Why YALE probably thinks everyone in Singapore is stupid now thanks to YP

I came across this excellent essay, 712-yale-nus-will-have-freedom-says-yp-member-at-forum. The section that caught my attention was in the last segment, when a YP rep was struggling for dear life to supply an account for how freedom of expression would be come about in Singapore.

I warn you all this is hilarious. I mean 5 chili rib splitting stuff.

“In his reply,, Mr Shen launched into a defence of how Singapore is a multi-racial country and ignored my questions entirely. Mr Shen would have probably gone on and on preaching the benefits of living in Singapore if the moderator had not interjected.

Moderator: “Mr Shen, if you could answer the question…”

Mr Shen, in a hesitant tone: “Well…uh, freedom of expression? It will happen. We didn’t have freedom of expression ten years ago. Freedom of speech and expression. It will happen.”

Another participant interjected at this point and asked, “How? How will this happen?”

Mr Shen, looking flustered,  blurted, “It will happen lah!”

Sadly, we cannot blame Genesis Shen alone for his answer, which is nothing more than a speculative one, although he seems genuinely convicted by his beliefs. Instead, it seems that Mr Shen’s attitude is due to the socio-political environment in which Mr Shen is conditioned.”

Moral of the Story: Never send a sheep to do a fox’s job.

Darkness 2012

What does it mean for the average Singaporean when all the PM can do is say, “I thought you should all know that the price of your soya bean drink may just go up by 5 cents.”

For me, climate change is not only about the abstraction of the carbon footprint and some mythical hole somewhere in the Artic, it is not even about the haze or whether our storm drains in Orchard road will be able to cope with the next round of the seasonal rains.

It is all about something much more basic and down to earth – FOOD. If you really want to know why food is so jugular – just cast your mind back to the pengshan days of soaring food prices in 2008 – when a global food supply crunch led to price hikes all across Singapore island.

You would have thought such a nasty run in with food hikes would have prompted the PAP to shift gears from it’s business as usual lackadaisical attitude of: Why grow our own when we can air-freight food in from all over the world? Why even bother to scour the planet for arable land, when all we need to do is outsource the dirty business of farming to someone else.

Have we become too dependent on food imports that we no longer see the long term dangers of relying on an increasingly rickety global food supply chain to ensure supply always mets demand ? Should the government be doing more NOW to try to secure the long term food supply, so that citizens and residents can continue to have access to nutritious and affordable food without busting our wallets?

What surprises me is how so little has been done by the Singapore government to insulate the average Singaporean from unexpected price hikes of food. Recently Mini Lee summarized the bovine attitude of the ruling party hegemony concerning food security aptly, when he highlighted how the drought sweeping the corn belt in America is likely to lead to higher prices for Tau Hue Zhui and less corn in ice kacang. Presumably this bochap attitude harks back to the PAP favorite tagline, “we are price takers, not price setters.” True to that spirit, Mini Lee offered no solutions to alleviate the steadily increasing price of food. Apparently, Mini Lee thought this was something we should all look out for – thanks for the info. Thanks nothing lah!

This lacksaidal attitude by the PAP stands in marked contrast to the food security agenda of other countries who are taking concrete steps to ensure the long term supply of affordable and nutritious food sources for their citizens – when one considers how countries such as micro Kuwait, Dubai along with mega sized China, India and even neighboring Malaysia have been vigorously expanding overseas into South America and Africa to secure long term food supplies for their citizens – the PAP seems to be taking the cinchai attitude – this is not within our control. I guess what they are trying to say in not so many words is this is really not the PAP’s problem – it’s really not the government’s problem. That in Singapore in simply code for passing the buck to the end user like so many other price hikes that we so often see in Singapore. 

At first it appears the PAP may well be justified in it’s stance – as Singapore is hardly the Ukraine – it only has a measely land area of some 710 square kilometers (284 square miles) – and since the vast majority of people live in high-rise apartments and industries are clustered together that leaves only a sliver of space for commercial farming.

My feel is having a space constraint even one as acute as Singapore’s should NEVER absolve the government from doing more to secure cheap food for citizens and residents overseas. Both Dubai and Kuwait may be small and even lack arable land. But this doesn’t prevent from securing long term supplies for food from Africa and South America. This is after all what most countries are already doing in earnest as they continue to secure concessions for arable land throughout the world to strengthen their food security.

My point is everyone in Singapore has an elemental right to nutritious and affordable food. If the government is going to hold on to their laissez faire attitude of passing the buck of food hikes to the average Singaporean in the way they manage oil, electricity and public transportation. Then what will probably happen is most Singaporeans will have no choice but to content themselves with eating cheap and unhealthy food. And we all know cheap food ultimately leads to poor health – further down the road, our children can only suffer. They will suffer as cheap food can often trigger anti social behavior, poor grades, attention deficit disorders etc – when consuming cheap food people also seem to be more susceptible to allergies that exacerbate their health problems. Worst of all they all suffer from the economic anxieties associated with the failure of the PAP to prioritize food security as it does conventional defense – they suffer not only physically, but mentally as well – as when the price of food turns solely on the vagaries of market forces, that simply means, eating healthily is no longer assured and living can no longer, be cheap or even certain.

As for happiness in Singapore, that might as well be another story in a faraway distant land called, “four square meals.”

Darkness 2012

“Understand this! We can all live without cheap clothes, cheap Ferraris, cheap iPads and all that -as these things are fun to have, but they aren’t necessaries. But we all cannot live without reasonably priced food. Even today in Singapore it is already very expensive to eat healthily. As for the PAP they don’t seem to be taking food security seriously. I haven’t even seen a single minister talk about this subject, it seems to be off their radar – haven’t even seen a single AVA land rover in Africa or South America. Looked high and low.Nothing! Every day we are hoping to see someone from Singapore come down the road – as it would be nice to bum off a few boxes of Maggi mee and Bak Kuah from someone who comes from home – but this I can share with all of you – we have all seen plenty of four wheel drives, helicopters and surveying aircrafts and plenty rugged individuals from China, Indian, Russia and even Maldives who are all frantically looking to grab land in every conceivable corner of the world to ensure that their citizens can eat well into the middle of the 21^st century and beyond. But as far as Singapore is concerned, a big nothing. One reason for this may reside in the fossilized attitudes and worldview of the current political hegemony that runs Singapore; they don’t see themselves running a country as much as operators of a five star hotel. To them if they don’t have enough rice or onions, they can always pick up the phone and within the hour a truck will just pull up to the service entrance to make up for whatever is lacking in the kitchen. As for the price hikes this can always be reliably pass on to the hotel guest – that kind of Inn keepers supply chain management may have worked in the past, but these days it is coming under considerable stress. I don’t think that sort of attitude necessarily adds any value to mitigating the soaring price of food in the future. If anything that sort of cinchai attitude will simply translate into missed opportunities that will affect many Singaporeans and residents negatively – a day will come in Singapore; when its conceivable, we will even see the emergence of a new underclass who are defined by what they regularly have to eat instead of should eat – the poor will simply not be able to afford to eat well. When that day comes, what is the PAP going to say to all of us?Are they going to stand up on a soap box and tell us all, “we don’t have a choice, we are too small, we have no land, we are price takers not price setters.”

