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130484
Feb. 10th, 2010 | 05:22 pm
I was reading through my old LJ entries when I was like 17 years old, almost 9 years ago + fast forward. I can't believe I haven't actually changed that much at all. In that I still feel that I'm on a bout of negativity.
but seeing now, I realised something about the people I grew up with. No one has actually changed so much that I can still easily identify their core personality traits that have evolved. But I can no longer recognize them as friends as I once did very loyally.
but seeing now, I realised something about the people I grew up with. No one has actually changed so much that I can still easily identify their core personality traits that have evolved. But I can no longer recognize them as friends as I once did very loyally.
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I'm going to be happily lonely this CNY/Valentines
Feb. 10th, 2010 | 04:50 pm
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/A
BEIJING - SINGLE people in China have come up with an innovative way of pleasing their pushy parents during the annual Lunar New Year holiday - they are renting fake dates.
Advertisements posted by people seeking to pay young men or women to come home with them for Spring Festival - China's most important family holiday that kicks off this weekend - are scattered all over popular web portals.
A lot of 20-something Chinese have no siblings due to the nation's one-child policy, and many come under heavy pressure to marry once they hit their late 20s.
'I haven't yet found a suitable girlfriend and my parents are pushing too hard,' said another posting on Chinaren.com under the title 'desperately looking for a girlfriend to go home with me for Chinese New Year'.
'I'm searching for a girl around 23 years old (and not more than two years below or above that), 160 to 175 cm high, average looking is OK,' it added. Other people have posted advertisements offering their services to accompany desperate singletons home.
According to the state-run Global Times, a female student at the prestigious Peking University placed an ad offering 10,000 yuan (S$2,077) a day to a man willing to go home with her for Spring Festival. She said in the posting that her parents had told her to bring a man home or 'you can forget about coming home for the holiday', the report said. -- AFP
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edited post
Feb. 6th, 2010 | 04:33 pm
hahaha i just watched the latest episode of family guy where
Goofy got sent to hell because he was involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Before the final verdict and before the devil sent Goofy down to the pits. Goofy replied and said something like "that's what you get for supporting Israel"
I'm not American but that scene was so LOL!!!!!
I just finished reading Richard Dawkins - the God Delusion, there obviously is an American Equivalent of the Taliban (anybody anticipating the rapture?) in which we do not hear about even in the news in Singapore. It's kind of obvious as a pre-condition we get our information already filtered by the western media and even worse is the lack of transparency concerning ours. But never mind that for now, I mean what the fuck our view of the world is pretty much governed by what we see on CNN and BBC anyone with cable tv can watch. But isn't that what most of 'this world' is tuned to anyway? It annoys me deeply that some Singaporeans unbeknownst about certain facts (especially relating to certain christian interpretation of scripture) cannot go beyond labeling a suicide bomber or George "dubya" Bush as terrorists. And how the bloody media turns the other cheek when it seems only logical to address religion as part of the problem. I read that it reads like that too in the media else where. So the Vatican condemned the danish newspaper for publishing those cartoonist depictions of Muhammad while it caused an uproar in the Islamic world enough for extremist to burn Danish flags, embassies and issue death threats... when in fact the newspaper (Jyllands-Posten) that printed those drawings were, I remember reading (at least in the God Delusion), was privately owned and not even affiliated with the Danish government. Yet it was rational to attack Denmark in whole. It honestly feels like we are living in the age of the bloody old testament (just think of our next door neighbours - Malaysia and the more recent laws/restrictions they have imposed on Muslims under Sharia law, now women can get caned for drinking alcohol)-or rather it is the bloody fanatics who feel justified enough to reinvent that kind of order and chaos. How can a Pastor/Reverend claim that a natural disaster is God's punishment to humanity for allowing us to tolerate homosexuals? How can one honestly belief that by blowing himself/herself up and killing as many infidels (collateral) as possible will most certainly get a reward from god in Heaven? Martyrdom may seem deranged and evil but when you think about it it takes a lot of derangement as well to believe in the literal resurrection of Christ. Because both are equally improbable by today standards, so next you can start comparing your beliefs with someone Else's religious beliefs and try telling the other person that they are wrong or are less Right.
