Creative MP3 players so good....

Creative MP3 players so good.... They come with virus -free of charge!

This must be the first time I've ever heard this happen on a MP3 player.

....about 3,700 5GB Zen Neeons shipped since July might have possibly been packing a W32.Wullik.B@mm payload...

[link]

and read the original Japanese (translated) news article [link]

Made in Singapore?

Creative, next time, if you are using shitty WinXP machines to run your plant, make sure you at least have firewall turned on, install anti-virus ok?

Or just change to Linux or Mac.

Marching in the Rain = Very Tough?

I would not have written it better:

Culled from the Sammyboy forums:

What a freakin Joke..... Parades carry on in the rain all over the world on a regular basis. So do football matches, motor racing, funeral processions etc etc. After all, it's nothing more than a bit of water.

Only in Singapore could a mountain be made out of the molehill of a small tropical shower.

[link]

But along the way was an unexpected sight -- eight white cardboard elephants in various poses lined the road that leads to Buangkok MRT station.

[link]

In the spirit of building a "rugged society" that can walk/march in the rain, do sychronized dance in the mud, I implore the government not to open the Buangkok station for an indefinite time.

Let them walk.

What The?

What the?

HappyBirthDayMMLee.com

....The pain and struggle in him
Has made Lion City a special place to stay
Nothing we can offer
Except our words of praise

What more can you ask from any man today?
I have great admiration him
For this man is magic
He had made my dream stay...

~Singapore Pride by - Sunflower Chong

Opposition NMP Guy, Steve Chia also wrote an entry on the guestbook. [link]

But then again, the same person who wrote the above poem, also wrote something similar about Dr Mahathir

Where in the world, can you witness such genuine love of a leader?
God is with him; the light is shining bright on this great leader.

Many leaders of the world have many dreams,
But it is PM Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who just rides on dreams.
- He is the chosen one - Sunflower Chong

[link]

Yeah, tell this to Anwar Ibrahim. Ask if he shares the same sentiment.

Both by persons of the same name. Unless I am wrong, its probably the same person. If you bother to do a whois on the domain name (like me), its registered to a "Sunflower Chong" also.

Maybe if Kim Jong il is looking for a poet-laureate for his country, he can look no further.

Edit: Maybe I'm a tad harsh, But poetry about political leaders scares the shit out of me.

Anyway she's the organizer of some feel-good organisation [link].

So she may be doing something good. Draw your own conclusions.

Thank Kew for the Video Clip and Understanding Us

What a way to start another shitty Wednesday. I turn to the "Voices" page in Today and see this shite.

Fawning Letter of the Day:

Leaders close to people's heart [link]

The two video clips the PM showed, "Taugeh not Enough" and "Taugeh never Enough", were not only highly engaging, they also showed he knows what is happening in our daily lives.

PM Lee also said Singapore should go beyond having world-class universities and start having first-class polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs).

I was surprised that he was able to list the different strengths of different institutions.

I have also come to know that PM Lee has managed to gain everyone's respect by really knowing Singaporeans at the microscopic level.

What is wrong with newspapers nowadays, why are they printing letters from Secondary School students?

The last time any of my secondary school letters got printed, it was in my School Magazine, but even my School Magazine maintain some editorial standards.

Ok. Let's get this out of the way. It is the job of PM Lee and any leader of a country to "know what is happening in the people's lives" and to know details of different institution in the country inside out.

We all don't need to act surprised. IT IS HIS JOB TO DO IT. OK.? Don't need to "tripod" any leader just because they do their job well. Its their job because we voted them (their party) in.

Don't need to act all "thank you for understanding the citizen's plight" shite. To do his job, he must understand the people he is leading. I think thats the very bare minimum.

Play one or two videos during the rally and so easily win over you. Its just a freakin video played during a speech ok?

Last time I've checked, Videos have been played in speeches and presentations for a long time. Wow. And you think the rally was a big step forward because of two videos.

One more thing. There was more shite on the newspapers remarking that PM Lee was holding back his tears as he recounted his experience performing in the rain in the 1968 National Day.

