Words of Wisdom

Words of Wisdom from "Les Miserables"

Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God

Don't be put off my the perceived religious overtones of the stanza that I've chosen from the Finale of Les Miserables. Never thought that God must refer to the Christian God anyway. I believe each and every person has an idea of who s/he believes is God, even if s/he is an aetheist or a free thinker.

However, I thought the idea of "to forgive is divine" is succinctly captured in the stanza.

I've always found it hard to forgive. Forgiveness is not something that the ordinary masses are capable of. It seems to be a quality or an attribute of the enlightened, the saints, and the gods. Mortal (wo)men do not forgiven easily.

To await amnesia is easier than to seek forgiveness. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet died for a feud which neither family really remembered, I bet. (Though this is hypothetical, literature is still a reflection of real life.) Any doubters should just look at the Shi'as, the Sunnis and the Kurds to see current examples.

To await dystrophy is easier than to seek forgiveness. China never forgave Taiwan for breaking off; it wants Taiwan back. It won't let Taiwan gain any independence. If needed, it'll even resort to war and risk co-destruction. Perhaps it's more palatable to have two broken states than one renegade one. China is even threatening to cut off ties with any country that recognizes Taiwan.

To seek forgiveness is tantamount to a terrible loss of "face", which is unacceptable in Asian societies. Therefore, to die is easier than to seek forgiveness. How many Japanese have preferred to commit hara-kiri (suicide by cutting the stomach using a samurai sword) than to face the consequences of their actions and then seek forgiveness?

So, have I learnt to forgive? I am still learning. I'm no great sage or saint. But I have managed to tame the fury and accept apologies for wrongdoing. Forgiveness does not come that easily for me still. I still rely on amnesia to help me. I forget things more easily now. But for true forgiveness, I'm still some way off.

But I've got to start somewhere.

A little snippet on the Olympics

A little snippet on the Olympics

Cities that have hosted the Olympic Summer Games:

Athens 1896
Paris 1900
St. Louis 1904
London 1908
Stockholm 1912
Antwerp 1920
Paris 1924
Amsterdam 1928
Los Angeles 1932
Berlin 1936
World War 2 disrupted the Games in 1940 and 1944
London 1948
Helsinki 1952
Melbourne 1956
Rome 1960
Tokyo 1964
Mexico City 1968
Munich 1972
Montreal 1976
Moscow 1980
Los Angeles 1984
Seoul 1988
Barcelona 1992
Atlanta 1996
Sydney 2000
Athens 2004
(Beijing 2008)

Bread making

Bread making

I really don't know how the experiment will turn out but in my bread maker now is the dough consisting of bread flour, wholemeal flour, water, butter, sugar, salt, yeast, sesame seeds, chopped walnuts, spaghetti bolognaise herbs, and sun dried tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil.

Don't ask me for the exact quantities - bread making is not like cake making. I usually only measure water so that your bread does not flow out of the bread tin and yeast - I normally throw in the whole pack of 11 g instead of using about 7 g.

I use 1/5 of a 250 g of butter; sometimes more, the rest of the stuff are ad lib. Really not unlike playing Chopin. How you want it, the way you want it. More bread flour gives a lighter but more chewy bread. More wholemeal flour makes it heavier but fluffier.

The initial mixture consisting of the first seven ingredients (wholemeal is optional) should just come off the sides of the bread tin cleanly as the machine is kneading the dough. If it sticks, add a little more bread flour. (Or if you prefer, add some oats! They taste great!). If you have a whole mess of flour at the bottom, you might do well to stop the machine, take out the entire tin and empty the excess and let the already formed ball knead. Don't try to add more water. This is instant recipe for disaster. Write so much like a pro, but simply don't have any facts to back up the brag.

I think I should measure my ingredients the next time. Then I can start a b-read-log. And Marlina can share some recipes. Is there a recipe for Reindeer Bread, hm?

The dough looks huge and brown now. I'm hopeful.

