It is hip to be poor!

At a time when we celebrate our Golden Years, it is also a time to be hip to be poor in paradise. Let's help the losers feel a little better by telling teaching them to brag out loudly on how to stinge a few cents to get by. Let's not be shy about it. When one does not have the money, do the things that the have nots have been doing, and make them sound fashionable. The ST have reported 30 great ways to save, to tighten your belt, as a new life style. I too have been doing them quietly for many years, a bit ashame of the kinds of things I did to save some money. I walk instead of taking public transport, to save a few cents. But I will say that it is for exercise, for health reasons. I climb the stairs, also for the same reasons, but not telling people that I can't afford to join the famous gyms. I wear cheap watches or plastic ones, deliberately as if to dress down on purposes but actually can afford the $30k branded ones. Wear cheap imitation jeans from Bugis or pasar malam, tear and cut them everywhere to look authentically poor but hip. And everything is DIY to save on cost. Drink plain water and give the reasons that caffeinated drinks are bad for health. And I don't go to the barber, kept my hair long, tied it into a pony tail and look neither male nor female, then say it is the style, like artistes or movie stars. Feels great. There are many excuses to save money and act cool at the same time. Oh, I don't eat sharksfin too, to save the sharks. And to be eco friendly, I stop driving to town. Shhhhh, can't afford the high fuel cost and the high ERPs. Never mind squeezing, sweating and smelling all the body odour. Just got to bear with it. There is an Ah Q emerging inside me.

What should be the role of media?

Today paper is getting quite a lot of attention lately since it took on a more aggressive stance. It took a strong position on the fiascos by the Home Ministry and then an opinionated article on Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Najib Razak. And the attention came from the Malaysian High Commissioner Parameswaran and also eliciting a comment from Hsien Loong not to take sides. Then Paul Jacob added by saying that what Today was doing was nothing knew as the Malaysian media were reporting similar slanted articles about Singapore politicians. Both sides can play the game. I think the problem lies in the impression that the Singapore TOM is synonymous with the govt or official mouth piece. And to allow articles that were unpleasant about another country, especially Malaysia, is like the govt condoning it. That is one of the disadvantage of being seen as being part of the govt. But of course TOM is an independent and privately run organisation and such perception is not justified. It is run by independent minded professionals who pride themselves as being well trained and their pieces as being well researched and objectives. What Today has done is a good thing. It makes the paper more colourful and readable instead of the former staid reporting, or like other TOM, reporting of stale and single dimensional pro official slant that immediately puts off the readership. We should have more opinionated pieces on issues local and foreign to give readers a chance to examine them more thoroughly and provoke into thinking a little more. The straight reporting of facts only assumes that the readership is unthinking and dull and would not be able to sieve the truth from the tooth. This opening up of TOM to be more expressive is a step in the right direction but would be better if the views are not seen as an official view or officially sanctioned one.

How to sodomise a man?

Very simple. Ask the guy to go with you to a condominium. Then ask him to remove his pants and bend down. Then he is all yours. That could possibly be what had happened to the case of Saiful Bukhari Azlan when he claimed to be sodomised by Anwar Ibrahim. And according to TOM, he was with Anwar on many trips overseas. The question that is puzzling me is that a man, a healthy young man, would not protest and allow himself to be sodomised. A woman would fight when she is being raped or has sex forced upon her. This young man was so obedient, no resistance. And after some time decided to report to the police about the incident. Would any young man fight off a would be attacker who attempts to sex him? Telling the guy off would surely be the least thing to do. Here, it seemed like consensual, a willing partner. Is this a guy or a gay? He seems normal, with a girlfriend. Any normal man will repulse any such moves against his virginity. Very strange story.

My beautiful organs

I join the best and most expensive gyms in town and pay them thousands just to keep my body beautiful and organs functioning at their peak. I pound the threadmills, pump the irons, and do all kinds of aerobics to keep the hearts going. And I swallow many pills, supplements and vitamins to keep me in prime condition. It is a great investment of my time and money, to be trim and fit, and my organs in perfect condition. Why is it that my organs belong to the state should I die? What have the state done, or contributed to my prime organs? Can I will them to my children to be sold to the highest bidder? These are my precious assets that I consciously helped to produce. Am I being paranoid, having a nightmare, that my body does not belong to me? The state owns my body!

Children of lesser gods

Toni and Sulaiman were both fined and jailed for their parts in the sale of kidney to Tang Wee Sung. They must know that in a country that is run on the principles of rule of law, justice will come down hard and swift. Whether they are smart ass super talents or penniless and ignorant kampong bums, our justice is blind. They will be dealt with in the same manner. The funny thing is that Toni was exploited when he sold his kidney to Juliana Soh. Now he is helping Sulaiman to be exploited by trying to sell his kidney as well. Probably he must be relishing the great times he had in one of the best hospitals money can buy. Great cushion bed, attached toilet, colour TV and room service with beautiful nurses in attendance. That was what he got when he was exploited. And when he went home, he was back to his wooden hut and probably bed was a few pieces of planks nailed together. And every night the mosquitoes were having a feast from him. Maybe not. With the 186 mil rupiah, he could afford some comfort and not to work for another 16 years. Now both will spend time in jail. Free meals, probably better than what they were getting back home. And I think ceiling fans are provided. And yes, they have fans back in their kampongs, the hand held kind made from palm leaves. I can't help thinking that the two will be back again to volunteer to be exploited. Life has never been that good to them before.