Success
What is success? Success is the ability to do the things you like at the highest level possible. One of my friends Tenghui wants to be successful. Please visit the following website to help him succeed in life: http://www.petalsandco.com.sg/
I am never an elitist. When I mean we should attain knowledge, "we" refers to the highly educated people of our kind, such as diploma holders and undergraduates. Those who face problems or struggling with their livelihood do not have the means to acquire knowledge and I can understand that. We do, so we should. Of course, knowledge does not necessarily mean success, but it can be an instrumental element.
I finally found something that I dislike most about people. I hate it when people refuse to reply to my SMSes. It shows the degree of respect the expected respondent has for me. Unless they are overseas or have really valid reasons, I will be the petty soul to ignore their SMSes if they ever text me. These people can succeed in ruining my day.
There are only a few corporations that are successful in the world. These corporations are known as the MNCs. Some of you may have already known this, but at the risk of repeating the obvious allow me to list a few of them here:
Close your eyes if you are in the supermarket looking for your favourite shampoo. I can bet with you at 95% confidence level that they belong to either Procter and Gamble or Unilever.
Just when you think that all Hollywood films are owned and distributed by the Americans, Sony from Japan holds Columbia and Tristar Pictures. Sony also owns our playthings such as PSB, Playstation, my Jacky Wu's SonyBMG, Sony Ericsson, and a truckload of electronic products.
Other than MacDonald's, most of the other fast-food chains that we come across belong to Yum! Brands, a spin-off from PepsiCo. Examples of which are KFC, Pizza Hut, and Long John Silver's.
As for our automobiles, don't be deceived by the wide variety of brand names that we may see. For one, Volkswagen owns Audi and Lamborghini, amongst many others. Ford owns Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover and many others. General Motors owns Opel, Saab and others. My list is not exhaustive; it can get very long.
Nestle is another giant. Most of the dairy products and ice-cream that we can buy at the market are somehow linked to Nestle, including Milo and Haagen-Daz.
We had a corporatized media industry. How corporatized was it? What about our cabs too?
We have some homegrown brands that I am especially fond of.
Sakae Sushi: Non-drinkers will actually prefer sake to sushi on the conveyor belt.
Shilin Delights: It is delightful to know that the authentic snacks remain in Shilin.
Thai Express: An express way to get depressed over Thai food.
I think they should stop multiplying in branches and numbing our taste-buds.
Having done so, it will be a success!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
我的生活心得
于丹在中国中央电视台上的百家讲坛之“《论语》心得”，前阵子在中国热播并得到巨大回响，各界褒贬不一，尤以来自学术界的批判较为引人注目。我倒觉得于丹的诠释虽然只能够代表她自己的理解和看法，但也不失为以一种深入浅出的方式，把古代圣贤的精深道理融会贯通，使之通俗易懂，让普罗大众也能够通过她的讲解得到一些启示。我就肤浅点，对于《论语》只有以下的浅解：
孔子的中心思想的确是“仁”，其表现是：“己欲立而立人，己欲达而达人”和“己所不欲，勿施于人”。“仁”就是“爱人”，就这么简单。“智”就是“知人”，也就这么简单。“忠”、“孝”、“礼”、“义”都是“爱人”的表现，此乃建筑在“知人”的层面上。
凡事都需要“将心比心”。
"Don't do unto others what you won't want others to do unto you".
大家自幼学习，得到了一箩筐的知识：上通天文、下知地理。但是，人们往往欠缺的就是运用知识的“大智慧”。试想想：单单在一年里，遍布在全世界的各所大学就培育出数以万计的毕业生，为何真正成为the likes of Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, Richard Feynman 的人却屈指可数呢？显然的，大学文凭只能作为我们事业上的踏脚石，而世界上的顶尖人物都不只局限于自己的专业里。In fact, to a fair extent, EQ works on the premise that you know what the others do and how the others feel. It is different from empathy because all you need to acquire is knowledge and not a floodgate of feelings. And when I mean knowledge I mean DIVERSE knowledge. Knowledgeable so to speak. This is my own interpretation of EQ. If EQ is indeed an essential quality to succeed, then human relationships should form the bedrock of our lives.
I was attending a Japanese lecture last week when the teacher asked if we know who the person in her picture is. She was surprised by the silence that we all shared, assuming that we know a lot as undergraduates. I didn't want to play the hero to answer her; I was too shy in a 100-student crowd. Only a small number of us know who the person is (at least I thought it was obvious), as most of the heads shook profusely in reply to the teacher. The person is Yasuo Fukuda, the current Prime Minister of Japan. Sigh, 我们真的活在一个知识贫乏的时代。In another lesson, people could not identify the flag of Finland even when they are using Nokia mobile phones. The lack of time should never be an excuse for a corresponding lack of knowledge. A lack of interest, perhaps?