Anyway, the fellows at work will be eating the loaf tomorrow. I think I should get someone to bring some olive oil or cream cheese for dipping.

Cough cough cough...

Cough cough cough...

Lest Quinsy felt bad coughing her lungs out, I'm coughing my lungs out too.

I've been coughing and coughing and coughing for no good reason. It just comes and then I'll launch into a volley of coughs which finally ends when I run out of air and turn blue in the face. It's like the lungs are going to collapse.

I gasp for air and the coughing stops.

Then some idiot walks into the room and go, "Wah! Coughing ah? Better?"

"Yah" And then the coughing loop continues.

Sigh.

Poor Britney Spear-ed

Poor Britney Spear-ed

MJ's Trial in 1 min 50 s

Summary of MJ's Trial in 1 min 50 s

1.8 cm by 0.6 cm

1.8 cm by 0.6 cm

That's the size of the sliver of scallop shell that pierced my tongue halfway through while I was eating the scallop from a Grilled Seafood Platter from Big Fish Restaurant in Siglap.

The broken shell was embedded in the soft area of the scallop, giving me no chance at all. As I bit in, I felt searing pain in my tongue. I felt something cut right into the tongue.

I spat everything out, analysed the spit and located the damning evidence.

Such lapses are UNACCEPTABLE at all times.

The swelling and the pain made me decide to visit the doctor although I had initially thought I could have forgone the trip.

The doctor was rather certain that there isn't any broken shell parts inside the tongue, though he was not that fully sure. Therefore, I was given a week's antibiotics to ward off any infection. If a hard growth develops in due time, he'll refer me to the dental surgeons for further investigation.

Saw the cut in the tongue just now - big enough, red enough, swollen enough. Small wonder the doctor was able to see it without even asking me where I was cut.

Sent the bill to the restaurant and the boss has reimbursed me.

Looks like the tongue, for all its destructive prowess, isn't indestructable.

Licensing Serial Killer

STOP Licensing Another Serial Killer

Nearly got killed by a learner driver taking his driving test today.

I was driving along a straight road on the left lane (of a two-lane road), behind another L-plater. Since the L-plater was so slow, I changed lane and the L-test candidate just executed his U-turn, without checking the road conditions, and cut right in front of me.

I had to brake sharply to evade the ass of his swaggering car.

Courtesy prevented me from tooting my horn at him - he's a driver taking his test. If I had tooted my horn, he would have failed on the spot.

But I seriously hope that the tester was alert enough to FAIL THAT BLOODY BUGGER.

We should not pass him and LICENSE YET ANOTHER SERIAL KILLER, let loose on the already congested and dangerous roads.

There is a time and place for everything

There Is A Time And Place For Everything

I think I should just quit my job and be a social commentator. I'm well-geared towards the job anyway. Anyhow, I may have bragged too much again. But I digress.

After 2 days of THE FLU, I finally decided to have something decent for a meal today. Have to work tomorrow, so a simple dinner out would be a welcome precursor to the shitty world out there tomorrow.

Brought a wad of discount coupons for the food outlets at the Singapore Expo and a $30 Crystal Jade cash voucher (courtesy of my brand allegiance to the petrol company who must have made thousands off me - that voucher took around $1 000 worth of petrol for redemption). Anyway, I digress again.

Companion wanted to eat at Expo. I'm ambivalent, though I did mention that I had the CJ voucher with me and he did mention that he had thought about eating at CJ on his way to pick me up. But distance got the better of him - he chose Expo because it is nearer to my place (and he had to send me back). Of course, I didn't want to raise a protest as I am just a passenger.

We arrived at the Expo and parked inside the seemingly large carpark (whose capacity is never enough during exhibitions). Walked around and tried to find some place to eat.

Ma Lan La Mian (Chinese handmade noodles) was closed. One down.

Orange Julius was closed. Dessert/after dinner drinks are goners. Two down.

Food court was open. But heck! All the way here to dine in a less than inviting food court?

