Found a blog entry which reflects somewhat ground views, but it isn't exactly something I am advocating. As I have many foreigner friends and I do support foreign talent scheme by our government - so for my foreigner friends who are trying to settle down here in Singapore, sometimes try to understand from a local perspective and curtail your criticisms...as it is REALLY reserved for us Singaporeans who lived here and undergone the school curriculum; having to purchase out of reach public housing; having to serve 2.5 yrs of army and up to 40 days of yearly reservist training till we are 40 or 50 years of age depending on rank... You see, we are proud of this red dot, but there is much more to be done...and you do not see what we see or hear, so respect us as we have respected you being here. Do learn when to shut up and spare us your disingenuous criticisms. Yes our forefathers were foreigners as well, but they contributed to the nation building through blood and sweat and fought the Japanese invasion on this soil; as am I with my annual army duties, but more often to protect foreign investments more than "real" enemies up north and around. Poor arguments do not justify the fact Singaporeans love to complain...blogging is an avenue for release as studies have shown it helps mentally and emotionally by sharing...so now everyone has to take it like a man and stop bitching about realistic concerns? Have you taken a walk lately in the alleys of Sungei Road or Chinatown? Or are you just another elitist, Wee Shu Min devoid of compassion and understanding?
A quote from Albert Einstein - "The world is evil, not because of the evil doers but those who see evil being done and do nothing."
In case the entry mysteriously disappears, I read this forum letter sent to ST as well, over the weekend in state newspapers.
ST Nov 7, 2009
Be prouder of this great little red dot
I REFER to Thursday's report, 'Singapore a top choice for migrants'. I am a new permanent resident, and this report not only makes me proud, but also affirms my fundamental belief that Singapore is destined to be a global centre from a financial standpoint and a cultural and social perspective.
After living most of my life in Sydney, Paris and Tokyo, I have embraced Singapore as my home - I never felt so intimate with the other cities.
My only beef with Singapore is that its citizens do not necessarily share my passion for this country. From personal observations, I have noticed that Singaporeans are both competitive and in a constant pursuit to improve their daily lives, whether economically or in some other sphere.
In this challenging environment, it is natural that one loses perspective of the overall big picture, which is that Singapore, a country of about 700 sq km, has come a long way from a backwater trading post to establishing itself as arguably the financial and technological hub of Asia.
Perhaps Singaporeans should be prouder of their country. Cab drivers complain about everything and university graduates I come across talk of saving up and moving to Spain or Italy.
Perhaps it is time citizens took a step back from the frantic demands of everyday life to reflect a little on what their country has to offer - a safe, ecologically aware and technologically advanced metropolis with excellent public transport and infrastructure, a thriving arts scene and a welcoming multicultural local population.
If foreigners from all over the world can see this and are coming to Singapore, why can't Singaporeans?
Sam Ahmed
I guess this blog will be void of local criticisms when I decided and successfully migrated and go on to blog about new adventures and issues face. But I for one will not be writing to local newspapers of my new country and telling the locals how to live it and stop bitching!
This is a great post by Yawning Bread, which highlights how creativity and imagination is stemmed from a controlled local TV programming. In that blog entry, he covers the direct and indirect effects of having local TV shows mutilated by censorship.
The crisis in local television is a harbinger of the crisis that Singapore as a whole will soon face. In a nutshell, it's an inability to compete in a world of ideas. Censorship and authoritarian politics are the root causes.
True to the fact that most of the time, my family is either tuned to some Taiwanese variety show or Korean drama on local channels. Otherwise we are glued to Starhub AXN/Star/CNN/CNBC/Discovery channels catching better quality shows. Parents these days have subscribed to Nickelodeon or Disney channels for their children; whilst young adults with access to fast broadband speeds are watching everything online like on Youtube - they make up the fussiest age group with their short attention span and the fact that the internet offers them a wide variety. Why would anyone watch local TV shows anymore? I have observed over the years, more advertisements are being shown on cable channels these days - is this the result of the recession or the declining viewership on local TV channels?
