of ya are your balls. There are two types of balls. There are big brave balls, and there are little mincey faggot balls.
Vinny: These are your last words, so make them a prayer.
Bullet Tooth Tony: Now, dicks have drive and clarity of vision, but they are not clever. They smell pussy and they want a piece of the action. And you thought you smelled some good old pussy, and have brought your two small mincey faggot balls along for a good old time. But you've got your parties mangled up. There's no pussy here, just a dose that'll make you wish you were born a woman. Like a prick, you are having second thoughts. You are shrinking, and your two little balls are shrinking with ya. The fact that you've got "Replica" written down the side of your gun. (withdraws his gun) And the fact that I've got "Desert Eagle point five O" written on the side of mine, should precipitate your balls into shrinking, along with your presence. Now... Fuck off.
- Snatch (2000)
Friday, 20 May 2005
20.05.2005 How not to blog?
Truth be told I only realised today was the day when I was updating inventory records like I do at the end of each week. Holy crap! 20.05.2005! Never will a day like this appear again....until 20.06.2006. In the words of Neo, whoa!
116 couples are getting hitched today, the highest so far this year, surpassing the 107 couples who got married on 05.05.05. Yep, we Singaporeans always outdoing outselves when it comes to being number 1. But the record for largest number of weddings in a single day is still held by 14.02.1995. Apparently not only was it Velentine's Day, it was Yuan Xiao Jie, the Chinese Valentine's Day as well. A phenomenon only repeated every 20 years. Over 2,000 couples got married that fateful day. Anyone want to do a survey on how many of those couples are still couples 20 years from now? Must....be.....polite, no.....swearing.
But, much as I detest the kitschiness of it all, to each his/her own. Here's wishing the 232 of you blissful marriages, Trust is important but communication more so, because according to some survey from a few months back, most Singaporeans don't seem to be happy with their life partners. A staggering number, over 50% surveyed IIRC. There's something fundamentally scary about the implication that at least 1 of every 2 couples you meet on the street, among your friends and in your workplace are not happy with each other.
Of course, I could go on about the importance of communication in a relationship, I could say that the ability to engage your partner in conversation about anything without getting a "you want to break up with me/take a look at yourself in the mirror first" look is a sign of a healthy relationship and lah-dee-dah but that would just smack of being holier-than-thou right?
Anyways, EJ just blew past 2 weeks, she's
- exerting more control over where she wants the head, and consequently the eyes to go.
- staying awake for longer periods of time.
- letting her eyes roam around her view of vision when she is awake.
- showing signs of recognising her mummy and daddy. (debatable, but oh do we wish it were so)
- being more vocal, even though it's just short gasps of eh, uh, ehhhh.
- still kan cheong when it comes to feeding time, head just swaying all over the place when it's time to latch on, won't settle down on the nipple until she's satisfied there's nothing else around to latch on to.
- still a pretty good sleeper, wakes up at midnight and around 0400hrs for her feeds, like clockwork this one is. Fingers crossed it carries on.
- still gorgeous
Happy 20.05.2005 all!
116 couples are getting hitched today, the highest so far this year, surpassing the 107 couples who got married on 05.05.05. Yep, we Singaporeans always outdoing outselves when it comes to being number 1. But the record for largest number of weddings in a single day is still held by 14.02.1995. Apparently not only was it Velentine's Day, it was Yuan Xiao Jie, the Chinese Valentine's Day as well. A phenomenon only repeated every 20 years. Over 2,000 couples got married that fateful day. Anyone want to do a survey on how many of those couples are still couples 20 years from now? Must....be.....polite, no.....swearing.
But, much as I detest the kitschiness of it all, to each his/her own. Here's wishing the 232 of you blissful marriages, Trust is important but communication more so, because according to some survey from a few months back, most Singaporeans don't seem to be happy with their life partners. A staggering number, over 50% surveyed IIRC. There's something fundamentally scary about the implication that at least 1 of every 2 couples you meet on the street, among your friends and in your workplace are not happy with each other.
Of course, I could go on about the importance of communication in a relationship, I could say that the ability to engage your partner in conversation about anything without getting a "you want to break up with me/take a look at yourself in the mirror first" look is a sign of a healthy relationship and lah-dee-dah but that would just smack of being holier-than-thou right?
Anyways, EJ just blew past 2 weeks, she's
- exerting more control over where she wants the head, and consequently the eyes to go.
- staying awake for longer periods of time.
- letting her eyes roam around her view of vision when she is awake.
- showing signs of recognising her mummy and daddy. (debatable, but oh do we wish it were so)
- being more vocal, even though it's just short gasps of eh, uh, ehhhh.
- still kan cheong when it comes to feeding time, head just swaying all over the place when it's time to latch on, won't settle down on the nipple until she's satisfied there's nothing else around to latch on to.
- still a pretty good sleeper, wakes up at midnight and around 0400hrs for her feeds, like clockwork this one is. Fingers crossed it carries on.
- still gorgeous
Happy 20.05.2005 all!
Thursday, 19 May 2005
Through the looking glass
President Josiah Bartlet: Good. I like your show. I like how you call homosexuality an abomination.
Dr. Jenna Jacobs: I don't say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President. The Bible does.
President Josiah Bartlet: Yes it does. Leviticus.
Dr. Jenna Jacobs: 18:22.
President Josiah Bartlet: Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I have you here. I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff Leo McGarry insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you? One last thing: while you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits.
[after Josh's therapy session with Stanley Keworth, Josh inquires why Leo is trying to help him]
Leo McGarry: This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, "Hey, you, can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts up, "Father, I'm down in this hole. Can you help me out?" The priest writes a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey, Joe, it's me. Can you help me Out" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are you nuts? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before - and I know the way out."
Representative Matthew Santos: Good Evening. I'm running for President. And if you don't know who I am, I wouldn't be surprised. I've been shut out of tomorrow night's debate for suggesting that it actually *be* a debate, and this is the only ad I can afford. I got in this to improve a broken school system; to fix entitlements, 'cause they're going bankrupt; to expand health coverage, 'cause it'll save money if fewer people show up in emergency rooms. What I've found is that Presidential campaigns aren't about these things. They're about clawing your opponent's eyes out, so long as you don't get tagged for it. So how 'bout this - I will never say anything about my opponents, or anything about anything - without saying it myself, right into the camera. You might not get to hear much of me but when you do, you'll know I stand by it. I'm Matt Santos. And you better believe I approved this ad.
Leo McGarry: [to Josh on Arnie Vinick running for President] You ever see Arnie Vinick campaign up close? He'll go into those high school gymnasiums in Iowa and New Hampshire and blow them all away. He'll shake every hand in the joint, kiss every baby, hug every widow on social security, and sound smarter and more honest than any Republican they've ever seen. Because he is.
- The West Wing (1999- )
Never mind the show's won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series 4 times in a row from 2000 to 2003, never mind it won 19 other Emmys awarded for the writers, actors and crew. Never mind it holds the record for most Emmys won by a series in a single season (9) which it accomplished in its first season on the air. Never mind The West Wing currently ranks 8th all-time in number of Emmy Awards won by a series.
I first stumbled on this gem of a TV series in it's first season, the stirring martial overtones of the theme song hooked me, the cast was superb, the dialogue was witty, intelligent and actually made you use your brain if you wanted to keep up. This show has singlehandedly taught me more about the American political system than any other source I know. Oh sure, the show's a little too idealistic for my liking sometimes (some people call it the Left Wing) and I admit I watch it to escape from the reality of our times (that's what's TV for innit?) but hey, the world's gone to hell in a handbasket, I'll take my jollies any way I can.
Aaron Sorkin left at the end of season 4 and some people thought that signaled the end for the show and for a while (season 5) it really did look that way. But John Wells seems to have picked up speed after getting comfortable with the ball. Season 6 was a ripper and I can't wait for season 7. Santos or Vinnick? I love the show to bits, it's a mirror into what could be and sometimes what should be. I'll save the DVDs for you EJ.
Bartlett for President!
P.S. Channel 5 is showing Season 5 on Sunday nights at 2300hrs, last episode I caught the season was coming to an end, I don't know if it already has. Pity the time slot is not a very social hour, we could do with more intelligent shows like this and The Shield, but that's another story.
Dr. Jenna Jacobs: I don't say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President. The Bible does.
President Josiah Bartlet: Yes it does. Leviticus.
Dr. Jenna Jacobs: 18:22.
President Josiah Bartlet: Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I have you here. I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff Leo McGarry insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you? One last thing: while you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits.
[after Josh's therapy session with Stanley Keworth, Josh inquires why Leo is trying to help him]
Leo McGarry: This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, "Hey, you, can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts up, "Father, I'm down in this hole. Can you help me out?" The priest writes a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey, Joe, it's me. Can you help me Out" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are you nuts? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before - and I know the way out."