Obviously, however, I won't succeed, although my definition of success is merely living within my own means. I am an aspiring hermit, whose life will rest upon the tranquility attained from a lack of bonds and relationships.
于丹在中国中央电视台上的百家讲坛之“《论语》心得”，前阵子在中国热播并得到巨大回响，各界褒贬不一，尤以来自学术界的批判较为引人注目。我倒觉得于丹的诠释虽然只能够代表她自己的理解和看法，但也不失为以一种深入浅出的方式，把古代圣贤的精深道理融会贯通，使之通俗易懂，让普罗大众也能够通过她的讲解得到一些启示。我就肤浅点，对于《论语》只有以下的浅解：
孔子的中心思想的确是“仁”，其表现是：“己欲立而立人，己欲达而达人”和“己所不欲，勿施于人”。“仁”就是“爱人”，就这么简单。“智”就是“知人”，也就这么简单。“忠”、“孝”、“礼”、“义”都是“爱人”的表现，此乃建筑在“知人”的层面上。
凡事都需要“将心比心”。
"Don't do unto others what you won't want others to do unto you".
大家自幼学习，得到了一箩筐的知识：上通天文、下知地理。但是，人们往往欠缺的就是运用知识的“大智慧”。试想想：单单在一年里，遍布在全世界的各所大学就培育出数以万计的毕业生，为何真正成为the likes of Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, Richard Feynman 的人却屈指可数呢？显然的，大学文凭只能作为我们事业上的踏脚石，而世界上的顶尖人物都不只局限于自己的专业里。In fact, to a fair extent, EQ works on the premise that you know what the others do and how the others feel. It is different from empathy because all you need to acquire is knowledge and not a floodgate of feelings. And when I mean knowledge I mean DIVERSE knowledge. Knowledgeable so to speak. This is my own interpretation of EQ. If EQ is indeed an essential quality to succeed, then human relationships should form the bedrock of our lives.
I was attending a Japanese lecture last week when the teacher asked if we know who the person in her picture is. She was surprised by the silence that we all shared, assuming that we know a lot as undergraduates. I didn't want to play the hero to answer her; I was too shy in a 100-student crowd. Only a small number of us know who the person is (at least I thought it was obvious), as most of the heads shook profusely in reply to the teacher. The person is Yasuo Fukuda, the current Prime Minister of Japan. Sigh, 我们真的活在一个知识贫乏的时代。In another lesson, people could not identify the flag of Finland even when they are using Nokia mobile phones. The lack of time should never be an excuse for a corresponding lack of knowledge. A lack of interest, perhaps?
Obviously, however, I won't succeed, although my definition of success is merely living within my own means. I am an aspiring hermit, whose life will rest upon the tranquility attained from a lack of bonds and relationships.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Singapore Walker
I have become the Singapore Walker. I have toured much of Singapore in the past few weeks, visiting temples and interviewing priests and devotees alike. I find myself increasingly detached from my own social circle, having talked to more strangers than friends during those weeks. These strangers are whom I regard as "transient friends", and I enjoy the conservations that I have with them. I am comfortable with such a lifestyle. There is no emotional burden, and I don't need to offer anything or hope to be reciprocated in kind. It is free for me and free for all as well.
One afternoon, I was on a bus bound for Jurong East when a group of "rowdy" students boarded it. As if to fit the common stereotype of neighbourhood students, they chunkled and chattered on the bus in obvious disregard of other passengers. The bus was approaching a halt at a bus-stop when two of them ran towards a man who was making his way down the stairs. One boy handed the man a wallet, which belongs to the latter. Most of the passengers who witnessed this scene were markedly impressed by this simple act of honesty and integrity. Therefore, "never judge a book by its cover!"
On another day, I was in Changi Village when I became thirsty and tired and had to stop for a rest near a jetty. I bought ice-cream from a roadside vendor, who was accompanied by his wife. They are a kind couple, and I talked to them for about half an hour. It was a pleasant conversation that spanned from how the DJ Zhou Chongqing broke a leg after biking on Pulau Ubin to why some bicycle tracks in Singapore are unsafe. When I had to go to the washroom, they offered to look after my stuff (which included my wallet and laptop), so I went and took my own sweet time at the loo, enjoying the trust that I had in them. I parted ways with them when a new shipment of returnees, their prospective patrons, arrived from Pulau Ubin.
I need to thank my professors for the time that I am having these days. They are always so kind and patient with me. I don't have to file progress reports, and there is mutual trust and understanding between us. Of course, I cannot rely only on their generosity and kindness to complete my ethnographic data. I have to count on my diligence and, more importantly, passion.