So lucky for those who can afford fast broadband speeds and a slew of overseas programs on a Starhub/MIO TV subscription. They have alternatives, but what about those who can only afford the basic TV license for free-to-air channels?
A great quote from Yawning Bread's article:
Innovation needs a nurturing environment. A bright spark without that environment typically amounts to no more than a flash in a pan. Our politics have ensured that we don't have that environment. So the intellectual desert we see on free-to-air television is a vision of Singapore's future, when we are outclassed by the rest of the world in an age when ideas, knowledge and creativity matter more than ever. And gently, all the while entertained by the best from abroad via the internet, we slip into the Third World.
As we slowly progress on to international quality shows on the internet and paid cable channels, I wonder when can we stop paying TV and Radio licenses? Perhaps that can help to speed up the inevitable - kill off poorly made local productions and drive MediaCorp to really think out of the box to produce good quality content. Why waste taxpayers money to even bring back Phua Chu Kang? A sudden urge for nostalgia? I hardly think this even qualifies as a desperate attempt to help integrate the new PRs and citizens with our local Ps and Qs of Singlish.
Personally, I rather watch old re-runs of Seinfeld and Friends on Star TV.
I know a lot of critics are out there lambasting Michael Jordan over his Hall of Fame acceptance speech. Critics told him who he should thank and blame him for not thanking this and that, and he should be more humble etc. Seriously, he is all deserving the honours and achievements, so why compromise, why be nice especially during those times who are we to know what transpired behind those closed locker rooms, how they tried to break up the Bulls each time in the name of assured transitions, or how others have equally shown ill-feelings towards him back then - Michael after all is leaving a legacy behind.
6-time NBA champion: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 (all with Chicago Bulls)
6 NBA Finals appearances: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
5-time NBA Most Valuable Player: 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
10-time scoring champion: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
14-time NBA All-Star: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003
3-time NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1988, 1996, 1998
6-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
1-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1987-88
11-time All-NBA selection:
First team: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
9-time All-Defensive selection:
First team: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
NBA Rookie of the Year: 1985
2-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions: 1987, 1988
Similar to a friend who was interviewed by the papers recently for him achieving Magic accolades and achievement here and globally. JC Sum spoke about his GP teacher back in VJC dissing his essay on Magic as a Performing Art and now VJC invites him back to perform during a OVA (Old Victorian Alumi) event for performing arts in this year's June 3rd's ST Life section.
Here is his full unedited quote of that story (understood it was edited in the print version):
"So, it is completely ironic that 15 years after failing this essay, I would go on to win a first place award presented by the National University Centre for the Arts in 1997, perform magic across the world, present two mega illusions for collectively 15,000 people and star in Singapore’s first permanent illusion show. And then be invited by OVA to represent Victorians who have made achievements in the performing arts and be part of a concert that is held in Singapore’s premier performing arts venue.
Back then, I’m sure the teacher thought of me as ignorant and uninformed … the difference is, 15 years ago I knew it was the other way around…. Now, I’m sure he knows too."
I guess if this is what drives us to be motivated, surely we deserve to take some payback time back to highlight the reasons why we get so driven and competitive right? Why is noone telling the person who once tried to cut us from our dreams to shut up and stop the hurt or criticism? So in my humble opinion, I think everyone has their right to their own Hall of Fame induction and their own way of getting back in life; because if one is not an inspiring Michael Jordan or JC Sum, he might have fallen and never stood up to his unkind critics.
I leave you with some great videos of my main man and remember what he has done for us, for the game and no one else has as big a heart as him for the love of the game.
He is legendary...and nothing can take it away from him.
What is found these days in the local newspapers, online portals like Asiaone and STOMP, is nothing less than a tabloid reporting trashy, hardly critical articles. A book launch covers more pages than important issues on the ground. My Spiderman/Superman cartoon days often made me wish I did better in my languages and studied journalism instead. Not in hope of peeling of my outer clothing, but to report the truth. And with journalism in Singapore being the way it is today, I am glad I suck in languages and did better in engineering topics.