Newsflash people. PM is also human. So don't make a big hoo-haa just because he cried. Ok, don't "Woo, the PM cried. He showed his human side". He IS human. OK?

Ho Hum - Filler Post

Nothing better to do.

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Anyway:

There is so much positive media spin in the newspapers that I have a headache.

Consultants welcome PM's challenge to improve Singapore's service culture [link]

"Good customers elicit good service. What goes around comes around as well, like the boomerang effect," said Dr Andrew Goh from Achievement Growth Consultancy.

Of course. Improving service culture means these "consultants" will make more money training people. This fact they seem oblivious to. No wonder they support.

Seriously, am I the only one who is wiling to suffer worse service as long as I pay less? Just give me my food and leave me alone. Thank you very much.

Jobs redesign will enable more older workers to be employed: HR analysts [link]

The good news: You get a job. The bad news: You get lower pay, shitter job and flexible (longer) hours. Happy?

This might come as news for some Singaporeans. Newsflash : TCS are just actors, not celebrites ok?

And I refuse to call these TCS people "stars" and "celebrities" even when I speak directly to their PR. They're just actors and artistes-- and a far, far cry from even remotely being referred to as a celebrity (who celebrates them anyway??)

[link]

All The Hoo-Ha

Note: This post does not pretend to have any deep analysis on the National Day Rally.

Today's paper, as expected, was chock-full of articles on PM Lee's National Day Rally speech. I spent an admittedly short time watching the live telecast on TV.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me, is that all free-to-air channels in Singapore are showing it. Talk about having a captive audience. And thank god for cable. Nothing says "State Sponsored Television" more than simultaneous broadcasting of the same program.

Another that that amazes me, is how many times can the audience nod their head in "aggreement" whenever the camera pans in their direction. I don't know if their neck is strained after the whole shebang, but my patience sure was wore thin.

I mean, you don't need to nod you head on camera so that everyone on TV know you agree with whatever's being said. I don't think I'll ever see people like JBJ or some opposition misfit getting invited to such an event.

So If you are invited to the speech, you probably is part of the establishment. Nothing wrong with that, by the way.

But I sympathise with the audience. Come on. You can't take a nap, it'll probably be very rude to stand up mid-speech to go for a shite. And when you kena TV camera, you must show that you are very attentive and not yawn. And to sustain this, for 3hr plus.

Back to the main point. There is no point to this post. Why?

Because remember, this is a Rally. You know who gets rallied?

Troops going to war (to die) and Citizens who get motivated by a politician making promises in a 3 hr speech.

So don't get all hyped up over some initiatives that are yet to be implemented. Yes, the policies/intiatives all look promising, but execution of the plan is very important.

Remember this. What policies we have now (some that are bad) were probably announced amid roaring clapping some years ago in a National Day Rally.

What we have now, (depending of your point of view, whether we are in a good or bad state) was probably the result of policies announced in some Rallies some years ago.

So we should critique the present, and not praise what is yet to be implemented. No point really. Talk is cheap. Lets see the results in this coming year(s).

Related:

Rethoric Vs Reality

Power Reporting

From the last post:

• Every Year, before the National Day Rally, there will be news article on "Singaporeans' hopes for PM's National Day Rally".

• Every Year, after the National Day Rally, there will be news article on "Singaporeans support PM's initiatives announced in National Day Rally."

I saw it coming, but not that fast.

Wow. At 2320pm, 1 hr + after the speech. CNA has already concluded that Singaporeans are inspired by Mr Lee's vision. [link] See the date/time the news was posted.

They even interviewed some Singaporean dude all the way in Portugal about the rally.

I must say I am impressed by CNA efficiency and speed of their reporting. So fast sia. 1hr can come up with such a conclusion.

Related: See the full text of the National Day Rally 2005 here (English Speech) [link]

Edit:

Ok the dude is actually a female teacher from Portugal who was present at the rally.