How can my aunt even speak on the behalf of Catholics upon seeing an advert in a Methodist church that says "SALVATION GUARANTEED if not SINS FULLY REFUNDED" when she says along the lines of “this is not right, we Catholics believe differently, and we believe every religion to be good” My response to her was “how can you speak on behalf of Catholics?” I do not think she has any right to define what is morally correct in the catholic sense, but perhaps the pope / Vatican has some right. But my question really is, does the Vatican really condemn the cartoonist depictions of Muhammad? Does it even acknowledge the Prophet? It seems like the only politically correct thing to do. Catholicism clearly isn’t always a force for good in the world or harmless as put forward by many well known atheists, when the pope or Mother Teresa takes a stance against condemn use in countries where the AIDS population is of epidemic proportions or calling abortion as the greatest threat/sin to mankind despite the possible benefits of stem-cell research. But I will not claim to understand something that I can’t experience from the point of view of those who are really there. But all I ask as a human is that you religious people at least accept the flaws of your religion and that your leaders/doctrines are indeed very fallible. Teaching children that condom use is Sin may lead to more unwanted abortions or lead to more STD infected people. But yet it seems you cannot for once, disagree with the so called saints you identify with, your leaders, clergy men or your priests. I personally do not see how your leaders can have a Measurably closer relationship with god or the divine then you. It does not look like God made every man/woman equal…. Since apparently some have special access to God’s Mind. I think it's also time for Catholics to accept some form of pedophilia is somewhat a by-product of Priesthood lifestyle, Religious dogma and sexual repression. Pastors / Reverends are not so sick in that at least they can get married and have sex. Come to think of it no wonder Christians annoy me, particular the ones who can't keep their shit to themselves, they honestly think/feel that they harbor some divine power and a cause to recruit eventual Christians. I sense a distinction between Catholics and Christians (Not all) but at least the Christians from these megachurches and privately run/secular non traditional orders seem to imagine they have more a divine authority to recruit people. Where as Catholics keep to themselves and forever live in a world by they feel obliged to religious tolerance and would imagine having blind faith or a constant faith crisis as actually being a very good thing to have.
Goofy got sent to hell because he was involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Before the final verdict and before the devil sent Goofy down to the pits. Goofy replied and said something like "that's what you get for supporting Israel"
I'm not American but that scene was so LOL!!!!!
I just finished reading Richard Dawkins - the God Delusion, there obviously is an American Equivalent of the Taliban (anybody anticipating the rapture?) in which we do not hear about even in the news in Singapore. It's kind of obvious as a pre-condition we get our information already filtered by the western media and even worse is the lack of transparency concerning ours. But never mind that for now, I mean what the fuck our view of the world is pretty much governed by what we see on CNN and BBC anyone with cable tv can watch. But isn't that what most of 'this world' is tuned to anyway? It annoys me deeply that some Singaporeans unbeknownst about certain facts (especially relating to certain christian interpretation of scripture) cannot go beyond labeling a suicide bomber or George "dubya" Bush as terrorists. And how the bloody media turns the other cheek when it seems only logical to address religion as part of the problem. I read that it reads like that too in the media else where. So the Vatican condemned the danish newspaper for publishing those cartoonist depictions of Muhammad while it caused an uproar in the Islamic world enough for extremist to burn Danish flags, embassies and issue death threats... when in fact the newspaper (Jyllands-Posten) that printed those drawings were, I remember reading (at least in the God Delusion), was privately owned and not even affiliated with the Danish government. Yet it was rational to attack Denmark in whole. It honestly feels like we are living in the age of the bloody old testament (just think of our next door neighbours - Malaysia and the more recent laws/restrictions they have imposed on Muslims under Sharia law, now women can get caned for drinking alcohol)-or rather it is the bloody fanatics who feel justified enough to reinvent that kind of order and chaos. How can a Pastor/Reverend claim that a natural disaster is God's punishment to humanity for allowing us to tolerate homosexuals? How can one honestly belief that by blowing himself/herself up and killing as many infidels (collateral) as possible will most certainly get a reward from god in Heaven? Martyrdom may seem deranged and evil but when you think about it it takes a lot of derangement as well to believe in the literal resurrection of Christ. Because both are equally improbable by today standards, so next you can start comparing your beliefs with someone Else's religious beliefs and try telling the other person that they are wrong or are less Right.