Perhaps RADM Lui should watch a couple of 2009 movies recommended by an engineer. "State of Play" starring Russel Crowe, that is how journalists or a newspaper should be. If not at least strive to have his team of journalists be like Robert Downey Jr. in "The Soloist" doing some good for those who have fallen through the cracks of society.
I shall extract excerpts which I find would make him a better journalist, and by the way in no means of RADM Lui's poor standards.
One can go on and on adding layers to facts, each layer altering one's perception to some degree. Generally, it would never be possible to exhaust all layers of facts. Since that is the case, then one may ask: How many layers have to be unearthed for the Truth to be understood? If perception is so contingent upon the adding of layers of information, how will we ever know when we have grasped the Truth?
Lui said in his speech, Singapore's mainstream media "remains the dominant source of information", a claim he supported by reference to the 2008 Nielsen Media Index survey, saying "75 per cent of those surveyed selected newspapers as their preferred source of news", that's news. Can it be otherwise? How can non-mainstream media contest at being the "preferred source of news" when it is not actually a source of news?
By foolishly remaining complacent about people trusting mainstream media for "news", the government is blindsided to another set of dynamics: It is commentary that more likely shapes political opinion and it is doubtful if the mainstream media play a hegemonic role anymore in the formation of political opinion. Moreover, as elections in Malaysia and other countries have shown, political opinion formed by the net-savvy minority can spread by word of mouth and other means to non-net-savvy sections of the population.
I shall end with his last sentence in that blog entry which left indelible parting questions to my mind as well. "Is our mainstream media considered credible simply because, after 44 years, our people have been made apathetic and credulous?"
I really am pissed after reading this from Mr. Brown.
Firstly I was called a lesser mortal by this Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC f$%ked up MP Charles Chong. And anyone would think he would have learnt and seriously be more cautious with his choice of words, but now he has come out to say this.
Mr Charles Chong, the ward's MP, said yesterday that he started noticing a growing number of new immigrants in the neighbourhood three years ago.
He estimated that about 10 per cent of the residents in some blocks could be permanent residents or new citizens, but was unable to pinpoint the precise number. Punggol Central has 48,000 residents in all.
Most of the new immigrants are from India, China, the Philippines and Myanmar.
'They are usually very happy to be here and have settled in well,' Mr Chong said.
With his trademark grin, he added: 'When you ask Singaporean residents for feedback, they will complain that they have to wait more than 15 minutes for the bus. But when you ask new immigrants, they are happy that the bus comes in under 30 minutes.'
Seriously, does he even take public transport? Does he get 1st world pay or 3rd world immigrant MP's pay? Asking me to be happy with 30mins wait time for a bus is like asking me to pay him peanuts. (Wait..our Singaporean TT Durai "peanuts" is worth over 600k per annum) If we are paying peanuts to get monkeys who continuously think his ivory tower has a golden seat for him for all eternity, I rather get a monkey who can shutdafarkup. I dislike knowing the fact that I pay my taxes to support such an ass who continuously think that by comparing his standards with somewhat lowered ones, his job is done. This is not why and where millions of taxpayer's money go to - to be compromised. We were promised by PAPpies to be progressing, to pay more for better quality leaders. This is clearly a case of a used car salesman selling me a Toyota by comparing with a Geely.
Should he be comparing our standards with first world transportation? We cannot compare ourselves with Japan? Just as our local media love to pull a fast one (check my previous post) on making Sillypore a "perceived" wonderful place to live it.
Now I am an ungrateful lesser mortal..soon to be displaced by grateful, happily settled immigrants. No offence to the new immigrants, enjoy the ride of a "perceived" wonderful gahmen.
Our bus stops, walls, etc can finally look nice again after 13 months. Plastered with his picture all over Singapore, I was actually wondering when can we take down this "Wanted" posters.
But from the BIG BIG fonts all over the "State" Times and Today, it is obvious our authorities are happy and some Wong can finally heave a relief that his 13 months ago decision to thicken his skin and stay on for such a debacle. So now the million dollar question, who caught him and why now? Apparently Mas Selamat was captured by Malaysian authorities back in Apr 1st. Do we have to wait for more than a month before we find out it was not an April's Fool joke? And from Asiaone news:
Singapore police spokesmen could not immediately be reached for comment on the report.
