A 3 rm flat at 635 sq ft or the size of 5 car parks and costing nearly a million dollars hits the front page of ST. This is smaller than a 3 rm HDB flat. But this is quality living for Sinkies. Sinkies just need a little getting use to, and if the media or some clever people were to tell them this is quality living, they will soon believe it. And soon a long queue will be formed for such quality flats. And a lot of talented ideas were incorporated into the shoe boxes to make sure that the quality of life will not be affected. The higher price is for the ingenius ideas that were built into the box.
And buying a car is out of question with all the money ploughed into such quality flats. The new mantra, small is good. Car ownership is bad. Public transport is cool. Or let’s return to the old practice of car pooling.
I am going to work with my architect friends to design tube living. The Sinkies only need a place to slot his body in and nothing else. No need to accumulate all the junks to fill a big flat. Tube living is the future, very futuristic. Pay a couple of movie stars to slip into one of the tubes and Sinkies will believe that it is cool.
Each HDB room size could easily slot in a dozen tubes each with individualized temperature control and personalized pee pot. The pee pots can be decorated with anything, pop star photos etc. And there is no fear for lack of space for leisure. More quality parks will be built for those living in tubes or shoe boxes. Back to the 50s and 60s they were called cubicles. Come to think of it, instead of calling it tubes which will waste a lot of space, design them like elongated cubes or cubics.
Cubicle living can take on a quality form and style. Cubic living can be the new way forward. The cubes need not be much bigger than a kennel. And because of its size and weight, it can be moved around to be nearer to their pet dogs as well. Then no one can accuse them of ill treating the dogs. Put the cubes beside the kennels and share the meals. Great bonding between human beans and dogs or between dogs and dogs.
4/02/2012
April 1 price hike in electricity
SP Services has increased electricity tariff by 4.3% to a new high of 28.78 cents per kWh. It is all due to higher fuel and gas prices. Can’t be helped.
Chan Chun Sing’s Lanfang Republic
‘Was it because over time, they have degenerated into different groups fighting only for their own interests?
Was it because the society was broken when those who have and those who can, did not take care enough for those who have-nots or cannot.
Was it that the leaders and the people did not share the same values any more? Maybe it was all these and more.’
This is a paragraph taken from Chan Chun Sing’s famous speech to PAP’s stalwarts before the last GE. He was telling the story of the Lanfang Republic in 18 century West Kalimantan and questioned why a flourishing little state failed to exist beyond a 100 years. And he threw up the few questions as the probable cause of the demise of Lanfang.
He was relating to the Lanfang state that shared many similarities with our little island and how this island state could avoid the pitfalls of Lanfang. Would this island state still be around in 100 years? Or is it facing the same set of problems, self interest, inter group fighting, disconnect between the rich and poor, and leaders not sharing the same values as the people?
Our income gap is the widest in the world, and infighting is starting to show. Not sure about self interest. The disconnect and different values are glaring. The people are to survive on peanuts while leaders find it tough to live on $50k pm income. And praising the people’s ability to buy a 2 rm flat with $1000 pm income only highlighted the disparity and divide. The people and the leaders are having different dreams.
What I can say is don’t worry. We are different, or at least we are very different in that we have the best talents to rule the country. And we are depending on the number One superpower to be our guardian angel instead of a declining power. And no other power is more powerful than our guardian angel. We are safe. The people with $1k income and 2 rm flats are equally happy with the quality living. The leaders may be a bit unhappy with $50k income but bearable. We will survive pass 100 years.
We also have the advantage of more foreign talents to take over the country from the lesser talented locals. The island will exist forever. Wan sui, wan sui, wan wan sui.
Was it because the society was broken when those who have and those who can, did not take care enough for those who have-nots or cannot.
Was it that the leaders and the people did not share the same values any more? Maybe it was all these and more.’
This is a paragraph taken from Chan Chun Sing’s famous speech to PAP’s stalwarts before the last GE. He was telling the story of the Lanfang Republic in 18 century West Kalimantan and questioned why a flourishing little state failed to exist beyond a 100 years. And he threw up the few questions as the probable cause of the demise of Lanfang.
