What Singapore needs is smart Singaporeans, not smart city

The story of a smart city is the way to go forward, so much promise like having paradise on earth. On the other hand many have rightly said that an infrastructure that is going to do every small little thing for the people would take away the people’s instinct to think and make them stupid in the process.

What Singapore, or any country, needs are smart people. If you are still not sure what that means, look at Japan. Japan is a country of smart people. Smartness in this case is not like making everyone a super talent, but making everyone a thinking person, a caring person, everyone thinking that he is a Japanese and Japan is his country, his home. When the people, like the Japanese, think that way, you would have very little need to have to depend on computers to keep the country in order. The people would not only be disciplined, responsible and proud of being citizens of the country, they will keep the country clean and in order. No more littering, no more graffiti and would even pick up litters left by careless people.

Smart people would transform a country into a garden paradise with very little effort and very little mechanization or computerization. Alas, you can only have such a country like Japan when the people are of one mind, think alike and acting and responsible, and very country proud, like home proud.

How could this happen in a country where half the population is made up of prostitutes and vagabonds? Would the building of a smart city help to turn it into a better place to live in when the prostitutes and vagabonds, people who have no attachments and ownerships in the island and would just treat the island like a cheap hotel? Even an expensive hotel will be turned into a rubbish dump after the guests checked out.

And the sad part, we are getting dafter while the new hotel guests are not any better either. Smart city or smart people which way to go forward? When the people are daft and cannot be taught, then smart city is the way to go, provided the daft people can still be taught to press buttons and follow instructions. And provided the city is not filled with prostitutes and vagabonds that have no attachment or concern to the city’s state of affairs.

Taiwan and South Korea are probably the next to rise to the level of the Japanese, with smart people and not totally dependent on smart machine and smart city that would make them more daft. The social achievements of Japan as a country and people far outweigh all the economic numbers that other countries are chasing. Japan as a well organized country and a nation of smart people is an act that is very difficult to follow and impossible for a country that has turned itself into a cheap hotel filled with 3^rd world inhabitants and daft citizens that don’t even know that this is their country.

And to make the situation more depressing is that any Sinkie that turns 55 also loses his brain, becomes irresponsible and mindless, stupid is the word.

Kopi Level - Green

A new world order, a new asymmetrical warfare

The movie, ‘The Interview’ by Sony Pictures has given rise to a new phenomenon in interstate rivalry and warfare. Anyone can now conduct a war from the comfort of his bedroom in any corner of the world, if he is connected to the internet. Sony Pictures or the Americans, were blackmailed by some unknown hackers, could be another false flag incident, to abandon the screening of the movie in American theatres and theatres around the world. The threats from the North Korean side could be real. The actual execution of the threat is suspicious. Are the North Koreans that sophisticated? What happens to all the derogatory comments and analysis by so called great analysts that this is a very backward country? How could they become so intelligent and sophisticated in leading edge technology overnight? To make this look real, some great western minds were tasked to paint a different picture that the North Koreans are really very smart people and can do the damage that was done. Anyone smell a rat? Anyway this is another issue.
 
The new threats did not come from the possession of WMD but a computer and a set of keyboards. With the knowledge of computer technology and hacking, the hackers can declare war on anyone anywhere.
Sony Pictures was defeated. The mighty American movie industry was defeated. The Americans were defeated. Who says you can have your freedom and do whatever you want, anywhere you want? You cannot even have your freedom of choice to watch a movie the Americans produced in America. The ballgame has changed.
 
Yes, the North Koreans said so. What, who? You mean the North Koreans can now censor the movies to be screened in American cities? In a way, yes. Sony Pictures and the theatres were held at ransom by the North Koreans, one of the poorest and technologically deprived nation in the world, particularly in internet and computer technology. North Korea did not have the Silicon Valley, Microsoft, IBM, HP, and all the software giants with leading edge computer technology. How could they do it, to bring Sony Pictures and the Americans on their knees? How could they have the audacity to tell the Americans and Sony Pictures not to screen the Interview and both quietly acceded to their demands?
 
