The Amazing Race

Hey Guys,

I just came back from Singapore's first ever F1 night race!

Above is a preview of what the night race would look like, and it woud be a waste not to see this!

ANYWAYS....
While we all know that Fernando Alonso of the Renault team won tonight, the disappointment and poor showing team Ferrari has given the fans (yes I bet 90% of the crowd were supporting Marlboro, oops i meant Ferrari), and not to mention that it was argubly the most exciting race of the season, I would like to touch upon the GOOD, BAD and the Ugly of the night race, and they are all about us: Humans.

Yikes!

So what has humans got to do with communication? Let's find out.

The GOOD

This was a video I took, of a (probably drunk) Caucasian rousing the crowd to sing "ole, ole, ole" with him. While he was not successful (thank you, dour Singaporean fans there..), he managed to keep the bored crowd amused and the frequent chuckles my friends and I shared. This was something positive that I could take from whenever I recall the race. If only the crowd shared his enthusiasm (no, not for Finland), then probably that would make my F1 experience all the better.

The BAD

Now this video may not make much sense, but if we consider that the Singapore Grand Prix consists of 61 mind-numbing laps, could you imagine standing and sitting 61 TIMES? It would be ridiculous!

Absurd.

That I was around 4-5 storeys high at the bay grandstand, one will assume he has a fairly comfortable view...

BUT NO.

Thanks to the "vertically-challenged" people (i'm assuming they are extremely short and Singaporean) in the front, people like me at the back get compromised.

Hello... I paid S$248 for a ticket to a seat, so why should I think that those in front paid more?



THE UGLY

Unfortunately I have neither videos nor pictures to show the ugly side of humans because my camera apparently had a "virus" and wiped out my evidence! Nevertheless, here's what happened.

"Je pense, donc je suis" (I think, therefore I am)

This philosophical statement was coined by influential French philosopher René Descartes, which simple meaning that "if someone is wondering whether or not he exists, that is in and of itself proof that he does exist".

"Wa si kiasu lang, bey sai su" (I am kiasu, therefore you lose)

Alright this is not the exact translation but you get the idea. That Singaporeans must be first to everything and that includes going to their designated seats. The crowd at the Grand Prix was pretty unbelievable, but it was their behaviour that disgusts me. To get to the bay grandstand one has to walk a small path from the entrance, ditto for exit. So while I was squeezing myself through (with thousands of others too), the people behind started pushing and shouting. There were policemen at the both ends of the path and I overheard one irate Caucasian complaining to our men in blue: "This is ridiculous, it's (thousands sharing entrance and exit) disgraceful. Can't (sic) you guys do something instead of standing?!"

I barely made it the other side, sweating and confused. A 200-metre long path that took me 30 minutes to complete. Thankfully there was no violence, but it could easily have been that way.

And there wasn't a thing the poor policeman could do.

My friend summed it up best :
"we live in a conformist society today."

FOOLERY

Let me get you guys started with an old video from "everyone's favourite" angel. That is, Criss Angel.

Michael Jackson found an alternative to plastic

Did you believe that?
Nope. Non. No way. Not for me anyway. Even though it looks real.
NAH....

Anyway this week I shall blog about the power of the media, the power to fool the audience, or make a foolery out of us... well... It's not the same. I'll explain. Let us look into some media works.

1)Busy and valuable: Bees are worth $220bln a year
http://news.sg.msn.com/topstories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1686603

We do know of dolphins performing at the zoo, racehorses raking in the big bucks but bees?

What we know about bees is that they make good honey, they carry pollen on the legs, and they sting (no pun intended). But making money? Wow. This is totally unheard of. The article (click on url) claims that these bees and their ilk enhance the growth of our crops, namely fruit and vegetables as well as spices, and that they "account for 9.5% of the value of worldwide agricultural production". The number may seem small, but assuming if the bees were to stop working altogether, the number would be expressed in the region between $273bln and $446bln worth of losses to consumers. (for your info, $1bln is $1,000,000,000)

Now! Do you believe in this media 'foolery'? Wouldn't bees put a shame to you workaholics???