If anyone in PAP is dumb enough to say that publicly some where down the future, then from this corner, where I am standing right now, you will certainly hear plenty of serious men shouting more than fuck you sir! Come on think! When was having a constraint ever an excuse for sitting on your big backside and doing nothing? Singapore may not have enough real estate to effectively train pilots and tank commanders. But this can be augmented by having joint agreements with countries such as Australia, Brunei, Taiwan and France that don’t face an acute shortage of land. My point is this problem is surmountable – its winnable. If I had the backing, I would seize land like Rommel through out the Ivory Coast right up to the East in Mogadishu and move upwards to Chad and Libya. It is a fallacy to believe, we are price takers – I do not accept that logic Gentlemen, that is defeatist – the only quarter of the population this serves is the PAP. They seem to relish in the bad habit of telling everyone – we are price takers, not setters. This I don’t deny may prove true for oil, but I don’t believe it applies right across the board to include food – as this is really something that is foreseeable and can be interdicted – it’s winnable and doable IMHO, providing this people can get out from their air-conditioned caves. In 3 to 5 years, the door will be shut for good – by then, its cut and dried. So don’t be surprised, if you hear some of these serious men saying:

“We have (or had one, at least) a choice! We may not have land, but there is plenty of land in Africa and South America, we need not ever be price takers, we can set the price. We can take control of our destiny.”

Dr Yaacob and his broken record about CoC.

Let’s dive straight in. Yaacob Ibrahim wants a Code of Conduct for the Internet. He wants it so bad that he can’t seem to stop talking about it. Even when everyone has forgotten about it and moved on to other stuff – Yaacob is still jumping out like a demented Jack in the box and wants us all to buy into a CoC.

Yaacob believes the CoC will go a long way to promote ‘honest, constructive, rational” discussions online?

The way I see it, most netizens are quite baffled by Yaacob. Since the vast majority of netizens do not see the internet as the main problem facing our society. On the contrary, they see the government and the entire state controlled apparatus i.e MSM, as the main problem that impedes, “‘honest, constructive, rational” dialogue. As both of them don’t seem very interested to account for their incomprehensible acts and omissions. Neither do they seem very interested in forwarding the truth either. Instead what they do is regularly manipulate the truth to suit their own ends by exageratting, embellishing, mythologizing and conflating their version of the truth. That simply means the level of trust that exist between officialdom and netizens stand at zero. So how can there even be consensus under those conditions?

And that Yaacob is the truth and nothing but the truth.

So what do you say Yaacob? Why don’t you work on the trust factor first? By fixing many of the things that are broken in both the ST and government – to put it another way, why don’t you get your own house in order first Yaacob. BEFORE you come down here and tell us what we should all do. After that we will talk about CoC for the internet.

Do we have a deal?

Darkness 2012

P.S: I knew this matter would not die down so easily, so I made a brief video of why I believe, it is not advisable to regulate the internet.

Food Prices are going up….err what is the government going to do?

A very simple question: to deal with the impending food prices likely to hit most Singaporeans and residents – what is the government planning to do?

Are they planning to slash GST for food in supermarkets? Nope. Are they planning to curb hawkers from ridding on this wave of food hikes to prevent them from raising their prices? Nope. Might they even be preparing a food security contingency plan? Nope. Not that I know of. As none of us have even seen a single AVA research team scouring for new sources of food supplies – we have all seen alot of Chinese, Indians, European and even Malaysians driving around in their 4XA and flying around in their helicopters. But yet to see a single AVA team.

Recently, Mini Lee decided to warn Singaporeans that the price of food is expected to go up. What is his solution? Nothing lah. He is just passing on information. Thanks for nothing lah.

As those of you who have been following my blog will probably already know that food prices are expected to spike in the latter half of this year. So this shouldn’t come as a rude surprise at all.

Darkness 2012

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“If you really want to know why food prices go up. Be prepared to throw out all your old and dusty assumptions about classical supply and demand theorems. Sure drought and pestilence and weather shifts play a preponderant role in supply and demand. But in the larger scheme of things all these are relatively minor – as any farmer will probably tell you drought and pestilence has been around since man started to farm. There is no mystery there. Those risk have already been factored into the projected yeild along with price. Most people don’t realize this. But farmers do. So what else can account for these round of price hikes?

Well if Mini Lee says it has something to do with drought in the US. Then I’ve just probably say, OK lah. Believe what you want lah. But if you really want to know why food prices are really spiking.

Then watch this video. Today is the day you learn to punch a hole through the world’s version of reality and hopefully you will discover your own version of the truth.

Trust me, when you next walk into NTUC. You will see food in a completely different light. One that you just know has nothing whatsoever to do with drought and pestilence. And everything to do with manipulation. That unfortunately is the sad and brutal truth of why things cost more than what they should really cost.

Things are likely to get much worse. As these days a new generation of farmers have entered the agricultural scene. These men aren’t your pin stripped suited bean counters. They are rugged. Men who don’t mind flying in a helicopter with their feet dangling out. By now they are probably so used to life in the field – most of them have got used to sleeping in their Landcruisers along with carrying semi automatics and togging an Apple lap top at the same time. They have both the intelligence and experience to manipulate the price of commodities. And they all know this is the new El Derado.

I think it fair to assume, things will get much worse, before they get better…much worse…I am afraid. As for drought being the cause of price hikes…that is a fairytale.”

This blog makes Yawning Bread look like a kid blogging about fairies.

Hey, I’ve found a new blog.

http://singaporeconsensus.wordpress.com/

Courtesy of one of my regular readers.

I’ve spend the last two hour there. And I have to say, it is definitely a riveting and thought provoking read. I would even go so far as to say, most of what is presented there is highly educational and informative.

Thank you so very much Prof Tey for sharing with us all your life changing ideas. (please don’t take what I said about you in my blog to heart. It’s really all in spirit of good fun and chupatzh).

Will definitely be recommending this site to more of my friends.

Darkness 2012

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Why so many don’t seem to be interested in flying the flag this National Day in Singapore

“Our 47th National Day is approaching. How to celebrate? What to celebrate?” 

This is a pithy summary of our times that I came across in Gintai’s blog.

And this should prompt many of us to ask, what has happened to the whole idea of taking pride in flying the flag on national day?

I guess, when one’s way of life gives way to a strange and alien landscape. It can only threaten. This can only heighten the sense of uncertainty. Uncertainty leads to fear and anxiety. And this can only corrode well being and water down what it means to be part of a tribe. 