He was relating to the Lanfang state that shared many similarities with our little island and how this island state could avoid the pitfalls of Lanfang. Would this island state still be around in 100 years? Or is it facing the same set of problems, self interest, inter group fighting, disconnect between the rich and poor, and leaders not sharing the same values as the people?
Our income gap is the widest in the world, and infighting is starting to show. Not sure about self interest. The disconnect and different values are glaring. The people are to survive on peanuts while leaders find it tough to live on $50k pm income. And praising the people’s ability to buy a 2 rm flat with $1000 pm income only highlighted the disparity and divide. The people and the leaders are having different dreams.
What I can say is don’t worry. We are different, or at least we are very different in that we have the best talents to rule the country. And we are depending on the number One superpower to be our guardian angel instead of a declining power. And no other power is more powerful than our guardian angel. We are safe. The people with $1k income and 2 rm flats are equally happy with the quality living. The leaders may be a bit unhappy with $50k income but bearable. We will survive pass 100 years.
We also have the advantage of more foreign talents to take over the country from the lesser talented locals. The island will exist forever. Wan sui, wan sui, wan wan sui.
4/01/2012
Not seeing the woods but crying over the trees
Cherian George continues with the episode of smelly bodies and Shimun Lai in the ST today. He also recalled the unfortunate UOB dinner and dance incident when a little mimicry with no bad intention or could be seen as flattery was accused of racism. And the cry for the lynching of Shimun Lai has still not subsided while the real issue that led to the outburst was brushed aside completely.
Cherian George also acknowledges the issue of bad body odour in Indians though it is not the case. Everyone, I say everyone, smells if not wash properly. This has nothing to do with race though some are prone to smell differently depending on their diet and the environment, and of course social habits and standard of personal hygiene.
The crux of the matter is that smelling bad is offensive. And in a highly congested city, in the jam packed trains and buses, my god, pray you don’t have to be squeezed in between a couple of smelly bodies. This is no laughing matter. Imagine the smell could hit you 2 metres away and one is less than a face away.
Why is there no follow up as to how to minimise this social problem? Shall the society or the commuters just accept that smelly bodies are one of those things and have to live with them? Graciousness, first world? Can something be done to minimise this unpleasant encounters by commuters?
No one will welcome a smelly person into their midst or into their homes. It is to the disadvantage of those who smell to find themselves being ostracised. There have been many encounters in working environment in Raffles Place and Shenton Way as well and not only in the dirty construction or sewage industries.
My simple suggestion is to educate the affected to wash and clean more often. And washing and taking a bath first thing in the morning is a must and could help quite a lot. It is unfair to blame others for being rude when one walks around carrying and sharing the bad odour and expecting people to live with it. There is no need to spend a lot of money to keep clean and don’t smell. There is no need to pour a bottle of armour or scented water on one’s body. Just keep it wash and clean.
Or shall everyone just shut up and pretend the problem is not there and when one comes along, pinched the nose and give the person a dirty look? The smelly problem is there and is not going away by pretending it is not there. The lynching of Shimun Lai will not solve the problem. It only encourages the smelly to think it is alright to smell wherever they go. Just don’t talk about it.
Anyone thinking of a solution or wanting a solution other than crying father and crying mother?
Cherian George also acknowledges the issue of bad body odour in Indians though it is not the case. Everyone, I say everyone, smells if not wash properly. This has nothing to do with race though some are prone to smell differently depending on their diet and the environment, and of course social habits and standard of personal hygiene.
The crux of the matter is that smelling bad is offensive. And in a highly congested city, in the jam packed trains and buses, my god, pray you don’t have to be squeezed in between a couple of smelly bodies. This is no laughing matter. Imagine the smell could hit you 2 metres away and one is less than a face away.
Why is there no follow up as to how to minimise this social problem? Shall the society or the commuters just accept that smelly bodies are one of those things and have to live with them? Graciousness, first world? Can something be done to minimise this unpleasant encounters by commuters?
No one will welcome a smelly person into their midst or into their homes. It is to the disadvantage of those who smell to find themselves being ostracised. There have been many encounters in working environment in Raffles Place and Shenton Way as well and not only in the dirty construction or sewage industries.