How can my aunt even speak on the behalf of Catholics upon seeing an advert in a Methodist church that says "SALVATION GUARANTEED if not SINS FULLY REFUNDED" when she says along the lines of “this is not right, we Catholics believe differently, and we believe every religion to be good” My response to her was “how can you speak on behalf of Catholics?” I do not think she has any right to define what is morally correct in the catholic sense, but perhaps the pope / Vatican has some right. But my question really is, does the Vatican really condemn the cartoonist depictions of Muhammad? Does it even acknowledge the Prophet? It seems like the only politically correct thing to do. Catholicism clearly isn’t always a force for good in the world or harmless as put forward by many well known atheists, when the pope or Mother Teresa takes a stance against condemn use in countries where the AIDS population is of epidemic proportions or calling abortion as the greatest threat/sin to mankind despite the possible benefits of stem-cell research. But I will not claim to understand something that I can’t experience from the point of view of those who are really there. But all I ask as a human is that you religious people at least accept the flaws of your religion and that your leaders/doctrines are indeed very fallible. Teaching children that condom use is Sin may lead to more unwanted abortions or lead to more STD infected people. But yet it seems you cannot for once, disagree with the so called saints you identify with, your leaders, clergy men or your priests. I personally do not see how your leaders can have a Measurably closer relationship with god or the divine then you. It does not look like God made every man/woman equal…. Since apparently some have special access to God’s Mind. I think it's also time for Catholics to accept some form of pedophilia is somewhat a by-product of Priesthood lifestyle, Religious dogma and sexual repression. Pastors / Reverends are not so sick in that at least they can get married and have sex. Come to think of it no wonder Christians annoy me, particular the ones who can't keep their shit to themselves, they honestly think/feel that they harbor some divine power and a cause to recruit eventual Christians. I sense a distinction between Catholics and Christians (Not all) but at least the Christians from these megachurches and privately run/secular non traditional orders seem to imagine they have more a divine authority to recruit people. Where as Catholics keep to themselves and forever live in a world by they feel obliged to religious tolerance and would imagine having blind faith or a constant faith crisis as actually being a very good thing to have.
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i wanna make it wit chu
Feb. 4th, 2010 | 10:38 am
feeling: 
calm
I don't know about you but this is the ultimate song / version to stone out to. I mean seriously this performance makes me feel so alright.
*passes around the spliff*
*passes around the spliff*
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130484
Feb. 4th, 2010 | 10:32 am
Part one:
As I type this in the taxi (how I wish this was a bus in that it would a reflect a more “pleasant muse”) having said that a selfless act need no recognition or reward from others, not even the boost of one’s reputation in the eyes of others. What exactly makes me want to be good? Well the answer is really really fucking simple and blunt. Let’s for example say I do not believe in a god or I do not believe in karma, this would by default because of my lack of religiosity give me less reason to be selfless, good and compassionate. However the stance that I adopt is that I know for sure I sure as hell cannot experience life in the same way I am living right now, I do not bother for if there is and where my soul will go once I die. I find reasons to be ‘generally good’ only because I understand that life is an experience, and that by being selfless in some of many aspects it’s easier to feel content being “generally good” the -obviously varies from individual to individual but I think you get what I mean. so long and even as we are good on our own terms by our own standards I can’t see why anyone would innately want to be a bad person.
Part two:
I just got out of the taxi now I’m sitting downstairs at the stone table typing this and enjoying the sea breeze.
Part Three:
Now I just woke up with hardly any re-collection of this, and I didn't even drink.
As I type this in the taxi (how I wish this was a bus in that it would a reflect a more “pleasant muse”) having said that a selfless act need no recognition or reward from others, not even the boost of one’s reputation in the eyes of others. What exactly makes me want to be good? Well the answer is really really fucking simple and blunt. Let’s for example say I do not believe in a god or I do not believe in karma, this would by default because of my lack of religiosity give me less reason to be selfless, good and compassionate. However the stance that I adopt is that I know for sure I sure as hell cannot experience life in the same way I am living right now, I do not bother for if there is and where my soul will go once I die. I find reasons to be ‘generally good’ only because I understand that life is an experience, and that by being selfless in some of many aspects it’s easier to feel content being “generally good” the -obviously varies from individual to individual but I think you get what I mean. so long and even as we are good on our own terms by our own standards I can’t see why anyone would innately want to be a bad person.
Part two:
I just got out of the taxi now I’m sitting downstairs at the stone table typing this and enjoying the sea breeze.
Part Three:
Now I just woke up with hardly any re-collection of this, and I didn't even drink.
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130484
Feb. 3rd, 2010 | 04:50 pm
I find this article too vague to be taken seriously.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/T
LONDON - PEOPLE who spend a lot of time surfing the internet are more likely to show signs of depression, British scientists said on Wednesday.
But it is not clear whether the internet causes depression or whether depressed people are drawn to it.
Psychologists from Leeds University found what they said was 'striking' evidence that some avid net users develop compulsive internet habits in which they replace real-life social interaction with online chat rooms and social networking sites.