Burger King was open. Again, why come here for BK? There's one nice outlet near my place!

Macau Express was open. God! Those prices are exorbitant. And there isn't a single soul in the restaurant.

There's a tandoori place but there isn't any discount for that shop. Also the shop has no diners in it.

Jazz Pub was not rocking. Out of the running too.

The Terrace is closed too. And even if they were open, I doubt they'd make the cut, not at least my cut.

So we surveyed the Thai Restaurant there. The prices are rather high, considering that there isn't a single person in the restaurant. But I thought since "my driver" wanted to eat rice and noodles, a Thai place would do the trick.

We sat some place near the service counter, rather deep into the restaurant. Despite the waitress' request to her fellow colleagues to turn on the air conditioner near our seats, it was not switched on. Never mind. More about that later.

After our orders, we had to wait for a long time for the food to arrive. Fine. That means the kitchen is preparing a fresh dish of each order for us.

Then the food came. And out came this proprietress who is anything but proper.

As we settled down to eat, she started asking if her waitresses had mopped the floor and why there are black spots on the ground. "If these black spots are not removed, then they'll become permanent after a while."

"Did anyone of you use the bleach for the floor or not?"

Silence.

"Tonight you all stay back and clean the floor, ok?"

Silence.

"Make sure you clean off all the black spots on the floor."

Silence.

(Walking to the main entrance) "Did anyone touch anything here?"

Silence.

"Did anyone move anything?"

Silence.

"Did you all move this (I think she was referring to the entrance dais)?"

Silence.

As she walked towards me, I asked her, "Could you turn on the aircon?"

"Huh?" She replied.

"Can you turn on the aircon?"

"Too cold is it?"

"No, it's too warm. Is it on?"

"It's on what!"

Walking back to pick up the remote control, she walked to the aircon unit and turned it on. Finally, I felt some cool air coming out.

"Thank you."

Silence. She walked away as though she was deaf.

Walking to another part of the restaurant, she started her housekeeping again.

"Can you move that table a little to your right?"

Silence.

"Too much! Too much! Just to your left."

Silence.

Three customers walked in. She showed them to their seat and blocked them and they had to walk around her carcass to get to their seats.

What low IQ and what lack of propriety.

By then, I've decided never to go back to this restaurant. I think I'll stick to my usual.

Why should I eat in a place where I am given the impression that it's so dirty. Everywhere, there are black spots. Everywhere, the staff is not cleaning. Everywhere, I don't even know what's everywhere even.

It was a disgusting and downright base experience. And I cannot wait for it to close down so I can get some better restaurant to replace it.

Plainly, there is a time and place for everything. If you need to tick your workers off to show who's boss, then do it discreetly. It does not augur well to make such moves in front of two customers, where the entire restaurant is so silent. I could feel myself stiffen when my fork and spoon grate on my plate. It was a pin-drop silence. And there isn't even ambient music to break the icy atmosphere.

For the first time, I didn't order dessert. I cannot imagine my sugared tapioca with coconut cream coming with black spots (which I know are commonly found on tapioca roots). I had had enough.

Thai Mango Salad Recipe

Thai Mango Salad Recipe

The restaurant's mango salad received rave reviews today. Someone asked for the recipe. I know it's not tough to make the salad, though I've never done it myself. Anyhow, I gleaned the recipes below from a few sources. I'll give my comments after each one.

As a general rule, Thai cooking is a fusion of tastes - sugar, salt, limes, chillies, fish sauce, and other spices. It's important to add enough of each seasoning. Some helpful hints on taste balancing from my years in the kitchen.

If something is too hot, too salty or too bitter, add sugar to balance the taste.
Salt can be used to curb bitterness and sweetness.
Lime/vinegar can be used to curb saltiness and sweetness.
This will help you find the exact taste that you will like your mango salad to taste.

Thai Mango Salad with Roasted Peanuts

By Joanne (Ottawa)

This is one of my favourite recipes. This is simple enough for a weekday but a really nice treat for company too. Enjoy!