Why is that so? All over ChannelNewsAsia Channel on TV, it streams "Singapore confirms the capture of Mas Selamat". Why do we need to confirm? Didn't our authorities know about his capture since 1 Apr?
A Singapore government spokeswoman confirmed the arrest but gave no other details on where or when.
Did the Johor authorities pull a fast one? And announced it without our Singapore Police 'partnership', thus only after more than a month, can we inform the citizens that the MOST WANTED terrorist in Singapore has been captured? I thought good news should share what..our State Times is known to share good news and hide the bad ones!
Singapore role in arrest
Intelligence provided by Singapore's Internal Security Department late last year led to a joint operation between Malaysia and Singapore's security agencies that eventually saw them arresting Mas Selamat in Johor in April.
It was not the first time that information from Singapore helped to nab the escape artist.
Really? Intelligence was provided by our ISD but we cannot confirm his arrest until now? I do not see what's the point and why so many indications to highlight the role of Singapore authorities in this capture. Are we too ashamed to acknowledge that State-Times-often-publishing-crime-laden state like Johor did what has eluded our uniformed men?
I can't wait to know more about what really happened, but apparently the Malaysian authorities are not giving up the prized loot. He is still being held by the Malaysian authorities for interrogation. After a month, still drinking kopi and chit chatting as we shake leg and decide not to announce in the whole freaking month of April.
Apparently I was on the news 3 months ago. Tried to avoid speaking to the press (knowing how they always twist and turn), and did not realise it did come out. I am glad I was not misquoted, but then again technically I did not speak in Mandarin. Excerpt:
Have you noticed the new SBS buses do not have LCD TVs on board and thus no irritating TV mobile? Hmm have I spoken too soon and it's actually on the way? Well, anyway I managed to catch a nap in the silence!
Anyway from SBS website -
SBS Transit worked with MediaCorp to install TV Mobile in our buses in 2001. MediaCorp looks after the programming and maintenance of the television sets while SBS Transit provides the space in the buses. The purpose is to provide infotainment to our commuters so as to enhance their travel experience. This is also a source of revenue for us to defray costs.
As Mediacorp is having some tightening of expenses of late, perhaps they are cutting costs amidst the global downturn with not enough media advertising revenue to embark on more LCD TVs?
Ok, I was suppose to share my experiences about the HSBC Women's golf championships - A bunch of men following women through 18 holes, I guess people would want to read that more than blogging about a losing basketball team. But instead I should do what's morally right, than falling to public expectations. But hey I don't get much readership anyway. If you have to...go read Jason's entry about the event, he managed to steal some nice shots on the golf course.
Will get serious about this and lose the pictures, and have just lots of words, so that people actually fall asleep reading this entry.
What's wrong with the Singapore Slingers? Actually ain't much. Just a few key points - Firstly they do not get enough local media attention as compared to the other NBL teams in the league. Perhaps if our local media pays just half as much attention on them as compared to the soccer leagues such as EPL or the S. League. The Singapore Slingers could actually get a shot at filling up the stadium for a match.
Even with a million dollars on the line, this is all the coverage we got (source from Nic):
2 articles from Straits Times and Zaobao, and 6 mentions from the following radio stations:
* Power 98 FM - 7am (14 secs)
* Class 95 FM - 9am (17 secs)
* 938 LIVE - 6.35am (1 min 6 secs)
* 91.3 FM - 7am (16 secs)
* 88.3 Jia FM - 7am (24 secs)
* 98.7 FM - 8.55am (56 secs)
1. The Straits Times, 14 Feb - Slingers are second last, page 12
The article touched on results of the game and highlighted the Million Dollar Shot segment. It also featured a colour photo of Rod Grizzard in action.
There was also coverage on the CNA website that can be found here: . Although the cameraman was present at the game, however, by the time the studio received the footage all their slots for the evening had been filled.
Well the bloggers who were present probably had more coverage than our local media.
But as we all know, unless you are paying to get attention, there's no such thing as free publicity unless the public wants to know, and wants to read/hear about it. That's the laws of demand at work. But to think we are going for the 2010 Youth Olympics, our local media seriously needs to pull up their socks.