It seems what my friend Patriot is trying so hard to say in his essay, is the question is not whether we can intergrate these foreigners into our fold. But rather might they integrate us instead into their way of life? 

But why has this happened? How did we reach here? Could it be our leaders have failed to empower us with the right software to win in this war of the hearts and minds? 

They don’t seem to be very proud of our way of life – some such as LKY and Prata man have even openly proclaimed on TV, “Singaporeans do not have a culture.” Has that left us all defenseless against this onslaught of perpetual foreigners?

Which ever way you choose to see it – IMHO, it is likely to subtract more than add. As when no one believes they have a culture that is worthy, let alone worth protecting, upholding and promoting – then how is possible for many of us to continue to see the need to nourish the idea of our nationhood? It is no accident that the receptacle of culture, identity and a sense of shared destiny has always resided in the idea of the motherland. As the symbol of the mother represents everything good, noble and worth dying for to protect – without the mother. A man has no roots. How is it possible for him to stand proud and hold his head up high?

And when so many are unable to be nourished by a deep spirited sense of belonging. How can they even be able to believe that our destinies are interconnected? That we are all in the same boat and that we all share the SAME aspirations and hopes. 

Wonder no more why – so many these days no longer see the flag as a symbol that represents a higher ideal. To many it is just a colorful piece of cloth. As increasingly it value is being hollowed out by the cult of chasing money. And so is it so unusual, for many of us not to hang out our flags? As it has become a meaningless thing?

This is what happens my friends, when the cult of chasing money becomes the central theme of nationhood. When everything is monetized and ascribed a value. After a while, we too will begin to see only value in things that others are willing to pay for – when that happens, then instead of the shared destiny of nationhood – it is everyman for himself. 

So now you all understand. Why it is not whether we can help these foreigner integrate into our way of life. Mini Lee is talking through his ass. He has lousy advisors who cannot think strategically. Rather how is it possible not to be subsumed into their way of life. IF we do not have a superior culture to these foreigners?

This is why culture and share identity has always been strategic and always important. You never ever find a serious man who will ever say, “we do not have a culture.” As they know only too well – to first build a building, it first needs a strong foundation. And this only be constructed not out of chasing short term goals of money. But something much more enduring and resilient. Our leaders are not wise when they throw away something so valuable and important. As if it is a piece of used tissue paper. Not wise at all.

The tragedy of this is it need not ever be like this. It could have been very different…..very different indeed.

I understand. I understand completely.

Darkness 2012

(This has been extracted from a thread somewhere in the abandoned sector of District 16 (which was previously known as the Singapore blogosphere) – transcript has been relayed by the deep space Niberium class refueling cruiser KDD Vanidium and her sister vessel KDD Titania Corpus Angelo II – Brought to you by the Interspacing Mercantile Guild.)

Has the crossed eyed girl who seems to have great difficulty in keeping her legs closed been given “immunity” by both the University and the Prosecution?

I hope nobody holds me in contempt of court. Because I am just a lowly educated farmer who is just curious to learn more about how the law in Singapore works.

The question I would like to ask is – why isn’t the girl who claimed that she slept with a lecturer in return for grades been disciplined by the University?

Why hasn’t the University taken the initiative to at least suspend her degree? This would appear to be common sense. As the vast majority of students go to university to work for a degree. So if they get their degree by just spreading their legs wide open then that is tantamount to cheating – am I right? After all campus life will never be the same again – if prospective female students have to think twice whether it is appropriate for them to even write down, “good oral skills.” My point is why is NUS so complacent in protecting the quality of its degree courses? They don’t seem to have any problems suspending the lecturer. So why is the girl a special case?

Another niggling thought that I can’t seem to shake off – is why do I (and I suspect 99.9% of netizens following this case) get the distinct impression that, this girl been given immunity by the prosecution? Has such a deal been struck between the prosecution and this girl? – that providing she cooperates with authorities as a star witness, then she will not be charged as an accesory to corruption?

Please bear in mind, I am just a lowly educated farmer who only knows how to count up to his fingers and toes. So I really don’t know whether this girl has even been given immunity by the prosecution in Singapore. Or even whether the authorities who are responsible for investigating whether there is a prima facie case to answer are even authorized to make such an offer.

The reason why I am asking this question is I can’t seem to wrap my head around the whole idea of how did the information concerning the alleged gift of the White Mountain Pen (sorry for my Suah Ku farmer lingo), two tailored man shirts, Ipod and payment of the bill surface without the full cooperation of this girl?

Is there such a thing in Singapore? Where like America, if a person turns prosecution witness and cooperates with the law enforcement agency, then will be able to enjoy immunity from prosecution?

I don’t understand.

Darkness 2012

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“There are certain sites out there in blogosphere that want us all to put two and two together to come up with four. I understand why they are doing this. I understand completely.

But like I said. The facts simply don’t add up. I am not trying to be malicious. I am certainly not trying to be subversive. I am simply curious like you. You see a very important piece of material evidence is missing here – the Facebook account that this girl has recently deleted.

This is apparently where it all started from – since we are all told (from a non attributed source, could well even be a figment of an over worked mind of a journalist. As in the case of the MRT open door case) this is where – the girl who has great difficulty in keeping her legs closed once told them world, I sucked his cock for a A.

But how sure are we that this girl actually made such an admission as what was reported?

This is a bit of an abstraction. Let me try to put it another way. Let us say that, it was you in her place. There you are struggling with this paper in your final year. No matter how hard you try, it’s still as clear as mud. One day you decide to hatch a plan to seduce your lecturer. The plan goes through. You ace that paper.

Question: Why would you even tell the world what you just did? Wouldn’t you take this secret to your grave? It’s not as if this is something that is just a minor infraction – as it is likely to lead to the University rescinding her degree and that would mean that all four years of her life studying will just go up in a puff of smoke. Even if that doesn’t happen – this girl would be imperiling herself in more ways than I can possibly describe – what sane man in their right mind would even want to jump into bed with her? What if they too ended up in court? What man in his right frame of mind would even want such a girl as his wife?

So I hope you are all internally convinced that the cost for this girl to come right out into the open is exhorbitantly high. It is easier for her to deny all this happened. Then to admit to it. If what she said happened was really what transpired. As we still don’t know. And it is best to suspend belief.

Why is this girl now prepared to accept the cost of coming out into the open? Has something changed? Might it even be possible, that the girl who has great difficulty in keeping her legs closed has been given an assurance that if she cooperates fully in the investigations then she will get off Scott free? Could this be the only way to save herself?

You see that is the question that everyone should be asking themselves. Instead of being titillated by pens, shirts and gifts – to me the act itself is not as important as the motivation behind the act. And to be perfectly honest with all of you. This baffles me. – I just can’t figure out the motivation of this girl. It is an enigma. Maybe the answer lies somewhere in the 326,642 words of her Facebook account that has since been deleted?