It seems to me, especially so in recent weeks, that research has to be fuelled by passion. The mere prospect of becoming a professor and earning fat paychecks cannot sustain any researcher on the long run. The fieldwork and research that I commit myself to has allowed me to rehearse and prepare for the kind of life that I may lead in the next decades and in retirement as well. I will need to work alone, be innovative in my research topics, squeeze my creative juices dry, be hardworking, and survive a lifestyle surrounded by strangers. I possess the calibre of a hermit, and I am well-aware of it.
I have become the Singapore Walker. I have toured much of Singapore in the past few weeks, visiting temples and interviewing priests and devotees alike. I find myself increasingly detached from my own social circle, having talked to more strangers than friends during those weeks. These strangers are whom I regard as "transient friends", and I enjoy the conservations that I have with them. I am comfortable with such a lifestyle. There is no emotional burden, and I don't need to offer anything or hope to be reciprocated in kind. It is free for me and free for all as well.
One afternoon, I was on a bus bound for Jurong East when a group of "rowdy" students boarded it. As if to fit the common stereotype of neighbourhood students, they chunkled and chattered on the bus in obvious disregard of other passengers. The bus was approaching a halt at a bus-stop when two of them ran towards a man who was making his way down the stairs. One boy handed the man a wallet, which belongs to the latter. Most of the passengers who witnessed this scene were markedly impressed by this simple act of honesty and integrity. Therefore, "never judge a book by its cover!"
On another day, I was in Changi Village when I became thirsty and tired and had to stop for a rest near a jetty. I bought ice-cream from a roadside vendor, who was accompanied by his wife. They are a kind couple, and I talked to them for about half an hour. It was a pleasant conversation that spanned from how the DJ Zhou Chongqing broke a leg after biking on Pulau Ubin to why some bicycle tracks in Singapore are unsafe. When I had to go to the washroom, they offered to look after my stuff (which included my wallet and laptop), so I went and took my own sweet time at the loo, enjoying the trust that I had in them. I parted ways with them when a new shipment of returnees, their prospective patrons, arrived from Pulau Ubin.
I need to thank my professors for the time that I am having these days. They are always so kind and patient with me. I don't have to file progress reports, and there is mutual trust and understanding between us. Of course, I cannot rely only on their generosity and kindness to complete my ethnographic data. I have to count on my diligence and, more importantly, passion.
It seems to me, especially so in recent weeks, that research has to be fuelled by passion. The mere prospect of becoming a professor and earning fat paychecks cannot sustain any researcher on the long run. The fieldwork and research that I commit myself to has allowed me to rehearse and prepare for the kind of life that I may lead in the next decades and in retirement as well. I will need to work alone, be innovative in my research topics, squeeze my creative juices dry, be hardworking, and survive a lifestyle surrounded by strangers. I possess the calibre of a hermit, and I am well-aware of it.
Rags and Riches
Deng Xiaoping had once mentioned that a small fraction of the population needs to be rich before the rest can be better off. Following such rhetoric, leaders such as Suharto and Peru's Fujimori have succeeded to a fair extent, but cronyism and corruption may indeed blur the distinction between national reserves and personal coffers. In any case, an economic disparity may seem like a social injustice, but it allows a domestic economic base to be built up and acted upon by the less affluent citizens in the long run, instead of exposing the whole population to the poverty cycle. However, if the income inequality gap continues to widen at the growing expense of the poor for decades, then it cannot be justified and ought to be eliminated. Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe (infamous for its 1-million % hyper-inflation rate) belong to this undesirable category, alongside with the failed states of Afganistan and Somalia.
I was in Taiwan in 2006, and although the island has been experiencing an economic downturn for the past 8 years, I did not see a significant drop in the Taiwanese standard of living. Conventional media coverage has always sensationalized Taiwanese politics, making Taiwan seem like a haven of chaos and mess. In actual fact, Taiwan has operated on a term which I coin “乱中有序”. The politicians may be fighting with their guts out, but the bureaucrats are still performing at the implementation level.
On a sentimental note, I like Taiwan. I dedicate this blog to it.
Deng Xiaoping had once mentioned that a small fraction of the population needs to be rich before the rest can be better off. Following such rhetoric, leaders such as Suharto and Peru's Fujimori have succeeded to a fair extent, but cronyism and corruption may indeed blur the distinction between national reserves and personal coffers. In any case, an economic disparity may seem like a social injustice, but it allows a domestic economic base to be built up and acted upon by the less affluent citizens in the long run, instead of exposing the whole population to the poverty cycle. However, if the income inequality gap continues to widen at the growing expense of the poor for decades, then it cannot be justified and ought to be eliminated. Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe (infamous for its 1-million % hyper-inflation rate) belong to this undesirable category, alongside with the failed states of Afganistan and Somalia.
I was in Taiwan in 2006, and although the island has been experiencing an economic downturn for the past 8 years, I did not see a significant drop in the Taiwanese standard of living. Conventional media coverage has always sensationalized Taiwanese politics, making Taiwan seem like a haven of chaos and mess. In actual fact, Taiwan has operated on a term which I coin “乱中有序”. The politicians may be fighting with their guts out, but the bureaucrats are still performing at the implementation level.