So the key missing point from the Slingers line up is awareness.
People need to become more aware of the Slingers. There should also be more opportunities to allow chances to create awareness - this sound complicated, but what I am trying to say is that Slingers marketing guys need to create opportunities for people to talk or write about it. Sensationalized articles such as the Million Dollar shots, Shane Macdonald as Cleo's 50 most eligible bachelor, etc.
Singapore Slingers are alcoholic friendly and photography friendly!
Did you know Singapore Slingers at the indoor stadium is the only place where you can have your booze indoor and watch a game? It's cooling and you can order beer and wine as you watch your game (just remember: drink don't drive). Perhaps soccer fans get too violent after booze - just follow the EPL fans brawling record, you know I am right. Basketball is usually a tamer sport lest you have Ron Artest and Dennis Rodman on the court. People who want to pick up sports photography should also be encouraged to come for games as we are allowed to take pictures!The other bloggers had many ideas such as creating contests or be a cheerleader or waterboy for a day etc.I would gladly try it out - because they have the best seats at the courtside for free.
Next pointer I would like to give is rather frank and it might hurt - Get a good coach, a coach that knows what it takes to win. With wins, you will automatically gain media attention, you will gain more fans, more converts-from-critics. You will gain respect, more exciting games, more following. But I also hope that the coach gets free play - to choose his team, to coach his ways, his style, ability to bench the players etc. Not sure what the current arrangement is, but it should be that way. Perhaps like in the movie "Invincible" - open up the opportunity for locals to try out for the team, let them go through the training camps before the season start. I would go try for it! Though I know at least 200 better local players in Singapore than me..actually there probably are 20,000 better local players than me, but I don't really know them. Haha
Watch out for the concluding episode of "What's wrong with the Singapore Slingers?"
I love Sundays. Besides getting loads of rest or sports, I get my usual crap articles from the Straits Times. I like it whenever they try to explain the high divorce rates and low/late marriage statistics and particularly about Singaporean Women and their gripe on Singaporean Men. Today's front page on their ST Life is about loving them and spoiling them. Read the FREE online article here, if you haven't already flipped the papers.
The Straits Times conducted surveys on what women would like men to do and how many percentage of men would do the things the women like. For example, paying for 1st dates - 80 per cent of women expect their boyfriends to pay during dates, interestingly, 92 per cent of men surveyed said they would pay. Also paying for meals, opening doors, sending them home and even holding their handbags. Besides dressing up for special occasions, the percentage of Singaporean Men actually exceeds all the expectations of what women would liked. So what is actually the problem here? Are there mismatches in relationships? Or has the interviewing demographic been done at wrong locations where the Men were found patiently waiting at shoe shops, car parks?
I think the real problem here is that Singaporean Women are expecting too much. Let's not make a general sweeping statement here, where i would probably thread on many nice warm loving, dutch-paying ladies out there.Seriously the guys I know wouldn't even think about not paying for meals. Besides expecting all these chivalry, women these days that I have met, they seem to have that understanding that men must have a good paying job, a decent ride and best if he comes with a bachelor pad as well. I think to demand all these things, like an expectation of a job - you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. So with all the effort and amount of money/assets you need to have to attract Singaporean Women, are they really worth the hassle?
I just found out that a peer of mine is marrying a Vietnamese. And I have lot more friends already married to Chinese ladies. With Vietnam and China modernising and getting more affluent, it is no surprise they can easily meet the expectations of Singaporean Men and the plus points they have - they can cook, take care of the house, dress well; some of them are lookers too. Now I have absolutely no idea why aren't the Singaporeans looking that way as we move into a globalised nation. Or perhaps they are, so we can free up the Singaporean Women looking to a nice romantic life with the expats here. I would think getting a Chinese or Vietnam bride might even be a good investment or career move as China and Vietnam develops further.
Hmm..getting a Vietnamese wife, so that I can buy some property there for future investments since they do not allow foreigners to own land..sounds like a decent idea. So where shall We Singaporean Men start?