The fact that 2 persons agree with PM Lee != Ordinary Singaporeans are inspired by the Rally. Btw, from the article, they are not really "ordinary" Singaporeans. One is a "quitter" who went to Portugal, another is the child of a MP.

Can a real Ordinary Singaporean please stand up (and be interviewed) please?

As Regular as Your Bowel Movements

Like Death and Taxes, here are some additional things that occur with strange and alarming regularity in Singapore:

• Every Six Years, a new President is chosen for us.
• Every Four Years or so, Parliamental Elections are held, but chances are you surely kena walkover.
• Every Four Years or so, you find out you the estate you lived in for decades, suddenly belong to another constituency.
• And after living in Singapore for so long, you finally realise that there is a mayor for Central Singapore.
• Every Four Years or so, you get alot of goodies from the government just to make you vote for them.
  
• Every Year, before the National Day Rally, there will be news article on "Singaporeans' hopes for PM's National Day Rally".
• Every Year, after the National Day Rally, there will be news article on "Singaporeans support PM's initiatives announced in National Day Rally."
• Every time there is an election, a member of the opposing team will kena "flamed" by his ex-employer, his primary school teacher etc.
  
• Every Year or so, bus fares and train fares will rise.
• Every Year or so, there will be a craze on certain foods, last time, it was bubble tea, this time on Coffee Bread.
• Because of the craze, may entreprenurial Singaporeans will open shops. And close them down very soon.
• Every Year, the National Day parade will almost have the same programme: Jet Plane Flyover, Marching. Entrance of Ministers, Clap Clap. Entrance of President. Clap Clap. Fireworks. Many Dance items.
  
• Every Year, confirm got some movie about Singaporeans by Jack Neo. Confirm.
  
• Every other month, there will be organisations or individuals that attempt to break some silly record, just because they can.
  
• Every time there is good economy, The papers will praise the government on their good job in guiding our economy.
• Every time there is a slump, the papers will blame the US economy bad, falling currency, SARS, anything but the government on the economy.
• Every once in awhile, you look forward to retirement, but the age to claim back your CPF money seems to be further and further away, when they raise the age limit.

There should be more. Might add to this list.

WTF News of the Day:

Escalator safety programme launched at MRT stations along NEL

Singaporeans actually need training to ride escalators safely.

You know why there are so many accidents? Because there are so many passengers vs the amount of escalators in a station. Either you reduce the number of passengers (by increasing train frequency) or adding more escalators. If not, accidents will continue no matter what, because Singaporeans like to rush and cram up the escalator.

Great link of the Day:

The problem is that PAP tends to politicize the things they do for the people... It is not about “election promises” or political capital that one should consider when it comes to the REAL NEED of the people. When there is a REAL NEED, then regardless of who voted for PAP, the government should provide the services to ALL SINGAPOREANS that need such services.

[link]

I guess I was wrong and CNA was right

I was reading the CNA when I read this line.

The incumbent has since garnered such strong support from Singaporeans that he proved to be hard to beat, becoming the only eligible candidate for Elected President on Nomination Day. [link]

I had a "WTF?" moment for a second. Didn't Mr Nathan win as he was the only candidate because PEC only approved him?

What is this about being "hard to beat because having garnered strong support from Singaporeans". There was no race, where got chance for people to beat you?

I guess I am wrong. If its reported by Singapore news, it must be right. Right?

In other news,

Mr Nathan: "I have also read in some learned articles...some felt my election would have been better if there had been a contest"

The definition of election: "The act of selecting someone or something" might be changed to:

"The act of selecting someone or something (or not). Terms and Conditions apply. Sometimes, the choice is made for you"

Link 'o' the day:

If you look Chinese, You must speak Chinese (and Listen to FM93.3)

Nothing to See Here.. Move Along...

No contest for Singapore's Presidential poll, only SR Nathan eligible [link]

Singapore won't get a contest for the Elected Presidency, after the Presidential Elections Committee issued only one Certificate of Eligibility to contest the poll -- to incumbent President SR Nathan.