'This study reinforces the public speculation that over-engaging in websites that serve to replace normal social function might be linked to psychological disorders like depression and addiction,' the study's lead author, Dr Catriona Morrison, wrote in the journal Psychopathology.
'This type of addictive surfing can have a serious impact on mental health.' In the first large-scale study of Western young people to look at this issue, the researchers analysed internet use and depression levels of 1,319 Britons aged between 16 and 51. Of these, 1.2 per cent were 'internet addicted', they concluded.
These 'internet addicts' spent proportionately more time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities, Dr Morrison said. They also had a higher incidence of moderate to severe depression than normal users. -- REUTERS
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/T
LONDON - PEOPLE who spend a lot of time surfing the internet are more likely to show signs of depression, British scientists said on Wednesday.
But it is not clear whether the internet causes depression or whether depressed people are drawn to it.
Psychologists from Leeds University found what they said was 'striking' evidence that some avid net users develop compulsive internet habits in which they replace real-life social interaction with online chat rooms and social networking sites.
'This study reinforces the public speculation that over-engaging in websites that serve to replace normal social function might be linked to psychological disorders like depression and addiction,' the study's lead author, Dr Catriona Morrison, wrote in the journal Psychopathology.
'This type of addictive surfing can have a serious impact on mental health.' In the first large-scale study of Western young people to look at this issue, the researchers analysed internet use and depression levels of 1,319 Britons aged between 16 and 51. Of these, 1.2 per cent were 'internet addicted', they concluded.
These 'internet addicts' spent proportionately more time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities, Dr Morrison said. They also had a higher incidence of moderate to severe depression than normal users. -- REUTERS
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130484
Feb. 3rd, 2010 | 03:35 pm
true selflessness is not confined to boosting your reputation or for scoring karma points. Selflessness feels like a very selfish "thing". A real selfless deed is done when one does not bother about the consequences in the way others view him/her after the selfless deed is committed.
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130484
Jan. 31st, 2010 | 02:46 pm
Written by Our Correspondent
source:
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/01/22/h
The 612-page report, the organization’s 20th annual review of human rights practices around the globe, summarizes major human rights trends in more than 90 nations and territories worldwide.
Mr Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch said:
“Singapore remains the textbook example of a politically repressive state. Individuals who want to criticize or challenge the ruling party’s hold on power can expect to face a life of harassment, lawsuits, and even prison.”
The chapter on Singapore criticizes the failure of the ruling party to “meet human rights standards in a number of critical areas, including freedom of expression, association, and assembly.”
The recently implemented Public Order Act which gives the police powers to compel a person to move on and refrain from returning to a designated spot for up to 24 hours, was singled out as a repressive law to limit the freedom of expression in Singapore.
Breaking the Public Order Act carries a maximum fine of $20,000 or jail of up to 12 months, or both.
Singapore Law Minister K Shanmugam said earlier that the law is “aimed not to prevent cause-based activities, but to avoid disruptions to the public.”
The law is highly selective in its application and is employed solely to deal with activists who are engaging in legitimate political activities such as protesting against the ruling party.
Less than a week ago, a PRC couple and family “hijacked” a SBS bus for 6 hours due to a dispute with the driver over the bringing of their wheelchair up the bus, causing much public nuisance and disruption. (read article here)
About 10 passengers on the bus had to be “evacuated” to another and it was parked along the roadside thereby interfering with the flow of the traffic.
The police was called to the scene, but did not evoke the Public Order Act to compel the family to move on away from the scene.
In fact, the police officers were seen to be “escorting” the family down the bus and carrying their wheelchair to a cab called later by SBS to ferry them home free of charge. They were not charged for any offences.
The fiasco sparked a massive outcry in cyberspace with many netizens lampooning the Singapore police for their double-standards and hypocrisy.
It seems that there are two sets of laws in Singapore: one for locals and another for foreigners.
As expected, Mr Shanmugam defended the laws as “necessary” for Singapore.
“We have to do what we believe is right for Singapore and leave it to Singaporeans to judge our actions without worrying too much about the transient views of the international media,” he was quoted saying in the Straits Times.
Mr Shanmugam is wrong on three counts:
1. The ruling party does not represent the will of Singaporeans. We did not urge or petition it to introduce such a repressive law.
2. An increasing number of Singaporeans are speaking out against the law as well as other repressive laws put in place by the ruling party to protect its own partisan interests judging from the articles and comments posted in cyberspace.
3. The views of the international media are far from “transient”. NGOs like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are highly regarded and respected in the world and the international media has far greater reach and influence than the Singapore media. Their constant attacks on Singapore’s poor human rights record is likely to have a detrimental impact on us in the long run.
