Category - Shared Items

“Sure, his account illustrates the usual argument relating to the lack of press freedoms in Singapore, but I suspect it has got to do with the chronic “kiasi-ness” (literally means fear of death in Singapore colloquial-speak, can be used to refer to literal or metaphorical death) embedded in the hearts and minds of government bureaucrats.”

“One would have wished that, over such a long period, someone within the Government had identified the mistakes.”

Identifying the mistake is one thing – being willing and able to adopt a new and better course of action is another.

“The army uses it to categorize men by their fitness and combat readiness level, and it stands for Physical Employment Status. Me, I use mine to categorize men by their childhood traumas, and it stands for Prick Evaluation System.”

IMHO, the categories are a bit more fluid – some guys can be a combination of a few characteristics.

“I think we should [look on] the bright side [of things]. Perhaps we can try to make the best of things. If you cannot stop the flooding, why not make Bukit Timah the Venice of Singapore? What could be more romantic and prestigious than living in Singapore’s Canal District?

…

The fancy schools along that stretch can have annual Boat Races there, a la Oxford and Cambridge. ACS, SCGS, Hwa Chong, NJC, St Joseph’s, all competing in the annual Bukit Timah Freak Flood Inter-School Boat Race.”

“While the governments of Burma, China and Iran tend to arrest troublesome foreign reporters or expel them without delay, Singapore’s more media-savvy government prefers a subtler approach to repression. The non-renewal of a work visa is their preferred method for getting rid of foreigners with minimal fuss or attention.”

“TR: How do you feel about the current government policies in place, namely in Singapore?

LHS: For another Fajar Generation to emerge, the ISA of Singapore needs to be removed.”

I friggin’ hate headlines like “Wife of opposition politician sentenced to 16 years’ jail” because they only (consciously or unconsciously) perpetuate the stereotype/myth that opposition politicians are untrustworthy, when there is no inherent need to angle the story from the ‘opposition politics’ point of view.

“Here is the message that has just now arrived here:

From: Johnson Brown

I AM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF JOHNSON BROWN BOOKSTORE STORES INC. KINDLY BE INFORM THAT I WILL LIKE TO ORDER THE TITLE BELLOW (sic)…”

“Note to self: If I am reborn as a crocodile, I must remember never to run across the backs of hippos.”

This made me LOL first, then remember that I want to write a review/paper on The Blue Mansion that has to do with The Problem of Satire.

“Perfect for when you ran out of beer, cigarettes, tabloid news, and crap shows on TV.”

What a beautiful stop-motion video!

“The standard shopping model needs to be reversed. Instead of the shopper acting as hunter, and the product hiding as prey, you should be able to describe in your own words what sort of thing you are looking for, and the vendors should use those footprints to hunt you down and make their pitch.”

A recording of a speech by Dr Lim Hock Siew, Singapore’s second longest-held political prisoner.

Interesting perspective:

“Wah lau, can Dr Chee argue more creatively like Mr Siew Kum Hong or not? Can he concentrate on improving the lives of Singaporeans in meaningful ways and not waste his time on idealised notions of western democracy? Or is he so fixated with revenge on PAP and the First Family that he wants all of us to burn with him … erm Singaporeans not so like that one lah.”

A contest for the best worst writing you can manage in 300 words.