2)Man Utd fans, shame one you
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/sports/story/0,4136,177484,00.html

Alright, before Manure, oops Manchester United fans flame me for this, i'm just quoting and evaluating the article (check link). Soccer and non-soccer fans alike will recognise Cristiano Ronaldo, and fans will always remember his amazing 42-goal haul which lifted United the Champions' League and Premier League trophies.

They'll also remember his declaration to stay at United upon winning the title, as well as the famous 2, almost 3 month-long transfer saga that was as scandalous as an illicit affair. Iain Macintosh (article's writer) was flabbergasted, or in his view, "astonished" to find out that United fans gave him a standing ovation (during his introduction on last Wednesday's game) after Ronaldo gave them a "summer of confusion, of plotting, of thinly veiled threachery". (for more info on the saga, click on link)

Even my friend who's a supporter, cried out then, that "the b*****d should get the hell out of the club", and definitely, he wasn't the only one. Mind you, I believe that if my friend was one of the thousands at Old Trafford (United's stadium), he would have screamed his lungs out chanting "Ronaldo, Ronaldo!".

So, what gives? Has Ronaldo fooled his supporters? A case of cat-and-mouse? The media has a significant part in this, and Ronaldo has certainly made used of it, and I quote him: "They (fans) will, of course, love me."

Did the media shamed the fans? Or is it dear Ronaldo?

3)Stop in the name of the law: The ref got it right http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/16/sports/SOCCER.php

I'm sorry, I couldn't find the picture of Chelsea's John Terry (JT) giving Jo, of Manchester City, a rugby tackle that the Rugby Association would extremely be proud of.

In the article Rob Hughes (aka 'fan' of Manchester United) of the International Herald Tribune questions the English Football Association's (FA) decision to lift John Terry's 3-match ban for 'serious foul play". He said that "if Terry, experienced leader of men that he purports to be as England captain, was aware of all this (referring to the cover in defence), why did he kick out as the Brazilian (Jo) passed him?" , all I've to say to Rob is that if you're paid US$250,000 PER WEEK TO DO YOUR JOB, would you have done what JT did?

Sure it wasn't a fair challenge, but in today's game any advantage, "fair or foul", is what that matters. The appeal (to rescind the ban) was successful, the FA has acknowledge it, let's move on with the game.

In this article, did the writer "fooled" you, or change/swayed your perception?

4) Malaysia's 'worst in the world' taxis tarnish national image
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080918/tts-malaysia-transport-taxi-506e7eb.html

If you think that the Singapore taxi service is bad, think again. Yes, according to the magazine The Expat, rated Malaysia the worst among 23 countries in terms of taxi quality, courtesy, availability and expertise (read more through the link).

I personally went through a nightmare on a cab back to Singapore. My mates and I were exhausted after a long day in malaysia and all we wanted was to head back, and the last thing was to be a hell ride back.
In summary, the taxi driver picked us from the train station, took us back to his home, swapped the cab for his (bigger) car (no it was the same size), and suddenly dropped a bomb that he couldn't bring us to Singapore, thus eventually we ended back at the train station. Oh, of course he haggled money with us over this merry-go-round.

To the non-traveller or for those who haven't gone beyond the Causeway, would this article change the way you think about Malaysia's taxi service, or Malaysia as a whole?
Would it put you off then?

5)Malaysia Has One of the World’s Best Airports
http://skorcareer.com.my/blog/malaysia-has-one-of-the-worlds-best-airports/2008/07/18/

Oh dear did I typed wrongly? Nope... Well I haven't been to this particular airport, but i posted this article in relation to article #4. So no discrimination to anyone or any country. =)

I'm thinking: "best airport, worst taxi service"?

Feeling confused? Me too.

A case of information overload? or just pure foolery?

Ask the media.