Given the “track record” of the ruling party, Singaporeans will have no choice but to register their displeasure against the ruling party at the next election to make their voices heard, but then again dictatorships are seldom voted out.
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130484
Jan. 27th, 2010 | 12:23 am
I was talking to an old DJ friend this afternoon, and she told me about this certain American DJ here who plays pre-recorded mixes (cds) rather then actually mixing on 2 decks. Through his “media connections” he had somehow garnered (in his own right) quite a following when he never actually Djs at all (according to more then 5 sources).
Now I think there is something more esoteric in the art of standing on the DJ console for 1-3 hours straight without actually mixing. Something I obviously do not get but I don’t care and nobody gives a shit.
I do not understand how one can stand for 3 hours straight and fake it, and rip everyone off. 3 hours standing and not actually Djing is actually possibly ten times more lethargic then actually doing it. And it is actually painful to stand for 3 hours and do nothing! Everyone in the DJ world knows that Peter Hook formerly from New Order is an “air DJ” who mixes without headphones. I do not fucking understand how the fuck Djs who play premixed DJ sets actually enjoy what they do because I personally feel it would be painful to the individual, and how the fuck, they don’t bore themselves to death by only twisting the EQ knobs and jumping around like a monkey. I would honestly rather play to myself at home then not actually DJ at all to a fucking audience, even if I get paid for it, but that’s very implausible because I, obviously on aesthetic levels am not very marketable… and have also messed up some opportunities in the past. But even if I was it’d still be implausible to me because I would never ever imagine playing a premixed cd. And I can’t imagine the joy of anyone or myself doing it, and it scares me that people actually have the audacity to rip people off like that! When it’s bleeding-ly and painfully obvious to a substantial amount of people (enough to ruin your reputation) who know that you’re a fucking rip off, it’s even worse as opposed to selling out for fame.
Now I think there is something more esoteric in the art of standing on the DJ console for 1-3 hours straight without actually mixing. Something I obviously do not get but I don’t care and nobody gives a shit.
I do not understand how one can stand for 3 hours straight and fake it, and rip everyone off. 3 hours standing and not actually Djing is actually possibly ten times more lethargic then actually doing it. And it is actually painful to stand for 3 hours and do nothing! Everyone in the DJ world knows that Peter Hook formerly from New Order is an “air DJ” who mixes without headphones. I do not fucking understand how the fuck Djs who play premixed DJ sets actually enjoy what they do because I personally feel it would be painful to the individual, and how the fuck, they don’t bore themselves to death by only twisting the EQ knobs and jumping around like a monkey. I would honestly rather play to myself at home then not actually DJ at all to a fucking audience, even if I get paid for it, but that’s very implausible because I, obviously on aesthetic levels am not very marketable… and have also messed up some opportunities in the past. But even if I was it’d still be implausible to me because I would never ever imagine playing a premixed cd. And I can’t imagine the joy of anyone or myself doing it, and it scares me that people actually have the audacity to rip people off like that! When it’s bleeding-ly and painfully obvious to a substantial amount of people (enough to ruin your reputation) who know that you’re a fucking rip off, it’s even worse as opposed to selling out for fame.
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130484
Jan. 23rd, 2010 | 07:04 am
The Killers Asia Tour cancelled
Posted: 22 January 2010 1520 hrs
 | ||||||
 The Killers | ||||||
SINGAPORE : American alternative rock band The Killers have cancelled their shows in Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Tokyo and Seoul due to "unforeseen circumstances".
The band deeply apologises to their fans and hope to reschedule their shows in these cities soon, said the press release by concert promoter Live Nation.
Dubbed by Rolling Stone and MTV as the hottest band of 2005, The Killers were supposed to kickstart their Asia Tour in Singapore on Sunday.
Full refunds will be available from SISTIC via point of purchase, and are inclusive of the S$3 SISTIC booking fees, through the original mode of payment.
Refunds will be administered at the SISTIC Box Office at Singapore Indoor Stadium from January 27 till February 7. The refund hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 8pm and Sunday, 1pm to 7pm.
For purchases made through credit card, refunds will be automatically credited to the same card, while those who paid using cash or NETS have to present their concert tickets and identity card at the SISTIC Box Office.
Those who had purchased tickets from SISTIC's overseas Authorised Agents are to contact them directly for further details. For more information, call the SISTIC Hotline at (65) 6348 5555.
- CNA/il
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Dear God... but why?