Representative Matthew Santos: Good Evening. I'm running for President. And if you don't know who I am, I wouldn't be surprised. I've been shut out of tomorrow night's debate for suggesting that it actually *be* a debate, and this is the only ad I can afford. I got in this to improve a broken school system; to fix entitlements, 'cause they're going bankrupt; to expand health coverage, 'cause it'll save money if fewer people show up in emergency rooms. What I've found is that Presidential campaigns aren't about these things. They're about clawing your opponent's eyes out, so long as you don't get tagged for it. So how 'bout this - I will never say anything about my opponents, or anything about anything - without saying it myself, right into the camera. You might not get to hear much of me but when you do, you'll know I stand by it. I'm Matt Santos. And you better believe I approved this ad.
Leo McGarry: [to Josh on Arnie Vinick running for President] You ever see Arnie Vinick campaign up close? He'll go into those high school gymnasiums in Iowa and New Hampshire and blow them all away. He'll shake every hand in the joint, kiss every baby, hug every widow on social security, and sound smarter and more honest than any Republican they've ever seen. Because he is.
- The West Wing (1999- )
Never mind the show's won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series 4 times in a row from 2000 to 2003, never mind it won 19 other Emmys awarded for the writers, actors and crew. Never mind it holds the record for most Emmys won by a series in a single season (9) which it accomplished in its first season on the air. Never mind The West Wing currently ranks 8th all-time in number of Emmy Awards won by a series.
I first stumbled on this gem of a TV series in it's first season, the stirring martial overtones of the theme song hooked me, the cast was superb, the dialogue was witty, intelligent and actually made you use your brain if you wanted to keep up. This show has singlehandedly taught me more about the American political system than any other source I know. Oh sure, the show's a little too idealistic for my liking sometimes (some people call it the Left Wing) and I admit I watch it to escape from the reality of our times (that's what's TV for innit?) but hey, the world's gone to hell in a handbasket, I'll take my jollies any way I can.
Aaron Sorkin left at the end of season 4 and some people thought that signaled the end for the show and for a while (season 5) it really did look that way. But John Wells seems to have picked up speed after getting comfortable with the ball. Season 6 was a ripper and I can't wait for season 7. Santos or Vinnick? I love the show to bits, it's a mirror into what could be and sometimes what should be. I'll save the DVDs for you EJ.
Bartlett for President!
P.S. Channel 5 is showing Season 5 on Sunday nights at 2300hrs, last episode I caught the season was coming to an end, I don't know if it already has. Pity the time slot is not a very social hour, we could do with more intelligent shows like this and The Shield, but that's another story.
Wednesday, 18 May 2005
$11,413
That you'll be growing in a world where cameras have no film inside them.
You can rack up utilities bills to the tune of $11,413 and that no one will bother to ask if you know, need a little bit of help? A 60-year-old burned to death in his flat because he was using candles for light and a charcoal fire to cook food because they didn't have the moolah to pay the utilities bills. I'm especially mad at SingPower, you'd think someone would have a red flag up or something once you hit a ridiculous amount like 11 grand. And if community workers were aware of their situation, how could they not know of the 11,413 reasons why the flat was shrouded in semi-darkness everytime they visited? WTF.
Revenge of the Sith script (Warning! To say it's a spoiler would make understatement seem like an understatement)
I still think Hayden Christensen is too gay to play Anakin damnit! How could they kill Samuel L. Jackson, the man is Shaft for Pete's sake....arrrgh.
Enough to make you weep.
So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause....
- Padme (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, 2005)
You can rack up utilities bills to the tune of $11,413 and that no one will bother to ask if you know, need a little bit of help? A 60-year-old burned to death in his flat because he was using candles for light and a charcoal fire to cook food because they didn't have the moolah to pay the utilities bills. I'm especially mad at SingPower, you'd think someone would have a red flag up or something once you hit a ridiculous amount like 11 grand. And if community workers were aware of their situation, how could they not know of the 11,413 reasons why the flat was shrouded in semi-darkness everytime they visited? WTF.
Revenge of the Sith script (Warning! To say it's a spoiler would make understatement seem like an understatement)
I still think Hayden Christensen is too gay to play Anakin damnit! How could they kill Samuel L. Jackson, the man is Shaft for Pete's sake....arrrgh.
Enough to make you weep.
So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause....
- Padme (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, 2005)
Saturday, 14 May 2005
Snippet of life
1. Listening to The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge sing, what else, a choral version of Sam Barber's Adagio for Strings.
2. Counting to see if I have 200 S$1 coins in my teddybear bank. Daddy needs a new Crumpler to carry EJ's barang when we go gai gai.
3. Feeling melancholic in the aftermath of doing a piece of work analyzing a pair of Romantic poems about childhood and juxtaposing that with the feelings I have for 11-day-old EJ.
Thy rosy cheek so soft and warm;
Thy pinky hand and dimpled arm;
Thy silken locks that scantily peep,
With gold-tipped ends, where circles deep
Around thy neck in harmless grace
So soft and sleekly hold their place,
Might harder hearts with kindness fill,
And gain our right good will
- 'A Mother to her Waking Infant', Joanna Baillie (1762-1851)
Dear Baby, that sleepest cradled by my side,
Whose gentle breathings, heard in this deep calm,
Fill up the interpersed vacancies
And momentary pauses of the thought!
My babe so beautiful! it thrills my heart
With tender gladness, thus to look at thee,
- 'Frost at Midnight', Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)
This poetry shit rawks dood.
Dining in tonight in the company of good friends and, depending on what they "ta-baoing", hopefully good food was well. Confinement food for mummy though, nyah nyah.
Life is good.
2. Counting to see if I have 200 S$1 coins in my teddybear bank. Daddy needs a new Crumpler to carry EJ's barang when we go gai gai.
3. Feeling melancholic in the aftermath of doing a piece of work analyzing a pair of Romantic poems about childhood and juxtaposing that with the feelings I have for 11-day-old EJ.
Thy rosy cheek so soft and warm;
Thy pinky hand and dimpled arm;
Thy silken locks that scantily peep,
With gold-tipped ends, where circles deep
Around thy neck in harmless grace
So soft and sleekly hold their place,
Might harder hearts with kindness fill,
And gain our right good will
- 'A Mother to her Waking Infant', Joanna Baillie (1762-1851)
Dear Baby, that sleepest cradled by my side,
Whose gentle breathings, heard in this deep calm,
Fill up the interpersed vacancies
And momentary pauses of the thought!
My babe so beautiful! it thrills my heart
With tender gladness, thus to look at thee,
- 'Frost at Midnight', Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)
This poetry shit rawks dood.
Dining in tonight in the company of good friends and, depending on what they "ta-baoing", hopefully good food was well. Confinement food for mummy though, nyah nyah.
Life is good.
Friday, 13 May 2005
Figures
Young men.
A foreign country.
An alien culture.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?
Boggles the mind.
A foreign country.
An alien culture.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?
Boggles the mind.
Thursday, 12 May 2005
The more things change
I don't know about how it will be like when EJ grows up but for as long as I can remember Singapore's skyline has always been changing. The price of progress, but what cost that progress?
Lzydata posted an interesting talk to be held at SAFTI Library, would have loved to attend but whaddya know, work calls.
Daryl posted a followup on one Wing commander Tan Kay Hai that piqued my interest and a little digging prompted by some helpful nudges from his post got me here, there, everywhere and back.
Well geez Louise, we got us a genuine combat vet here, not some poor sod with a shotgun from Dalforce facing the battle hardened vets of the 5th or 18th Infantry Divisions or one of the Malay Regiment lads who died on Pasir Panjang Ridge when all around them the white men were falling over themselves falling back and looting. Here we got somewhere we can be not pai seh to put on a pedestal cos he didn't suffer a fate as ignominious as his brothers in arms in Dalforce or Pasir Panjang Ridge. To be sure, I take nothing away from Force 136, Elizabeth Choy and company, their experiences are more than worthy of just a passing mention but this man was different.
He had been around the block, seen the elephant, smelt the cordite. He wasn't running around in the darkness doing hit and runs, he was part of the Allied war machine. I mean come on, when was the last time you read about a chinese guy in the RAF in WWII? Wing Commander to boot, not some wet-behind-the-ears FO. AND they awarded him a DFC some more. This kind of thing they dun anyhow give one, it's not like you can get one if you queue overnight for it.
Orchard Shopping Centre, Paragon, Wisma Atria, these shopping centres had mid-life facelifts, sheet man, if these damn things could be given facelifts, why the hell was the National Library at Stamford demolished? Has anyone seen the monstrosity that is coming up between Bras Basah Complex and Bugis Junction? I don't care if it's internet ready, packed to the gills with fancy crap and can leap tall buildings in a single bound, it's ugly, period.