My simple suggestion is to educate the affected to wash and clean more often. And washing and taking a bath first thing in the morning is a must and could help quite a lot. It is unfair to blame others for being rude when one walks around carrying and sharing the bad odour and expecting people to live with it. There is no need to spend a lot of money to keep clean and don’t smell. There is no need to pour a bottle of armour or scented water on one’s body. Just keep it wash and clean.
Or shall everyone just shut up and pretend the problem is not there and when one comes along, pinched the nose and give the person a dirty look? The smelly problem is there and is not going away by pretending it is not there. The lynching of Shimun Lai will not solve the problem. It only encourages the smelly to think it is alright to smell wherever they go. Just don’t talk about it.
Anyone thinking of a solution or wanting a solution other than crying father and crying mother?
3/31/2012
The injustice against our own citizens
There are still some Singaporeans questioning why PRs do not want to become citizens. The underlying assumption is that if PRs want to be citizens, we should quickly embrace them as citizens. This is a dangerous thought.
We do not need more citizens. We only need more heads to contribute to the economy and the CPF, just like we need more babies. PRs can remain as PRs and should remain as PRs. Citizenship must be closely guarded and issue only to deserving ones.
Many PRs chose not to be citizens for obvious reasons. And even having to serve NS is likely to be a waste of time and effort as their hearts are not here. Would they stay and defend this country in a war? The employment pass holders and work permit holders need not bother. There is no reason for them to die for this country.
Our citizenship comes with many privileges and should be as citizens should be treated thus. Citizens must be treated differently from PRs and others, and should not be disadvantaged. The privileges of citizenships are gradually returning to the citizens. A PR that turns citizens will immediately have a windfall. Buying HDB flats means savings of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars immediately and may profit more if they eventually sell out, and sell out the citizenship. Then there are all the ‘subsidies’ in education and medical benefits, and the national bonuses. To the lesser foreign talents, the reward is very substantial, enough to make them rich should they choose to return to their previous country after a few years.
The injustice done to Singaporean citizens is the denial by govt policies to buy a HDB flat, the biggest investment of any individual. Many citizens are deprived of this privilege while new citizens could benefit from it over night. How more silly can it be? This is the thoughtless policy that should be struck out immediately. The true blue citizens are still suffering from such a flawed policy and treated worst than new citizens.
Would the govt think that this is wrong and focus on doing the right thing, and remove this injustice against its very own citizens immediately? Or should the govt continue to do the wrong and claiming that it is right, to do the right thing? Maybe they are so talented that they could not see the wrong in this unjust policy.
We do not need more citizens. We only need more heads to contribute to the economy and the CPF, just like we need more babies. PRs can remain as PRs and should remain as PRs. Citizenship must be closely guarded and issue only to deserving ones.
Many PRs chose not to be citizens for obvious reasons. And even having to serve NS is likely to be a waste of time and effort as their hearts are not here. Would they stay and defend this country in a war? The employment pass holders and work permit holders need not bother. There is no reason for them to die for this country.
Our citizenship comes with many privileges and should be as citizens should be treated thus. Citizens must be treated differently from PRs and others, and should not be disadvantaged. The privileges of citizenships are gradually returning to the citizens. A PR that turns citizens will immediately have a windfall. Buying HDB flats means savings of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars immediately and may profit more if they eventually sell out, and sell out the citizenship. Then there are all the ‘subsidies’ in education and medical benefits, and the national bonuses. To the lesser foreign talents, the reward is very substantial, enough to make them rich should they choose to return to their previous country after a few years.
The injustice done to Singaporean citizens is the denial by govt policies to buy a HDB flat, the biggest investment of any individual. Many citizens are deprived of this privilege while new citizens could benefit from it over night. How more silly can it be? This is the thoughtless policy that should be struck out immediately. The true blue citizens are still suffering from such a flawed policy and treated worst than new citizens.
Would the govt think that this is wrong and focus on doing the right thing, and remove this injustice against its very own citizens immediately? Or should the govt continue to do the wrong and claiming that it is right, to do the right thing? Maybe they are so talented that they could not see the wrong in this unjust policy.
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