Jan. 20th, 2010 | 05:29 pm
http://blog.sgforums.com/forums/1381/top
CITY Harvest Church has announced a $310 million expansion plan to buy land, and to erect a building that will house shops, restaurants and a 12,000-seat auditorium.
Founder Kong Hee, 45, said during church services yesterday and last Saturday that the land sale would be completed later this month. He did not specify the location, but said the site would be in the 'central south' district.
He described the site as 'super large'. It is believed the site covers an area as large as three football fields - six times the size of the Protestant church's current home in Jurong West Street 91, which it owns.
'This is truly amazing,' Dr Kong said yesterday at the Singapore Expo, where it has been renting a hall for services. 'Finally, we will have a church in the marketplace, for the marketplace, to penetrate the marketplace.'
The church's plans to incorporate retail elements into its building project follow similar plans announced in 2007 by New Creation Church, another large Christian group in Singapore.
New Creation has teamed up with mall developer CapitaLand Retail to build an 'integrated hub' at Buona Vista. The $1 billion project, when ready in 2012, will house shops, a concert hall and a theatre.
310 million I mean seriously are you kidding? but only 8 workers from your church have volunteered to help the victims of the Haitian earthquake. very Nobel indeed.... NOT. Why not send 1000 and fund the 1000 to adopt the missionary position at the same time? Isn't it obvious you or the entire congregation and members (in numbers) can afford almost anything to change the world? or at least do better then this!!!!!!!!
8 S'poreans in Haiti to help
By Judith Tan
EIGHT Singaporeans - two doctors, three nurses and three disaster-relief workers - will arrive in the earthquake-torn Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince today.
The team, assembled in 24 hours under the non-profit organisation City Care, will bring with them medical supplies. City Care is the humanitarian arm of City Harvest Church here.
There has been no accurate number on the death toll, but up to 200,000 people could have been killed in last Tuesday's quake, which measured 7 on the Richter scale. Another three million in the Caribbean nation are believed to have lost their homes.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S
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130484
Jan. 18th, 2010 | 12:15 pm
I had a weird dream still lingering in my head... it seemed like the apocalypse but no, the earth did not turn on its axis nor did solar flares from the sun destroy us. it was just raining for 2 days straight and this rain was superstitiously toxic so everyone stayed home. The last part I rem of the dream I was in the taxi and asked the driver "Business no good today eh uncle?" he replied "yah got to work but no choice" So apparently all the schools were close and then the driver comes to tell me "the Japanese do not believe that the rain had magical powers so the kids went to school"
And somewhere along my dream-state I had become an undercover officer shooting down Germans in a post Nazi theme type of first person shooter. I clearly remember killing Nazis, and we were fighting with weapons beyond our time, in fact it felt more like I was in a video game
But anyhow I think this had something to do with the German dude my friend and I were talking to last night at the bar. After definitely what we spoke about... vaguely.
And somewhere along my dream-state I had become an undercover officer shooting down Germans in a post Nazi theme type of first person shooter. I clearly remember killing Nazis, and we were fighting with weapons beyond our time, in fact it felt more like I was in a video game
But anyhow I think this had something to do with the German dude my friend and I were talking to last night at the bar. After definitely what we spoke about... vaguely.
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130484
Jan. 16th, 2010 | 11:16 am
After reading more and more of Richard Dawkins. I'm really turning out to be a full blown Atheist despite all my experiences with the so called supernatural. In that he has had me realise that our minds are powerful simulators. As far as I'm concerned theologians / religious leaders should stop deciding and telling us how the universe works just because they are presume to better understand "WHY this is so and so". In fact if there is anything, a theologian is in no better position then a scientist (even a religious one) to have a say on the possibly of an existing god. Isn't it crazy that your evolving views on the world are told to you by your pastors/priests during sermons? And you take his word fact for fact like it is actually the universal truth, or rather the only keys / paths to understanding reality. You may say it is an issue of faith, well, what is the bloody point of faith when it is so blind? The excuse I get from people is this, and it annoys me deeply "God is too great for me to judge, he is far greater then anything"
I leave you a quote so the trend is obvious to you, you don't have to be a prof or dr. or even study theology to know that humans have moved from animism to polytheism, to monotheism to new age movements/alternative medicines. The newer always seems to reject the former while there is obviously a new movement that wants to look at the religion/spiritually that we have lost in the past.
"The religion of one age is the literary entertainment of the next."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
I leave you a quote so the trend is obvious to you, you don't have to be a prof or dr. or even study theology to know that humans have moved from animism to polytheism, to monotheism to new age movements/alternative medicines. The newer always seems to reject the former while there is obviously a new movement that wants to look at the religion/spiritually that we have lost in the past.
