gough whitlam appeals to lky for clemency

after his racist remark about singapore, gough whitlam actually wrote a letter to appeal for clemency for the drug trafficker. under normal circumstances i would suggest lky to give him a lesson on diplomacy, racism and good manners. in this case it is better to throw away his letter into the bins. lky should not waste his time to reply to this bum. yes he is a bum.

frontpage headlines in the sunday times

two main issues covered the front page of today's sunday times. one on a survey of commuters using public bus services and complaining about long wait and over crowding. the next important and interesting article is about vietnam brides with a beautiful colour picture of three beautiful vietnamese ladies. and they were so beautiful that the same picture were printed again inside, another quarter page and a full page of news on them. for a moment i thought i was reading a tabloid, the sun or the mirror, or some easy sunday morning stuff. the transformation of a serious paper on weekdays into a light and easy read on a sunday is a good change. after all everyone needs a break. but no, the serious stuff are inside. what a twist. but on a sunday morning, it is better to start off with lighter moments like looking for a bride for sale or go bride shopping.

reversing technology

technology is not the only way forward. at a time when jobs were aplenty, when manpower was short, we need to mechanise and computerise to save on manpower. those days were gone. as days go by we are going to experience more and more people exiting the job market and unable to find a job. and these people have 20 to 30 years of time to spare. they need to keep themselves occupied. any jobs will do. we need to reverse technology to provide some forms of jobs for these people. so far the ideal jobs for them are cleaners, sweepers, chambermaids etc. we need to think more deeply and be more innovative in job creations. all the expensive machinery and computerised systems, satellite tracking, touch and go stuff must make way for cheaper means of doing things. they are actually not cost effective. bus conductors can do a better job and cheaper and provide jobs too. like it or not, 20 or 30% of the population will need simple and not so talented jobs. these people will not go away. they are our problems. we cannot keep on creating talented jobs for talented people and ended up inviting more foreign talents to replace our no talent citizens. the pool of this no talent citizens is going to balloon by the years.

please come home

it is time to wave the banner for singaporeans overseas to come home. just bring $5000 along too. that is what they will need to pay for the fine. many singaporeans who have evaded national service for whatever reasons should consider returning home now that the govt's stand is clear. and they need not be a super talent or there will be accusation of discrimination. we need to welcome the return of the prodigal sons. no more angst and fear of the uncertainty. and if they are talented better still. with our definition of foreign talents equated to anyone who can secure a job of more than $2000, or with a diploma or degree, everyone shall be qualified. our system of justice is fair and transparent and consistent. we cannot rule in favour of the rich against the poor. and not against the untalented in favour of the talented.

yasukuni, a japanese truth

the japanese embassy in singapore protested to lianhe zaobao for reporting on koizumi's visit to the shrine negatively. they explained that koizumi went there to pay respect for the soldier's sacrifice for the peace and prosperity of japan. from the japanese point of view, this is true. the soldiers fought and died for japan and the emperor. from this issue one can clearly see that truth is different when seen from a different angle. all the east asian countries who suffered japanese occupation and atrocities would not forget what the japanese soldiers had done to them. the british and australian and other allied soldiers who were imprisoned in changi and those who survived the burmese death railway are still seething with pain and anger. then again, in japan today's forum there was an indian national who praised the japanese invasion in india and for helping the indians fought the british. there was also an indian independent army supported by the japanese. according to this indian national, india was grateful to japan for weakening the british raj. so at least there is someone who is thankful for the role of japan during the second world war. the yasukini visit is a glorious event to the japanese and their leaders, especially those who seek to revive japanese militarism and japanese glory. for the victims, it is a totally different story, a story of pain and suffering, of shame and humiliation. the japanese would want to relive those moments of their glorious past. the rest of asia, maybe except india, would like to forget that period of their history if they could. japanese visit to yasukuni is a painful reminder of what the asian countries had suffered. would koizumi and other japanese leaders want to continue to remind the rest of asia of their 'great adventure' to liberate the asian countries and bring peace and prosperity to the east asia co prosperity sphere?