Ingredients
2 limes
1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce or fish sauce
1 tbsp (15 ml) granulated sugar
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced OR 1/2 tsp (2 ml) hot red chili flakes
2 tbsp (30 ml) peanut oil
salt to taste
2 ripe but firm mangoes

2 sweet peppers, preferably 1 red and 1 yellow
1 medium carrot, coarsely grated
2 green onions

1/2 cup (125 ml) chopped fresh mint or coriander
8 cups (2L) mixed lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces if necessary
1/3 cup (75 ml) toasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Instructions
Finely grate peel from 1 lime and place in a measuring cup along with 1/4 cup
(50 ml) lime juice. Whisk in soy sauce, sugar, and jalapeno pepper until sugar is dissolved.

Gradually whisk in peanut oil until blended. Add salt to taste. Set aside.

Peel mango, then cut away chunks of fruit from pit. Cut into thin strips and place in a bowl.

Seed peppers and cut into thin strips and add to mango.

Coarsely grate carrot and thinly slice onions and add to bowl along with mint.

Toss gently until combined.

Place lettuce and mango mixture in a large bowl. Toss with dressing until mixed. Add nuts and serve.

Comments: Extremely easy recipe to use. You can simply serve this on its own!


Thai Mango Salad

Ingredients:

150g green unripe mangoes, shredded

Slice finely 15 bird’s eye chillies and 5 shallots

10g dried prawns, coarsely chopped
1 onion, sliced finely
Some coriander leaves

For sauce:

4 tbsp lime juice or to taste
1½ tbsp sugar or to taste
2 tbsp nampla (fish sauce)
1 tsp sesame oil
2-3 large prawns, shelled

Method:

Combine all salad ingredients together with the sauce in a mixing bowl. Toss well to mix.
Parboil prawns in boiling water until they change colour and are cooked.
Dish out salad ingredients on to a serving plate and top up with the prawns.

Comments: Can do without the prawns, for simplicity.



PAPAYA SALAD / MANGO SALAD


Papaya salad is almost as much a staple part of my diet as rice is. For sure if I eat out and am not given any som tam, I will soon after be found at a roadside food vendor, correcting the deficiency.

If you lived on a diet of som tam and not much else, it is highly unlikely you would ever become fat.

Some restaurants use mango instead of papaya. Generally though I find mango to be too acidic for this purpose.

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Ingredients to serve 4 people

1 medium sized green papaya, 4 small plum tomatos, 1 carrot, 10ml tamarind juice, 25ml lime juice, 2 cloves garlic, 50gm prik kee noo, 10gm brown sugar, 25ml nam pla, 25gm dried shrimp, 50gm unsalted roasted peanuts.

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Peel the papaya and shred the green flesh (if you don't have a suitable implement for the purpose a coarse cheese grater may work).

Also peel and shred the carrot.

Put the shredded papaya and carrot in the fridge.

Soften the dried shrimp in a few mls of boiling water.

Pound the garlic and the prik kee noo together in a pestle and mortar.

Separately pound the peanuts together with the shrimp, but only until coarsely broken up, not reduced to dust or paste.

Mix the tamarind, juice, lime juice, fish sauce and the sugar.

Chop the tomatoes into quarters.

Mix all the ingredients together and serve in a bowl. Most restaurants would drain off some of the excess juice before serving, but I usually keep it.

Comments: Another very healthy recipe.


Thai Green Mango Salad Recipe

Comments: This is a more involved recipe, as it is a meal in itself. Of course, preparation time will be much more.

4/6 Class Gathering

4/6 Class Gathering

Date: 24 May 2005 (Booking for 24 persons under my name. May be tables of 4 or large tables, dunno yet.)
Time: Between 1830 and 1900 h
Venue: Pattaya Garden Thai-Muslim Food Restaurant

Can I order the following items (see ^ beside item) straightaway?