The new National Library
The old National Library
This country of ours is 40 years old this year, that's about as old as EJ when you compare it with others, yet our economy is matured and counted among the First World. We've come so far in terms of material wealth yet we're still learning how to crawl when it comes to having a national identity.
The destruction of heritage buildings doesn't help us one bit, all around us the skyline keeps change every year. How does one stay rooted in a country that changes every year? Can you remember what the neighbourhood you grew up in looked like when you were a kid? 5, 10, 15, 20 years back? Things change so rapidly that there is no such thing as a familiar sight in Singapore anymore. I don't get that sense of revisiting a familiar old friend when I go back to my old neighbourhood, my primary school still exists but the building it occupies doesn't look anything like the old one, ditto for my secondary school. I'm lucky, some schools don't exist anywhere but in memories now.
Space is limited, that I can accept but there must be a way where the old can integrate with the new. Fewer friggin golf courses would be nice start, the ratio of land used vs number of users is atrocious, but then again, money talks pretty loudly here. Hawker centres become food courts, SERS. Heck, even Parliament House is brand new. The Supreme Courtnext change. How to anchor oneself when everything around you disappears after awhile?
There must be physical remainders like red-brick buildings and statues of Wing Commander Tan (somewhere on the grounds of SAFTI MI perhaps?) to remind us of where we come from, roots do not simply appear overnight, they have to have something to latch onto. The increasing globalization of the world we live in makes for very mobile citizens of the world. All cities tend to look alike if you live in them long enough. What incentive is there for Singaporeans to call Singapore home if we can't even recognise it?
Oh and in case you're reading this. Happy Birthday once again, words can't describe the place you have in my heart.
Lzydata posted an interesting talk to be held at SAFTI Library, would have loved to attend but whaddya know, work calls.
Daryl posted a followup on one Wing commander Tan Kay Hai that piqued my interest and a little digging prompted by some helpful nudges from his post got me here, there, everywhere and back.
Well geez Louise, we got us a genuine combat vet here, not some poor sod with a shotgun from Dalforce facing the battle hardened vets of the 5th or 18th Infantry Divisions or one of the Malay Regiment lads who died on Pasir Panjang Ridge when all around them the white men were falling over themselves falling back and looting. Here we got somewhere we can be not pai seh to put on a pedestal cos he didn't suffer a fate as ignominious as his brothers in arms in Dalforce or Pasir Panjang Ridge. To be sure, I take nothing away from Force 136, Elizabeth Choy and company, their experiences are more than worthy of just a passing mention but this man was different.
He had been around the block, seen the elephant, smelt the cordite. He wasn't running around in the darkness doing hit and runs, he was part of the Allied war machine. I mean come on, when was the last time you read about a chinese guy in the RAF in WWII? Wing Commander to boot, not some wet-behind-the-ears FO. AND they awarded him a DFC some more. This kind of thing they dun anyhow give one, it's not like you can get one if you queue overnight for it.
Orchard Shopping Centre, Paragon, Wisma Atria, these shopping centres had mid-life facelifts, sheet man, if these damn things could be given facelifts, why the hell was the National Library at Stamford demolished? Has anyone seen the monstrosity that is coming up between Bras Basah Complex and Bugis Junction? I don't care if it's internet ready, packed to the gills with fancy crap and can leap tall buildings in a single bound, it's ugly, period.
The new National Library
The old National Library
This country of ours is 40 years old this year, that's about as old as EJ when you compare it with others, yet our economy is matured and counted among the First World. We've come so far in terms of material wealth yet we're still learning how to crawl when it comes to having a national identity.
The destruction of heritage buildings doesn't help us one bit, all around us the skyline keeps change every year. How does one stay rooted in a country that changes every year? Can you remember what the neighbourhood you grew up in looked like when you were a kid? 5, 10, 15, 20 years back? Things change so rapidly that there is no such thing as a familiar sight in Singapore anymore. I don't get that sense of revisiting a familiar old friend when I go back to my old neighbourhood, my primary school still exists but the building it occupies doesn't look anything like the old one, ditto for my secondary school. I'm lucky, some schools don't exist anywhere but in memories now.
Space is limited, that I can accept but there must be a way where the old can integrate with the new. Fewer friggin golf courses would be nice start, the ratio of land used vs number of users is atrocious, but then again, money talks pretty loudly here. Hawker centres become food courts, SERS. Heck, even Parliament House is brand new. The Supreme Courtnext change. How to anchor oneself when everything around you disappears after awhile?
There must be physical remainders like red-brick buildings and statues of Wing Commander Tan (somewhere on the grounds of SAFTI MI perhaps?) to remind us of where we come from, roots do not simply appear overnight, they have to have something to latch onto. The increasing globalization of the world we live in makes for very mobile citizens of the world. All cities tend to look alike if you live in them long enough. What incentive is there for Singaporeans to call Singapore home if we can't even recognise it?
Oh and in case you're reading this. Happy Birthday once again, words can't describe the place you have in my heart.
Tuesday, 10 May 2005
Head Rush
The following post will be ugly, it will be verbal diarrhoea at it's finest as I have opted to put down everything I can remember in the order things pop up in my head. I had thought about being a little more understated about things but detail won out as i wanted to remember as much I could of this day.
3 May
We are up before the sun is, we grab all the stuff we're supposed to bring and are out the door in no time.
First stop was day surgery as we were the first case of the day and OT wasn't open that early in the morning, mummy got prepped while daddy tried to stand somewhere where he couldn't block people. Then it was off to OT to wait some more, mummy got wheeled in while daddy changed into scrubs (must....resist.....urge.....Nurse! Get 2 units of O neg into this guy and start an IV on that one, wide open...damn you, ER wannabe!!) and waited some more. Anesthetist comes in and shoots mummy up with happy juice (but not before almost rendering her unconscious with pain from repeated attempts at injecting lignocaine into the epidural space). It is lucky that daddy was sitting at OT reception cooling his heels at this point for it is almost certain daddy would not have stayed conscious if he had witnessed abovementioned prepping of mummy pain adverse pussy that he is.
Daddy gets called into the OR just as surgeon starts cutting mummy up to get to EJ. Again, being about as useful as an uncouscious surgeon teaching a class on quantum physics daddy wisely places himself in a corner where he won't trip anyone and witnesses the noisy ballet that is an OR. Yep, I said noisy, perhaps it was the nature of the op, but I always envisioned ORs to be temples of quiet where surgeons and nurses went about their jobs in a measured way, instead the scene was more like controlled pandemonium with the two surgeons going about their work while a nurse assisted them, the more senior of the two all the while giving the junior one pop quizzes on this procedure or that body part. Meanwhile, the anesthetist is monitoring mummy's vitals and giving instructions to up the rate of that drip or put in some more *insert unitelligible medical drip term here*.
The surgeons start putting some real pressure on mummy's tummy as they position EJ to come out of the 6 inch cresent shaped incision they have made just above the bikini line. Their movements are violent enough to rock mummy's body, picture if you will, a man standing over your wife, applying pressure very violently and animatedly at downwards from the top of her tummy while another man uses a pair of forceps to pull your child out. I wasn't standing at the business end of things cos I was giving mummy moral support but I do remember thinking it was all so surreal. Thinking back now, I filter out all the ambient noises and voices around me, I remember mummy smiling at me and giving me the "it's all right" look when they know their husbands are about to lose it, I remember the two surgeons pushing and pulling for all they were worth.
The next thing I know, a cry is heard above the suction noises coming out of mummy's tummy. The junior guy pulls out this tiny human being all covered in some grey mucus and hands it over to the midwife, who has until this point been in the background, with her are two med student docs/nurses who observe her every move while she starts EJ on the very first test of her life. A battery of initial tests to see if tiny human being has the reflexes expected of a normal human being is quickly completed. (9 out of a possible 10 score, yay! baby so crever! see! so smart! first test got 90%, can go RGS and then RJC and then among-the-world-best NUS already). The surgeons have by now started on sewing mummy up. A quick grasp of mummy's hand and a quietly mouthed "see you soon, love you" and daddy is following midwife and tiny human being out of OR.
EJ is taken out of OR to a delivery suite where her weight, height and head circumference measurements are taken and recorded so a run on these number combinations can be made by concerned relatives at the nearest TOTO outlet at the earliest possible inconvenience. A neonatologist comes in and gives her the once over, breathing is a little erratic but lungs have just started working so give her 15 minutes and she'll be fine. Daddy leaves EJ to go back to OT recovery to check on mummy who's looks good considering the circumstances. After a short wait in recovery, mum and dad proceed to move up to the neonatal ward where EJ follows shortly.