"The religion of one age is the literary entertainment of the next."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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130484
Jan. 13th, 2010 | 10:08 am
There is this unnerving vibe about joo chiat rd that most people tend to get but by the time you get used to it, You realise everyone and everything here is as normal as the outside world. While it is an open secret that we work in between 2 illegal gambling dens and a license money lender owned by the same people, the cops have come and raided these places but nevertheless, are still in operation. I reckon because of some (inside) connection they have with the authorities. Staying above us are some of the freelance hookers mostly from Vietnam who come here on a social visit pass. Their home is fronted as a skin care centre. They come and go every now and then and according to the landlord they live in army style conditions like literally 30 to a room. It’s not like people openly deal drugs here but yeah the most visible things I see are the stacks of 50, 100, 500, 1000 dollar notes passed from one person to the next, most of these uncles I greet and sometimes serve I know are loansharks, bookies, pimps, etc. I don’t know if any of them are or are still in the drug dealing business. It might surprise you but this entire stretch of road run by this “gang” still gets protection money from each of the units. The reason why where I work is not subject to that is that my side seems to be on amicable terms with these people, and have a little bit of history. However weird it may seem and this being Singapore… after seeing the cops raid those places, so far nothing has been done to at least thwart their progress, in fact some new developments such as the deco has been done. In fact I don’t quite get how they can adopt an open door policy where one of the units openly shows others playing on casino type machines. I will admit that when I first got here I was a little scared because on the second day of work I had spilled beer on the biggest loan-shark in joo chiat, at least I remember I did spill on someone on the table he was sitting on, I wasn’t too familiar with who they were then. As it turned out they are actually kind of compassionate people, compared to the bunch of 2-faced christian people that come here, at least to me. I learned from some of the girls here that in fact contrary to what others think, (most) of their pimps here actually treat them very well. Even though they live in army style bunks they are guaranteed proper meals and also cleaners come in everyday to clean up whatever they have to, in order to maintain the level of hygiene. On a separate note, my boss’s dad holds a very high position in an engineering company here but on the side he runs the longest operating bar in Paramount (another area where you can find freelance hookers). I’ve been to that bar because we had to cater food to them, unlike the other bars the girls in there weren’t forceful, they did not grab / beg guys to come in and join them for a drink and then offer a blowjob/fuck after. In fact they were the most dignified, modest, high-class whatever you call it hookers I’ve ever met, but not experienced. I told my friend (boss’s) dad that I learned that even in this line of business ethics is always important just like running any other business. What people tend to fail to see is that, dignity is never objective outside of “group consciousness“, in that you cannot make a sweeping statement and say that just because one somehow chooses to become a hooker makes him/her less dignified and moral then you. In fact it is very immoral to think that. Some of them may have done it out of choice, circumstance or whatever, but the point is some of them can actually be a lot happier then us on the whole even when you choose to judge them on your own terms and your own standards of happiness. It’s not like they have their dignity stolen from them, think about it, for every visit they make here they go back home and are considered RICH and have more money to support their families. In fact most of them are richer then me, and I’m the one who somehow has been fortunate enough to have a roof over my head and not sell my ass to get money, but yet I, as a fallible human being, have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and clinical depression that I need medication where as I bet a lot of them don’t and in fact don’t suffer from any form of mental disorder when they choose to become hookers, right? I don’t see how the choice to become a prostitute equals that of someone has some mental deficiency. I say this because time and time again I meet people (religious or non religious) who presume that every hooker leads a very sad, treacherous life. Some have even see me as more sane then a prostitute merely because I don’t sell my body to survive. Of course it is un-graspable to us, we’re not living under similar circumstances, or have been culturally or traditionally allowed/forced to. But we can easily grasp how overly complex individuals are, that we cannot even suggest or know what is good for them on their own terms their own standards and in the most worldly sense. I’m just really tired of hearing people get all moral and righteous about realities they claim to understand and why their version of right or wrong is more universal then others. Yet no matter how hard we try, we are one way or another hypocrites to our own cause in its fullness. Yet we love to project the image of a one season (happy only) reality bordering more closely to general perfection at face value. I feel that as individuals we can only check our blind spots and be more self aware in what we say or do, in that it seems impossible to lead a non-hypocritical life.
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130484
Jan. 11th, 2010 | 09:57 am
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN Christians turned up to Sunday services in their thousands, presenting a united front of defiance in the face of a series of church firebombings that has heightened ethnic tensions.
