It's August 2009 - National Identity Crisis
"It's all a blur - our future, that is what we should be concerned about."
Let's talk about news.
"NUS Law Post-grad Programmes - 4 out of 5 scholarships not open to Singaporeans" - The New Paper dated 20 August 2009 at page 9.
Face it.
Singapore does not need locals. Locals need Singapore.
At least that is how the nation is functioning.
Talk about meritocrary. Talk about necessity.
Haven't you realised that Singapore has made the recruitment of foreigners a norm rather than an exception?
Look around you. Look at the dwindling percentage of locals, and the rising numbers of foreigners. Is this at the expense of the livelihood of millions of locals?
Look at how Singaporeans are all moving overseas - Do they not love Singapore? They do, but apparently Singapore does not love them as much, not until they have some worth, some utility that may be made be used of.
For one, I have no interest in what Singapore is up to. What say have I in any case? Defeatist theory? I should stand up and show what I am made of? Utter rubbish. All these talk about how the recruitment of foreigners would make Singaporeans strive harder and improve - thereby making Singapore a force to reckon with. This is not about the depressed or defeated Singaporean giving up without a fight. This is about a country - a nation which you and I call home.
There is only a thin line of difference between survival of the fittest and healthy competition. There is only the slight gap between Singaporeans and foreigners. The line is getting thinner. We can keep telling ourselves that all this talk is necessary because we can't do without foreigners. On the other hand, we should ask ourselves whether our importance and roles have been marginalised in this nation?
Why do we have to fight to stay in this country we call Home? Why do we open our arms to people who compete for our bread and butter?
Is this need Superfluous? I think so.
I think the line between Singaporeans and foreigners have been blurred. I think meritocrary is just an excuse. I think it's time to think if we need to find a reason to stay. Is this Singapore or is this Singapore PTE LTD?
A business-minded nation. A private Company. or HOME?
Home is no longer a place I find comfort. It is a place where trouble finds me.
"Do you see, what I see? the real workings from the inside of this nation?"
Singapore soccer is a joke!!
Singapore soccer is a laughing stock.Look at the way it played against Vietnam. I thought they were clowns juggling balls with their opponents.It makes Singapore 2010 Goal a joke. I wonder how the Foreign Talent Scheme makes the future brighter for Singapore? Maybe when you don't have the skills, you just pull random tricks out of your hat to amuse the spectators...This, they have done brilliantly.Entertaining! as entertaining as the Nyonya witches wrecking havoc on Channel 8. Mediacorp serves up the worst programmes for entertainment during prime time hours... Pity the citizens who have no choice over what the junky free-to-air TV provides.The score should have read: Vietnam 5-0 Singapore.
Birthday Celebration @ Brozeit, Raffles City
Camera-shy Selwyn and HAPPY Jervis - 6th December Birthday Boys!~
Food Galore - After Exam De-Stress
Prata Shop @ Old Upper Thomson Road
Rating: ***1/2
Dinner @ Brozeit, Raffles Place (Jervis & Selwyn's birthday dinner)
Rating: ***
Gelare Sundae @ Far East Plaza
Rating: ****
Ding Tai Feng @ Paragon
Rating: ***1/2
Dim Sum Place Along Jalan Besar Road
Rating: ****
Desserts @ Far East Plaza (Snowflake Ice Dessert)
Rating: ****
Japanese restaurant at basement of CentrePoint, Orchard
Rating: ***
Mr Men Show @ Centrepoint, Orchard
Swensen's @ Marina Square
Rating: ***1/2
Christmas Decorations!!
This is at Raffles City.
This is along Orchard Road, outside Ngee Ann City.
This is within Ngee Ann i think..
This is in Takashimaya.
This is outside Forum?? Or along the stretch of Orchard Road.
This is outside Central, Clarke Quay.
This is inside Central, Clarke Quay.
This is outside Parco Bugis.
This is outside Plaza Singapura @ Orchard Road.
This is outside Fareast Plaza @ Orchard Road.
This is in Paragon.
This is outside Paragon.
This is outside Wisma Atria @ Orchard.
This is outside Shaw house.
This is outside Borders @ Wheelock, Orchard.