Starters
^01. Mango salad (*)
02. Papaya salad (*)

Seafood
^03. Tomyam Seafood (soup)
^04. Sweet and sour fish slices (N)
^05. Thai otah
06. Seafood omelette (N)

Carbohydrates
^07. Seafood fried rice (N)
08. Pineapple rice (N)
^09. Fried "tang hoon" (green bean transparent noodles) (*)
^10. Fried kueh tiao (Phad Thai) (*)

Meats
^11. Pandan leaf chicken (N)
^12. Red chicken curry
13. Green chicken curry
14. Mutton curry
^17. Chicken with Cashew Nuts

Vegetables
^15. Fried kangkong (with sliced chilli) (*)
^16. Baby kailan (N)

Attendance:
Eugene, Nana, Justin, Zhenhong, Weiqiang,
Xingqi, See Khee, Cuiwen, Cassandra, Jonathan,
Gerald, Crystal, Rachel, Hui Ping, Yen Wei,
Tiong Li, Teresa, Rebecca, Pillai, Janice,
Jassamyn, Eileen, Zoe

On Giving

On Giving

Reminds me of a poem from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. An extremely well-written book which discusses many issues in life. "On Giving" is Gibran's take on what it really means to give. I share with you, "On Giving".

Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."
And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need itself?

Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and give it all.

These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.

Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;

And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving

And is there aught you would withhold?

All you have shall some day be given;

Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.

You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."

The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.

They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.

Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.

And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.

And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?

And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?

See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.

For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.

Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;

For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.

[The link on the title provides access to the full text.]

And they flowed...

And they flowed...

I am a victim of circumstances - the Asian society does not allow the male sex to show emotions freely. Asian males are expected to keep a veneer of aloofness, infallibility, stoicism, and detachment. At least.

Asian males are, therefore, not expected to show emotions that betray any weakness. For instance, shedding tears is frowned upon. Even if your loved ones die, a few tears are grudgingly tolerated but an outburst is most likely a no-no. Two Asian males meeting each other are both expected to behave like alpha males, each guarding his "territory" as though his life depended on it. Horsing around is for young boys, or young siblings (read immature).

The greeting that involves any hugging or cheek touching is never ever allowed between two Asian males, lest they be regarded as gay or have homosexual inclinations.

I try to fit within the stereotypes. But I'm beginning to see the futility of it. I am, in reality, a person capable of more emotions that I would like to admit.

I like the hug of a close friend, someone with whom a hug tells everything and does everything that words and other less intimate actions fail to address. I "horse around" with my very close friends (many are teachers). We jab each other (verbally and physically) and tease each other in brotherly fashion. We pull playful punches even when walking and the relationship between us far surpasses mere platonic friendship - like I've said, we are like very close brothers. We talk about everything under the sun. We go out and share an ice-cream over coffee. We attract weird stares, but what the heck.

Human beings are social animals. Why should any sex be granted any less freedom of emotional display than the other(s)?

Today, for a very special reason, my tears flowed. The trigger was a new one. I've never experienced something like this before. And I never thought I ever will.

Today, I learn a new and very important lesson in love and compassion. I realise how little and insignificant I am in the entire scheme of things. I discovered how SELFISH and how UNFEELING I've become in my pursuit of material wealth and success in work. I felt so low down and dirty.

This afternoon, before my office relocation meeting at the Ministry of National Development Building, I went for a quick lunch at the Maxwell Road Market. Singaporeans will not find that place unfamiliar.

Sat at table 12, right in front of stall selling curried dishes. The stall on the curry stall's left sells fish porridge (I think they are called Porridge Garden or something).

Nearing the end of my meal of rice with mustard greens in oyster sauce, lily bulbs in soya sauce and minced meat paste, I saw a mildly retarded, spastic guy (let's call him P for now) walk towards my table.

