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April 22 what do i have to say?Dear Readers,
Until 6 May 2006, Singaporeans are not allowed to blog any entries that have any political statement or opinion without a permit. This is to prevent the abuse of Internet resources by campaigning parties. This is in line with policies that require speakers who wish to use the Speakers' Corner to have a permit on the speeches they wish to make.
*political rambling and pissing censored under the Law*
*rambling ends* April 17 end of tripso the trip ended on a rather sour note.
i spent most of my last day fending off fuming parents. in the morning he wanted to have breakfast at circular quay, so we took the train down. at the first restaurant, the "City Extra", we were treated like second-class people by this gangly little worm bastard, saying that we had to "wait our turn". see, this is why people have the impression that australians are racist, when all it is is a few black sheep within the herd. the second restaurant wasn't any better, so we walked from that one too. to all who intend to go to australia: do NOT go to circular quay, unless you're passing through to the Rocks, in which case there really isn't another way around it.
why is it that people feel the need to make us asians feel like we're not worth helping? do they hold some kind of righteous anger towards us? it is beyond me to understand such worm filth, and to be honest, it's not really worth my time. if they think this is me being a "proud, haughty asian" who needs taking down a peg, then i'm proud to be that asian dude. after all, i can't be taken down so far as to be sucking dirt w/ the losers right?
racists really aren't worth the skin and bones they're made of. i noticed that the racists were all bony little bitches, while the normal people were well-fed and good looking. wonder what that means? little crack whores and beer-sucking bitches really aren't that attractive, i guess. what a disappointment to learn that such...things still exist.
still, doesn't detract me from studying there. i'll simply surround myself with real people, and let the racists fall where they stand and wither into little nothings - or at least the little nothings that they really are.
peace out.
later. April 15 australia!!australia!! barely 6 months down the road and already i'm back here visiting! it's too bad most of my friends aren't available, what with it being the easter holidays and all, they've planned their trips and all that :(. ah well, doesn't matter. i'll be seeing them next year anyway! haha (:
the first day wasn't that eventful - just arrived, then went to the hotel. took in a bit of the city, then proceeded to have dinner with the family. the next day, we actually went to visit my old school - scots college. apparently, three kids from my school were smashed by people with steel pipes - mad, huh? anywayz, i went to visit, but none of my teachers were around! so sad. at least it wasn't a wasted trip - we went to have lunch at my favourite restaurant in Double Bay :).
so i was supposed to play pool, then have lunch, with jaclyn. weird, since i told her the dates that i'd be coming, then she went and organised plans for exactly those four days. can't say i'm not a little insulted, seeing as how i'm here like once a year, it'd be nice to see my not-so-available friend when i'm here, no? ah well. guess i can't hold it against her, can i??
was also supposed to accept my place at uni, but the place was closed! easter weekend! how gay, man. it's like they don't want my money or something. *grr*. and my mom suddenly brings up US for no good reason - like there's any hope of going there now, is there? :)
well now i'm off to see a house, of all things. hopefully this means we're migrating!! lol yeah right.
peace out.
later. April 06 oh this is wonderful.Podcasting will not be allowed during elections as it does not fall under the "positive list" which states what is allowed under election advertising.
Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts Balaji Sadasivan added that streaming of videos during campaigning would also be prohibited. He was addressing a question in Parliament on Monday about the use of new technologies on the internet during hustings. Pictures of candidates, party histories and manifestos are on the "positive list" and are allowed to be used as election advertising on the internet. Newer internet tools like podcasting do not fall within this "positive list". Dr Balaji said: "There are also some well-known local blogs run by private individuals who have ventured into podcasting. The content of some of these podcasts can be quite entertaining. However, the streaming of explicit political content by individuals during the election period is prohibited under the Election Advertising Regulations. A similar prohibition would apply to the videocasting or video streaming of explicitly political content." The Parliamentary Election Act was amended in 2001 to allow political parties to advertise on the internet. This was to ensure responsible use of the internet during campaigning as the free-for all environment of the internet is open to abuse. Dr Balaji added that individual bloggers can discuss politics, but have to register with the Media Development Agency if they persistently promote political views. When registered, they're then not allowed to advertise during elections - something only political parties, candidates and election agents are allowed to do only. Despite new internet technology, there're no plans to change the law on campaigning on line during an election. The government's view is that people can have diverse views, but should not hide behind the anonymity of the internet, to manipulate public opinion. - CNA/ch ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
let's think about this for a minute, shall we? are we members of the political party? no. are we actively telling people - DON'T VOTE FOR PAP? no. even if we were, does that mean that we're doing the wrong thing? it's our personal opinion, why should we be prevented from expressing it?
this is not good for the PAP, really. by making it mandatory for bloggers to register to write political commentry, they're furthering the international opinion that singapore is a dictatorship - only good things to be written about the PAP, and damn those who write what they really feel. after all, we could all say that pap rox, pap rulez, pap's da bomb and all that, but do we really feel that way? hell no!
there are a few influential blogs that could affect a person's opinion. however, that doesn't mean that they should be roped in as part of the campaign party, and ruled upon as such. after all, they are not even being paid, which means they technically aren't really advertising either way, simply expression opinions.
opinions. that is what the pap is afraid of. the truth, instead of the norm. they say that people "should not hide behind the anonymity of the internet, to manipulate public opinion". maybe people wouldn't have to hide behind th "anonymity of the internet" if there was no need to fear the wrath of the government once they're put in power for the umpteenth time. witness; the few times anyone made a political commnt in person, they were sued for defamation.