Maybe somewhere in this faded forest of words. All it takes is for a man to find just the right sentence to put it all together.”

Sex for grades scandal…..something is amiss…Cui Bono?

Now consider this.

– “I am known to speak up, amongst other things, on the Singapore legal system. I write in good faith, and with no ill intent.”

– Bail was set at $100,000.

– A Mont Blanc pen, two tailor man shirts, one Ipod and a paid bill.

– A Facebook entry by a crossed eyed girl who claims to have open her legs several times to procure good grades from a lecturer.

In the beginning none of these seem to be connected. They even appear random and unrelated.

But look again. This time, ask yourself, cui bono?

Darkness 2012

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“Hello, shut your mouth. You are talking to seniors here. So kindly zip it up. Sit down before you fall down. That way maybe some of you will learn something new.

Look here. If you want to hang a man. Then do it properly. In this case. I don’t believe the facts add up at all. This woman has got what she wanted. Why even spoil it all by stirring up the past. It simply doesn’t make any sense at all.

No. Me thinks there is more that meets the eye here.

Besides we all would do well to remember. This woman is an unreliable material witness.

As a woman who claims to have once open her legs in exchange for good grades is capable to making all sorts of moral and ethical compromises – she is therefore a very unreliable material witness by even the most forgiving standards.

What else she is prepared to open her legs for? What about a promotion, will that do it? – a reasonable man would do well to ask this along with other things which don’t seem to line up very well in this case.

No! I do not believe things are as clear cut as what it is depicted in the MSM. 

Infact, I have every reason to conclude based on our own findings things are certainly not what they appear to be.

You see the funny thing about the internet is nothing is really ever deleted. Even when it is deleted. There is always a water mark. A shadow of a trail. And when one follows this digital trail – it seems to lead to a very interesting place. Very interesting indeed.

Cui Bono?”

Is the National Population and Talent Division trying to insult our intelligence?

The National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) is currently seeking public feedback on Singapore’s population challenges.

However how the NPTD is going about the business of seeking public feedback is rather baffling – as it seems, this board has already decided what must be done to keep Singapore competitive – the board strongly recommends sticking to the controversial policy of ramping up the population.

From whatever little I am able to make out from his group of confused academics and bureaucrats. They have obviously concluded the controversial policy of ramping up the population is here to stay for good. 

In their words 

“….fewer working people to support every elderly person; a less vibrant, less innovative economy; and eventually, a hollowing out of the population as young people leave for more exciting cities”

But let us interrogate further each one of the assumptions raised by the NPTD to justify the policy of sticking to ramping up the population.

(1) FEWER WORKING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT EVERY ELDERLY PERSON

Firstly, has enough been done by government to encourage Singaporeans and residents to have more babies? 

This would seem to be the common sense place to start, if there is going to be fewer working people to support every elderly person.

For some curious reason, the NPTD doesn’t seem very interested to discuss strategies to augment our abysmal baby birth rates. Instead they conveniently elide this whole issue, never mentioning it even once and instead jump directly to the assumption of least mental resistance i.e the only way to solve this problem is by ramping up the population.

I wonder why? Does the NPTD feel that the government has done everything possible to reverse our abysmal birthrates that it’s simply futile to continue doing more? 

Neither does the NPTD seem very interested to interrogate the whole idea of why MOREand not LESS people are needed these days to support the elderly – might this have something to do with how salaries for median income jobs are all either stagnating and in some cases regressing due to the PAP’s happy go lucky policy of encouraging foreign workers to proliferate like weeds in certain job markets. Thus ALWAYS creating more supply than demand for firms. Hence depressing salaries and in certain cases rendering these jobs economically unattractive to most Singaporeans. And since only foreigners are willing to take up these jobs. As time goes by, Singaporeans earn less. Hence MORE people are needed to support the elderly. When in reality, had the labor market being intelligently managed, LESS people would be required to support the elderly. As they wouldn’t have to watch helplessly as their month pay packet get smaller and smaller due to voracious competition from foreigners for jobs.

(2) A LESS VIBRANT, LESS INNOVATIVE ECONOMY.

While palpably true there is certainly a preponderant correlation between innovation and skills at the upper end of the job market. 

What has this got to do with encouraging immigration for median and lower income jobs? How might the whole idea of a more vibrant and innovative society be had by filling the ranks of bus drivers from China? Or getting more Indian IT engineers to work in Singapore thus depressing salaries in the IT market. Or streaming more Filipino’s into service industries in Singapore?

I really don’t understand the NPTD’s kooky logic.

How does simply bringing in more people into Singapore improve innovation? Do you see Dubai building particle accelerators or blasting Arab astronauts to Mars? As if we were to buy into NPTD’s inverted logic – then countries like Dubai that has one of the highest rates of immigrant workers should be sending their citizens to Stockholm regularly to collect Nobel Prizes. Conversely “xenophobic” countries such as Sweden where it’s population recently voted against laissez faire immigration by saying NO! to their own government should be going back to the stone age – but anecdotal evidence suggest this simplistic formula by NPTD falls flat on its face. As Sweden today enjoys the highest patent per capita of any country in the Western hemisphere despite closing its doors to foreign workers.

What I find baffling about the NPTD is how they don’t seem very interested to interrogate deeper into the underlying reasons why Singapore can’t seem to find the verve and imagination to be more innovative – might it have something to do with how so much power is vested in the death grip of juggernauts such as Temasek Holdings that seem to have it’s hand in every cookie jar thus stifling innovation and the entrepenuerial spirit? 

Might the real solution to build a more innovative economy have something to do with how government decides to implement policies and strategies relating to how best to maximize their available resources? Instead of just blindly relying on an immigrant labor workforce to magically conjure out competitive advantage?

(3) A HOLLOWING OUT OF THE POPULATION AS MORE YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVE FOR MORE EXCITING CITIES.

If the middle class are able to turn the wheel of life gainfully in Singapore – why would they even see the need to leave Singapore to turn the wheel of life elsewhere?

Could it be one reason why Singapore seems to be experiencing an unprecedented exodus (along brain drain) especially amongst the middle class has something to do with how so many of them simply cannot turn the wheel of life in Singapore any longer – as the cost of living is prohibitively high. Even the middle class these days cannot afford to own a car any more in Singapore. And since PAP continues to insist welfare is a dirty word – there are no safety nets for citizens to fall back on during hard times. Thus this can only heighten the sense of uncertainty and sharpen the fear amongst the mobile in our society – forcing many of them of migrate elsewhere to greener pastures.

Again the NPTD seems to be disingenuous when it for forwards the inverted logic – Singaporeans will somehow be persuaded to stay on, just because the government brings in more immigrants – when in fact, it is the reverse.

