my 2 Singapore cents

I never like to talk about politics, esp 1 that has to do with our own little island call Singapore. It is like talking abt things that we r totally helpless about, n that contribute to how ignorant we all are. But recently, seeing how ppl on the internet r responding to a certain fiasco, the sheer number of it, drove me to write something about it.

Yes, we are. From young, we were being educated that way, to follow and never to lead. those who can be different would have aldy ventured out of sg n out of this "hell hole". it is a saddening sight.. but its the truth. we all are a bunch of ignorant ppl who deserved whatever hikes we r being thrown at. we only care about our own rice bowl n fear of reprimand and losing our jobs etc.

As 1 joker wrote on the net which is actually very, very true:

"Actually I think majority of the people wants Wong Kam Seng to resign and better still if he is sacked.
The real reason is not not totally because of the Mas Selamat fiasco but mostly because the majority of us are PISSED with the Government for many other reasons:
1) high cost of food and public transport(MRT,taxis, buses...etc)
2) high cost of petrol (allowing oil companies to act as a cartel)
3) ERP gantries (Raymond Lim's persistent bull-**** justification)
4) Minister salaries (demand equal salaries with top private corporation earners but ZERO accountabilities)
5) Civil servants flouting their wealth (fat bonuses and pay)
6) Complacency of our Government (but accusing the public)
7) Cowardice of PAP MPs who dare not question policies financially affecting the lower & middle class citizens-fare hikes, Universities fee hikes, Utilities hike, food prices drastic increment,ERP gantries in HDB heartland,etc)"

"The recent open door policy to allow any T, D and H in which is perceived to crowd many Singaporeans out of their jobs, university places, housing, etc., is another sore point. In addition to the untimely 7% GST increase, inflation, ERP gantries in heartlands, high cost of inefficient public transport system, hefty increase in ministerial salaries, etc."

I guess these 2 jokers pointed out the crux of the problem, we had our last straw. Are all sporeans really foola?? we just stand there n take whatever that's being thrown to us and say that "it doesnt concern me" when whatever u earn, u hav to contribute to some form of hikes, taxes, fines etc. with FTs coming in, sg becomes more congested, pay becoming lower and the streets becoming unsafe. i can see Shanghai doing something to curb the problem of outsiders coming into their city, i don't see why sg is actually welcoming them with both arms. frankly, i was utterly shocked when i just came back frm SH n found out there r so many foreigners ard me. it scares me really.. like this place doesnt belong to me anymore.. all this happening in just 6mths!

Well, at least i can see there are still a very small minority of ppl who gave very constructive comments on this issue n signed the petition. There r actually still sporeans who love SG n voiced out their opinion when something went really wrong. Sporeans who not just care about their own well-being n pockets n started thinking n analyzing the whole situation.

I am not trying to say we should overthrow anything.. but it is a good sign that sporeans are slowly starting to make decisions for themselves whether what is right or wrong n we as humans, what basic respect we should have. who wants a country to be populated by 4 millions of blind followers that only think about themselves and fulfill their own interest only? Look at Taiwan, Hongkong, Korea and Japan. They are 1st world country no doubt and populated by citizens who really love their own country and not afraid to make a stand. this is what nationalistic is all about.

I am not trying to make a point here. and by writing on such a sensitive issue in SG on such a public space, i know what might b coming. but pls, allow me to contribute my 2 singapore cents about this ailing society.

Shut up you ppl, stop ur whining bcos its NOT going to change anything!!!

You are the one who voted them in, in the 1st place, so u got this! oh, btw, i voted them in too cos my place got bloody run over... erm.. i mean walk over...

So pls quit ur blabbing n move on! Let them enjoy their million dollar salaries while we enjoy the inflation, period.

过于熟悉的因果

Am reading an interesting book: The Alchemist by Paul Coelho.

It wasn't a new book and in fact, i have read it once a few years ago. however, i failed to comprehend what the book really meant back then. its abt destiny, dreams and exploring n going after one's dream.

I managed to try to read it one more time today n came across a very meaningful n interesting quote. 1 i am sure is applicable to everyone here, n more so for myself.

"When someone sees the same people every day, ...... they wind up becoming a part of that person's life. And then they want the person to change. If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own." -- Paul Coelho, The Alchemist, pg. 16.

This quote actually reminds me of another concept which I've mentioned years ago in my old blog, one which i have quite forgotten until recently: Familiarity Breeds Contempt. It is an old, old concept of which it simple means: "the more you know something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about it or them."

Why Familiarity breeds Contempt
This article was published in an underground "zine" called Kosh Dude during 1994.

It seems strange that such a nice concept like familiarity would create such an unpleasant emotion like contempt. Getting to know a friend should deepen the relationship rather than strain it. Unfortunately there are many people who ruin friendships by becoming too possessive.

Most friendships start out innocently enough. Two people meet and find that they have common interests. This makes them want to find out more and more about each other. The problems begin when one person starts to tell the other how they should live and what they should do. Things get worse when that friend starts worrying too much about the other's actions and decisions. Because people resent it when others interfere with their personal business, arguments usually erupt. The bonds that were so lovingly forged between themselves are destroyed, sometimes permanently.