The rest of the week goes by in a blur of family and friends visiting, mummy breastfeeding EJ and a sudden influx of patients to the ward on 05/05/05, all caesarean cases. Make the inanity stop! As a side note, a record number (as compared to what I cannot remember) of marriages were also registered on 05/05/05 with an even higher number for a date just round the corner, 20/05/05. Don't you fools see that it takes more than a fancy number combination to make a marriage work or bring baby up??!? Were you stupid all your lives or did you have to really, really work at it? Make it stop, please, make it stop.....*whimpers*
3 May
We are up before the sun is, we grab all the stuff we're supposed to bring and are out the door in no time.
First stop was day surgery as we were the first case of the day and OT wasn't open that early in the morning, mummy got prepped while daddy tried to stand somewhere where he couldn't block people. Then it was off to OT to wait some more, mummy got wheeled in while daddy changed into scrubs (must....resist.....urge.....Nurse! Get 2 units of O neg into this guy and start an IV on that one, wide open...damn you, ER wannabe!!) and waited some more. Anesthetist comes in and shoots mummy up with happy juice (but not before almost rendering her unconscious with pain from repeated attempts at injecting lignocaine into the epidural space). It is lucky that daddy was sitting at OT reception cooling his heels at this point for it is almost certain daddy would not have stayed conscious if he had witnessed abovementioned prepping of mummy pain adverse pussy that he is.
Daddy gets called into the OR just as surgeon starts cutting mummy up to get to EJ. Again, being about as useful as an uncouscious surgeon teaching a class on quantum physics daddy wisely places himself in a corner where he won't trip anyone and witnesses the noisy ballet that is an OR. Yep, I said noisy, perhaps it was the nature of the op, but I always envisioned ORs to be temples of quiet where surgeons and nurses went about their jobs in a measured way, instead the scene was more like controlled pandemonium with the two surgeons going about their work while a nurse assisted them, the more senior of the two all the while giving the junior one pop quizzes on this procedure or that body part. Meanwhile, the anesthetist is monitoring mummy's vitals and giving instructions to up the rate of that drip or put in some more *insert unitelligible medical drip term here*.
The surgeons start putting some real pressure on mummy's tummy as they position EJ to come out of the 6 inch cresent shaped incision they have made just above the bikini line. Their movements are violent enough to rock mummy's body, picture if you will, a man standing over your wife, applying pressure very violently and animatedly at downwards from the top of her tummy while another man uses a pair of forceps to pull your child out. I wasn't standing at the business end of things cos I was giving mummy moral support but I do remember thinking it was all so surreal. Thinking back now, I filter out all the ambient noises and voices around me, I remember mummy smiling at me and giving me the "it's all right" look when they know their husbands are about to lose it, I remember the two surgeons pushing and pulling for all they were worth.
The next thing I know, a cry is heard above the suction noises coming out of mummy's tummy. The junior guy pulls out this tiny human being all covered in some grey mucus and hands it over to the midwife, who has until this point been in the background, with her are two med student docs/nurses who observe her every move while she starts EJ on the very first test of her life. A battery of initial tests to see if tiny human being has the reflexes expected of a normal human being is quickly completed. (9 out of a possible 10 score, yay! baby so crever! see! so smart! first test got 90%, can go RGS and then RJC and then among-the-world-best NUS already). The surgeons have by now started on sewing mummy up. A quick grasp of mummy's hand and a quietly mouthed "see you soon, love you" and daddy is following midwife and tiny human being out of OR.
EJ is taken out of OR to a delivery suite where her weight, height and head circumference measurements are taken and recorded so a run on these number combinations can be made by concerned relatives at the nearest TOTO outlet at the earliest possible inconvenience. A neonatologist comes in and gives her the once over, breathing is a little erratic but lungs have just started working so give her 15 minutes and she'll be fine. Daddy leaves EJ to go back to OT recovery to check on mummy who's looks good considering the circumstances. After a short wait in recovery, mum and dad proceed to move up to the neonatal ward where EJ follows shortly.
The rest of the week goes by in a blur of family and friends visiting, mummy breastfeeding EJ and a sudden influx of patients to the ward on 05/05/05, all caesarean cases. Make the inanity stop! As a side note, a record number (as compared to what I cannot remember) of marriages were also registered on 05/05/05 with an even higher number for a date just round the corner, 20/05/05. Don't you fools see that it takes more than a fancy number combination to make a marriage work or bring baby up??!? Were you stupid all your lives or did you have to really, really work at it? Make it stop, please, make it stop.....*whimpers*
Monday, 9 May 2005
Tuesday, 3 May 2005
Here's looking at you kid
So many things I wanted to blog about, some interesting nuggets in the papers of the past week I wanted to share, but all that can wait. You will come into this world in a few short hours, last minute checks of the stuff we have to bring are being made as I type this. We have done all we can to prepare for this day. It's in your tiny little hands (and in the hands of our Friend above) now. Be seeing soon EJ.
Sunday, 1 May 2005
Somebody stop me
Seeing as to how whoever was responsible for coming up with my Chinese name made a hash of it coupled with the fact that the in-laws didn't seem too up to speed in that department either AND how badly we wanted (well, ok I since the Mrs. has got a nice sounding cheenah name) a name we (ok, ok, I) and EJ could live with saw us making a beeline for Kinokuniya and Borders in a last minute frenzied attempt at finding said suitable Chinese name.
Enquiry faxes to the respective bookstores saw prompt replies from both parties, kudos to the backroom support. Kino has 2 of the books I was looking for, Borders another. It was supposed to be a short in and out kind of trip since we were rushing for a family lunch. You know, kind of like the surgical strikes that only exist in military planners' heads. Needless to say, the surgical strikes were anything but, more like indiscriminate carpet bombing (it's on target if it hits the ground).
Bad boy, very bad boy, hands off the wallet next time we go book store or no more outings for you
Books on getting the most out of D-SLRs and the Iraq War were picked up in addition to the original targets. I've been a bad boy, a very bad boy, water and white bread for the rest of this month. I'll let you know which ones are winners and stinkers after I'm done with them.
This whole weekend is going up in smoke what with all the last minute prep and cleaning of the house in anticipation of adding 1 more to the population of this great nation of ours. Still, we did take some time to fulfill our obligations to a higher authority.
Enquiry faxes to the respective bookstores saw prompt replies from both parties, kudos to the backroom support. Kino has 2 of the books I was looking for, Borders another. It was supposed to be a short in and out kind of trip since we were rushing for a family lunch. You know, kind of like the surgical strikes that only exist in military planners' heads. Needless to say, the surgical strikes were anything but, more like indiscriminate carpet bombing (it's on target if it hits the ground).
Bad boy, very bad boy, hands off the wallet next time we go book store or no more outings for you
Books on getting the most out of D-SLRs and the Iraq War were picked up in addition to the original targets. I've been a bad boy, a very bad boy, water and white bread for the rest of this month. I'll let you know which ones are winners and stinkers after I'm done with them.
This whole weekend is going up in smoke what with all the last minute prep and cleaning of the house in anticipation of adding 1 more to the population of this great nation of ours. Still, we did take some time to fulfill our obligations to a higher authority.
Friday, 29 April 2005
My 15 seconds of fame, his 30 minute rule, 4 days to liftoff
tomorrow.sg has seen fit to highlight one of my posts. And just like that my visitor log has gone tits up after having the visitor counter jump by 100%. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want the exposure but I really didn't expect it so soon after I just started the blog. I would have wanted a little more meat on the table before I opened for business. There's a metaphor in there somewhere, go fish. Anyways, wow, I is famous now, for my next trick, I TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD
Thank you gentle folk for dropping by, yes, all 5 of you. Kindly drop me an email or a line in any of the comments section so I know who bothers to read the crap I generate or simply to rag me on anything you think needs improvement. I don't own any cows hence nothing is sacred. I await your comments with bated breath. Pander to the nihilist in me why don't you?
**********************************************************
Mr. Robert Yeo, 84, cannot remember when was the last time he took a bus, let alone a car ride.
The sprightly man, who has been caring for his 82-year-old wfe Yeo Mui Neo since she lost her eye-sight to glaucoma 10 years ago, lives by a "30-minute rule".
He will only go to places - usually coffeeshops where all their meals come from - which are within a 30-minute walking distance from their one-room Toa Payoh flat.
"I can't leave her alone," he says.
He is her her eyes, hands and legs. "He does everything for me. He's a very good husband." says Mrs Yeo, who is bedridden because of weak legs.
When she has to use the toilet, he has to life and carry her from the bed to the wheelchair and back again.