On a sentimental note, I like Taiwan. I dedicate this blog to it.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Death of Suharto
Although it should not come as a surprise, Suharto's death ought to be lamented and regretted upon. While it may be true that there was autocracy, corruption, political purges and prosecution of the Chinese during his reign, Suharto had undoubtedly brought prosperity and stability to Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region. Indonesia was once one of the richest and most economically viable country in the region, alongside with Myanmar and the Philippines. However, it was led by Sukarno and economic growth slowed for nearly 2 decades before Suharto overthrew him in 1966. Industrialization and modernization arrived in Indonesia with massive influx of foreign capital and domestic collaboration with the affluent Chinese magnates. Compare Indonesia with Newin's Myanmar and Marcos' Philippines and you will understand what I mean here. Politically, Suharto contributed greatly to regional stability when he ended the "Konfrontasi" and forged stronger ties with the ASEAN member states. His death deserves a week of mourning from the Indonesians.
This reminds me of a common flaw in the arguments made by Chinese historians with regards to the dynastic cycle. It has been a convenient excuse and explanation for Chinese historians to attribute the fall of a dynasty to corruption and decay. This is so superficial and being too simplistic. We need more research and better claims here. While a degree of extent lingers, there was and is corruption everywhere in every place. For instance, many people think that China suffered from humiliation by the foreign imperialist powers in the late nineteenth century because the Qing court was incapable, useless and most importantly in this context, corrupt. However, the fall of the Qing Dynasty proved to be a worse disaster for China, which succumbed to incessant warfare between the powerful warlords across the country. In fact, a little known fact is that Qing China used to possess one of the most powerful navies in the world, known as the Beiyang fleet which had unfortunately faced its destruction in the hands of the Japanese in the first Sino-Japanese War. A lack of armaments and gunpower in favour of grand celebrations and a marble ship for Empress Dowager Cixi's 60th birthday was the main cause. In addition, many Western scholars have pointed out that the economic productivity of Qing China in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was on par with many of the strongest European nations, and at its peak even with the United Kingdom. Corruption and decay should never be used unilaterally in explaining the fall of dynasties and empires.
Similarly, I don't see that Indonesia has become any better without Suharto's rule. Economic mismanagement, rampant corruption and a general lack of confidence in foreign investors continue to plague the country, although the situation has picked up in recent years.
Having said so much here, I believe that Suharto's flaws should be forgiven and forgotten. This is what I, an interested foreigner, choose to believe in.
Although it should not come as a surprise, Suharto's death ought to be lamented and regretted upon. While it may be true that there was autocracy, corruption, political purges and prosecution of the Chinese during his reign, Suharto had undoubtedly brought prosperity and stability to Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region. Indonesia was once one of the richest and most economically viable country in the region, alongside with Myanmar and the Philippines. However, it was led by Sukarno and economic growth slowed for nearly 2 decades before Suharto overthrew him in 1966. Industrialization and modernization arrived in Indonesia with massive influx of foreign capital and domestic collaboration with the affluent Chinese magnates. Compare Indonesia with Newin's Myanmar and Marcos' Philippines and you will understand what I mean here. Politically, Suharto contributed greatly to regional stability when he ended the "Konfrontasi" and forged stronger ties with the ASEAN member states. His death deserves a week of mourning from the Indonesians.
This reminds me of a common flaw in the arguments made by Chinese historians with regards to the dynastic cycle. It has been a convenient excuse and explanation for Chinese historians to attribute the fall of a dynasty to corruption and decay. This is so superficial and being too simplistic. We need more research and better claims here. While a degree of extent lingers, there was and is corruption everywhere in every place. For instance, many people think that China suffered from humiliation by the foreign imperialist powers in the late nineteenth century because the Qing court was incapable, useless and most importantly in this context, corrupt. However, the fall of the Qing Dynasty proved to be a worse disaster for China, which succumbed to incessant warfare between the powerful warlords across the country. In fact, a little known fact is that Qing China used to possess one of the most powerful navies in the world, known as the Beiyang fleet which had unfortunately faced its destruction in the hands of the Japanese in the first Sino-Japanese War. A lack of armaments and gunpower in favour of grand celebrations and a marble ship for Empress Dowager Cixi's 60th birthday was the main cause. In addition, many Western scholars have pointed out that the economic productivity of Qing China in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was on par with many of the strongest European nations, and at its peak even with the United Kingdom. Corruption and decay should never be used unilaterally in explaining the fall of dynasties and empires.
Similarly, I don't see that Indonesia has become any better without Suharto's rule. Economic mismanagement, rampant corruption and a general lack of confidence in foreign investors continue to plague the country, although the situation has picked up in recent years.