SUMMARY:

If the NPTD is sincere about holding a public debate on this contentious issue of immigration in Singapore – perhaps they should refrain from treating these three assumptions as a fait accompli – after all what room for debate is there (if any) when they seem to have already made up their minds on what is already the root cause of problem and how best to prescribe a cure for this problem?

I don’t understand. Really I don’t.

Darkness 2012

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“Life is not so simple, where you pull me by the nose and I just buy lock, stock and barrel into your shopping list of assumptions. That is not how intelligent go about the business of beaconing out the murk. What do you take me for? Do I happen to look like a bloody fool to you? 

First I am going to ask – are your assumptions water tight? If the whole Atlantic is going through your assumptions and coming out the other side – then I will just ask you go back to the drawing board and come out with a list of new assumptions. Only then do we begin to debate the issues at hand.

As it is, at best it is a shoddy list of assumptions that has as many holes as a block of cheese. At worst, the NPTD is simply disingenuous.

So I don’t see any point why we should even engage in this public feedback exercise – if we do so, then by default, it simply means, we the internet accept these assumptions as fait. 

Is this what you all want? If this is what you want, then go ahead!
There lies the real danger my friends. We have to be wise about this. I am so sorry. I am not trying to be subversive. I am not even trying to be malicious here. I just don’t see the bloody point of wasting time debating this, when it is very clear to me, these people have not even bothered to think this through professionally. Instead, they seem to delight in causing pain to thinking folk.”

Suckee and lickey me for an A

First it was sex for $, then sex for contracts, now sex for A’s. What next?

Is this the sign of the times? Should we all turn to the book of Apocalypse to try to make sense of where society is heading? What is really happening here? 

Why are sexcapes suddenly so prevalent these days that it’s even oozing right out of the wall paper and floorboards. Why can’t a man just enjoy his breakfast read without once having to read about tangled sheets tales in Singapore.

Might the Singapore obsession with sex have something to do with how for the last decade. We have all been so fixated with the whole idea of money and getting ahead that we are even prepared to do anything just to get a competitive edge over others.

It stands to reason doesn’t it – if a country is only fixated on GDP – then what can only happen is society will begin to monetize everything under the sun, including of course sex. As in a society where only money matters. Then everything has to be for sale.

I can understand if a sex is exchanged for money – after all its the oldest transaction known to man. And I am sure it fulfills a real and pressing need. I can even in certain cases understand, if sex is exchanged for contracts – as again indirectly money is involved.

But what I cannot understand is sex for good grades. I do not care about that lecturer – but what about this poor girl. Her life is ruined. She will always be known in professional circles as the one who opened her legs to get a good grades. How will she ever get a job once she finishes her pupilage? How will this girl even get married? – as since she can even spread her legs wide open for just grades. Then what else might she be prepared to spread her legs wide open for? Coming to think of it, what will sex in Singapore be exchanged for next?

I have absolutely no idea – but I have a feeling, nothing can ever shock me now. I’ve crossed a mythical line. An invisible line somewhere in my head.

Breathe it is another beautiful day. The world is not coming to an end.

Darkness 2012

“Sex is a very confusing thing – as even when you are just minding your own business and two people are just making out – it is very easy to confuse their sexual desires with yours. This could be one reason why sex is often used to lure the unsuspecting, foolish and vain – no man in my opinion has the sagacity and resolve to say no to sex – not even the best of us – as it is really like a tractor beam – it will grab you and draw you closer and closer to the nucleus of your fears and fascination. Everyman starts off under the false assumption, he can say ‘NO!” When a girl shakes her hips like a dancing cobra, the man will remind himself, “Hey, I am the guy who wears a white hat. I can say no to this.” When she shakes her hips twice – “maybe I can live with compromises, I am after all just human.” By the third time this girl shakes her hips. All reason has been replaced by carnal desires. This is the power of sex once it is weaponized.

How do I know this? Because unlike you people I have gone to ebay and bought myself a Mossad secret agent manual – you should get one, if you don’t want to find yourself entrapped. For a limited time only, it comes with a free mug and free sized T shirt. Anyway back to my point.

If you turn to page 148. There is a long section on sex – once you have finished reading it. You will have very little trouble in saying ‘no.’ You could even say, so complete will your transformation be, that no is the response you can produce under virtually any and every condition of sexual temptation – that is because now, you see sex in a completely different light.

You know it now, sex, that is. As not only a thing that can give pleasure. But also as a thing that is used as an instrument of war.
A very deadly weapons system – by the time you have finished reading the various ways in which sex can be used to fix a man your guli’s will probably shrink and move all the way up to where your Adam’s Apple is, as for your dick, it will disappear like a turtle into its shell.

Sobering read hardly captures it don’t you think so.

I think those who wish to live dangerously should at least learn more about this aspect of sex – it sounds like common sense. But apparently, for some funny reason in Singapore, it isn’t very ‘common’ at all.

That could well be the problem.”

First it was sex for $, then sex for contracts, now sex for A’s. What next?

Is this the sign of the times? Should we all turn to the book of Apocalypse to try to make sense of where society is heading? What is really happening here? 

Why are sexcapes suddenly so prevalent these days that it’s even oozing right out of the wall paper and floorboards. Why can’t a man just enjoy his breakfast read without once having to read about tangled sheets tales in Singapore.

Might the Singapore obsession with sex have something to do with how for the last decade. We have all been so fixated with the whole idea of money and getting ahead that we are even prepared to do anything just to get a competitive edge over others.

It stands to reason doesn’t it – if a country is only fixated on GDP – then what can only happen is society will begin to monetize everything under the sun, including of course sex. As in a society where only money matters. Then everything has to be for sale.

I can understand if a sex is exchanged for money – after all its the oldest transaction known to man. And I am sure it fulfills a real and pressing need. I can even in certain cases understand, if sex is exchanged for contracts – as again indirectly money is involved.

But what I cannot understand is sex for good grades. I do not care about that lecturer – but what about this poor girl. Her life is ruined. She will always be known in professional circles as the one who opened her legs to get a good grades. How will she ever get a job once she finishes her pupilage? How will this girl even get married? – as since she can even spread her legs wide open for just grades. Then what else might she be prepared to spread her legs wide open for? Coming to think of it, what will sex in Singapore be exchanged for next?

I have absolutely no idea – but I have a feeling, nothing can ever shock me now. I’ve crossed a mythical line. An invisible line somewhere in my head.

Breathe it is another beautiful day. The world is not coming to an end.