P walked with an unsightly gait, with a severe limp (possibly from polio or some musculoskeletal disease), supported by a walking stick. His left arm was flailing from side to side as he struggled to find his balance from his limp. As he walked towards my table, I realised that I was sitting along his left. As he walked towards me, I slinked to my left and cringed inwardly as I thought about dodging his flying arms. Deep inside me, I never realised that given where I am sitting, he would never have hit me. But yet, I was trying to avoid him. Or was I avoiding myself?

Dressed in a brown shirt, brown bermudas and brown slip on shoes, P also had a Nike knapsack on his back and a prominently displayed disability card hooked on his bermuda's belt loops.

Trudging ungainly past me, P disappeared from my consciousness. I was only too relieved that he had not hit me as he walked past. I am beginning to find that my minced meat paste (which by the way is one of my favourite dishes) is starting to taste less savoury.

P was out of my mind's eye momentarily before he reappeared in the table right beside mine. [I was seated at table 12; he at table 11.] There were two ladies who are just beginning to eat their yong tao fu (assorted vegetables smeared with fish paste) and P was just seated opposite them. There were 2 seats between P's right and the first lady and a seat between him and the second.

The ladies did not even flinch a bit. They just let P be. P sat uneasily in his seat. He rocked back and forth as he tried to keep himself from falling off his seat.

Soon, the food came. P had ordered from the Porridge Garden stall. The first guy first served him a bowl of piping hot fish soup. He made sure that P was suitably out of the range of the bowl of hot soup before he placed it down in front of P. P tried to pay but the guy patted P on the hand and made P keep the money.

As P grappled with his little pouch which was initially hidden from my view to keep his money, the second guy from the stall brought him a bowl of rice. The first guy held out a pair of chopsticks and a spoon for P after he kept the money. It was so touching to see him guide P's hands so that he was able to get a grip of the chopsticks and spoon.

It was painful seeing P eat. P could not separate the chopsticks like most of us and used it more like a spatula instead. He could not really manage his spoon either. He filled the bottom of his spoon with rice, then piled on more rice on his spoon using his chopstick-spatula and then in a gulp only manage to swallow around half of the rice mound. Not a lot. P has problems eating too.

Meanwhile, the first guy came to the table with a small dish of soya sauce for P, in case he wanted his food to be more flavoursome. The second guy, by now, is seated on P's right, keeping P upright at the table (possibly providing support, which I could not see clearly from where I sat) so that P could have a less fidgety meal.

The two ladies ate as though P was like any other normal diner at the food centre.

I was so touched by these people. I felt so ashamed too. Seeing this, I felt tears swimming in my eyes. Pride forbade me from letting the tears fall. So I swallowed them with my rice and minced meat paste. It tasted awful. Was that the taste of wounded pride? I don't know.

I only know some things such as the following.

I have lots to learn and much to do in learning to be a servant leader. People will only begin to respect you when you start to respect them. Every single one of them.

Nobility is earned, not bestowed. Only he who is able to serve the lowest of all brothers is noble.

What is the gift of money if it represents merely dumping excess cash that you can part with? Is it that all powerful? A simple gesture of supporting someone so that he can eat a meal is more than all the things that money can buy.

What is the value of staying the course of non-discrimination?

I left quickly after the meal with my colleague who ate with me. I never dared to reveal my thoughts. I kept up with my facade.

Tonight, as I drove home, the shame, the guilty-consciousness, the feeling of being touched by the warmth of the people around all came rushing back. And the tears flowed...

Bread

Bread

Goodness gracious! I finally found enough sense to surf for some bread recipes and I'm amazed there are so many bread aficionados out there! [I know Marlina had been "screaming" at me for my "boring" breads for the longest time, but I've added new stuff to my bread list!]

Yay... More to bake, more to try. More mouth watering breads and more fun, more fun, more fun!

Blog Incidents 3

Blog Incidents 3

Just to remind myself what I'm facing.

Sometimes I think that if I speak, I am damned; if I don't speak, I am condemned.

Whatever.

Blog Incidents 2

Blog Incidents 2

I don't know whether it's true or not, but this is what I read about the PSC scholar who spread "racist remarks".