The fact that Sony Pictures made a slight change to release the movie online and limited screening told of another story. This threat was so important that even Obama was involved. And Sony changed its mind after a big hacking took place in North Korea when most of they computer networks were down, to prove a point. Sony felt safer that the Americans could do the damage to the North and Sony needed not fear. But not all the theatres are willing to take the risk. What was America and Obama telling Sony and the rest of the world, Who done it in the ‘attack’ by the North Koreans and the counter attack by the Americans?
 
The power of the internet has reached another level. Controlling the internet is going to make a difference in world affairs. Your freedom, or the American freedom, is now limited by the very people who feel offended or victimized by American freedom to do as they pleased. And in an all out electronic warfare, the Americans are going to be on the wrong side of the equation when everything in America is hooked onto the computers.
 
A country like North Korea ironically would end up the upper hand by not having all their systems hooked up on the computers. It is like being hooked on the power grid. Switch off the power or interrupt the power will stall the whole system and network. The manual system, not on the power grid, not dependent on electrical power, not hooked onto the computer system, will continue to function normally.
 
The whole of the western world, computerized and connected, will become as vulnerable as the weakest link in the system. The enemy only needs a young boy or girl and a keyboard to bring down the mighty systems and networks from his/her bedroom. Yes it can be done.
 
Welcome to the brave new world of computer technology and internet. The rules of the game have changed and the entry barrier is quite low. The little nerd can control everything in your system and wreak havoc if he is able and capable of doing at minimal cost. The whole American military system, nuclear system, financial system, power grid, transportation, communications, etc are vulnerable to hacking threats and can all be accessed and be brought to a halt by the press of a few buttons.
 
This is asymmetrical warfare at its best when the gap of military power, technology and hardware can be narrowed and bridged by the intelligence of software and clever little schoolboys and girls. The North Koreans have found a way and is showing the world how it can be done. Or are the Americans showing the world that it can be done? The full potential of this warfare has yet to be determined and exploited.

Kopi Level - Yellow

Barry Desker – Dual citizenship?

Below is what I quoted from an article posted in the The Real Singapore on what Barry Desker wrote in the Straits Times.
 
Professor Barry Desker believes that Singapore should allow dual citizenship and Singaporeans should welcome new citizens and encourage their integration into the Singapore society. I have heard in the rumour mill that Singapore is pondering over this idea of dual citizenship and the thought of who would benefit from this and who would pay a heavy price for it is really scary and plain stupidity. For Barry to write about it means that some dangerous idiots are seriously toying with this idea, just like nuclear power station and the fait accompli 6.9m population.
 
Let me just point out a few pertinent points in Barry’s article on this devious scheme.
"We should revise our laws to permit dual citizenship, which benefits some who are permanent residents but do not wish to give up the citizenship of their land of birth….It would also allow the growing numbers of Singaporeans working abroad to retain their links with Singapore."
 
Is the introduction of dual citizenship a solution to Barry’s interest on the above and concern of the influx of foreigners here?
 
"…the unsustainable sharp influx of foreigners granted permanent residence, as well as employment permits, in recent years has resulted in a backlash, making the issue of immigration politically toxic,” …and to alleviate the fear of younger Singaporeans and their "concerned about competition for university places or preferred jobs".
 
And how would dual citizenship help to remove the worry of older Singaporeans feeling stressful with neighbours speaking in alien languages and different lifestyles as well as the congregation of new ghettos of new immigrants and expatriates from certain nationalities congregating in preferred locations?
 
"The past year has seen rising anti-immigration sentiment in Singapore," Prof Barry added…"MRT trains are crowded, hospital beds always full, traffic jams occur frequently, once-quiet parks are filled with foreign workers on weekends…The rapid pace of the foreign influx resulted in growing criticism and an undercurrent of resentment reflected in social media sites."
 
So, with all the problems that he is acknowledging, are these problems going to go away or will get worst with dual citizenships? The contradictions are too glaring that I am too tired to even want to talk about it. Just ask what is going to happen to National Service, to all the policies that discriminate between citizens and non citizens, the privileges of citizenship, subsidies to medical care, schools, school fees, public housing and housing prices, and the angpows from the nation’s surpluses in the form of national bonuses, employment, rights to vote etc etc.