Having said so much here, I believe that Suharto's flaws should be forgiven and forgotten. This is what I, an interested foreigner, choose to believe in.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Notice Board
My dear friend Tips needs to complete his thesis by compiling data from an e-questionnaire. Please follow this link http://personal1198060194.bipvinsingapore.sgizmo.com/ and help him fulfill his required quota of respondents.
When you have the time, please visit the website http://blog.omy.sg/ming to know more about the world around us in Mandarin. We all need to be more knowledgeable these days.
I had just returned from the Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple. I interviewed a friendly Taoist priest who had patiently answered all my queries within an hour. I must thank him in the acknowledgement page of my Honours thesis.
In addition, I saw The Flying Dutchman in SingPost @ Paya Lebar. And to build on such coincidence, I saw Pornsak at a MacDonald's outlet in Toa Payoh. If only I can strike lottery as easily in the Singapore Pools. My dream is to purchase property in the outskirts of Taipei, on the beautiful island of Formosa! I will donate the rest of whatever I win to charitable causes. As a devout Buddhist, what is wealth and fortune to me anyway? Ultimately, I hope to retire as a hermit on Yangmingshan.
It's been a year, but I still miss my Taiwanese friends, as well as the foreign ones such as Francoise, Hisashi, Marvin, Shingo and Yasushi. I hope that they have been getting on fine.
My dear friend Tips needs to complete his thesis by compiling data from an e-questionnaire. Please follow this link http://personal1198060194.bipvinsingapore.sgizmo.com/ and help him fulfill his required quota of respondents.
When you have the time, please visit the website http://blog.omy.sg/ming to know more about the world around us in Mandarin. We all need to be more knowledgeable these days.
I had just returned from the Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple. I interviewed a friendly Taoist priest who had patiently answered all my queries within an hour. I must thank him in the acknowledgement page of my Honours thesis.
In addition, I saw The Flying Dutchman in SingPost @ Paya Lebar. And to build on such coincidence, I saw Pornsak at a MacDonald's outlet in Toa Payoh. If only I can strike lottery as easily in the Singapore Pools. My dream is to purchase property in the outskirts of Taipei, on the beautiful island of Formosa! I will donate the rest of whatever I win to charitable causes. As a devout Buddhist, what is wealth and fortune to me anyway? Ultimately, I hope to retire as a hermit on Yangmingshan.
It's been a year, but I still miss my Taiwanese friends, as well as the foreign ones such as Francoise, Hisashi, Marvin, Shingo and Yasushi. I hope that they have been getting on fine.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Reservations about some issues
If only Taiwan politics is part of my research. I just realize that I have been too optimistic about the KMT chances of winning the impending presidential election. The ratio of seats won by the KMT with respect to the DPP may seem impressive, but in effect it is translated to a tight 60% is to 40% of the total vote count, and the actual turnout at the polls was a mere 58% of the whole electorate. What this means is that there is always a chance for the DPP to revive itself and perhaps win the next election, as there are still many staunch "green" voters around to act as its ballast. Moreover, as high as 40% of the population have yet to decide on whom to support. A close fight between Ma Ying-Jeou and Frank Hsieh is expected, and I obviously support the former candidate.
To bring today's post to something relevant to home, I realize that Singapore has become increasingly crowded with each passing year. Overpopulated so to speak. This was not so just a few years ago. The streets of Singapore, be them within town or outside, were usually devoid of people, who were either at work or at least indoors at home. This has ceased to be the case. The most obvious example would be the packed trains that we experience all day round. Whether it is in a lazy afternoon or the peak hours at dawn and at dusk, we see streams of commuters flooding the MRT stations from all directions, led by the busy escalators that transport them. All of us instantly become packed sardines who have to bear with slamming our faces in the windows and jostling with the unduly crowd just to make an exit or entrance. Chaos is an apt word to describe these scenes.
I wonder if I can attribute the train phenomena to the cab fare hikes, which may have forced many people to opt for the MRT instead of the taxi. Or maybe we have been overwhelmed by the huge influx of foreigners that our small nation cannot accommodate, and that our infrastructure and transport system have failed to serve adequately. If I'm not gravely mistaken, Singapore's population has doubled in the past 2 decades, not taking into account the substantial number of foreigners who study and work here on long-term tenures. I'm not saying that we should be xenophobic, but we have to improve various aspects of our current structure before accepting the many many talents from all over the world.
For one, it is a disgrace to see zig-zag lines formed by our commuters at the escalators. I have been a frequent traveler to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and be it the MTR or the Taipei Subway, I can always see a distinct "keep left" attitude in the commuters who allow those in a rush to move up faster at the right. Here in Singapore, there is NEVER a left line of people, even when the overhead panel indicates "1 min" to the next arriving train. Then the poor folks who read the notice and yet miss the train due to the inconsideration of others will have to lament on their bad luck, looking at the screen that runs the same capitalist commercials over and over again. Movie thrillers, recurring songs......