Or, ask "David Blaine".

DO YOU WANNA SEE SOME MAGIC?

Muahahahaha...

the key to the trick is the stare...

Money, My Buddy

Whenever Money talks, I listen. Here are some excerpts from IM (instant messenging)

(posted 8.01pm, tue)

Money (online)

Me : Hey u online? =)

Money : Of course pal! wheneva u need me, i'm always here!

Me : ........

Me : yea. more lyk wheneva i need u, ur missing, lyk big time...

Money : no no my fren, u ain't gettin the picture.

Money : i'm always here.

Money : you jus gotta find me... u noe... lyk catch me if you can?

Money : IF.....
Money : YOU....
Money : CAN....
Money : lol
Money : so... wassup????

Me : i'm wondering if liz's free tonight
Me : wanna watch the latest epic by Jack Neo, MONEY NO ENOUGH 3.

Money : with her
Money : u pay?

Me : er.... lyk NO???

Money : what a cheapskate..

Money : need a loan?

Me : tok to u later brb

(posted 8.01pm, tue)
Money may not reply because he/she is Out to Lunch

Me : how's lunch....

Me : at 8PM

Me : lol

Money : "LUNCH" was GUUUUDDDDDDD.......

Money : and so was dinner

Money : roasted pork knuckle wit sour cream, double-tripled-layered lasagna, foie gras sushi rolls, topped off wit truffles and prunes...

Me : i'm lyk eating a peanut butter sandwich NOW...

Money : *grins*

Me : i'm broke ok..? =(

Money : lol
Money : aniwaes...
Money : u need to splash e cash, n then u can impress....

Me : well...

Me : sigh
Me : i cld do wit a small loan

(posted 2.25am, mon)
Money may not reply because he/she is set to Away

Me : hey thks for e cash

Me : liz said e movie's great
Me : b better if i had some money to spare
Me : e date wld b better wit flowers
Me : u there Money?

(posted 2.41am, mon)
Money may not reply because he/she is set to Away

Me : Hello?

Me : Me gives Money a Nudge

Me : i tink i need more $$$
Me : hehe..

Me : here money money money.....

Me : ?

(posted 10.52am, mon)
Money (Online)

Me : yo u caught last night's match?

Me : i got sooooooo burned....

Money : yea. The Clash of the Cash!

Money : how cld i miss?

Money : not to mention e winnings i've made..

Money : MUAHAHAHA =)

Me : shd hav listened to ya....
Me : e real cash's still wit e london side...

Money : of course!

Money : i'm always right.
Money : wit me ard, ur always a winner.

Money : u'll b able to buy ur Guccis, u can impress ur girl, not to mention more sandwiches...

Money : hohoho...

Me : no

Me : Money's isn't everythg...

Money : liz is happy isn't she...?

Me : well...

Money : i've won, n u lost right?

Me : ........

Me : i guess...

Money : jus listen to me, n everthg will b fine.

Money : trust me. =)

Now, now. Everyone would wish for a money tree. To help the poor, to buy our latest ipod, to watch the Singapore F1, etc. And we still want more. In light of recent events, from the recent screening of Money No Enough 2 to highlight our dependency of money, to the lastest "clash of the cash" between Russian-bankrolled Chelsea and new cash-cow Manchester City, backed by the Abu Dhabi Group of Dubai.

No it's not about which oil is more oily (Russian oil or Dubai's?), or which Money NO Enough is cheaper (cost production), the REAL question is: "Are you an agent of money?" Do we need money to 'walk the talk'?

Share your perception on money with me, and may the cashflow be with you.

reference:

http://sg.movies.yahoo.com/Money+No+Enough+2/movie/14707/

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=571780&sec=england&root=england&cc=4716&cc=4716

My Home..... or Ours?

"DUN WAN LA", my classmate replied after I requested for my textbook to be returned. To us Singaporeans 'Singlish' seems normal for us; we tend to use it in our daily conversation. Except for the fact that my classmate is an Australian.