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here are a few things to think about (quotes from Think Centre) :
"Government intimidation and pressure to conform result in the practice of self-censorship among journalists. Government leaders historically have utilized court proceedings, in particular defamation suits, against political opponents and critics. However, while it initiated no new defamation suits against its political opponents or critics during the year, this practice, plus the consistency of judgments in favor of government plaintiffs, has had a chilling effect on political speech and action and highlighted concerns about the ruling party's use of the judicial system for political purposes."
"Despite a continuing discussion of the possibility of an expansion of free speech rights and the Government's role regarding these rights, the Government still did not take significant concrete steps to change the wide array of laws and government practices, or the informal levers of government influence, that lie behind the limitations on civil and political rights. The Government significantly restricts freedom of assembly and association."
"Following the two convictions of Chee Soon Juan, members of an independent political discussion group proposed, in a newspaper opinion piece, the creation of "Hyde Park-like" free speech areas in the country. Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew indicated in an interview that such free speech areas might be possible, but the Prime Minister later explicitly ruled them out for the time being. He contended that, given regional and internal ethnic and religious sensitivities, the country was not ready for such a development."
"All public institutions of higher education and think tanks are linked closely to the Government. Although faculty members technically are not government employees, in practice, they are subject to potential government influence. Academics speak and publish widely, and engage in debate on social and political issues. However, they are aware that public comments outside the classroom or academic publications that venture into the "out of bounds" areas--criticism of political leaders or sensitive social and economic policies, or comments that might disturb ethnic or religious harmony or that appear to advocate partisan political views--could subject them to sanctions. Publications by local academics and members of think tanks rarely deviate substantially from government views."
"The Constitution provides citizens with the right to change their government peacefully through democratic means, opposition parties are free to contest elections, and the voting and vote-counting systems are fair, accurate, and free from tampering. However, the PAP, which has held power continuously and overwhelmingly for over 3 decades, uses the Government's extensive powers to place formidable obstacles in the path of political opponents. The PAP has maintained its political dominance in part by developing genuine voter support through honest, effective administration and its strong record in bringing economic prosperity to the country, and, in part, by manipulating the electoral framework, intimidating organized political opposition, and circumscribing the bounds of legitimate political discourse and action. It attempts to intimidate the members of the opposition through the threat of libel suits and the subsequent loss of their political future, since large judgments in libel suits can lead to bankruptcy, and under the law bankrupt persons are ineligible to sit in Parliament. The Government also intimidates the opposition through the threat of potential loss of employment or professional licenses. Opposition politicians report that potential employers are reluctant to hire them or their supporters. As a result of these and other factors, opposition parties have been unable to challenge seriously the PAP's domination of the political system since the late 1960's."
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such ideas would be frowned upon in real first-world countries, while here they are the norm. and what these quotes say are true. my teacher used to talk to us about politics, but reminded us every now and then that what we discussed in class remained in the classroom. he feared punishment from the "powers that be". meanwhile, in australia, my discussions with my teachers can spill into the hallways and still not be an issue! what's that all about?
singapore would like to believe that it is an open society, where anyone can say anything. there is nothing further from the truth. so here it is. my name is benjamin kwek, and i refuse to believe that singapore will be anything more than a totalitarian dictatorship *AHEM* until freedom of speech becomes ingrained in the people who live in it, along with the responsibility to use it to the benefit of the country. April 05 wear it and face the consequences!err...if you wear a short skirt that's half-way up your thighs, then expect to have the wolves come out to play, ladies.
this is the age of perverts and losers who have no life and no decency. it's not like back in the day when ladies could count on men to have some self-control. nowadays, men will whistle, and stare, and take photos (what with camera phones being so prolific). don't expect to be spared the humiliation if you wear such skirts, or tops that show off half your breasts. if someone could explain why a girl would wear something ultra-revealing, then complain about horny old bastards staring at their assets? i mean come on! if you could explain that to me, i'd be more than willing to listen.
that said, it's ridiculous how horny we men can be. a small look at a pretty woman is alright, but do you really have to stare? keep your damn eyes in your head...
exercise ideashere's how i'm trying to push myself to keep exercising, keeping moving, keep trying to lose weight:
1. "there is no such thing as pain. pain is only the beginning."
2. "there is no such thing as tired. tired is only the beginning."
3. "there is nothing i can't do. 'can't do' is for the weak."
4. animalpak.com despite the fact that some of these people are freaky, they still have the right idea.
5. "The good life can fuck you up. The good life makes you soft. The good life fills your ears with a sweet music that makes you forget... Forget that mission, who you are, what matters. Shit, after a while, all you want is to hear that damn music. And that music drowns everything out, including that voice in your head. Most people go through their lives, numb, preferring to listen to the music, to themselves talk, to everything but that voice... They lose their way."
6. "Nobody's gonna tell you it's time. Only one person will know... You. You just got to want it bad enough. Maybe one day you'll wake up and you'll know today's the day and you start your own journey. Just remember this... Making the decision to venture into the unknown, into uncharted territory--that's the hard part. You get over that, and your future will open up. "
7. "After all the sacrifices, the early mornings, the meals, what stands before me is a man striving for something more. Behind the fear and doubt, a fire burns fierce with determination. Yeah, I see a man unsure of what’s out there. But that’s not gonna turn me away."
8. WAKE UP YOUR IDEA.
9. the bar is where you wanna be. the bar is the beginning. get to bar and you've just started. in the end, all that matters is when you get to the bar.
gotta keep in the game, y'all. basketball, soccer, gyming and running. every day, one must be done. in the end, there is only one reason. |
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