Sometimes all it takes is a little empathy from all of us to make life work better for others. It is never too late to take a small step forward towards building a gracious society.
If only Taiwan politics is part of my research. I just realize that I have been too optimistic about the KMT chances of winning the impending presidential election. The ratio of seats won by the KMT with respect to the DPP may seem impressive, but in effect it is translated to a tight 60% is to 40% of the total vote count, and the actual turnout at the polls was a mere 58% of the whole electorate. What this means is that there is always a chance for the DPP to revive itself and perhaps win the next election, as there are still many staunch "green" voters around to act as its ballast. Moreover, as high as 40% of the population have yet to decide on whom to support. A close fight between Ma Ying-Jeou and Frank Hsieh is expected, and I obviously support the former candidate.
To bring today's post to something relevant to home, I realize that Singapore has become increasingly crowded with each passing year. Overpopulated so to speak. This was not so just a few years ago. The streets of Singapore, be them within town or outside, were usually devoid of people, who were either at work or at least indoors at home. This has ceased to be the case. The most obvious example would be the packed trains that we experience all day round. Whether it is in a lazy afternoon or the peak hours at dawn and at dusk, we see streams of commuters flooding the MRT stations from all directions, led by the busy escalators that transport them. All of us instantly become packed sardines who have to bear with slamming our faces in the windows and jostling with the unduly crowd just to make an exit or entrance. Chaos is an apt word to describe these scenes.
I wonder if I can attribute the train phenomena to the cab fare hikes, which may have forced many people to opt for the MRT instead of the taxi. Or maybe we have been overwhelmed by the huge influx of foreigners that our small nation cannot accommodate, and that our infrastructure and transport system have failed to serve adequately. If I'm not gravely mistaken, Singapore's population has doubled in the past 2 decades, not taking into account the substantial number of foreigners who study and work here on long-term tenures. I'm not saying that we should be xenophobic, but we have to improve various aspects of our current structure before accepting the many many talents from all over the world.
For one, it is a disgrace to see zig-zag lines formed by our commuters at the escalators. I have been a frequent traveler to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and be it the MTR or the Taipei Subway, I can always see a distinct "keep left" attitude in the commuters who allow those in a rush to move up faster at the right. Here in Singapore, there is NEVER a left line of people, even when the overhead panel indicates "1 min" to the next arriving train. Then the poor folks who read the notice and yet miss the train due to the inconsideration of others will have to lament on their bad luck, looking at the screen that runs the same capitalist commercials over and over again. Movie thrillers, recurring songs......
Sometimes all it takes is a little empathy from all of us to make life work better for others. It is never too late to take a small step forward towards building a gracious society.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Support the KMT!
Taiwan politics should be none of my concern. However, it is where my interest lies in. Most of the papers that I had written for my Political Science and Public Policy modules were on Taiwan politics and how Taiwan can seek survival space in global politics. I am not an advocate of Taiwan independence, but I am a supporter of the status quo in the Taiwan Straits.
Moreover, on a more selfish note, I had a picture taken with Ma Ying-Jeou in 2006, and I hope that the picture will value-add itself if he is elected as the President of the Republic of China later this year. :) In fact, I was elated when I first heard that the KMT landslide victory at the polls for seats at the Legislature Yuan. A hefty 81:27! That's 3 to the power of 4 versus 3 of 3! Splendid!
However, Nobel-laureate and former head of the Academia Sinica (the think tank of Taiwan) Lee Yuan Tseh had just voiced his support for DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh, saying that there is a need to counter KMT's political power in the Legislature Yuan with a DPP president. I am sure that he has his reasons for suggesting that, but it is pointless in having a "lame duck" president who cannot pass a law or policy without a face-off with an omni-powerful opposition party. The ensuing result can either be potential chaos that will threaten to erupt anytime or political crises that will undermine the efficiency of any decent government. A strong president and a strong party on a cooperative platform are instrumental to putting in place successful directives and implementing them. Of course, I am not an enthusiast of autocracy or despotism. However, I believe that the Taiwanese electorate is mature enough to vote the KMT out if the party fails to perform after its 4-year mandate in 2011. In any case, Taiwan cannot afford an unstable government, not even a coalition of sorts. It is sad to see that the former lead wagon of the "Four Asian Tigers" has now taken a back seat.
The Taiwanese people do not display any form of political apathy, and they know exactly what they are doing. The political atmosphere there exudes an attractive kind of vibrancy that is little seen elsewhere in Asia. The KMT has witnessed sweeping changes in the past decade, and it is no longer an icon for "black money". The Taiwanese electorate should allow the revamped party a chance to redeem itself and serve the people once more.