"He's a one-man show. He never complains. The minute she calls 'Bert', he'll be there next to her." - relative Mrs Molly Seow, 71.
Mr. Yeo has declined suggestions to place his wife in a nursing home, opting instead for regular visits by health professionals from Touch Home Care.
Asked if he ever feels burnt out or worries about the future, he says: "My greatest joy is taking care of her. I don't worry about tomorrow. We'll just take everything in our stride."
- The Straits Times, life! (April 27, 2005)
Words fail me, it's a wonder people like him still walk among us in times like these, there is hope yet for the human race. You da man Mr. Yeo, I want to be like you when I grow up. I had wanted to post something this up sooner but something else got in the way, seeing I've hit my monthly quota of raging against the machine I thought I'd do my sanity a favour and focus on what's good in this world.
In other news everything goes smooth for our Tuesday blastoff, the pad's been booked, Mission Control briefed and prepped, the mothership is ready in all respects, the payload is rattling about like she just don't care and me, well, heck, I got the easy part, don't look, don't faint. Night all.
Thank you gentle folk for dropping by, yes, all 5 of you. Kindly drop me an email or a line in any of the comments section so I know who bothers to read the crap I generate or simply to rag me on anything you think needs improvement. I don't own any cows hence nothing is sacred. I await your comments with bated breath. Pander to the nihilist in me why don't you?
**********************************************************
Mr. Robert Yeo, 84, cannot remember when was the last time he took a bus, let alone a car ride.
The sprightly man, who has been caring for his 82-year-old wfe Yeo Mui Neo since she lost her eye-sight to glaucoma 10 years ago, lives by a "30-minute rule".
He will only go to places - usually coffeeshops where all their meals come from - which are within a 30-minute walking distance from their one-room Toa Payoh flat.
"I can't leave her alone," he says.
He is her her eyes, hands and legs. "He does everything for me. He's a very good husband." says Mrs Yeo, who is bedridden because of weak legs.
When she has to use the toilet, he has to life and carry her from the bed to the wheelchair and back again.
"He's a one-man show. He never complains. The minute she calls 'Bert', he'll be there next to her." - relative Mrs Molly Seow, 71.
Mr. Yeo has declined suggestions to place his wife in a nursing home, opting instead for regular visits by health professionals from Touch Home Care.
Asked if he ever feels burnt out or worries about the future, he says: "My greatest joy is taking care of her. I don't worry about tomorrow. We'll just take everything in our stride."
- The Straits Times, life! (April 27, 2005)
Words fail me, it's a wonder people like him still walk among us in times like these, there is hope yet for the human race. You da man Mr. Yeo, I want to be like you when I grow up. I had wanted to post something this up sooner but something else got in the way, seeing I've hit my monthly quota of raging against the machine I thought I'd do my sanity a favour and focus on what's good in this world.
In other news everything goes smooth for our Tuesday blastoff, the pad's been booked, Mission Control briefed and prepped, the mothership is ready in all respects, the payload is rattling about like she just don't care and me, well, heck, I got the easy part, don't look, don't faint. Night all.
How could you?
"Racism is inherent in our nature, because of the need for self-preservation.
The danger is only when racism in thought is carried out in a provocative, senseless and insensitive manner.
Such as Hitler's 'Final Solution' and the 1964 racial riots. These should be condemned.
However, I do agree that racial purity should be maintained so that bloodlines, remain untainted and undiluted.
I would not marry someone of another race. Nor would I allow my children to.
If we allow our races' bloodlines to be mixed, we will lose our distinctive features and cultures. Same race marriage should be encouraged to maintain racial purity.
Racism is alive whether we like it or not, and it's harmless as long as it's controlled.
- Loi Chin Wee Desmond (The Straits Times, April 23, 2005)
Moved by the understanding that purity of the German Blood is the essential condition for the continued existence of the German people, and inspired by the inflexible determination to ensure the existence of the German Nation for all time, the Reichstag has unanimously adopted the following Law, which is promulgated herewith:
Article 1.
1) Marriages between Jews and subjects of the state of German or related blood are forbidden. Marriages nevertheless concluded are invalid, even if concluded abroad to circumvent this law.
- The Nuremberg Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor, September 15, 1935
There is much left to do in this world of ours without people like you making everyone take a step backwards with your way of thinking. Haslinda and Baljeet bring up issues which desperately need looking into, but by your choice of words like 'racial purity', and of 'bloodlines' remaining 'untainted' and 'undiluted', you drag us back in the time. Do you even realise how hauntingly similiar your words echo the ghosts of history? You just don't say things like "same race marriage should be encouraged to maintain racial purity" and not expect people to react.
Cracking race jokes among friends, especially with friends from other races, are to me, signs of a pretty strong friendship, of which I am privileged to have quite a few. But scratch the surface of things and you'll start hearing stories not unlike Haslinda's. I suppose it's hard for the majority of the Chinese population that makes up the majority of this country to be treated to the often subtle, sometimes outright discrimination that our friends in the minority races face.
But really, that's a lame excuse. Anyone who's stayed abroad for an extended period of time would have encountered at least one unpleasant episode of outright racism. Failing that, anyone who's got a ounce of empathy in their blood would instinctively know if they were in a situation which made their friends of other races uncomfortable. I can't remember the number of times I've heard the most racist of comments come out from people I considered friends, I'm ashamed to say I always let it slide, after today, not anymore.
The often brought up examples of racial discrimination in the job ads are often discussed but it never seems like anyone does anything about it. What's it to you if I'm Malay/Indian/Others? You want Mandarin speakers, I can speak Mandarin, I fulfilled every requirement you asked for, why you still tell me you looking for Chinese only? There is something desperately wrong with the system, we need to fix it, like now, yesterday.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
— Unknown
The danger is only when racism in thought is carried out in a provocative, senseless and insensitive manner.
Such as Hitler's 'Final Solution' and the 1964 racial riots. These should be condemned.
However, I do agree that racial purity should be maintained so that bloodlines, remain untainted and undiluted.
I would not marry someone of another race. Nor would I allow my children to.
If we allow our races' bloodlines to be mixed, we will lose our distinctive features and cultures. Same race marriage should be encouraged to maintain racial purity.
Racism is alive whether we like it or not, and it's harmless as long as it's controlled.
- Loi Chin Wee Desmond (The Straits Times, April 23, 2005)
Moved by the understanding that purity of the German Blood is the essential condition for the continued existence of the German people, and inspired by the inflexible determination to ensure the existence of the German Nation for all time, the Reichstag has unanimously adopted the following Law, which is promulgated herewith:
Article 1.
1) Marriages between Jews and subjects of the state of German or related blood are forbidden. Marriages nevertheless concluded are invalid, even if concluded abroad to circumvent this law.
- The Nuremberg Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor, September 15, 1935
There is much left to do in this world of ours without people like you making everyone take a step backwards with your way of thinking. Haslinda and Baljeet bring up issues which desperately need looking into, but by your choice of words like 'racial purity', and of 'bloodlines' remaining 'untainted' and 'undiluted', you drag us back in the time. Do you even realise how hauntingly similiar your words echo the ghosts of history? You just don't say things like "same race marriage should be encouraged to maintain racial purity" and not expect people to react.
Cracking race jokes among friends, especially with friends from other races, are to me, signs of a pretty strong friendship, of which I am privileged to have quite a few. But scratch the surface of things and you'll start hearing stories not unlike Haslinda's. I suppose it's hard for the majority of the Chinese population that makes up the majority of this country to be treated to the often subtle, sometimes outright discrimination that our friends in the minority races face.
But really, that's a lame excuse. Anyone who's stayed abroad for an extended period of time would have encountered at least one unpleasant episode of outright racism. Failing that, anyone who's got a ounce of empathy in their blood would instinctively know if they were in a situation which made their friends of other races uncomfortable. I can't remember the number of times I've heard the most racist of comments come out from people I considered friends, I'm ashamed to say I always let it slide, after today, not anymore.
The often brought up examples of racial discrimination in the job ads are often discussed but it never seems like anyone does anything about it. What's it to you if I'm Malay/Indian/Others? You want Mandarin speakers, I can speak Mandarin, I fulfilled every requirement you asked for, why you still tell me you looking for Chinese only? There is something desperately wrong with the system, we need to fix it, like now, yesterday.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
— Unknown
Thursday, 28 April 2005
Racism and Too Bad Stupidity Isn't Painful #01
racism
• noun 1 the belief that there are characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to each race. 2 discrimination against or antagonism towards other races.
The Straits Times (March 25, 2005)
NTU student brings the art of being a moron to new heights when he asks Dr. Vivian Balakrishan, (mixed parentage and married a Chinese to boot) Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and concurrently Second Minister for Trade and Industry (phew, try saying that in one go) on his take on mixed marriages.
phelan has more on this.