Four churches have been targeted since Friday amid an escalating row over the use of the word 'Allah' as a translation for the Christian God by non-Muslims in the Muslim-majority nation.
Islamic groups have staged protests in response to a court ruling last week giving a Catholic newspaper the right to use the word following a long-running dispute with the government over the issue.
'I think that people's faith is greater than what's happening around so they continue to go to church and pray for themselves as well as for the nation,' Hermen Shastri, the Council of Churches secretary-general told AFP. 'But of course we are not blind to potential threat so churches have taken measures to increase security around their compounds and trusting the police and other enforcement agencies to keep a lookout for any suspicious individuals.'
About 1,000 worshippers at the Catholic Church of Assumption in Kuala Lumpur, one of the four targeted, were briefed by parish priest Phillips Muthu on the incident and told to be patient.
'I told them we don't want to blame any people, any quarter, any religion. We are peaceful and we are here to offer our prayer for the nation,' he told reporters at the church, where the fire damaged part of the grounds. 'Of course we are afraid after the incident but life has to go on.' -- AFPLink | talk to me goose | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend
130484
Jan. 10th, 2010 | 12:34 pm
OKay yesterday I had learned that my new chef's brother was in ICU because of a drink driving accident. He is still in a Coma, and I DO NOT PRAY that he gets out of it alive. I Just hope on the basis of luck that he does get out of it. As you will see Praying and miracles is statistically unproven and in fact causes more stress on the patient..
The very last time I was tempted to actually pray was seeing my uncle in the hospice in Melbourne earlier last year. However I do believe in the power of "supernatural energetic healing" just not in the monotheistic sense.
The very last time I was tempted to actually pray was seeing my uncle in the hospice in Melbourne earlier last year. However I do believe in the power of "supernatural energetic healing" just not in the monotheistic sense.
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130484
Jan. 8th, 2010 | 03:05 pm
Yesterday I shared the decks with someone the music was fine and whatever she played was not as deep/dark as what I was playing (I mean clearly Joy division or Depeche mode isn't as dark as RPO or Chris Micali?) it had fucking lyrics, vocals (maybe subconscious effect) and it wasn't even dark, I mean what the fuck dude, it sounded like trance or happy hardcore to me. And if I were to play retro like you asked me to before, I would have probably have picked something along the same theme... on another note I hardly have anything mainstream. I think all he wanted to hear was something more eclectic in his own version of mainstream. And I absolutely hate that I had to pass on the message to the other jock.
I'm also fucking annoyed with other things but fuck it .
I'm also fucking annoyed with other things but fuck it .
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130484
Jan. 7th, 2010 | 08:14 am
apparently someone does think that what happens to me on a day to day basis, is purely based on karma or that God is just being fair. I beg to differ a million times. Though it can be comforting to believe that God is really watching over you as you sleep and perhaps is rewarding you for the good you have done for others in the past. In all honesty I cannot accept that, the whole idea that "god or the "Gods" are rewarding me because he or they can personally account for my good deeds is beyond absurd. Whether you are a moderate or agnostic, I mean just ask yourself... are these claims by religious figures who have the so called Divine Access to God's mind just ludicrous or perfectly sane? On another note as others have observed...on the basis on reason/logic it is crazy to believe that blowing yourself up and killing as many as possible could lead you to eternal heaven where a number of virgins await you, basically it's as crazy on the basis of reason to believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ. When nothing except for the "politically correct" faith would seem more appropriate only because they don't choose to blow people up. So anyway why has Bush and the right wing of US supported Israel all along? because statistically proven many of the politicians are evangelicals or those who voted for bush (according to sam harris) 40$% were evangelicals, who believe that the precondition for Jesus 2nd coming is that the land in dispute between the Jews and Palestinians should rightfully belong to the Jews for the 2nd coming. how Sick is that? It's fucking sickening to know that we get our news directly from CNN or BBC. In fact I think some pacifists (moderate types) in general totally miss the point in that they do not understand the seriousness of this problem. Correct me if I'm wrong but a lot people have voted for bush, based on religious principals, not exactly political? in that for example they would vote for the politician who is by default against gay marriage, or the one who believes it is right to add the creation myth into school textbooks. The pacifist would also be all loving, all accepting, and not one to engage in violence of any sort. but the pacifist always fails to identify and confront the real issues that actually change the world. I'm sorry but adopting the P.L.U.R stance is not enough a philosophy or a realistic solution. Sometimes Actions only seem pointless when the facts are placed against you.