New trend in begging

Some data showed that at 9 pm last night the PSI hit 452. Before at 8pm it was 224 and after at 10 pm it was 287. For that one hour the PSI went into very dangerous level. And many people have been storming the pharmacies trying to buy N95 masks but all sold out. What contingency plan to stockpile such masks for emergencies just like this?

If the situation gets worst, and the N95 masks are not available, we could see beggars begging for mask along the streets. Please give me a mask, I am suffocating.

Hazy and dazed

Work up this morning, took a peep at the window. Just as bad if not worst. Turn on the TV for confirmation. PSI 95! Real or not? I like to believe that it was 95, but my eyes were telling me that it could not be. An hour later, walking down the same path towards MBFC from Raffles Place, took a look at the MBS three pillars of strength. They were barely visible unlike yesterday morning. My eyes confirmed that the air quality was worst than yesterday and the PSI yesterday morning was near to 200.

Something was not right, must be my eyes, watery and starting to hurt. The machine reading the PSI could not be wrong. But I still chose to believe my eyes and the pain and discomfort in them.

When I stepped into the office there was an uproar. What 97? Bullshit. It was worst than yesterday. And this was what everyone commented. No one believed that the PSI had suddenly dropped below 100.

What is the point of having a national reading that no one wants to believe in? And how could anyone believe in something when they could see, feel and smell the air and know that the situation is getting worst or not better?

Recalibrate the machine or go for an eye check?

PSI above 400 is life threatening

‘PSI levels above 400 may be life-threatening to ill and elderly persons. Healthy people may experience adverse symptoms that affect normal activity.’

The quality of our air hit 371 on the PSI scale on Thursday. This is 29 points short of 400. According to the PSI definition, above 400 is life threatening. How threatening is this? Is it more serious than the dengue situation at the moment? Is it more serious than during the SARS crisis? What kind of adverse symptoms will hit the people?

What are the measures or plans that will be rolled out by the govt when 400 is reached? There were reports that more measures will be taken when the haze condition worsen. So when and what will be the measures that the people can expect? Would there be hospitals with special setups to take care of those having respiratory problems or other problems caused by the haze? Would there be field camps set up for the sick that are overflowing from the hospitals or are deemed dying?

How serious is a PSI of above 400 and what will the situation be like? Would all economic and social activities be halted and everyone be told to stay indoors? Would people be falling down along the roads?

Could the govt or the main media with their experts enlighten or educate the ignorant masses on how critical the situation will be like and what can the people do to protect themselves? We have fire drills, bomb drills, would there be a deadly haze drill?

When will it hit a crisis state or a national emergency be declared?

Do we need foreigners to win medals?

The Singapore Athletic Association SAA has brought back Chinese sports woman Du Xianhui to don Singapore colours to win medals for Singapore. The shot putter is definitely a medal hopeful and will keep Singapore flag flying. The question is whether this is the way to go, spending public money on foreigners to win medals and glory for Singapore. Are we so desperate to win medals to the extent of buying athletes and sports people to do that for us? Should we not use the money to develop and train our own citizens to mount the winner’s rostrum?

Are the money well spent? Are the glories well earned, something that we can be proud of? When would Singapore grow up from this third world mentality of winning glories in sports to claim honours for the country, that we are also good in sports? So what if our own athletes cannot win medals if they are not good enough. So what if these foreigners win medals for us?

Where is the achievement? What is so great about such medals? Why spent such money when money can be put to better use for the betterment of our own citizens? How much is the total spent annually on foreigners to win medals? Would it not be more meaningful to pay for coaches and trainers to train our citizens instead? The way we are going, we are going to be dependent on foreigners forever, as this is a sure short cut for medals.

Are we so hard up for medals?

SPCAS is needed

We have many civic societies to protect animals, dogs and cats, birds etc from cruel and vicious inhuman acts against them. What is lacking in this gracious and compassionate country is a society to prevent cruelties against Singaporeans.

One group of poor Singaporeans that needs protection is the taxi drivers. This group used to be able to fend for themselves when they were young and strong. The new breed of taxi drivers are the oldies, the retired, the retrenched and the white collar workers. They would not stand a chance against the violent type and worst against the big FTs. Hardly a day passed when there will be an incident of a taxi driver being beaten up on the job.

Another group that needs protection is the oldies, the old uncles and aunties that should be happily retired and enjoying their twilight years. Some are living alone, some abandoned by their children, some have little or no CPF savings, and they ended up working in hawker centres and food courts cleaning tables and washing crockery. They are becoming news in the social media, and catching the attention of tourists as an anomaly in this super rich country of millionaires or half a millionaire. Shouldn’t this group be protected as well, from hard labour?

I think there are laws on child labour, protecting children from unlawful employment because of their tender age and weak physique. I think the physical bodies of the oldies are equally weak and need to rest than doing back breaking manual works. There used to be a saying, protect the weak, the young and the old. The oldies fall under the weak and old and rightfully deserved to be protected.

We also need to protect the sick when medical treatments are costly and they cannot afford to pay for it. We also need to protect the workers, especially the interns, from being beaten up in their work place by their supervisors.

There is a need to protect Singaporeans, especially PMETs from being discriminated in jobs and employments by foreigners. It is very cruel as these people have families to look after, including children and a big housing loan to clear. They need a job to pay for all the expenses. Without an income they will have no dignity to talk about.

And another group, the NS men. They are supposed to defend this country and paid a pittance. But many have no homes to go to and have to squat with their parents or rent expensive private apartments. And their attractiveness to employers is not too good given all the reservist duties and commitments that will take them away from their jobs. And if they end up jobless or underemployed, with the high cost of living here, life can be quite a struggle, which also means struggling to maintain their dignity as citizens of this super rich country of millionaires.

We need a society, a Society for the Prevention of Cruelties Against Singaporeans, SPCAS. What do you think?

Oh I forgot, there is another group that needs protection, the bloggers. Every now and then the bloggers are being threatened by Sue like it is damn fun. People got money or power can always send Sue to visit the bloggers. And there is the new regulations lurking behind the corners waiting to pounce on them. $50k or $200k or jail if suay suay Sue came a calling. Poor bloggers.