The Straits Times (April 9, 2005)
As a followup to the previous "incident", ST does an article on whether racism was indeed alive and kicking on our little red dot.
The Straits Times (April 23, 2005)
Some reader responses to article of April 9.
"Are Singaporeans racist? Yes.
I once applied for a position in a statutory board. Interviewing me were three Chinese women, including a head of department.
The department head said: 'I am very reluctant to employ you, as you are a Malay. We try not to employ Malays and Indians, as they are trouble-makers.'
That was a very sad day.
It's even more dangerous if educators are not stopped from making racist remarks, corrupting their students.
One day, my eight-year-old son, who studies in a Special Assistance Plan school, told me that his teachers said: 'Malays and Indians have kutu (Malay for lice).'
This is not an isolated case. We must stop this trend."
- Haslinda Shamsudin
"A true racist is one who despises people of another race.
Racist jokes are, to me, harmless. Some stereotyping is factual but retold creatively. Whether one is racist depends on one's intention.
If we cannot even laugh at ourselves, we risk becoming a society without a soul. Singaporeans have built up strong racial ties though the years and do not mind harmless fun.
It's no more than a good pillow fight."
- Joseph Wong
"Singaporeans are racist, but it's not entirely their doing. The Government has continually played on fears - fears of tension, of riots, anything reminiscent of the 1960s.
This makes young Singaporeans more aware of their racial differences and they become more sensitive and defensive."
- Ho Chi Sam
"Racism is inherent in our nature, because of the need for self-preservation.
The danger is only when racism in thought is carried out in a provocative, senseless and insensitive manner.
Such as Hitler's 'Final Solution' and the 1964 racial riots. These should be condemned.
However, I do agree that racial purity should be maintained so that bloodlines, remain untainted and undiluted.
I would not marry someone of another race. Nor would I allow my children to.
If we allow our races' bloodlines to be mixed, we will lose our distinctive features and cultures. Same race marriage should be encouraged to maintain racial purity.
Racism is alive whether we like it or not, and it's harmless as long as it's controlled.
- Loi Chin Wee Desmond
"I complete disagree with the viewpoint of Minster of State for Foreign Affairs Zainal Abidin Rasheed that Singaporeans are now more enlightened.
Racism has become worse, post-9/11. Malays are looked at in a different light. Post-9/11, Chinese and Indians started assuming that their Malay neighbour was a Muslim fundamentalist, hence a terrorist.
Those who think there is no racism here should travel abroad. Only where you are in minority can you understand how it feels."
- Anup Kumar
"Singapore should adopt an equal-opportunity policy like in Britain and impose race and sex discrimination laws. Only then would the ethnic minorities in Singapore be given a fair chance."
- Baljeet Kaur
Erm, Desmond? Sorry to disturb ah but newsflash, you sound a lot like someone I know from around 60 years back and the last time I checked that fella caused a world of hurt and tens of millions to perish, so I'd suggest you take some time to google/wiki the words "Hitler", "Jim Crow", "racism" and "Final Solution" to see how much you sound like a parrot before you make yourself the poster boy for "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"
• noun 1 the belief that there are characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to each race. 2 discrimination against or antagonism towards other races.
The Straits Times (March 25, 2005)
NTU student brings the art of being a moron to new heights when he asks Dr. Vivian Balakrishan, (mixed parentage and married a Chinese to boot) Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and concurrently Second Minister for Trade and Industry (phew, try saying that in one go) on his take on mixed marriages.
phelan has more on this.
The Straits Times (April 9, 2005)
As a followup to the previous "incident", ST does an article on whether racism was indeed alive and kicking on our little red dot.
The Straits Times (April 23, 2005)
Some reader responses to article of April 9.
"Are Singaporeans racist? Yes.
I once applied for a position in a statutory board. Interviewing me were three Chinese women, including a head of department.
The department head said: 'I am very reluctant to employ you, as you are a Malay. We try not to employ Malays and Indians, as they are trouble-makers.'
That was a very sad day.
It's even more dangerous if educators are not stopped from making racist remarks, corrupting their students.
One day, my eight-year-old son, who studies in a Special Assistance Plan school, told me that his teachers said: 'Malays and Indians have kutu (Malay for lice).'
This is not an isolated case. We must stop this trend."
- Haslinda Shamsudin
"A true racist is one who despises people of another race.
Racist jokes are, to me, harmless. Some stereotyping is factual but retold creatively. Whether one is racist depends on one's intention.
If we cannot even laugh at ourselves, we risk becoming a society without a soul. Singaporeans have built up strong racial ties though the years and do not mind harmless fun.
It's no more than a good pillow fight."
- Joseph Wong
"Singaporeans are racist, but it's not entirely their doing. The Government has continually played on fears - fears of tension, of riots, anything reminiscent of the 1960s.
This makes young Singaporeans more aware of their racial differences and they become more sensitive and defensive."
- Ho Chi Sam
"Racism is inherent in our nature, because of the need for self-preservation.
The danger is only when racism in thought is carried out in a provocative, senseless and insensitive manner.
Such as Hitler's 'Final Solution' and the 1964 racial riots. These should be condemned.
However, I do agree that racial purity should be maintained so that bloodlines, remain untainted and undiluted.
I would not marry someone of another race. Nor would I allow my children to.
If we allow our races' bloodlines to be mixed, we will lose our distinctive features and cultures. Same race marriage should be encouraged to maintain racial purity.
Racism is alive whether we like it or not, and it's harmless as long as it's controlled.
- Loi Chin Wee Desmond
"I complete disagree with the viewpoint of Minster of State for Foreign Affairs Zainal Abidin Rasheed that Singaporeans are now more enlightened.
Racism has become worse, post-9/11. Malays are looked at in a different light. Post-9/11, Chinese and Indians started assuming that their Malay neighbour was a Muslim fundamentalist, hence a terrorist.
Those who think there is no racism here should travel abroad. Only where you are in minority can you understand how it feels."
- Anup Kumar
"Singapore should adopt an equal-opportunity policy like in Britain and impose race and sex discrimination laws. Only then would the ethnic minorities in Singapore be given a fair chance."
- Baljeet Kaur
Erm, Desmond? Sorry to disturb ah but newsflash, you sound a lot like someone I know from around 60 years back and the last time I checked that fella caused a world of hurt and tens of millions to perish, so I'd suggest you take some time to google/wiki the words "Hitler", "Jim Crow", "racism" and "Final Solution" to see how much you sound like a parrot before you make yourself the poster boy for "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"
Tuesday, 26 April 2005
Homeworlds
That first intake of air into your tiny lungs, the cool air of the OT rushing headlong into every nook and cranny of your lungs as you take your first breath (and using it to make known your displeasure at being yanked out of Mummy's womb in the only way you know how). Opening your mucus covered eyes to the harsh spotlights that illuminate the stage that is your Act 1, Scene 1. The strange sensations you hear and feel as pairs of hands first cradle, clean and finally wrap you up so you're snug and warm. A pair of hands that you instinctively know to be your Mother's reaches out and holds her to you, her body warming yours as you lie snuggled in her arms, the sound of her voice soothing you even as you can't understand a single word she says. You're Home. And then some annoying blob you can't discern (because your eyesight has yet to fully develop) starts firing bright strobes in your face. Hi Daddy.
Things are happening so fast I haven't really had the time to sit down and think about what's going to happen in a week's time. I'm going to be a father, I've thought it about it from time to time in the years before today but never really dwelt on it because the thought seemed so abstract, did I tell you how I felt when I first saw you on the ultrasound machine screen? I couldn't stop this big shit-eating grin from appearing on my face even as your mum and I watched you fidget while the sonographer tried to get good data on you. You're a frisky one you are, all through these 38 weeks you've been inside Mummy you've never let a day go by without running a marathon inside her womb. Kicks, punches, somersaults, especially before and during mealtimes.
I can't wait for you to be out so I can hold you. I'll try to give you the freedom to try anything once but I'll step in if I think there's something you shouldn't be doing. I won't tell you what to do but rather let you know where the chips lie and let you make your own decisions. I'll try not to talk down to you, I'll treat you with the respect you deserve as a human being but always remembering that you're a growing child I'll be there to correct whatever behaviour is inappropriate. You'll always have a loving home and a warm bed to come home to no matter what you do or how old you are. I pray that I'll know how to recognise that someday when you'll know more about something than I do and to trust you in your decision making when that day comes. I pray I know when to hold on and when to let go. I hope you never speak to me with fear in your heart, I hope you never speak to me with disrespect. I hope that you'll grow up with the fear and knowledge of God by your side. I have hopes and dreams for you but they're not the sort that involves medicine or law school for there are far greater things to strive for on this Earth. We'll get to that in due time.