Darkness 2012

“Sex is a very confusing thing – as even when you are just minding your own business and two people are just making out – it is very easy to confuse their sexual desires with yours. This could be one reason why sex is often used to lure the unsuspecting, foolish and vain – no man in my opinion has the sagacity and resolve to say no to sex – not even the best of us – as it is really like a tractor beam – it will grab you and draw you closer and closer to the nucleus of your fears and fascination. Everyman starts off under the false assumption, he can say ‘NO!” When a girl shakes her hips like a dancing cobra, the man will remind himself, “Hey, I am the guy who wears a white hat. I can say no to this.” When she shakes her hips twice – “maybe I can live with compromises, I am after all just human.” By the third time this girl shakes her hips. All reason has been replaced by carnal desires. This is the power of sex once it is weaponized.

How do I know this? Because unlike you people I have gone to ebay and bought myself a Mossad secret agent manual – you should get one, if you don’t want to find yourself entrapped. For a limited time only, it comes with a free mug and free sized T shirt. Anyway back to my point.

If you turn to page 148. There is a long section on sex – once you have finished reading it. You will have very little trouble in saying ‘no.’ You could even say, so complete will your transformation be, that no is the response you can produce under virtually any and every condition of sexual temptation – that is because now, you see sex in a completely different light.

You know it now, sex, that is. As not only a thing that can give pleasure. But also as a thing that is used as an instrument of war.

I think those who wish to live dangerously should at least learn more about how to do without getting themselves in hot soup – it sounds like common sense. But apparently, for some funny reason in Singapore, it isn’t very ‘common’ at all.

You can licky and suckee me for an ‘A.’

First it was sex for $, then sex for contracts, now sex for A’s. What next?

Is this the sign of the times? Should we all turn to the book of Apocalypse to try to make sense of where society is heading? What is really happening here? 

Why are  suddenly so prevalent these days that it’s even oozing right out of the wall paper and floorboards. Why can’t a man just enjoy his breakfast read without once having to read about tangled sheets tales in Singapore.

Might the Singapore obsession with sex have something to do with how for the last decade. We have all been so fixated with the whole idea of money and getting ahead that we are even prepared to do anything just to get a competitive edge over others.

It stands to reason doesn’t it – if a country is only fixated on GDP – then what can only happen is society will begin to monetize everything under the sun, including of course sex. As in a society where only money matters. Then everything has to be for sale.

I can understand if a sex is exchanged for money – after all its the oldest transaction known to man. And I am sure it fulfills a real and pressing need. I can even in certain cases understand, if sex is exchanged for contracts – as again indirectly money is involved.

But what I cannot understand is sex for good grades. I do not care about that lecturer – but what about this poor girl. Her life is ruined. She will always be known in professional circles as the one who opened her legs to get a good grades. How will she ever get a job once she finishes her pupilage? How will this girl even get married? – as since she can even spread her legs wide open for just grades. Then what else might she be prepared to spread her legs wide open for? Coming to think of it, what will sex in Singapore be exchanged for next?

I have absolutely no idea – but I have a feeling, nothing can ever shock me now. I’ve crossed a mythical line. An invisible line somewhere in my head.

Breathe it is another beautiful day. The world is not coming to an end.

Darkness 2012

“Sex is a very confusing thing – as even when you are just minding your own business and two people are just making out – it is very easy to confuse their sexual desires with yours. This could be one reason why sex is often used to lure the unsuspecting, foolish and vain – no man in my opinion has the sagacity and resolve to say no to sex – not even the best of us – as it is really like a tractor beam – it will grab you and draw you closer and closer to the nucleus of your fears and fascination. Everyman starts off under the false assumption, he can say ‘NO!” When a girl shakes her hips like a dancing cobra, the man will remind himself, “Hey, I am the guy who wears a white hat. I can say no to this.” When she shakes her hips twice – “maybe I can live with compromises, I am after all just human.” By the third time this girl shakes her hips. All reason has been replaced by carnal desires. This is the power of sex once it is weaponized.

How do I know this? Because unlike you people I have gone to ebay and bought myself a Mossad secret agent manual – you should get one, if you don’t want to find yourself entrapped. For a limited time only, it comes with a free mug and free sized T shirt. Anyway back to my point.

If you turn to page 148. There is a long section on sex – once you have finished reading it. You will have very little trouble in saying ‘no.’ You could even say, so complete will your transformation be, that no is the response you can produce under virtually any and every condition of sexual temptation – that is because now, you see sex in a completely different light.

You know it now, sex, that is. As not only a thing that can give pleasure. But also as a thing that is used as an instrument of war.

I think those who wish to live dangerously should at least learn more about how to do without getting themselves in hot soup – it sounds like common sense. But apparently, for some funny reason in Singapore, it isn’t very ‘common’ at all.

What REALLY makes a scholar

The word education goes back to the Latin word, ducere, meaning to draw out forcefully. The prefix “e” means “out of.” From this we know that education has absolutely nothing to do with what we term scholarship these days – where one is really just part of an assembly line where teacher opens up your brain and put in stuff that hopefully will make you smarter.

If you happen to believe the above is education or scholarship. Then all I can say is you are really fucked for the remaunder of your life .And the chances are you will probably never ever reach your true potential.

As the whole idea of real education always requires nothing short of FORCEFULLY drawing out character. The rest are really only side dishes –  when seen from this new paradigm – education takes on a completely new meaning. And goes much deeper beyond just the vapidness of chasing a piece of colorful paper.

I see only three possible scenarios.
 
If you happen to be a scholar and you are happy with the deal. Then by all means stick to it. Do everything that 99.9% of the student community is doing. Join all the social clubs etc. Avoid people like me who smoke, drink and womanize too much. Nothing much can be said about the following the tried and tested yellow brick road – I have known many who have gone through this run of the mill path and who am I to say they are selling themselves short – if this is your thing and you believe that it is the road to happiness. Then go for it lah.

However, if you happen to be a scholar who is considering jumping ship for whatever reasons. Then jump! That is the way I see it – if you have to go. Go! Because if you don’t, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life – not everyone is ideally suited for the journey on the yellow brick road.

You don’t need to explain – that is the way it is.

Only understand this! When you are winging it all alone – at first you will find the discomfort zone unbearable. You may even pine for your previous life back. Your standard of living along with state of mind and list of options will probably take a nose dive to zero – however, what you need to understand is this is only to be expected as the system is designed to humiliate, ostracize and if possible grind down bond breakers – you have to psychologically prepare yourself that they may name and shame you. Sue you and do all sorts of nasty things to you. Trust me after a while. You will simply develop immunity to all these subtle threats.

There is no need to feel guilty about what you have just done – if you want out more than you want to be part of the system – then to me, it’s really a vampire thing. And I really don’t see what other options you have except to go solo.

Soloing is the ONLY way to get a real education because you’re not just focussed on getting the grades. That is maybe 20% – what you need to do is develop an array of skill sets to work yourself through the mess that you are currently in – no matter how you cut it – the only way to get out from this shit hole that you’re in, is to work and study at the same time – remember employment laws are malleable. The demand for labor is very democratic despite what the laws may say about students working – So get a job – this should not be too difficult for bond breakers. As in virtually every major city where scholars have been sent to study there is already a very well established underground network of people who will be more than happy to teach you how to turn the wheel of life as an outcast. It’s called the Odessa Network.