I look forward to visiting my beautiful Formosa later this year. To a blue-governed one that is.
Taiwan politics should be none of my concern. However, it is where my interest lies in. Most of the papers that I had written for my Political Science and Public Policy modules were on Taiwan politics and how Taiwan can seek survival space in global politics. I am not an advocate of Taiwan independence, but I am a supporter of the status quo in the Taiwan Straits.
Moreover, on a more selfish note, I had a picture taken with Ma Ying-Jeou in 2006, and I hope that the picture will value-add itself if he is elected as the President of the Republic of China later this year. :) In fact, I was elated when I first heard that the KMT landslide victory at the polls for seats at the Legislature Yuan. A hefty 81:27! That's 3 to the power of 4 versus 3 of 3! Splendid!
However, Nobel-laureate and former head of the Academia Sinica (the think tank of Taiwan) Lee Yuan Tseh had just voiced his support for DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh, saying that there is a need to counter KMT's political power in the Legislature Yuan with a DPP president. I am sure that he has his reasons for suggesting that, but it is pointless in having a "lame duck" president who cannot pass a law or policy without a face-off with an omni-powerful opposition party. The ensuing result can either be potential chaos that will threaten to erupt anytime or political crises that will undermine the efficiency of any decent government. A strong president and a strong party on a cooperative platform are instrumental to putting in place successful directives and implementing them. Of course, I am not an enthusiast of autocracy or despotism. However, I believe that the Taiwanese electorate is mature enough to vote the KMT out if the party fails to perform after its 4-year mandate in 2011. In any case, Taiwan cannot afford an unstable government, not even a coalition of sorts. It is sad to see that the former lead wagon of the "Four Asian Tigers" has now taken a back seat.
The Taiwanese people do not display any form of political apathy, and they know exactly what they are doing. The political atmosphere there exudes an attractive kind of vibrancy that is little seen elsewhere in Asia. The KMT has witnessed sweeping changes in the past decade, and it is no longer an icon for "black money". The Taiwanese electorate should allow the revamped party a chance to redeem itself and serve the people once more.
I look forward to visiting my beautiful Formosa later this year. To a blue-governed one that is.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
It's not such a Grim World after all
Most people are nice. Even if they seem mean or nasty at times, it must be an undeniable fact that their hearts are kind. I saw that when I stood at road junctions to sell "flag stickers" for charitable organizations. Some looked angry and fierce, but they would stop over to buy one. I also saw that when I appealed for help from friends. One notable example was my first academic talk in school late last year. Friends who are obviously not interested in the topic would still make an attempt to turn up when I told them of the low turnout that I was expected to enjoy. Even those friends whom I had not kept in touch with for ages came to give me their support. "A friend in need is a friend indeed". "Everyone within the Four Seas is a friend". So, don't lose faith in your own kind nature!
Most people are nice. Even if they seem mean or nasty at times, it must be an undeniable fact that their hearts are kind. I saw that when I stood at road junctions to sell "flag stickers" for charitable organizations. Some looked angry and fierce, but they would stop over to buy one. I also saw that when I appealed for help from friends. One notable example was my first academic talk in school late last year. Friends who are obviously not interested in the topic would still make an attempt to turn up when I told them of the low turnout that I was expected to enjoy. Even those friends whom I had not kept in touch with for ages came to give me their support. "A friend in need is a friend indeed". "Everyone within the Four Seas is a friend". So, don't lose faith in your own kind nature!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
A Chinese Buff? Not Exactly......
I major in Chinese Studies. I chose to do so after the release of my "A" level results. Although the Arts Faculty has always been regarded by many to be a "dumping ground" for poor academic achievers, a disclaimer ought to be made here that I was never forced by any kind of circumstances to enrol into it. And I have never regretted my decision, despite the possibility that Chinese Studies is a "sunset" industry.
But then again, I might have made a wrong choice. Unknown to many, including my closest friends, my real passion lies in History and Political Science, particularly the former. In some aspects, I know more about Athens, Rome and Persia than about China. Nonetheless, I chose to major in Chinese Studies because I do possess an interest in it and more importantly, I know that I can do reasonably well for it. The Higher Chinese subject had never posed a challenge to me, all the way from primary school to junior college. It was one that I could afford last-minute work and yet top the class and perhaps even the level at the end of the day. In fact, for the "A" level examinations for Higher Chinese, I skipped a whole 10-mark question and still got an A grade for it.
