28 July 2006

What's up Superhero?

Just seen the photos Adam took of me at the Green Volunteer booth. Cool huh.

DSC_9914 DSC_9918 DSC_9917

Which make me think of my all time favourite cartoon show: Captain Planet!

I really miss shows like this. It's so much better and educational than the 30 minutes toy commericals kids have to endure nowdays.

I also attended the launch of eco 4 the world: passage of hope programe. There will be programs by NEA, SEC, Climate Change...ect at several libraries. I strongly encourage everyone to attend. The schedule is here.

You can find out more about environment awareness in Singapore from: Wild Singapore, Nature Society, and Singapore Environmental Council.

Better yet, sign up as a volunteer here!

Remember.
The Power is yours!
capsig

26 July 2006

Get married, have a load of kids, don’t protest.

I just received a SDS membership welcome package in the mail. Turns out that any single is a member by default. Unless you happen to have a university degree, in which case you will be promoted to a SDU membership. Frankly, in this days and age, is there a need to pre-classify people by our education level? How ironic that SdS's motto is “redefine boundaries”.
I found this poem at talkingcock:

An
Ode to the SDU and SDS

In a different world,
You would have been lovers
From the start
But the heart is complicated
For despite your similarities
You play up your differences
And refuse to merge.
"How can I marry down?"
Wails the SDU.
"Won't she look down on me?"
Cries the SDS.
And so, with duplicity in your hearts
You duplicate your functions.
With matchmakers like you,
It's no wonder
People in Singapore
Aren't
Getting
Married.


I appreciate the concern from the government of Singapore and I understand that it is of utmost important that young people get married and have kids fast to replace the aging, shrinking, and migrating population. However, I believe that we should not be having kids because of economic, social or moral pressure, but out of a sense of love and commitment.

I find the programs cute and sweet, but I can’t help noticing that my life is too regulated by the government. From what movies I can watch, the language I should speak, the news I receive, how I should behave, when I should smile, right down to how many kids I should have and when. It is any wonder that Singapore finest are leaving?
(Singapore has a high migration rate est at 9.12 in year 2006, compare to Switzerland’s 3.12, Canada’s 5.85, Australia’s 3.85, Malaysia’s 0, and Brunei’s 3.31)

On another note.
Come September, the IMF and World Bank meeting will bring with them the usual, and I would say traditional, protesters. This year, they will be coming to the Republic of Singapore.[news here]
Protests in Singapore are almost unheard of. There’s one last year outside CPF , one against the death penalty, one cute bear with an anti-fur message , and the Mr Brown protest .

Nevertheless, the activist have written an open letter to PM Lee, and
“The World Bank, however, has stepped in to assure activists that space for
civil society is being negotiated to avoid what some critics of the
international financial institutions says will undermine the credibility of the
Bank's claims to promote good governance, accountability, transparency and
democracy.”

I’m guessing that it’s going to be a NO-NO, or permits must be applied before protests can be staged, and the permits will be hard to get.

It’ll be interesting to see how this will turn out. Will Singapore allow foreigners to stage protests in its home soil while her citizens are often denied the privilege?

24 July 2006

Balloon Sculpting at Sri RuthraKaliamman temple

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IMG_0191

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I was teaching balloon sculpting at Sri RuthraKaliamman temple last Sunday.
There's me in my Everyday SuperHero t-shirt. Brandon has been kind enough to help out in the class.

20 July 2006

Birthday in Aur!

Hey, I just got back from a diving holiday in Aur, a lay back island in Malaysia. I earned my PADI open diver certification there, it's a sort of a birthday present I gave myself. I'll try to post some pictures up if I can. My other birthday present from friends is a pair of rainbow coloured underwears, will actually the underwears outdo the the rainbow. I'm uing them as hats for the moment.
I have recieved a lot of Birthday greetings and ashame to say, I've not replied to anyone of them. But, I'll get to it soon. Been busy with studying for my upcoming QET this friday, and lots of stuff to sort out. Another balloon event coming up, some other volunteering opportunities, school admin(a killer), work at OSSC...ect.

14 July 2006

4 million smiles outside, crying inside

In case you still do not know. Singapore wants you to welcome the world with smiles when the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group come to town in September.[see news report]
We are going to welcome the world with 4 millions smiles, literally. Singapore 2006, whatever that is, has set up a web site and is encouraging singaporean to send in pictures of them smiling.

We seems to have borrowed the idea from Thailand, traditionally known as the land of a thousand smiles, and not wanting to be outdone, have upgraded it to a staggering 4 millions smiles. I thought my primary school days of impelling courtesy champion like movements are over. Apparently not. Well, by jolly! If we need to smile at those ang mohs, we better learn to do it properly. Since we are going to hire native english speakers to teach us how to speak english, why not have native smilers teach us how to smile? Our more experience friends in Bangkok have been kind enough to share their experience with us.



--
Updated 14 July

I just found out that Singapore is the most unhappy nation among Asean and Asian nations.[see news report]
The Happy Planet Index ranked Singapore 131th base on our "relative success or failure of countries in supporting good life for their citizens, whilst repecting the environmental resource limits upon which our lives depend."
Well, we certainly need more reasons to smile.

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10 July 2006

Silent protest at City Hall MRT for Mr Brown

At least 30 supporters turned up at City Hall station at 2:00 pm dressed in brown attire in support of the blogger, who goes by the moniker Mr Brown.

If even I know about it, I wonder why straits times and channel news asia doesn't.

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9 July 2006

Project Street

Hey, Adam has started a new project call: Project Street.
It's a project to take 50000 photographs of people on Singapore street. How cool is that!
Project Street Icon

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7 July 2006

I am Singaporean!

My mother tongue was Mandarin, I didn't speak a word of English till I was in primary one.
Now, I read only English stuffs and can't write a decent sentence in Mandarin.
I try to speak good English, but I hate ang mo accent.
I never did understand why I can't buy chewing gum.
I take the MRT, when I can squeeze in.
I'm told to study hard all my life for a better future, now I feel I should have played more.
Everyone says study Poly good to find job, but after Poly still the same.
Every month 20% of my pay goes to CPF, for my own good.
I whined a lot during NS; but I never "gian" ok.
I hate reservist, but I never defer.
I'm a solider, but I have never fought in a war.
I do not smoke, but even if I do, there are not many places where I can.
I don't have to worry about no water coming out of my tap, but I must be careful about the water breeding mosquitos.
My parents voted for the first time in their life at the last election, so I guess I petty lucky I waited for only 24 years.
I love my flag, although I seldom see it around.
I am a Chinese, but my best friend is a Malay, and I think Indian girls are cute.

I am Yuen Ming De.

I am a Singaporean.

So say we all.

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6 July 2006

A Sad Day

Mr Brown's friday colume has been suspened. For those who don't know what happened,[click here]


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5 July 2006

My farewell and D & D

There. It's official. I have resign from my work and my last day was on Friday.
The people has been great, treating me to lunch, encouraging me, wishing me luck.

OSSC thrown a great farewell + July birthdays bash. That's cake, pizza, and for me an hongbo. Not taht I'll be totally gone of course. I've applied to work on a part time basics, and this arragement seems likely.

The D&D was much better than last year and I had a great time, taking pictures with everyone, and basically having a blast. Not bad.
Retro fever grips NEA 2006
Btw, Adam has just got himself a new site at AdamL. Photography. Definitely someone to watch for.
Happily, I too have started a new blog: I Doubt So, check it out.