By the way, I finally found something on how they used a ultrasound machine to check you for developmental defects (medspeak for is you a normal baby), it's called Nuchal Translucency and I'm still in awe of they do it.
I was listening to a couple of old records yesterday, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings came up, I remembering hearing the choral version, Agnus Dei, the first time on Homeworld, a computer game I was crazy about way back then. It was background music to an intro to a scene in which the player was in a desperate race to save these 6 barges full of cryogenically frozen Hiigarans from being blasted into oblivion as they set out on their epic journey to find their Homeworld. First off, Homeworld was already mind blowing in it's conception and execution in the first place, here it was, a space game which truly felt like a space opera. The voicework, the scale of the game, the backstories, they all just came together so perfectly you just knew you were playing a piece of gaming history.
Enter Adagio for Strings, it just blew me away man, blew me away, it was the saddest piece of music I had ever heard, juxtaposed against the backstory, it was all I could do to blink back the tears. You just have to buy the game and play it to experience it. Samuel Barber was a freaking genius, notwithstanding his "one hit wonder". The many ways in which this piece of music was used is a testament to the raw emotion it invokes in anyone who listens to it.
54 people died and 440 were injured when a passenger train derailed in Japan yesterday. The 23 year old train driver had apparently overshot the platform at an earlier stop and was behind schedule because he had to back the train up. There is speculation that he was speeding to make up for lost time and didn't slow down at a bend in the tracks causing 4 of 7 carriages to jump the tracks and pile up against an apartment block scant metres from the railway tracks.
In the midst of impending new life death works overtime.
Things are happening so fast I haven't really had the time to sit down and think about what's going to happen in a week's time. I'm going to be a father, I've thought it about it from time to time in the years before today but never really dwelt on it because the thought seemed so abstract, did I tell you how I felt when I first saw you on the ultrasound machine screen? I couldn't stop this big shit-eating grin from appearing on my face even as your mum and I watched you fidget while the sonographer tried to get good data on you. You're a frisky one you are, all through these 38 weeks you've been inside Mummy you've never let a day go by without running a marathon inside her womb. Kicks, punches, somersaults, especially before and during mealtimes.
I can't wait for you to be out so I can hold you. I'll try to give you the freedom to try anything once but I'll step in if I think there's something you shouldn't be doing. I won't tell you what to do but rather let you know where the chips lie and let you make your own decisions. I'll try not to talk down to you, I'll treat you with the respect you deserve as a human being but always remembering that you're a growing child I'll be there to correct whatever behaviour is inappropriate. You'll always have a loving home and a warm bed to come home to no matter what you do or how old you are. I pray that I'll know how to recognise that someday when you'll know more about something than I do and to trust you in your decision making when that day comes. I pray I know when to hold on and when to let go. I hope you never speak to me with fear in your heart, I hope you never speak to me with disrespect. I hope that you'll grow up with the fear and knowledge of God by your side. I have hopes and dreams for you but they're not the sort that involves medicine or law school for there are far greater things to strive for on this Earth. We'll get to that in due time.
By the way, I finally found something on how they used a ultrasound machine to check you for developmental defects (medspeak for is you a normal baby), it's called Nuchal Translucency and I'm still in awe of they do it.
I was listening to a couple of old records yesterday, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings came up, I remembering hearing the choral version, Agnus Dei, the first time on Homeworld, a computer game I was crazy about way back then. It was background music to an intro to a scene in which the player was in a desperate race to save these 6 barges full of cryogenically frozen Hiigarans from being blasted into oblivion as they set out on their epic journey to find their Homeworld. First off, Homeworld was already mind blowing in it's conception and execution in the first place, here it was, a space game which truly felt like a space opera. The voicework, the scale of the game, the backstories, they all just came together so perfectly you just knew you were playing a piece of gaming history.
Enter Adagio for Strings, it just blew me away man, blew me away, it was the saddest piece of music I had ever heard, juxtaposed against the backstory, it was all I could do to blink back the tears. You just have to buy the game and play it to experience it. Samuel Barber was a freaking genius, notwithstanding his "one hit wonder". The many ways in which this piece of music was used is a testament to the raw emotion it invokes in anyone who listens to it.
54 people died and 440 were injured when a passenger train derailed in Japan yesterday. The 23 year old train driver had apparently overshot the platform at an earlier stop and was behind schedule because he had to back the train up. There is speculation that he was speeding to make up for lost time and didn't slow down at a bend in the tracks causing 4 of 7 carriages to jump the tracks and pile up against an apartment block scant metres from the railway tracks.
In the midst of impending new life death works overtime.
The German Shepherd and baby E.J.
It's been quite a week, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, head of the Doctrine of the Faith, one of the key figures in Pope John Paul's inner circle, is now Pope Bendict XVIthe 265th direct descendent of St. Pete. A man who has been described as the Catholic Church's leading conservative was elected in one of the swiftest elections ever, just 3 ballots over 2 days. It's still early days but it doesn't seem he's as naturally warm as his predecessor, still it's not fair to judge him right out from the gate. Of course the fact he turned 78 last Saturday has not helped in the murmurings about the Conclave's choice. That said, The Lord works in mysterious ways so we'll just have to wait and see.
E.J. is scheduled for touchdown on the morning of 3 May, it's going to have to be a Caesarean cos E.J. has a head that's a little bigger than average and she's been putting on a bit o weight, 3168 grams as of 2 weeks ago. The confinement lady's been given the heads up, everyone who's anyone to us is getting all excited about seeing E.J, the baby bag is packed, mummy is good to go and daddy is praying he won't collapse in an embarassing heap in the OT.
You see, Mrs Egg has elected for an epidural, aka local anasthesia, aka you're-conscious-while-they-cut-you-up. Mummy wants to do this so she can breastfeed E.J. as soon as E.J. comes roaring out the gate. Personally, I think Mummy is psycho but you didn't hear that from me. What this all means is that I'm going to be in there with her as they're doing the cutting, pulling and sewing. I get to bring the camera along so I can capture the procedure in all it's full blood and gore, so yeah, if I have to suffer, all yous is coming along with me.
E.J. is scheduled for touchdown on the morning of 3 May, it's going to have to be a Caesarean cos E.J. has a head that's a little bigger than average and she's been putting on a bit o weight, 3168 grams as of 2 weeks ago. The confinement lady's been given the heads up, everyone who's anyone to us is getting all excited about seeing E.J, the baby bag is packed, mummy is good to go and daddy is praying he won't collapse in an embarassing heap in the OT.
You see, Mrs Egg has elected for an epidural, aka local anasthesia, aka you're-conscious-while-they-cut-you-up. Mummy wants to do this so she can breastfeed E.J. as soon as E.J. comes roaring out the gate. Personally, I think Mummy is psycho but you didn't hear that from me. What this all means is that I'm going to be in there with her as they're doing the cutting, pulling and sewing. I get to bring the camera along so I can capture the procedure in all it's full blood and gore, so yeah, if I have to suffer, all yous is coming along with me.
Monday, 18 April 2005
I R Casino
Dear E.J,
Today our PM decided that Singapore would have not 1, but 2 casinos. The culmination of a year's worth of debate ended in a result that surprised hardly anyone. Well, most people weren't expecting 2 for the price of 1 but what the hay, since we going for it might as well go the whole hog.
The casinos are of course part of a larger picture we like to call the IR or Integrated Resort, the IR located on Sentosa will be family focused whereas the other one on Marina Bay will focus on the super high roller types. So basically, we're gonna get a 2 one-stop entertainment centres which just happen to have casinos in them.
The benefits of having these 2 IRs include S$5,000,000,000 in investments, 35,000 new jobs and a S$1,500,000,000 yearly contribution to the country's bottom line. Hotel complexes with rooms in the thousands, entertainment facilities up the wazoo, restaurants, eateries, the works. As you can see, it's not some small fartcasino IR, no sir, we're talking The Bellagio or The Atlantis here, to paraphrase Trade and Industry Minster Lim Hng Kiang, "...people will actually regret it if they cannot make it to Singapore".
Now, you might imagine there's been a lot of negative energy directed towards this whole IR thingy since we are afterall an Asian country with a strong asian value system. To tell you the truth Daddy is against the whole idea too, you know, the whole gambling is a sin, no such thing as easy money, gambling destroys homes argument. Besides, some Singaporeans have a knack of hurting themselves even if you were to put them in a padded room.
And then there was the fact that we were Johnny come lately to the wholecasino IR party anyways, in the region Macau, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Oz, that-country-next-to-Oz, Myanmar, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Nepal, Philippines, Laos, Vietnam and lousy Tinian (tiny island in the Pacific which had shit bombed out of it in WWII) have or are in the process of operating casinos. Holy one armed bandits Batman, Tinian has a casino??!??