Truth be told, the lightings this year seem to be rather boring and unglam. Compared to Malaysia as I was told. Anyway, perhaps it is a sign of tougher times ahead?
Random
Chinese Dumpling Soup Noodles etc @ International Plaza
Rating: ***1/2
This has been going on at my block for some time... Irritating me during the Exam period..
Proof that General Elections is forth-coming in 2009? Perhaps.
The fact was they do this revamp/repainting every 5 years.. but it's been 8 years!! I bet elections coming...
Always.
Tactics. Again.
Trip to PGP - Re-tracing my steps in NUS
From PGP Canteen @ NUS and SupperHouse @ NUS - Oatmeal fish and fish with kailan & Egg cheese or wat.. LOl. i had cheese waffle too..
Rating: ***1/2
This was at Chinatown Point when I caught Quan Yifong hosting a talkshow for Women...
LOL, it was just about ending...
Some after-Exams De-stress Food Products
Tucked at a corner of Chinatown's famous stretch of food at Smith Street.. there is this German shop of sorts selling Meat Balls (chicken), potato salad and mashed potato.. superb..It was a nice treat after the exams. Rating: ****
This is not bad.. beancurd, fried rice and baked rice from Central (HK cafe) at Parkway Parade.
Erm, slightly expensive.
Rating: ***
Seoul Garden @ Takashimaya - Buffet Lunch
(Only picture of the icekachang-icecream i made myself)
Rating: ***1/2
"STRESSED" terminated, it's TIME for DESSERTS!
Sweet!
Stupid exams are over.. finally..
Any one who has any fun ideas for play or travel... feel free to approach me.
haha, will type more later..
enjoying the slacking in my life.
STUPID HOTMAIL
HOTMAIL SUCKS!I HATE HOTMAIL.COMIT DOES NOT LET YOU READ YOUR MAILS.F*** the screwed up new interface.Now I've a bad collection of emails that I can't read.F***I'm moving to gmail... Please email me there.Thanks.
Post-Semester 1 08/09 thoughts
It's been some time since I blogged about something...
So here it is...
I have been more or less, doing nothing much in school this semester.. except.. trying to cope with some of the worst modules..
Conflict of Laws.
It's just.. full of conflicts. Choice-of-law. Methodologies. Theories. Jurisdictions. Amazing.
I wonder why I chose it. Oh ya. I thought it was just going to be full of readings..
BUT it's not. Even reading doesn't help you.
Lessons don't help you either.
So what helps you?
...
GOD? May I be blessed with the sudden enlightenment... I'm not talking abt enlightened lex fori here, the one by O Kahn Freund.. Yeap.. not him.
I handed up the assignment late last Friday. Like 4.57pm, 3 minutes before time. I had to purposely take a cab to submit the hard copy late in the evening, and no cabs wanted to pick me up. Goodness, it is 35% weightage, not that it's going to help me, but if I had failed to submit this, I think I'd have definitely gotten a "F". Word limit was 2500, but I felt it was 25,000. Don't ask me why. Maybe when you do not have the slightest idea what is going on in class, this kinda happens...Other subjects - Chinese Legal
This was the best! Best by far, because I enjoyed the lessons, because it was not stressful, and it was Chinese, something that I would never be afraid of...
Though I last used the language 8 years ago...
Credit & Security, IT Law 2, Chinese Corporate & Securities Law
The first, I had never caught a single thing in class, except for Prof Ellinger's class.
The next two, I only looked for the time it ended so I can be freed to study my other heavy subjects.. I wrote so many assignments this semester.. makes me wonder if I should take 5 modules in a semester again...
Sigh..
And.. I think... it's going to be the worst semester yet again, .. hopefully enlightment will come.
3 exam papers.
Next semester, I should really not take Corporate Insolvency~ because I think I may go bankrupt first, psychologically speaking...
*********************
zzzzz
Signing out...
New Hobby
This is the site that I have been checking out lately...
Too bad it only features English songs, which I do not have the slightest heck of an idea~
http://www.karaokeparty.comFeatured in sunday life section~ of straits times, 9th nov 08.
LOUIS' Birthday Dinner Treat
Louis' birthday present.. nice wallet!! LOL..