Of course, things are a lot different now from what they were in the past. Rote learning and mere memory no longer suffice, and I need to do considerable research before I can ascertain any claim or finding. Whatever the case is, I have never betrayed my true passion. The Chinese Studies discipline is actually very different from that of the Chinese Language. While it is true that we write most of our reports in the Chinese script, we don't do linguistics at all. The Chinese Studies discipline entails a whole array of topics, ranging from history and literature to philosophy and society. My actual specialty is Chinese History, and I kinda suck in the rest. I have decided that my Masters dissertation shall focus on the Sino-Japanese interactions during the Ming Dynasty, with an emphasis on the Ryukyu Islands as an important node in the relevant trade routes. That is, if my application to pursue a Masters Degree is approved. It is my ultimate wish that I can graduate as a PhD holder in History. So if you are talking about my lifelong goal, this shall be it. It may not be simple, but dreams make successful men, and I hope I can become one of them. :)
Now who dares to say that I bear only regressive thoughts? :)
I major in Chinese Studies. I chose to do so after the release of my "A" level results. Although the Arts Faculty has always been regarded by many to be a "dumping ground" for poor academic achievers, a disclaimer ought to be made here that I was never forced by any kind of circumstances to enrol into it. And I have never regretted my decision, despite the possibility that Chinese Studies is a "sunset" industry.
But then again, I might have made a wrong choice. Unknown to many, including my closest friends, my real passion lies in History and Political Science, particularly the former. In some aspects, I know more about Athens, Rome and Persia than about China. Nonetheless, I chose to major in Chinese Studies because I do possess an interest in it and more importantly, I know that I can do reasonably well for it. The Higher Chinese subject had never posed a challenge to me, all the way from primary school to junior college. It was one that I could afford last-minute work and yet top the class and perhaps even the level at the end of the day. In fact, for the "A" level examinations for Higher Chinese, I skipped a whole 10-mark question and still got an A grade for it.
Of course, things are a lot different now from what they were in the past. Rote learning and mere memory no longer suffice, and I need to do considerable research before I can ascertain any claim or finding. Whatever the case is, I have never betrayed my true passion. The Chinese Studies discipline is actually very different from that of the Chinese Language. While it is true that we write most of our reports in the Chinese script, we don't do linguistics at all. The Chinese Studies discipline entails a whole array of topics, ranging from history and literature to philosophy and society. My actual specialty is Chinese History, and I kinda suck in the rest. I have decided that my Masters dissertation shall focus on the Sino-Japanese interactions during the Ming Dynasty, with an emphasis on the Ryukyu Islands as an important node in the relevant trade routes. That is, if my application to pursue a Masters Degree is approved. It is my ultimate wish that I can graduate as a PhD holder in History. So if you are talking about my lifelong goal, this shall be it. It may not be simple, but dreams make successful men, and I hope I can become one of them. :)
Now who dares to say that I bear only regressive thoughts? :)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Minimum Workload Requirement??
How absurd! The Faculty had just sent me an email, asking me why I end up in its records for having failed to meet the minimum workload requirement for this semester! The email reads that I should read at least 16 MCs for every academic semester.
I decide to study only 12 MCs this semester, because I had already cleared 168 MCs in the past 7 semesters! Mind you that the standard workload for Honours students is 160 MCs! Haiz, as an "old bird" I deserve a break, don't I? I just want to focus on my research and thesis, as well as to enjoy my last (?) semester at NUS. :)
How absurd! The Faculty had just sent me an email, asking me why I end up in its records for having failed to meet the minimum workload requirement for this semester! The email reads that I should read at least 16 MCs for every academic semester.
I decide to study only 12 MCs this semester, because I had already cleared 168 MCs in the past 7 semesters! Mind you that the standard workload for Honours students is 160 MCs! Haiz, as an "old bird" I deserve a break, don't I? I just want to focus on my research and thesis, as well as to enjoy my last (?) semester at NUS. :)
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
Regressive Thoughts?
Let peace and love reign! Never allow growth and progress to blind our path in life! I have never made an attempt to dispel these thoughts. In fact, I have persuaded himself that I am not living for this transient life, but for the life of eternity, and that there is tranquility in my heart.
Admit a transient splendour over our lives in the remotest ages!
Let peace and love reign! Never allow growth and progress to blind our path in life! I have never made an attempt to dispel these thoughts. In fact, I have persuaded himself that I am not living for this transient life, but for the life of eternity, and that there is tranquility in my heart.
Admit a transient splendour over our lives in the remotest ages!
Overloaded Academic Career in NUS
I had already earned 160 MCs, without taking into account my ISMs, Honours Thesis, and Japanese class. This means that by the end of my last semester, I would have cleared a total of 180 MCs! The difference is the normal workload of an academic semester. I could have graduated earlier!
However, I am not an over-achiever. I will not become a First-Class Honours graduate. I am just a nobody lost in a world of strangers.
I had already earned 160 MCs, without taking into account my ISMs, Honours Thesis, and Japanese class. This means that by the end of my last semester, I would have cleared a total of 180 MCs! The difference is the normal workload of an academic semester. I could have graduated earlier!
However, I am not an over-achiever. I will not become a First-Class Honours graduate. I am just a nobody lost in a world of strangers.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
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