The less said the better. Like I said, they will find you. Don’t try looking for them, if you are just toying with the idea. You will never find them!

Alternatively, if you happen to be one of those who no one considers worthy to grant a scholarship – then you are really the best of the lot. As you are beholden to no one – and again under those circumstances I would recommend you to work and study at the same time.

Working and studying is the best way to get an all rounded education – as what you are really doing is getting not only book knowledge. But also sharpening your vital social and EQ skill sets in ways and means which would never be possible – if all you are really doing is studying full time.

The best part of studying and working is that it really puts a tremendous amount of stress on you – and somewhere between having to hold down a job and squeezing lectures in between – what you will have to do is develop the acumen to juggle these task. And somewhere in all this. You will probably discover the real meaning of education.

I hope this advisory helps. Good luck and see you all on the other side.

Darkness 2012

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“I am one of those students that you will only see on registration day in the beginning of the term year and during examination period at the end of the year. In between I was trying to get a real education.

If all you end up doing is fashioning your life around campus life – then the chances are you are probably going to all those societies and mixing around with the same type of people as yourself – and you really need to demand more out of your character to ask – what is there to really learn from all this? How do I even get an education?

Understand this education goes beyond just burying your head in books 8 hours a day.

If you do that. Then what you will probably end up doing is getting a job like most of them and turning the wheel like most of them and getting married like most of them, raising a family like most of them, working off your ass to pay off your housing and car loan like most of them and probably one day when you are old and all your kids have grown up wondering to yourself – ‘is this all there is to life?’ like all of them.

Can I ask you a very simple question – if all you can really do is go through an assembly line and lead a life like everyone else – then which part of your miserable life has been transformed by education?

You see that is what a truly educated man will ask of you one day.

Do you see the problem now with modern education? And how that idea has been hijacked by corporations and governments to only produce tools and instruments to increase their productivity. To me there is nothing wrong for a man to fashion himself as an apparatus. Only please don’t try to sell that as education to me. As it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Not to me.”

Writing & Communion

One should never underestimate the power of the written word – granted you may well be in another time zone. Our lives may even resemble the moon and the sun. When I am awake, you’re a sleep. But that doesn’t mean we don’t share a connection beyond the dictionary meaning of friendship. You see it is really very simple. Perhaps you need to believe that I am separated from you in the way, you can look at me through bullet proof glass and nothing can ever go through this side or the other side to affect you; maybe that idea of separation is something that your mind needs to continue this relationship – but I am not so sure nothing can ever pass this way or that way. I am not even so sure that both of us are like desolate islands separate by vast continental shelfs. You in your shark infested island and mine God knows where. But I know we share a common country of thoughts, emotions and aspirations – as whenever one person writes from the the heart and another reads, then a sort of magic occurs where you can say, within the span of time, you’re reading and digesting this, then we are really connected. And if we can even share these things regularly, then it’s even possible that something here goes over there and vice versa share. But don’t push your mind to understand what I am saying now. I don’t want to scare you. Besides I am much older and I am supposed to be wiser, so let us just leave it there – because you brain is going to explode like a hand grenade, if you think too much abt this. Just go with the flow and take it one step at a time. Remember, you’re always in control and even if you aren’t maybe it makes sense for you to believe that you are. It’s a way of getting a handle on things. Only to answer your original question: what do I think is the furthest distance in the universe? Is it the distance between two distant stars. No! The furthest place between two points is when I am standing right before you and you cannot even see me. Correction: you refuse to see me, for reasons only known to yourself – and if you must know that is I the furthest point that separates two points or in this case two people.

Darkness 2012

Captured very recently from a thread in Phi Beta Kappa – The Brotherhood Press 2012

Why Singapore’s greatest enemy is Apathy

The world is mired with poverty. Hunger. Illiteracy. War. Environmental degradation. Fundamentalism. When you think about it, the world seems to be besieged by an endless list of problems; each event threatens to throw out boomerangs at humanity. Even without the real time media feed,  we would have to be blind and deaf not to realise that our world is ambling along like a drunkard in a pot filled road.

But why should we even need to bother about what is happening in the world? Why not just focus on Singapore? If there is war, it’s happening in another part of the globe. Yes, there is evidence of hunger and poverty all around us – so we try to do our bit by occasionally feeding the poor, and then we carry on with our lives. We think we can save the planet by going green, so we make some changes in our lifestyle and feel suitably virtuous.

Does any of this engage our minds on an ongoing basis? Do were really feel happier when we consciously set our minds to save people and planet? Rarely. Most of us in Singapore are too busy getting on with the business of earning a living and building and maintaining relationships and feeding the family to think of the larger picture. That’s how the game of life is structured in the glorious battery chicken life in Singapore – most of us have our nose too close to the grind wheel to ever realize there is a world outside our world of perpetual work and chores. Hence, most of us then to outsource, the many problems which we usually come across to someone else. “Let the governments sort it out,” we say. “Or let those activists run with it. After all they have the passion.” As for most of us, all we really care for is to set some time to bask in peace and solitude.  

But this attitude of ‘let someone else handle it’ isn’t just a fleeting thought, as benign as it appears to be, it is a philosophy. That is to say, it is a system of values by which one lives by – it colors the way we process information, behave and respond.

If we choose ‘to let someone else handle it’ all the time – then one day we may just end up in a place that we don’t want to be in.

Many people can inadvertently fall into this mindtrap, where they find themselves waking up every morning going to work only to immerse themselves in this routine, till there is very little left in their lifes. After a while, a sort of leaching and chelating occurs in them where they can’t seem to even get excited about people, events and even changes any longer. It’s as if they’re all still breathing and going about their business, but all of them are in a dazed state.

Why do so many people lead unfulfilled lives? Could be because we have simply left too many important decisions to be made by “leaving it to others.” And what did you really expect, they all know, that most of us are too busy trying to ekk a living and no one is really checking on them.

Do you see the problem now?

