To all the losers

All the losers here are very ungrateful. They could not appreciate how good life has been for them in paradise. People around the world will give up everything, or buy their way to be here. And all the losers know is to complain. But everything here is so cheap and affordable. What is a $200k car or a $3m house? They are within the means of the able citizens. So easily affordable. And it is unbelieveable that people are complaining about paying $5 for ERP charges. Many are willing to pay $20 just for a hassle free drive. And more ridiculous, they are complaining about a 20c increase in public transport fare! Frankly, if you cannot afford to pay $2 for a world class public transport system, you should not be here. This is a land of opportunities! Go and work harder and smarter and become a super talent. Then you will know how good life can be in paradise. It is literally wine, women and song if you want it to be. And if you cannot make the best of all the opportunities available, man, you deserve to be a loser. We have built a great city of world class standards. We have provided our citizens with world class facilities and a way of life that is the envy of people around the world. Everything works! Oh, you have sacrificed your youth in doing 2 1/2 years of National Service, and reservist liabilities. What's so big deal? With the money we are paying, we can buy the best soldiers to defend us and they will do so happily. No complaints. We don't need soldiers that will fall dead while walking. What kind of soldiers are these? Get real, doing NS is a privilege, a chance to redeem yourself and be given the right to be in paradise for the losers. You must be very thankful for such an opportunity. Otherwise we don't even want you here. Ingrates! Who are the 'We?'

The cynical Singaporeans

Why is it so difficult to explain something so simple to the Singaporeans? The ERPs and the rate hikes are not to increase govt revenue. In fact the govt is losing money doing all these to help businesses by making the roads emptier. I have read everywhere in cyberspace and not a single one is agreeing with this official view. The TOM also mentioned it. Alas, the hopeless Singaporeans just refuse to agree or accept these reasonings. Come on Singaporeans, if there are less traffic on the road to cause jams, there must be more businesses as people using the roads must be genuine shoppers or people who have a reason to be on that stretch of road. And it is very costly to erect all the ERPs. No joke, the physical structures and the software to go with it. And collection of all the fees with people complaining that their cash cards don't work. All these cost money too. The ERPs are good for Singaporeans and good for businesses, but bad for the govt.

Flabbergasted

I was listening to the news in CNA when it came to the announcement of a Chinese player that won his first round at Wimbleton against a seated player. The name flashed across the screen, Zheng Jie. Then came the horror, the newsreader read Jie Zheng! And the newsreader was an overseas Chinese who obviously knew what Chinese name are and how it should be read. Zheng Jie became Jie Zheng! And this is in CNA, not BBC, CNN or some American news agency. Why are the Chinese confusing themselves and in the process confused the world? Chinese name should be written and read the Chinese way, especially in Channel News Asia. Otherwise everyone will be confused as to which is the right order. Kuan Yew Lee, Jin Tao Hu???? Who are they? When I read George Bush, I know Bush is the family name. When I read Lee Kuan Yew, I know Lee is the family name. I will be terribly confused if I have to guess if Lee is the family name, or is it Yew? And so will the rest of the world.

The brutal and unforgiving internet

Gone were the days when people can expound their stupid theories of rights and goodness in 'the old media' TOM with impunity. Gone were the days where readers were treated as fools, to lap up all the rubbish and silly wisdom by people with access to TOM. Gone were the days when the fettered people have no way to talk back. Today, the internet has given the people the right to talk back, to question and to ridicule silliness and stupidity of anyone. People who think they are extraordinary and want to talk down to the people better make sure they make sense. The internet has a very low level of tolerance for nonsense. Not only the people will talk back and tear down stupidity into bits and pieces, it will be aired in cyberspace around the world. People who spout nonsense are advised to shut up before they make a fool of themselves. The only truth that is acceptable in the internet is the truth that people understand and accept as reasonable. Tooth is never acceptable and will be rubbished together with the soothsayers.

Cyberspace is No Man's Land

The internet is in virtual space and does not belong to anyone or any govt. Do not assume that it belongs to the govt. Once you adopted that position, you are conceding cyberspace to the govt. What is important is not to be seditious, don't commit crime, or cause racial or religious strife. Some may want to be scandalous or libellious. Go ahead and face the consequences if one has the money to take on anyone in the courts of law. Other than violating other people's right, the internet is fair game and should be left that way. Live and post freely and abide by some reasonable moral codes of decency. I think that should be good enough. Why invite the govt to impose laws to regulate your rights and freedom of expression? Never surrender your rights voluntarily for no good reasons. Any addition rules or laws on the internet is one law too many.