It is highly unusual for a man intellect, and expressing reservations and concerns on high population but advocating dual citizenship in the same breath. Why is he making such strange comments? I can’t help but to ask Barry what he has been drinking. Dual citizenship must be good for the Singaporeans right, how?

Kopi Level - Yellow

Singapore can help Andhra Pradesh

A Professor Venkata Reddy from Andhra Pradesh is visiting Singapore as a tourist. What he saw here impressed him immensely to write a strong word of thanks for Singapore to help Andhra Pradesh to become a modern city and a role model for India.  In his article posted in the TRE he wrote this,

‘Andhra Pradesh is poised not only for a new capital with the forthcoming aid of Singapore, but also for “Singapore-style living”. There are many things – diligence, discipline and devotion to duty – that the people of Andhra Pradesh can look forward to learning from Singaporeans.

Though Andhra Pradesh is known for its rich resources, both natural and human, it has yet to harness them to become a strong state industrially and economically. Singapore could be a source of inspiration for the people of Andhra Pradesh to develop the habits of hard work and self-discipline.
Singapore is well known throughout the world for its cleanliness. It could serve as a role model for Andhra Pradesh.’

Where is this professor from? Is Andhra Pradesh a city in India?  Didn’t this professor know that Singaporeans are daft, lazy, lack of talent, lack of discipline, lack of skill sets and that they are gradually being replaced by the hard working and very talented Indians from India and other 3^rd world countries? How could Singaporeans be a good example for the people of Andhra Pradesh to emulate? How could Singaporeans be good enough to help to rebuild the city Andhra Pradesh into a modern city?

The diligent, disciplined and devoted to duty Singaporeans are extinct, dead and gone. And the only talented workers in Singapore are from India. If Singapore is going to rebuild Andhra Pradesh, it is likely to hire Indians from India and send them to Andhra Pradesh to do the work and get paid at Singapore’s salary rate. Give it another few decades there will be no talented Singaporeans left as they would all be replaced by talented foreigners. And very likely the new Andhra Pradesh would be built by India Indians using ex Singaporean’s money.

Now, am I making any sense or is the professor making any sense? Today is Christmas and everyone must be singing Santa Claus is coming to town in Andhra Pradesh.

PS: Would anyone want to offer a chair to this professor in one of our world class institutions or think tank schools to tap on his talent as a distinguished professor on smart cities?

Kopi Level - Green

Christmas wish list for the New Year

A year has come and gone. Only a week left before the dawning of another year and as usual there will be hopes for a better tomorrow to many. To some, the days may not be brighter no matter how much they hope and pray.

To the many who are already living a rich and eventful life, when everyday is a bliss, they must be wishing that nothing changes, and everyday be the same happy day forever. As a country and a people, many are not sharing the wealth and prosperity of the successful and the widening social and economic divide is there as a reminder that things could be better and have to better for those on the wrong side of the divide. Those that have lost their jobs and retired, those going to lose their jobs, those going to retire, unless they have bags of gold under their beds, the high cost of living and medical care will be their utmost concern when the income stream is diminishing or just living on their savings.

I would like to share the traditional 7 wishes for the seven days of Christmas with all Singaporeans.

The first wish is for Singaporeans to live with pride and dignity in their home country.

The second wish is for a new govt that practises honesty, transparency and accountability to the people of this island.

The third wish is for a new govt that the people do not have to fear, but respected.

The fourth wish is for the Silver Brigades to continue to live a productive life, those that can work should continue to work in decent and respectable jobs and not fearing when they would be replaced by foreigners.

The fifth wish is for the return of the CPF savings to the people and not for it to be turned into another animal, can see but cannot touch.

The sixth wish is for the lowering of the cost of living in basic needs like food, medicine, education and childcare.

The seventh and final wish is for an inclusive society where more able, honest and self less Singaporeans would step forward to serve the people fearlessly.

These are very simple wishes but not easy to be fulfilled and not likely to come true if there is no real change in the political system. We have seen only cosmetic changes so far and there were as good as nothing changes. Let’s hope 2015 will be a year of real positive changes for the betterment of Singaporeans and their future generations.

Kopi Level - Green