Ok. Mr Nathan wins.

If this is the eventual outcome, I suggest that we just cut out all the bullshit and time wasted and just award the presidency to whoever the Govt deems the best.

No one really cares anymore. So tired of this shite, all the false hopes of exercising my right as a citizen, and of course, the mirage of a Saturday free from work.

I can only hope the Presidential Elections committee never make the same mistake like JTC in judging a candidate's character, like when they realised that their CFO's performance is "unstatisfactory" after 3 years. 3 freakin years.

In other news:

Many Singaporeans welcome Presidential Elections Committee's decision [link]

A large number of supporters mobilised by Mr Nathan's election committee are expected to turn up at the nomination centre at the People's Association's premises in Stadium Link when Mr Nathan arrives on Wednesday morning.

Every time a government policy is foisted (popular or otherwise) onto us, there is always an accompanying "Singaporeans welcome Govt's decision/policy" news article.

Expect a full blown coverage on Wednesday TV news and Thursday Straits Times, with colour photos of supporters waving flags, and "He is a jolly good fellow" type articles thrown in.

Don't these people have real jobs to do? What kind of people actually take leave (assuming they are not retirees) to do such a thing on a Wednesday?

Come on, going to the People's Assoc to wave flag, as if they are *surprised* at Mr Nathan winning? People, please get a life.

I'm Wondering...

I'm wondering:

If Andrew Kuan is so incapable, who "job-hopped between five jobs in eight years in the 1980s", how did he get hired as CFO of JTC in the first place?

If Andrew Kuan is so incapable, how did he manage to serve 5 terms as a Town Councillor and Chairman (Finance Committee) of Pasir Ris Town Council?

If the management of JTC is so capable, how on earth can they allow a CFO who did "unsatisfactory" work to continue working, with high pay for 3 years?

[link]

All these does not reflect well on the president-hopeful. And it sure as hell reflects much worse on the organisations that hired him.

A very logical question comes to mind: Are there more so called "Andrew Kuans" working in JTC, GLCs and Town Councils?

How can I trust the government to put in the right people to manage GLCs? When they admittedly allow a "incapable" (as alleged by them) person like Andrew Kuan to work there for 3 year as a CFO (in charge of $)?

In other shitty news:

Be prepared for different job opportunities says Manpower Minister [link]

If "different" means having worse job opportunites, shittier jobs, longer hours, lower pay, then I agree whole-heartedly. "Different" now takes a whole new meaning.

12 burly Riot police break up 4 people protest [link]

How nice to know that 12 Riot police is used to break up 4 people protest, two of which, are women.

Singaporeans, do you feel safe?

Putting Two and Two Together

Sometimes you get alot of insight when reading two totally seperate news articles side by side.

Don't know about you, but I get a headache sometimes trying to discipher what is the Govt is trying to tell you, with so many contradictory messages.

Racial ignorance has led to job discrimination for some: labour chief

He said non-Chinese job seekers say they have been asked if they can speak Mandarin during their job interviews. [link]

President Nathan may deliver his first Mandarin speech on Nomination Day

Said Dr Chua, "He wanted to learn Mandarin to better communicate with his Chinese countrymen ....." [link]

Possibly the first Singaporean Political Podcast

Listening to podcasts has been a daily fixture for me for the past few months. I subscribe to over 10 podcasts (downloaded via iTunes).

Its a good alternative to the mindless crud that is fed through our local radio nowadays, although the content is US-centric. But beggars can't be choosers, Singapore has very few podcasters.

Today's entry is not about what I listen daily (maybe on another post)

I came across this today: RadioSDP (via the Sammyboy Forums)

[link] (right side of the main page)

You need download the recording (mp3 format) and play it on your media-player of choice.

In this 10mins+ recording, Chee Soon Juan talks about what his platform for the coming election. (Same old stuff like more freedom of speech, more transparency etc).

The production quality is rather high, maybe clarity can be improved with a better microphone.
On the podcast, Chee Soon Juan dosen't suffer from the dull "reading straight from a script" feeling you often get, when you listen to political speeches.

