good for commuters

Bus arrival time So the bus panels to tell how late a bus will arrive is going to be set up. This is the strength of this island. Once decided to do something, just do it. No one really cares whether the commuters are willing to pay for the cost of the system. Someone has decided that it is good for the commuters, a better quality of life. So get it done, and the commuters will just have to pay for it. Would someone want to improve the efficiency of the system without adding all these cost? Looking at the good side, we will probably acquire another world number one title for introducing such a futuristic system for our commuters. And with so many panels under the blazing sun, perhaps they can consider building bus kiosk, and aircon them for the comfort of the commuters under the hot tropical heat. The panels need some protection from heat and bright sunlight. Killing two birds with one stone.

of compassion and wretched souls

For $4.2 million to be shared among the NKF, KDF and Khoo Foundation, kidney dialysis patients will now be subjected to means testing. These poor buggers will now have to prove how poor they are so that they can get another $100 to relieve them from this deadly curse of being alive. Means testing to catch cheats is not a bad thing. But who would want to cheat when they are in dire straits? We are a very caring and compassionate society, especially in how we exposed the sufferings of the poor and sick, on air as well. The only good thing in my view is to subject all the charities to scrutiny on their accounts and management of public funds. When Penny Lane wrote the lyrics of Amazing Grace and the phrase 'wretched souls', was he referring to himself or the poor slaves that he caught and sold?

myth 123

Myth 123 Plight of the big earners The CPI has gone up over the years. It was reported that the lower income group suffered the most as the rise in cost of living in the lower sector was the highest. It grew by another 2% as against 1% for the top 20% of the population. Look at these numbers and see how serious they are. 2% of a $10k annual income is $400 a year. 1% of a $5 million income is $50k! For the lower income group, their problem is so easy to solve. I think the govt handout will more than cover the $400 and with excess to spare. It is the higher income group that bears the brunt of higher cost of living. Prices of top end housing are running away. Soon they will not be able to afford them. You should pity them for having to queue over night just to get one of those units. And the cars are not cheap, about $300k each and drinking petrol like nobody business. And when oil price shoots to the sky, it will burn a hole in the pockets of their $5000 suit. Poor buggers. And now with the 7% GST, all their dining and wining will cost more. They might have to make do with a $200 bottle instead of a $2000 one. These are the people who are going to find it hard to keep up with the cost of living. And it is only right and proper that their income be raised accordingly so that their lifestyle is not compromised or they be forced to downgrade and live a lesser life. The poor should not envy the high income earners. They need the big increments and bonuses or they will be in trouble. They have more expensive problems befitting their lifestyles.

Do away with O level result

Do away with O level result Sunday morning is always a good time to take a flight to fantasy land, to explore the impossible or the ridiculous. Creative thinking or wishful thinking, all thrown into one. There is an article in the Sunday Times by Sandra Davie titled,'Time to relook admission policy' to the polytechnics. It seems that the trend is changing and more students or parents are finding it more dollar effective to enrol in Polytechnics rather than JCs. This has resulted in many students with very good results competing with students with lesser results and nudging them out of a place. And this is bad. The solution is to rethink the entry criteria. One of which is not to look at the O level results. Just assess the aptitude of the students. Offer the place on interest, passion and talent. Whatever all these meant, and how to assess them in an interview or what, the key is to throw away the 9 years of education leading to a silly slip of paper called O level result. I think this will make many parents and students jump in joy. Society will have lesser problems of stressed up students. Schools can then indulge in creative and really life relevant courses like gambling in the stock market or trading unwanted dolls or toys to learn business skills. And those who are talented can spend more time either in sports or practicing their acting or singing talents. That will be the great future for Singapore, highly charged with innovative and creative talents, a freer and lively environment where people just do what their gut feeling suggests. Our pop and artistic industries will bloom. More casinos can be built to replace all the dull and monotonous factories or research labs. The latter is a hell hole for people who do not mind mugging and slogging for 20 or 30 years of their precious lives doing nothing, except reading books that nobody understand. They really have no life. Life is meant to be happy and easy going. Go where the heart will take you. Be happy. I feel so good already.

myth 122

Myth 122 Social Integration The last few weeks the topic of new citizens not integrating or mixing with the locals was raised in many quarters. There were complains by the locals that new citizens lived their own lives and were completely cut off from the locals, or even worst, looking down on locals. This is another divide that is cutting across our nation despite people assuring the population that all will be well when we have 6.5 million people, mostly new citizens. Wondering how many are gullible enough to have so strong a faith to believe in the happy eventuality of this story. After 40 years of independence, social engineering, demographic management and distribution, national education, campaigns after campaigns, our inter racial relations is still on tender hook. At the slightest instigation we can see the cracks emerging very quickly and a lot of damage control to put it back in place. We have all kinds of grassroot activities organised to promote social mixing and understanding among the people of different backgrounds. We tried very hard in these areas. Now another problem is added to this mixed matches of people. Before an old problem is solved, new problems are added. And we believe all is well. We have this simple mentality that we must herd the people together, play together and feed together. And unless they are seen to be feeding together like a flock of sheep, we are not a people united, not one people. So we try and try. And everytime we see people not mixing together or staying away from each other, horror, we are splitting apart. Suresh Kumar wrote in the Today paper to address this apparent disunity among new and old Singaporeans. In his view, everyone have their own things to do and own interests. And why should they be forced to be with people that are so different to them and do not share the same interest? it is only natural. The same kind of experience can be seen with a family or between brothers and sisters. When each is busy doing his own things, enjoying his own interests, pursuing his own dreams, they have hardly anytime to be together. Maybe once or twice a year over some cultural or traditional events. Even husband and wife have different dreams will sleeping on the same bed. But they are a family when the crunch comes. While we strive for unity, the superficial herding of people together does not mean anything if their hearts are elsewhere or they don't share the same dream and aspiration. Just like a flock of sheep, with a blank mind, grazing the grass and oblivious to anything. A perfect target for the wolf packs. What is important is for the people to have a soul or spirit, that they believe in being a Singaporean and will defend and die for this island. That their future well being is intertwined with the well being of this island and people. The money kind of nation building will turn us into a soulless cosmopolitan city, everyone grazing their little patch of grass and will scatter in all directions when the wolf pack attacks. When the social glue is money and nothing else, we no longer qualify to be called a nation of people. We will become a country of mercenaries. To each his own. Grab as much as one can during good time and plan to run away with houses and properties in some safe havens.