We Singaporeans live in a multicultural society. One of the perks living here is the huge variety of food available. So i believe most of us (being the food lover that we are) living here would have been to Chomp Chomp Food Centre at Serangoon Gardens. Local delights such as barbequed stingray, Hokkien noodles, steamed cockles would whet any palate, whether you are a food connoisseur or not. And how about washing down all those sinful calories (oh how could you resist?) with a monster jug of sugarcane juice? Lime please, thank you very much!



If local foodfare at Chomp Chomp is not to your liking, why not head further down, where authentic Hainanese chicken rice is served? Or beside the latter, if you crave a locally-invented McSpicy burger, all-American Macdonald's awaits! More American? Within a walking distance, there is also a Starbucks cafe, an American-like eatery that is Cafe Cartel, or Cold Storage ( widely perceived to cater especially for the rich and/or expatriates, or is it?), if you feel like cooking up a storm! Finally at the center of Serangoon Gardens there is an open restaurant serving Indian favorites such as Mee Goreng and Roti Prata. Portugese egg tarts? Ice-cream waffles? There. Serangoon Gardens has it. The food, that is.



Ah. Serangoon Gardens. Not just a food haven, but to many, it is a place called home. A housing estate that is mostly private. a place where not only food is widely available, there is a country club, a handful of banks, and entertainment such as pubs and nightclubs. A second Holland Village, as most would associate with.



The situation, it seems, is that recently the government has come up with plans to house the growing number of foreign workers at Serangoon Gardens, as it is noted for it's convenience and accessibility. Most of the foreign workers currently live in dorms that are close to the edges of the island, one example of a dorm being near a collage of cemeteries at far-flung Chua Chu Kang.

As such, the proximity to convenience stores to buy neccesities for these workers are largely limited.



Thus there is a clarion call for the government to review the plans, as the residents of Serangoon Gardens voiced concerns over security, transport and social issues. The foreign workers in Singapore currently numbers around 70,000.



Now the talking point: "what is your opinion on the possibilty of foreign workers living in there?"
Comment!

This particular debate has been raging over the past week, as experts, residents living at Serangoon Gardens or those living near foreign workers' dorms and the workers alike gave their opinions, albeit with great hullabaloo.



As mentioned earlier, Singapore is a multicultural society. It is inevitable we would foreign workers from day to day. We see them taking buses and trains to work. We see them pruning our beautiful trees, grasses and shrubs. We see them cleaning the streets, painting houses, putting on their yellow helmets for work at the construction site.



We see them washing the blocks at our estate.



We see them standing on the tail of waste trucks.



We see them fixing the lights along our expressways.



we see them putting on their yellow helmets for yet another day at the construction site...



But... have we ever seen their homes? Have we ever conversed with them, other than "excuse me" or "sorry, is that seat available"? Have you ever wondered/questioned why they talk so loudly on the handphone when the receiver is right beside their mouth, and they are disturbing your short naps on the bus? Or has the sound of the drill at the construction site interfered with your studying or your favorite television episode?
Comment!



Personally I feel that in this situation we have perceived foreign workers to be construction workers, rubbish collectors, road sweepers, just to name a few. "What you see is what you get" is the phrase that I feel people would conceptualise immediately upon seeing a road sweeper. "oh he smells bad, i need to get my child away from him."

I feel that there is a mix of a social constructionist perspective and a pragmatic perspective here.

We have the personal bias that these foreign workers have bad habits, they dirty our environment, and thus we should not be talking to them. Ironically, these workers are the ones who clean it!

Whereas we can't say the same for another group of foreign workers. They are our professionals; lawyers, doctors, lecturers, executives, etc, and we have the thinking that these are the sort of people that benefits the society, that we should be communicating with them for various benefits. Strangely, we welcome these high earners. And a number of them live in places like Serangoon Gardens.

Well, who is the one complaining then? Foreigners against foreigners?

Whose side are you on?

Comment!