Because many people don't realize this fact, many good friendships are ruined. If people would back off and let their friends make their own decisions, it would strengthen the relationship. After all, it is easier to respect a person who gives council rather than nagging. Friendships also last longer when people respect each other's right to self determination and privacy. Having had extensive experience with well-meaning folks poking their noses into my affairs, I know whereof I speak.

I have posted this article b4 in my old blog, n i forgotten all abt it after all these years. I did in the past, tried to change many things that i'm not happy about, failing to see n understand the point that by making others become what they are not is actually harder and more damaging than living with and accepting their "bad points". Letting others be whoever they want to be is not that bad, because me myself is not that perfect also. We let the ppl ard us be themselves freely and accept them as they are. Therefore, it is best i stay where i am now...

It's been the 6th week into work, n i am getting quite used to the environment. Went for some company dinner on fri at a jap restaurant. drank a few classes, duh! now they all noe i am a drinker. =X think its not a very good display of myself. hahaha... well, at least nt so distance anymore but more work will be needed.

Hmmm.. let me think what's up for the coming weeks... i can smell the birthday season. AHHH.. oh no... birthdays, weddings, baby full month... it can just nv end! n i am getting so poor for paying $20-$80 each time for those. aiyoyo...

Taiwan in another 4 weeks or so.. will definitely burn a big hole in my pocket. when can i start saving again?

PEK CEK

God! Toshiba laptop is soooooooo frustrating! it is soooooooooo tortoise that half of the time today, i spent it waiting for my files to load! while i opened my illustrator, i cant open my photoshop. while i opened my photoshop, i cant open my illustrator and outlook! gosh! how efficient can i b?

Speaking of which, my internet connection got some serious problem also. cant access yahoo n gmail. been like this for a few days. so frustrating.. n i dun even hav the time to call singnet n complain to them. oh darn!

Also, my tosh laptop at home is also nearing to the end of its life. slow n steady, surprisingly it is still working! its been almost 4 years, i remember i bought it when i juz entered NTU at the IT show. an impulsive decision n i nv knew it can last so long man.. still remember it was ard early sept or end aug as cos of this laptop, we were late for fen's 21st bday celebration. hahaha.... hmmm.. oh well... *shrug* i guess when my life in ntu had come to an end, my dear toshi will do so too.

Shall prepare a storybook to be read in the office tml. dun like to b staring into blank space while waiting for my 135mb file to load. bleah...

Stop villian--nizing me!

Its another week! aiyoh, weeks after weeks pass by like nobody's business! feel like i am getting old really fast man...

Wasnt having a good week at work, lots of cock up.. crap..oh well.. i dun bother to go into detail abt it also..

And i have nothing much to blog about too. except tat some ppl just nv get it... and they probably nv will... its just weird, does making me look like a villian all tat fulfilling? maybe it does! bleah.. whatever..

To all those who r gearing up for the onslaught of exams: Jia you! All the best and good luck! After exams we shall have some gathering again~~~

To all those who will be traveling out next week: have a fun n safe trip! n remember to buy souvenirs for me!!! dun thnk so much n just do wat u r suppose to do. life is too short to keep worrying about unimportant stuff..

As for me? oh well, back to work, back to doing the same old boring stuff... i need a real break man.. nt as in the holiday kind of break but more like a breakthrough kind of break.. man...

me vs. me

Maybe its rather "fun" to be the villian. No matter i deserve it or not, i am always the villian in any kind of situation... well, since i am so good at it, i muz as well enjoy being 1 huh?!

Have been asking myself this qn since quite a while ago: what is the pt of being a supposingly "good" person?

I am definitely not a good person for everyone's sake, but i am always the 1 being blamed for whatever shit tat happened. ya.. since no 1 appreciate goodness, i shall be contributing to the filth.

Yes, if for 1 day i've changed, i change for circumstances...

Oh just remember the telephone works both ways

Been listening to Jason Mraz's You and I Both repeatly.. n it is such a gd song sung by such a wonderful singer! didnt quite get wat the song is all abt at 1st, but after numerous listening n looking at the lyrics, i finally understand it!

Damn, if only i can perform as gd as he is...

And...... and if you can understand this song as i do... ya, this is for you...

You and I both - Jason Mraz
(The best version i can find online.. listen on...)



Was it you who spoke the words that things would happen but not to me
Oh things are gonna happen naturally
Oh taking your advice and I'm looking on the bright side
And balancing the whole thing
But often times those words get tangled up in lines
And the bright lights turn to night
Until the dawn it brings
Another day to sing about the magic that was you and me

Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just dream of
Others only read of the love, the love that I love.

See I'm all about them words
Over numbers, unencumbered numbered words
Hundreds of pages, pages, pages forwards
More words then I had ever heard and I feel so alive

Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
Oh and if you could see me now
Oh love, love

You and I, you and I
Not so little you and I anymore
And with this silence brings a moral story
More importantly evolving is the glory of a boy

Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
And if you could see me now
Well I'm almost finally out of
I'm finally out of
Finally deedeedeedee
Well I'm almost finally, finally
Well I'm free, free

And it's okay if you have go away
Oh just remember the telephone works both ways
And if I never ever hear them ring
If nothing else I'll think the bells inside
Have finally found you someone else and that's okay
Cause I'll remember everything you sang

Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of and if you could see now
Well I'm almost finally out of.
I'm finally out of, finally, deedeeededede
Well I'm almost finally, finally, finally out of words.

And as i've always said, i am not a person gd with words...