What is lacking now, perhaps, is a RSS feed, and registering the podcast with iTunes.

There is possibly zero chance for Opposition Parties to be heard on local radio and TV, and Podcasting (and Blogging) is possibly the best way for any person/organization wanting to be heard.

But one thing though, the desire to publish is one thing ,finding an audience is, another issue entirely.

Will the government move to stop it? I hope not. Think about it, podcasting is blogging, with sound.

Whether to Stop/Ban SDP's podcast will be the litmus test on the Singapore Government's openess (or lack thereof) to citizen "journalism" (for lack of a better word).

For the XiaXues to the Mr Wangs of the Singapore Blogosphere, infantile to politcal, the last thing everyone would want, is the stopping of SDP's podcast on the "political recordings" charge.

Update: [link: TodayOnline]

The Media Development Authority confirmed that podcasting does come under the current regulatory framework. It is still studying developments in this area, it told Today.

Update 2:

Of course the podcast does not have the high production quality of Local Radio. For a first effort, it is ok, the basics are met. The speech is clear etc. Just don't expect it to be super-duper good
quality.

Those complaing about the lack of RSS feeds totally miss the point about podcasting.

Podcasting is essentially one guy/girl speaking to a microphone on the PC in his basement and releasing it to the world.

RSS feed? These stuff are there to 'help' the transmission of the material. What is most important, is the content. Not the delivery mechanism. That said, the content might need some reworking. (less rehash of old topics)

But give credit where it is due, it is the first podcast by any politician (or politician wannabe) in S'pore.

ShortTakes

I was watching the ending minutes of the President's Star Charity, and I clearly remembered that the donations was less than $500,000. (Less than a peanut), so I was very very surprised with this news report that:

The President's Star Charity show has so far raised S$3.8 million, outperforming last year's figures. [link]

It is a good thing to see that there is no backlash from donors. It will be, if you are someone who don't question anything you read, and take every number given to you at face value.

To confirm that there is no backlash, we need to delve deeper.

Is there a breakdown of this $3.8 million, between call-in donors and corporate donors? I can't find it. Maybe we'll never know.

Edit: Now We know

"Since phone lines were opened last week, individuals called in $480,990 worth of donations, less than last year's $693,800. " [TodayOnline]

In other news, Sunday's Straits Times and New Paper both had an extravaganza of Blog related news. Blog Blog Blog. I'm so tired by this shite.

Why are they playing up blogs like Sandralicious and Xiaxue and not Serious Blogs like Commentary Singapore and Singapore Ink? Even Sumiko Tan joined in the fray by writing that blogs are not serious, spread unsubstianted rumors etc etc.

Enough of this shite already, I mean, it is sad that there are so many bloggers that write much better than Sumiko Tan and not paid a single cent for writing, and I am actually wasting 5 mins of my life reading Sumiko Tan's article when I'm on the crapper.

If I'm a techno-phobic parent reading ST, I might conclude that blogs will make your children waste their time online, don't study hard, pose naked/sexy pics of herself, enter a life of crime, things like that.

One thing comes to mind:

Traditional Media has woken up to the fact that fact that blogs can be a powerful tool to shape opinion, it might be a good time to start dis-crediting and downplay blogs.

Y'know with so many big upcoming events lined up, like Presidential Election, General Election etc etc. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Not that it'll work either.

In other news, some Singaporean Swimmer guy attempts to swim across the English Channel. I wonder why do some people do this, another pointless attempt at record making?

Please, unless it's for a good cause like raising money for charities. (which I don't see that in the article), don't bother. It's just boliao doing it.

Is it for publicity? Money? To write a self-help book? To Challenge one's physical limits? Who gives a shite?

Edit: Ok I was wrong. He is swimming for charity. [link] Helpful Reader TakChek provided the following info [see the comments].

Isn't Blogging wonderful? When is the last time you complained directly to Sumiko Tan about her wonderful articles? Here in this blog, we allow you to do just that.