This guy was eventually rapped by PSC, who issued him a "love letter" for his actions.

Blog Incidents 1

Blog Incidents 1

Some interesting articles gleaned from the net, arising from the recent debacles involving bloggers and people of authority.

Monday May 9, 10:10 PM

Singaporean shuts blog, apologises after libel threat
By Geert De Clercq


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A Singapore student said on Monday he has shut down his blog and apologised unreservedly after a government agency threatened to sue for defamation. Chen Jiahao, a 23-year-old graduate student in the United States, told Reuters he closed down his personal Web site after A*STAR, a Singapore government agency focusing on science and research, threatened legal action for what the agency said were untrue and serious accusations.

International freedom of speech and media advocates have criticised the agency's methods.

The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists said last week it was alarmed that the threat of defamation lawsuits was being used to inhibit criticism of the government in cyberspace, much as it has in Singapore's traditional media.

Chen said he had removed all material from his site and posted an apology on April 26 after receiving e-mails from the agency's chief. He added that the agency told him last week his apology was insincere and that they wanted a new apology.

On Sunday he posted the new apology on his "Caustic Soda" blog, saying "I unreservedly apologise to A*STAR, its Chairman Mr. Philip Yeo, and its executive officers for the distress and embarrassment caused to them."

"They sent me an e-mail with these words," Chen told Reuters on Monday by telephone from the United States, where he studies chemical physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

A*STAR's Yeo said in a statement on Monday he accepted Chen's apology and considered the matter closed. "We wish him well. My invitation to Mr. Chen to meet for tea in the fall still remains," Yeo said.

Paris-based Reporters without Borders said the case highlighted the lack of free expression in Singapore, which is among the 20 lowest-scoring countries in the organisation's worldwide press freedom index.

"Chen criticised some of A*Star's policies but there was nothing defamatory in what he wrote," Julien Pain, head of Reporters without Borders' Internet freedom desk, told Reuters.

A*STAR said in a statement that it recognised the value of a diversity of views and welcomed that in all media. "But the particular public blog had statements which went way beyond fair comment." It did not elaborate.

Bloggers are generally not journalists, but some of the thousands of private online blogs -- short for Web logs -- on the Internet have gained political relevance. The campaign for the May 5 election in Britain saw an explosion of blogs, much like in last year's U.S. presidential election.

"We are troubled that the (Singapore) government has raised the spectre of costly legal action to chill commentary on the Internet," Ann Cooper, Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, was quoted on a CPJ Web site as saying.

Singapore-based politicians as well as international media organisations have paid large amounts of damages in libel cases brought by senior government figures.

Singapore leaders have defended their use of defamation lawsuits, saying that such actions are necessary to safeguard their reputation.

The Keys to Your Heart

The Keys to Your Heart

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved.

You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please.

Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets.

Your risk of cheating is low. Even if you're tempted, you'd try hard not to do it.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as commitment. Love only works when both people are totally devoted.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Frighteningly Accurate

Frighteningly Accurate

Your True Birth Month Is February

Sharp Ambitious Spendthrift Loves reality Loves freedom Temperamental Low self esteem Honest and loyal Abstract thoughts Daring and stubborn Changing personality Showing anger easily Intelligent and clever Loves aggressiveness Quiet, shy and humble Learns to show emotions Rebellious when restricted Determined to reach goals Superstitious and ludicrous Dislikes unnecessary things Realizing dreams and hopes Too sensitive and easily hurt Loves entertainment and leisure Romantic on the inside not outside Loves making friends but rarely shows it

What's Your True Birth Month?

It Rained

It Rained

Finally, the rain came. Didn't wash out the place fully enough, but at least it did remove some of the heat.

But I did enjoy the rain. At least my drinking water doesn't feel lukewarm to drink, bathing water doesn't feel unrefreshing.

Took a COLD shower today. At least I could feel myself cooling down under the continuous spray of cold water.

At least I'm not perspiring now.