Darkness 2012

 

“Life can either be edifying or crippling. It can either be happy or intolerable. Beautiful or ugly. It is really in the palm of your hands. But whatever life throws out. It is NEVER a good idea to just leave it to others to “handle,” anything for you – I guess you can do this, whenever the aircon service uncle decides to pop in on a Saturday to overhaul your leaky aircon. Sure you can leave it to him and take the day off and go to the mall to unwind. But 9 out of 10 tens, if you adopt a bochap attitude, then others will just give you crappy service. You will that your aircon will leak again in no time – so its best to take an interest in what this aircon uncle does – look at his tools, ask yourself how well prepared he is. The same attitude or philosophy can be used to physicians. To me they are just mechanics and technicians, it never pays to just let them, “handle it.” If they are not happy to explain the reasons for their decision making process – make sure that physician gets marked down, make it a big issue that threatens his livelihood. Same applies for car maintenance, if you find something that is out of synch or just doesn’t sound right, take the trouble to look underneath the bonnet and follow through right to the end where you even know the name of the mechanic who once touched your car. As for politicians, it is really the same logic – they are just service providers, nothing more or less. I consider them just maybe two rungs higher than a food court manager – to behave otherwise would be to overstep the remit of their vocation and mandate. I don’t tell you how many times you should fuck your wife or in what way – so why should a politician even have the temerity to tell you what you should do and at what age you should retire etc. Sure they can come up with all sort of rules and regulations to rail road you and your loved ones towards a general direction – but providing you never ever just leave it to them to “handle it.” Then it is very unlikely that they will ever be able to shortchange you or even pull the wool over your eyes – as you are always one step ahead of them. Everything they do, you know why they do it, right down to who benefits and how along with why. By just taking a little interest in how things are regularly, “handled,” you will be very surprised how edifying life can actually be – you should never trust anyone, not even me, life is not so simple – you have every RIGHT to demand of others who usually “handle it,” to earn your trust. Anything less is to lead a life that is slightly better than a sheep and we all know where sheep end up at the end of the day.”

Mr Kwan can you please give your salary to the Internet this month?

Ministry of National Development has announced that the National Parks Board (NParks) officer involved in making the purchase of 26 foldable Brompton bicycles, totalling $57,200, has been suspended.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan, the Minister for National Development, who had initially defended the purchases of the bicycles is not forced to do one of the tightest U turns ever – all thanks to the Internet.

What this incident highlights is how social media can hold it’s own even against the likes of juggernauts such as ST and TNP who both missed the boat by the proverbial mile. And this should prompt many to ask, is the MSM too close to the party political hegemony for it’s own good?

Why didn’t the MSM pick up on this infraction? Do they lack resources? Why were they so quick to run with Kwan’s explanation without bothering to drill deeper that they even came across as bovine, inept and complicit to those observing this scandal?

On a more disturbing note what Bromptongate highlights is Ministers simply have no idea what is happening in their own backyard – all too often they are quick to defend and justify the acts and omissions of their ministries without bothering to drill deeper themselves. While it’s understandable for a leader to shield and protect his charges – it beggars the imagination why in a government that prides itself on the “pursuit of excellence.”

All it really took was a few weekend bicycle hobbyist and a bicycle shop owner to blow the lid on something that should have been picked up by a routine internal audit.

One can only wonder with trepidation what else these government internal auditors missed out? Maybe the government should outsource this watch dog function to the Internet? Maybe Kwan should consider giving part of his salary to the Internet this month. As they seem to be doing a more capable job than him and his ministry and the MSM put together.

Darkness 2012

————————————————————-

“When you sell yourself as the gold standard of governance and even go to the extend of paying the highest salary in the world. But you cannot even plug a simple leak. Then you cannot blame others for wondering – are we really getting our money’s worth?”

Why aren’t things the way they used to be back home in Singapore?

How did we get here? Hey take your pick of any theories lah floating around in the internet. An obvious one is unmitigated immigration. For the past decade we had a lot of that. Or at least the trains did. It felt like an unlimited supply huh? Now we have reached the limit and we are not even afraid to say, dowan. But what is really happening to us? Why aren’t things, the way they used to be anymore?

Why is it Singapore these days seems to be a divided country – a country that I am not even sure anymore whether the sum of what can continue to unite us can always remain stronger than the push and pulls that threatens to divide us. 

These days even talk is cheap. Mini Lee says no one will be left behind, but judging COE’s have been skyrocketing to renewed heights – its hard to be inspired by empty words that seem to magnify our belief that things are just getting tougher and tougher in Singapore. The immediate landscape looks rocky for most people, and, beyond it, the going looks as clear as mud. Cut throat competition for professional jobs, wage freezes, inflation that is so real, that you can even see your money getting smaller and smaller – disillusionment with the establishment and the political class; little wonder – why aren’t things, the way they used to be anymore?

Darkness 2012 

Do you think, I am stupid? Are you telling me people are happy in Singapore?

Writer Dan Buettner explores four places in the world that have been identified as the happiest in the world (I wonder how did he derive at his assumptions), in the National Geographic book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zone Way. Denmark, Singapore, Mexico and San Luis Obispo, Read more at http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/2404/20120723/world-s-happiest-places-san-luis-obispo.htm#x22lrqzEdkKus8tP.99

 

What do I think about Mr Buettner’s research – to put it simply, I happen to think, it’s a crock of shit. Correction: I know it is a crock of you know what! 

 

Besides who the hell really takes these happiness surveys seriously. For one I happen to know many of these writers are given perks and in some cases even paid to write the crap they write. My point is ther is always a vested interested. If you can’t ferret it out, it just means, you’re not drilling deep enough.

 

The last time I read one of these dodgy happiness surveys, Geneva was considered a fun and happening place – not that I realized it when I found myself walking around empty streets in Geneva wondering to myself whether a bubonic plague had hit the city – so that just to show you that many of these writers are really just talking through their poop chute.

 

Perhaps Mr Buettner should spend some time working, living and playing in Singapore (if he can afford it that is) instead of coming up with shitty write up’s like this. As if none of us have ever travelled the world and seen the other side of the coin.

 

I have just sent a terse letter to the chief editor of National Geographic and will be coordinating with the Explorers Club Internationale to send in a protest letter.

 

Please I am not trying to be malicious or evil. All I want to do is to tell it the way I see it – to simply call a spade a spade. There is nothing subversive about what I am doing – but there are simply too many lies in the internet it seems even from the likes of National Geographic.

 

Darkness 2012

 

The Doors of Life

In life there are many doors that a man will come across – temptation, avarice, sloth, vanity. Many of these doors will open up to halls of mirrors where a man can lose himself only to end up in the rocks. Then there are doors that will open up to a new level of consciousness. When you open these doors. You will not know whether it is a good or bad thing. After all, you have heard so many negative things about where this door leads too. But you should not be afraid. As you are never alone in your journey.

The sleeper must awake.

Darkness 2012

—————————————————————————————————————–

“How do you turn the wheel of life when you remain only the power of one? Do not be stupid. That is not possible. In life we all need friends. Not any friends, but like minded friends who have a sense of mission and purpose. This is the only way to get ahead in life – anyone who tells you different simply hasn’t walked through this door.”

What the hell is happening here!!!!!!!!!!!

I know that section 377 covers unatural offences between humans and even animals, but why aren’t trees given the same rights?

Don’t trees deserve to be protected as well? Where is the Brompton Rolls Royce gang – why aren’t they inspecting the trees in Hong Lim Park?

Darkness 2012