Add to that we don't exactly have a shining record of originality when it comes to tourist attractions, the Singapore Flyer (*cough London Eye cough*) and F1 Powerboat racing (like who the hell follows this sport?) being some of the more recent items on the Things-to-do list.
But, over the past few days as today approached, I found reason to question if my stand against the casino was more emotion than logic. The well-orchestrated release of the survey on how much the average Singaporean spends on gambling, smoking and alcohol threw up some pretty interesting numbers. Gambling $83 smoking $109 alcohol $103. Eh, why no one make any noise about smoking and alcohol? Smoking has a proven statistical chance of killing you, it also kills the innocent twats who happened to be standing next to you when you exhaled. Alcohol can kill too, and in a variety of ways, liver failure (you die, painfully, it's not a question of if but when) and drink driving to name a few. And then there's the spousal and child abuse cos you're too blasted to notice you're beating the shit out of your wife and kids. This last one is more insidious and widespread than you might think because of the social stigma in airing your dirty laundry in public.
Ok, if 2% of Singaporeans are at risk of becoming gambling addicts, what's the numbers on alcoholics and chronic smokers? Why no one complain eh? Where's the noise? Where's the online petition? Got FACT (Families Against The Casino Threat), why not FAST (Smoker Threat)and FAAT (Alcohol Threat)? How much we spending on health care to take care of smokers and alcoholics when we could spend that on education and geratric patient care? How many people die of alcoholism and smoking compared to gambling?
There's going to be fallout from this decision, 2% the experts say, 2% who are at risk of being chronic gamblers, 2% who will sell their mothers and daughters so they can get just that little more cash for that one more never ending round. We'll come back to visit this as the situation develops, for now, I hope the decision that was made on your behalf today doesn't become a millstone around your neck tomorrow.
Love,
Daddy
Today our PM decided that Singapore would have not 1, but 2 casinos. The culmination of a year's worth of debate ended in a result that surprised hardly anyone. Well, most people weren't expecting 2 for the price of 1 but what the hay, since we going for it might as well go the whole hog.
The casinos are of course part of a larger picture we like to call the IR or Integrated Resort, the IR located on Sentosa will be family focused whereas the other one on Marina Bay will focus on the super high roller types. So basically, we're gonna get a 2 one-stop entertainment centres which just happen to have casinos in them.
The benefits of having these 2 IRs include S$5,000,000,000 in investments, 35,000 new jobs and a S$1,500,000,000 yearly contribution to the country's bottom line. Hotel complexes with rooms in the thousands, entertainment facilities up the wazoo, restaurants, eateries, the works. As you can see, it's not some small fart
Now, you might imagine there's been a lot of negative energy directed towards this whole IR thingy since we are afterall an Asian country with a strong asian value system. To tell you the truth Daddy is against the whole idea too, you know, the whole gambling is a sin, no such thing as easy money, gambling destroys homes argument. Besides, some Singaporeans have a knack of hurting themselves even if you were to put them in a padded room.
And then there was the fact that we were Johnny come lately to the whole
Add to that we don't exactly have a shining record of originality when it comes to tourist attractions, the Singapore Flyer (*cough London Eye cough*) and F1 Powerboat racing (like who the hell follows this sport?) being some of the more recent items on the Things-to-do list.
But, over the past few days as today approached, I found reason to question if my stand against the casino was more emotion than logic. The well-orchestrated release of the survey on how much the average Singaporean spends on gambling, smoking and alcohol threw up some pretty interesting numbers. Gambling $83 smoking $109 alcohol $103. Eh, why no one make any noise about smoking and alcohol? Smoking has a proven statistical chance of killing you, it also kills the innocent twats who happened to be standing next to you when you exhaled. Alcohol can kill too, and in a variety of ways, liver failure (you die, painfully, it's not a question of if but when) and drink driving to name a few. And then there's the spousal and child abuse cos you're too blasted to notice you're beating the shit out of your wife and kids. This last one is more insidious and widespread than you might think because of the social stigma in airing your dirty laundry in public.
Ok, if 2% of Singaporeans are at risk of becoming gambling addicts, what's the numbers on alcoholics and chronic smokers? Why no one complain eh? Where's the noise? Where's the online petition? Got FACT (Families Against The Casino Threat), why not FAST (Smoker Threat)and FAAT (Alcohol Threat)? How much we spending on health care to take care of smokers and alcoholics when we could spend that on education and geratric patient care? How many people die of alcoholism and smoking compared to gambling?
There's going to be fallout from this decision, 2% the experts say, 2% who are at risk of being chronic gamblers, 2% who will sell their mothers and daughters so they can get just that little more cash for that one more never ending round. We'll come back to visit this as the situation develops, for now, I hope the decision that was made on your behalf today doesn't become a millstone around your neck tomorrow.
Love,
Daddy
Saturday, 16 April 2005
Do you feel me?
PM Lee said, "Whatever the decision is, we have to close ranks and move ahead so that means the decision is the beginning of the work because there will be more work to be done."
SM Goh said: "The world has changed, Singaporeans have changed. Would our values be eroded just because there is a casino, totally eroded? I don't think so. That there will be incremental social costs, I concede. But will the whole society collapse because of a casino? I don't think so.
MM said even if we don't build one, everyone else will have one anyway.
DPM Tan said the Cabinet has made a difficult decision on a complicated issue and that it was up to everyone to give ideas on how to make the decision work.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also seen it fit to release a 13-page report on the issue by Mr. Chia "I-took-S$117,000,000-from-right-under-APB's-fucking-noses" Teck Leng. Riight, you want me to take trust what this man says? And by the way Mr. Chia, please lah, who are you to suggest a S$10,000 entry fee for Singaporeans, we mature enough to have a casino, we sure as hell mature enough to handle the consequences. That's the only thing that really stinks if we were to have a casino, this entry fee condition for Singaporeans. Either you totally ban us or you don't.
I had a great week, seeing 2 pandas doing it like they do on the Discovery Channel is something else, man, I love DC.
Other notable highlights of the week included seeing a girl who could not have been more than 25 pry open a box of grapes at the local supermart to get at one so she could sample it. This country is destined for great things.
And then there's the one about this goondu who got off the train and then proceeded to go up a downward moving escalator. This would not have been so funny (since saya is guilty of it several times, also cos I could see out of the corner of my eye goondu's doomed approach towards the offending escalator) if not for the fact said goondu was moving so fast and surely that goondu clattered on the steps of the escalator with an almighty cacophony of sounds. Said sounds made the Eggs lose it and it took a strenous effort on the part of both Eggs to maintain a semblance of decorum while goondu meekly took the stairs with everyone else, decorum was promptly lost when goondu was out of earshot. To the people who were present at NE12 this morning, we are sorry for looking and sounding like a pair of deranged hyenas.
SM Goh said: "The world has changed, Singaporeans have changed. Would our values be eroded just because there is a casino, totally eroded? I don't think so. That there will be incremental social costs, I concede. But will the whole society collapse because of a casino? I don't think so.
MM said even if we don't build one, everyone else will have one anyway.
DPM Tan said the Cabinet has made a difficult decision on a complicated issue and that it was up to everyone to give ideas on how to make the decision work.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also seen it fit to release a 13-page report on the issue by Mr. Chia "I-took-S$117,000,000-from-right-under-APB's-fucking-noses" Teck Leng. Riight, you want me to take trust what this man says? And by the way Mr. Chia, please lah, who are you to suggest a S$10,000 entry fee for Singaporeans, we mature enough to have a casino, we sure as hell mature enough to handle the consequences. That's the only thing that really stinks if we were to have a casino, this entry fee condition for Singaporeans. Either you totally ban us or you don't.
I had a great week, seeing 2 pandas doing it like they do on the Discovery Channel is something else, man, I love DC.
Other notable highlights of the week included seeing a girl who could not have been more than 25 pry open a box of grapes at the local supermart to get at one so she could sample it. This country is destined for great things.
And then there's the one about this goondu who got off the train and then proceeded to go up a downward moving escalator. This would not have been so funny (since saya is guilty of it several times, also cos I could see out of the corner of my eye goondu's doomed approach towards the offending escalator) if not for the fact said goondu was moving so fast and surely that goondu clattered on the steps of the escalator with an almighty cacophony of sounds. Said sounds made the Eggs lose it and it took a strenous effort on the part of both Eggs to maintain a semblance of decorum while goondu meekly took the stairs with everyone else, decorum was promptly lost when goondu was out of earshot. To the people who were present at NE12 this morning, we are sorry for looking and sounding like a pair of deranged hyenas.
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