Politics

Taking a tiny break from the A levels, I decided to concern myself with Parliamentary matters by watching TV (hoho!) and of course, there's the hot topic recently, the Midterm Elections of the US.

If you didn't know already, the Democrats won with Nancy Pelosi making a grand speech about what America wants and what the Democrats can give. The skeptic in me tells me that a few years from now, they would be exactly the same as the Republicans. Lost and unpopular.

More and more, democracy seems to be a farce to me. It seems that popularity matters more than truth in a democracy. There's no lack of examples here. Just look at the GMA saga in the Phillipines, Thaksin in Thailand, Chen Shui Bian in Taiwan, and now Bush in America. It appears to me that with a certain degree of media manipulation, the people can be turned against you, no matter how popular you are. Bear in mind that all these leaders were voted in with very strong mandates.

With such media proliferation and opposing viewpoints, it's no longer possible to safeguard your governance from detractors. I tend to give these politicians the benefit of the doubt (perhaps with the exception of Bush). It's amazing how a lack of evidence combined with immense media hoo-ha can kill politicians. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Where is legislation in these countries? How can democracy stand without solid evidence to back opinions and accusations?

That perhaps is the Achilles' heel in this system. Without the support of the people, even if what you are doing is correct, or even essential, for example, staying in Iraq until further stability is achieved, you will not succeed. Look where economic reforms got Arroyo? Do we as the 'people' not see what's really good for the long run, instead of mere tax rebates and what's good for our pockets?

I am beginning to see a glimpse of why MM Lee opposes free media. From America, we can see just how powerful the media can be in manipulating the hearts and minds of the people. Perhaps its better that Singapore is moving at a much slower pace with the people agreeing with most of the government's policy, yet getting a greater say in law-making, as one MP proposed yesterday in Parliament.

One drawback though.. Singapore politics are just so boring for that. Hmm.

你听到了吗？我把《宫》的音乐放了上去。好听吧？ 听不见的话可不要怪我！是你的电脑慢。＝P

对自己无法再上音乐的我，也只有听听歌，想想事吧。。。

今天的数学考试还不错。我会再接再厉的！

HDB Hysteria

An article in primary school criticised the Singaporean creation of HDB apartment blocks as inhumane. The minute living spaces were seen as jail-like by the more land-abundant first world countries (think Europe's vast vineyards and America's Wyoming which has less that one person living in it per square mile); unfit for human consumption.

HDB flats were a novel creation, since replicated by Hong Kong, Shen Zhen, etc. Think about it.. Condominiums are really just more expensive flats with less space and an eternal lease to it until Vogons decides to build a Galactic Superhighway through it!

The then younger me who didn't know better blasted that article to smithereens with my mental ray, banishing to Suaneverland. Now I know.. the Brits were right.

Staying home and not talking to anyone for most of the day for days on end has taught me just how small my room is. I can't imagine how life would be like if I have to stay the rest of it in this five-room flat!! Coupled with my I-think-I-have-no-friends and My-life-is-pathetically-void-of excitement mentality, I am surprised that I am not dead or in need of Valium yet.

It's HORRIBLE. God. Who knew talking to people was so vital for Mr Suan's survival? I need to feel that my world is bigger than my room too. Maybe that's why I go out most of the time. There's this drive to be larger and to expand myself. HMM. Maybe that's why I was fat! Hahas.

The days without blogging were torturous too. With so many thoughts running around in my head, it was hard not being able to type them out. I know, they are the same thoughts over and over again, but forgive my angst! I must say, I am a lot less angsty than before, now without any fantasies of living happily ever after with someone I love while playing the piano in the background and my wife listening to my grouses.

I quit piano! Haix. See the destruction in people's lives and dreams National Service brings? There's no way I can start playing like Nobuo Uematsu any time soon, I think.

Indeed, these four walls around me offer little comfort, but shove the fact that I am little and tiny in the world in my face.

Ironically, the only way I can get out of this is by studying really hard and becoming successful enough to knock off one of the wall for a bigger room, but here I am blogging. Hahas.. (sense the subtle use of irony? Guy who guesses it right gets a prize! I don't mean the obvious one hor..)

Well, well, its time I got back to A Levels Mathematics Paper 2 9233/2 2002............

See you again soon!

Hiatus

I bid thee farewell, my cute people!

I am to diminish into the neverending towers of A level guides and books in search for divine wisdom and knowledge and multitudes of cash in return for it. Ye, the examinations beckons!

Good-by, my good people, good-by, until we meet thus again when the moon shows its full face once more.

I am falling in love...

1 day left to 'A' levels General Paper!!!
If you are reading this, you must be crazy like me.

I have been thinking a lot about what I would get after 'A' levels. Escapism larh..

VESPA GRANTURISMO!

Of course I would have to get a 2B license from SSDC first. Hahas.. And a Vespa would probably have to wait till I gather enough bounty from NS..

I want to become a jazz pianist too (if I can ever continue my piano lessons). Yup. I am recently hooked to jazz piano music. There's actually a podcast on iTunes that teaches jazz chords but.... its too long. 50 mins per clip! Oh man..

If I can, I want to tio vay piow too. That means strike toto. Hahahass..

Yes, I am still dreaming. Someone wake me up.