Stuff you must read today (Sun, 21 Nov 2010)

  • What would you be if you had more than 2 gender choices? (Transgender Awareness Week)
  • “I first became properly aware that it was Transgender Awareness week when I stepped into my Introduction to Gay and Lesbian Literature class.

    I walked in to see my normally dashing and charming professor dressed up as a woman. ‘The walk from Modern Languages to this building has never been so long,’ he began. ‘But I must say, the people on campus are extremely polite.’ Here, he mimicked a few alarmed side-glares and whispers. ‘Somebody even complimented me on my heels!'”

  • Life-Altering Traffic Light Design Concept of the Day.
  • This makes much more sense than present designs. But we don’t need to throw the baby out with the bathwater – a countdown timer atop traffic lights at present should do the trick.

  • Past to Present: Hands at a Gig.
  • Two astute commentators pointed out that: (a) the graphic is missing a lighter, and (b) what about a Black Power fist? But still, it’s a very apt picture.

  • Still Life, with Grandmother.
  • “On the way out the door she explains that I should lock both locks. I should pull the shade down halfway. I should level off one teaspoon of instant powder for her coffee. The thermostat is too low. The light in the hallway needs to stay on at night. She won’t eat oatmeal. I put too much food on her plate.

    I am being calibrated. For what, I don’t know.”

  • Complexity of possible ogamies (and non-monogamy).
  • A chart that maps out possible ogamies/the variety of intimate relationships that human beings have.

National Education Lesson of the Day.

Why don’t they teach these things in schools? LOL.

A koro epidemic struck Singapore in October 1967 for about ten days. Newspapers initially reported that some people developed koro after eating the meat of pigs inoculated with anti-swine-flu vaccine. Rumours relating eating pork and koro spread after a further report of an inoculated pig dying from penile retraction. The cases reported amounted to 97 in a single hospital unit within one day, at five days after the original news report. Government and medical officials alleviated the outbreak only by public announcements over television and in the newspapers.

(via)

FYI I chanced upon this gem while reading the Wikipedia entry on “running amok”.

You can read more about the koro epidemic here (downloadable PDF file).

Alternative measures needed to curb motorcycle fatalities.

Dear Madam/Sir,

I REFER to Mr Peter Heng’s letter (“Act tough to curb motorcycle fatalities”, Nov 3).

I acknowledge that speeding motorcyclists and reckless riders have contributed to the high fatality rate for motorcyclists on Singapore roads.

As with any issue, however, it takes two hands to clap.

Dangerous driving is also a major factor in the deaths of motorcyclists on the road.

I have been a rider for six years and have both seen and experienced two main instances of dangerous driving that have resulted in accidents:

  • Intimidation, where lorries and buses tailgate riders unnecessarily e.g. when riders are already in the leftmost lane, and
  • Callousness, where cars cut into lanes of riders at exceedingly fast speeds and at angles which are too close for comfort.

Unfortunately, motorcyclists have no means of redress or protection from these actions.

Mr Heng’s suggestions might also exacerbate the current situation, as motorcyclists will then be deprived of a degree of speed to escape from their tormentors.

To address the root causes of the problem, I would like to propose the following measures instead:

  • Courtesy campaigns by the Traffic Police to remind road-users to share the road in a friendly and respectful manner,
  • Motorcycle lanes, if the Land Transport Authority will consider this, to protect riders from drivers,
  • A hotline for motorcyclists to report dangerous drivers, where the Traffic Police can then take action against deviant behaviour, and
  • Driving re-education classes conducted by the Traffic Police for errant road-users, who will have to watch videos of fatal road accidents to remind them of the sanctity of life.

I will be happy to partner the agencies I have mentioned in working together for a safer and death-free road experience for all.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Laremy LEE (Mr)

(Published as “Don’t blame just (sic) motorcyclists” on 8 Nov 2010 in the Straits Times Forum Online.)