FOODIE GREAT
Vivocity's new Jap Store (authentic jap food from a few restaurant names thrown together, i.e. ajisen) at first level
Rating: ***1/2
Strawberries with sweet cream! ROX
This is nice.. MARCHE @ Vivocity (rosti rox)
Rating: ****
Desserts @ HK Cafe, Siglap
Rating: ***1/2 (the new french toast with ice cream is not bad, though fattening)
DELICIOUS creme brulee from Vivocity's Fre(N)sh...
Rating: ****
I think.. Des Ee worked there before, right bro?.. it's pretty good..
Random photos...
Chicken rice packet from the coffee shop near my house.. at blk 339
RATING: ***
Botak Jones @ AMK
Again.. yeah..
My favourite songs for this two months.. JAY CHOU!!
Rating: ****
A sighting near Bishan Park.. squirrel? cute =)
BAKERS INN: AGAIN..
My favourite Dessert PLACE
Sweets for my Sweet Tooth!!
Curry Favor @ Velocity, Novena
Crystal Jade Xiao Long Bao
FOOD FOOD FOOD
More FOOD!!
(At Velocity, Novena)RATING: ***
FOOD pictures...
New Food court opposite Balestier Shaw PlazaRATING: ***1/2
HK Cafe @ Tan Quee Lan Street
RATING: ***
TCC Food and Drinks:
RATING: ***1/2 (Expensive.. but not very nice.. just.. not too bad)
Grand-dad's BIrthday Dinner
The Aftermath...
Left-overs...
The "Belated" Birthday Photos..
Happiest moment of my 24 years...
Some more food posts...
Another Drinking session...
The cab driver asked, "小弟，去喝酒啊？”
“好啊！不过借酒消愁，愁更愁！”
I was thinking...
“不过不喝酒怎么能麻醉自己？”
Drinking is nice, it numbs your emotions.'
At this point of time, you can't help but wonder, what is really worth living for?
Supper TIME!!
From HK Cafe, along Thomson
*****************
This is the same shop which has an outlet at Bugis, along Tan Quee Lan street, which is famous for its Eight treasures tea. 八宝茶。
The food's good. Not too bad.
Food rating: ***1/2 (the SCV, or movie screening on TV, was even better! All the waiters and waitresses - either 4 or 5 - were so engrossed that none realised that we have been waving for 1 minute to get their attention!)
Happy Birthday, Ah Gong!
This time round, the birthday cake is from Angie The Choice. Peppermint Chocolate Chips Icecream Cake -- It is nice, easy to cut, but the cake was separate from the icecream and fell off easily. Nevertheless, it was value for money and one of the better ones I have purchased. I have kept the record of purchasing from 5 or 6 different shops for the past few times consecutively. Not bad!!
Food Galore!
FOOD GALORE1st stop: Pizza place along Greenwood AvenueWho? Selwyn, Jervis and I (just before IT LAW Presentation)Food rating: **** [FANTASTIC, but... small portions]
2nd stop: Boon Tong Kee @ Boon Keng Food Rating: *** [over rated, nowhere near the best...]
3rd stop: BAKER'S INNFood rating: **** [FANTASTICALLY FANTASTIC - but not as nice as its desserts]
4th Stop: RICE TABLE Opposite Borders @ OrchardFood Rating: ***1/2 [Expensive, but service is not too good, got to ask and ask and ask, especially because there's a lazy ass of a waiter there who does nothing while his colleagues were busy]
HALF TIME: LION DANCE (at Ngee Ann City)
Food Rating: *** (usual stuff, plus intolerable BAD service... Why don't they just tell you everything is self-service?)
6th Stop: Baker's Inn (AGAIN) @ United Square, NovenaDESSERT's RATING: ****1/2 (DIVINE! but service sux again - minus 1/2 point!, late night and closing hours, so I guess they just want to close the shop... a black faced female manager on the loose...)
7th stop: Old Brown Shoe (or something) @ Bukit TimahWho? Frederick and I (AFTER IT LAW Presentation.. sigh)
Food and Beer Rating: **** (The fish and chips in newspaper wraps was delicious, the beer was good too, I guess it must be the relaxed atmosphere after the problematic presentation)
