went for e-prep last friday. the trip there was more interesting than the roadshow itself...
along the way, jeremy and I whined about how the singapore government is extremely biased to foreign talents. it doesn't matter where is your citizenship, as long as you're educated overseas, you're a "foreign talent". jeremy went on to say how his friend lost his GIC scholarship to a malaysian because the malaysian does not need to serve NS.
and then on about how NS screws up everyones' lives. I will not go into how it had screwed up my life. the fact that I'm still serving my NS is enough to make me hate NS to the core. since then, I've already 看开 and accepted my failure, whether or not it's due to NS.
and then on how NUS scholarships prefer people who are "extraordinary". to stand a higher chance to get an NUS scholarship, screw up your O levels, go ITE, then do very well, enter poly, and get a certificate of merit and preferably a medal. there, the perfect NUS GMS scholar. standard A level 3-4 straight As students are just too common and boring.
and then onto how NSFs are looked down upon everywhere we go. there is simply no pride being an NSF. people just don't respect you for contributing 2 years of the best times of your life to doing nothing. We suppose our counterparts in Israel or Taiwan or Korea are receiving better treatment from their own citizens.
We agreed that the reason why conscripts in those countries are more respected because there is a real national threat. Or rather, the citizens perceive a real national threat. Taiwanese would prepare themselves for a possible invasion by China, South Korea has a long military history with North Korea, and Israel is fighting everyday. Singapore? Nah, malaysia probably can't even fly their planes, their conscripts are busy getting themselves killed and politicians worrying about whether they should continue with the construction of the one-sided bridge. I'm not saying that the army is totally for show (maybe it is), but at least that is what the general population perceive. and hence disregard NSFs who, to them, are doing nothing in the army and wasting taxpayer's money.
and then back to the issue of foreign talents. After some thought we concluded that the reason why Singapore favours foreign talent so much is because of the government itself. The government is made up of foreign talents and it is only natural that it will pick people who are similarly educated to take over. it's a vicious cycle. Name me a member of parliament that hasn't gone through overseas education and it will take you some time. however, in UK, for example, most leaders received local education and hence would have a more "protectionist" stand.
this brings me to what msg tan said. he foresee that his son would either be a policeman or serve in the armed forces. because these are the few jobs that could not be "outsourced" to foreigners. there will be so much competition from "foreign talents" (Singaporeans or not) that locally educated people will only face an uphill climb in their search for an occupation in Singapore. the other solution? Migrate and become a "foreign talent" in another country. but that might not always work as not every country is a Singapore...
and then on to how materialistic and demanding Singaporean girls are. jeremy said his girlfriend would say that he has no goals, no ambition. so he went ahead to do the things he wants. then she complained he's not spending enough time with her. Conclusion, she wanted everything. msg tan said something similar. he was poor, but became rich because his wife just kept demanding more and more and he just had to keep earning and earning. I was so Mah-lu the other day when michael and msg tan were talking about women's handbags. When they mentioned Coach I thought they were talking about a trip to gentings... I never knew what's an LV bag until I talked to them.
see? interesting? in other words, we are all screwed.
what to do? suck it up and take the money when it's still there.
perfect living on 2008-08-18, 1:06 a.m.
Read something about the singles problem in the news lately... either Today or MyPaper... and of course while I'm doing my more-or-less daily rituals.
What the guy said was very true. He mentioned that the problem of low fertility is not about government not providing enough incentives, or cost of living too expensive etc. Although these may be contributing factors but the ultimate root is singles are just not hooking up! I felt compelled to dedicate one post of my blog because I could identify with the reality which he brought up.
Singaporeans are generally afraid of talking to strangers. Be it to be safe or just plain shy, it is almost a Singaporean brand not to talk to anyone in the lift, MRT, bus, corridors... even if the person next to you is your neighbour. We'll simply just rather not talk. The very moment a guy initiates a conversation with a total female stranger, he is immediately assessed as trying to hit the girl. Somehow it's a natural reaction for the girl to go defensive and well, that's pretty much the end of the story.
Before people start bringing in office or classroom cases I'll let to make it clear that the above applies to total strangers, like someone you would meet in the lift or having lunch at the table next to yours.
Singaporeans are just generally not a very warm and friendly bunch. We'll rather mind our own business than bother about the million dollar prize offered for some criminal's whereabouts. Very true, this is very unhealthy, demographically.
perfect living on 2008-08-04, 9:26 p.m.
Just went to take a poop and I have a habit of grabbing the zaobao (although it's no longer early) and just glance through the headlines. And this particular article caught my attention...
http://zaobao.com/sp/sp080724_522.shtml
I even bothered to check the electronic version for the soft copy!
I was wondering who is this 杨烈国 fella and as I have guessed, it's him!!111!!1 I shall not speak his name to divert less google-traffic here. This IS supposed to be my "private" rant.
I zoomed in on his comment "他也表示，新*科研的奖学金得主，75％是住在政府组屋，这是因为穷人家的孩子“更加饥渴”，也更有生存毅力。"
I translate (roughly) "He also commented that of the A*Star scholarship holders, 75% live in government HDB flats, this is because children who come from a poor background have a 'greater motivation', and also determination to survive."
My first reaction was, "Hey, not all HDB people are poor." I felt slightly insulted. Is it the peanut-effect? or is it the WSM effect thats going round the heads of our prominent leaders these days? I mean, if people who live in HDB are poor then 75% of Singaporeans are poor...
wait...
Did he just said 75%?
That was my second reaction and the push that prompted to vent my unhappiness for that unrighteous statement.
http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10296p.nsf/WPDis/About%20UsA%20Brief%20Background%20-%20HDB%27s%20Beginnings?OpenDocument&SubMenu=A_Brief_Background
There, proof. "Today, about 84 percent of Singaporeans live in HDB flats..." The figure can't stray far from that.
And what's more, he sounds as though the fact that 75% of the scholars live in HDB is some modest and charitable gesture and a proud achievement. Pui... I am suprised how come that number isn't 84% or higher. So am I supposed to feel that living in private housing gives me a better chance to get the scholarship? That 25% (thats 1 in 4) is already a very small percentage? It made me feel as though those living in private housing are "marginalising" and "compromising" themselves so that more HDB dwellers can have a chance at the A*star scholarship. If not, HDB people are probably just shit and don't deserve the money/prestige/job (depending what's important for you) anyway.
Well, I think he already tried his best by saying it from this perspective. Imagine if he had said "that of the A*Star scholarship holders, only 25% live in private housing, this is because children who come from a rich background may not be as resilient and determined as those from poor backgrounds."
I think that should get him the Flamed for the Month award.
Actually, that was what my brain processed after my eyes received the passage. Only 25% live in private housing, you know? So little, pity them lar. They worked so hard to clinch the scholarship although they are already so fucking rich and 75% of the others are HDB dwellers. A lot already leh! If not for their hardened personalities I would not have given so many to HDB dwellers... bla bla bla...
Disclaimer: What I've said above is what I believe. In other words, my own fucking personal opinion. Please choose to disagree with me and live in glory/happiness/satisfaction/bliss/denial if the above-mentioned does not suit your taste.
I should go poop more often. Maybe I would come across more articles a cynical-void-deck-uncle-to-be like me would be interested in.
perfect living on 2008-07-24, 8:59 p.m.