1:34:00 PM
English Portfolio V - Inferiority
The seemingly cynical musings of this blog post are made with reference to the massive storm of articles flooding the weekend TODAY. These articles have been downloaded, compiled and re-uploaded and can be accessed HERE.
(Not-so) Live action from the English Premier League: one of the most glamourised activity where millions of clueless spectators scream at 22 grown men kicking a small white ball.
(and here the word count starts).
One of my favourite conversational topics is soccer. I love comparing opinions, rattling off statistics and making bold decisions on the upcoming Man U versus Chelsea match. In fact, I can recite random facts about almost any league in the world.
However, one of my least favourite conversational topics is Singaporean soccer. These discussions usually end up in #1 awkward silence, #2 awkward silence or #3 more awkward silence.
For instance. One day, I went up to my friend and inquired: "Eh, do you think Alberex Niigata can beat Geylang United tonight, ah?".
I was greeted by awkward silence.
In today's TODAY paper, I counted 9 long pages of commentary, predictions, information and analysis on the upcoming EPL*. Full colour pictures of smiling managers, smiling players and smiling pundits adorned the countless pages of knowledge from the soccer gods.
Oh, I also spotted half a page on S-League soccer with a badly taken shot of some Malay (or is it Indian) manager that I have never seen in my life. The paper says his name is Sundram-something. I think. Sorry, but We the citizens of Singapore (well, most of us) can't be bothered with Mr Sundram-something, and five minutes later, if you ask us who V Sundramoorthy is...
Awkward silence.
Let us silently contemplate. What IS the difference between the EPL and relatively inferior Asian leagues such as ours? The EPL has extensive media coverage, excessive publicity, expensive-but-who-gives-a-damn sponsors, and the explosively charismatic faces on and off the pitch. Meanwhile, the S-League is represented by virtually unknown Mr Sundram-something and receives 11.112% of the media coverage that the EPL does.
Don't you just hate that feeling of inferiority?
Just a while ago, Singapore bravely held world-class Australia in a friendly match. These Singaporeans are a representation of the footballing standard of Singapore, and these Singaporeans chased, sprinted, slid and dived every time they caught sight of the ball, AND not to mention, the Australians praised Singapore for a match well played.
Is this inferiority?
People might argue: the EPL has Rooney, Ronaldo and a myriad of talents in all departments, and meanwhile, Singapore goes insane cheering for Lionel Lewis, Aide Iskandar and 20 other foreign-talent players whose "Singaporeanisms" have come under question
Yes, this seems like inferiority, but we're catching up.
We too CAN learn from this polarisation phenomenon. Even though there is huge gap between your personal S-League and the EPL of your life, YOU CAN CATCH UP. For example, If your studies suck now, 5 years later, you might just be the genius of your class. If you can't kick a ball straight now, just wait. 5 years later, you might just be a football prodigy.
You'll never know.
But anyway, strip everything down to the bare essentials, and you ultimately get 22 men kicking a ball in an utterly overhyped game of brawn, a tiny bit of brains and, who can forget, the screaming fans to cut out the awkward silence
And that's all that matters. Hopefully.
(five hundred words exactly)
*for the uninitiated, EPL is an acronym for the English Premier League.
Labels: ep
18.5.07
9:28:00 PM
English Portfolio IV - Formula for Success
F1 comes to SINGAPORE! Click here to access the article. Yay.
Formula 1 in singapore! Not. This one is actually in Italy. Haha.
(5. 4. 3. 2. 1. start... the word count!)
Singapore seems to be indulging in a bit of maths lately. To sum up everything, here's an equation of Singapore's situation.
IR + F1 = Happiness + Influx of Tourists + Money
This formula for success is definitely going to become a reality, with the recent acquisition of the contract to host F1 races after 2008. Singaporeans are overjoyed; now, they can watch their favourite racing idols zooming on the streets of Singapore, and not on their TV screens. F1 in Singapore not only serves as an inspiration for aspiring drivers, but as an inspiration for all Singaporeans: Singapore is one heck of a red dot that's going to set the world alight, and that's not just because we're holding a night race and floodlights are needed. We can do anything we want.
Ok, enough of the pseudo-National Education.
F1 is no amateur drag race. It is the real deal, the epitome of racing. So much so that as the F1 cars roll into Singapore, so does the money. F1 has a large following worldwide. Take a look at the spectator stands in any telecast of an F1 race. They are jam packed with fans, fans and more fans. Fans are not only good for Singapore because of our hot climate (bad joke), but international fans require food, lodging and transport. Hotels, (especially the IR, which is close by), restaurants, and Changi Airport will all have a large increase in the number of patrons, especially during the race period.
It is projected that Singapore will make a nett profit of $50000000 per race. With such a profit, Singapore will have more capital to do other things, such as improving healthcare facilities, schools etc, and ultimately, Singapore's economy will rise as fast as the F1 cars at top speed.
Every event has a lesson to be learnt, and here, I feel that it can be summed up in the horribly cliched, often-quoted-out-of-context phrase "try, try again". Singapore scrapped plans for an F1 race previously, probably because someone in the administration preferred golf to racing. I'm not saying that it was a bad decision. but the thing is, Singapore did not just stop and say, "We didn't get it. SO?" We tried for it again, and this time, we were successful in our bid.
Similarly, we should not let golden opportunities in our life, whether in cca, schoolwork etc, slip away. We might not be like Singapore, and get a second bite of the cherry. Some cherries don't last long, and someone else might just eat that cherry. If you have a shot at applying for that scholarship, or are given opportunities as prefects, CEC members etc. I say: Go for it.
Interesting how the relationship between Singapore, and an F1 race is so similar. If a driver doesn't want to risk his position and try overtaking, he will never win the race, and if Singapore doesn't floor the pedal, we'll be sulking while our *good friends*# are basking in economic glory.
(chequered flag --- 500 words exactly.)
#in case you didn't get it, good friends implies Malaysia, they host the annual F1 race in Sepang and make millions.
Labels: ep
10.5.07
11:13:00 PM
English Portfolio Term II - Sometimes, it's not good to get on track. Especially if it's an MRT track.
In response to the imminent threat of death by MRT collision. There article HERE is just one incident of a person going for the ride of his life. Or rather, death. Most of the older articles are no longer in the CNA archive (they only keep up to 7 days of news on the website).
Before the essay proper begins, let's get warmed up with some images from Wikipedia Commons!
Here's one of the many crime scenes.
And.. the merciless killer with the innocent looking face.
(NOW THE ACTION REALLY BEGINS)
-- cue word count --
When businesses are down, they recover and get back on track. With MRT stations these days, when you get on track, you find it somewhat hard to recover - from whatever major/minor (mostly major) injuries you sustain. An alarmingly increasing number of commuters start off with the intention of going to Bishan, and end up in SGH#.
Interesting how people end up on the tracks instead of the train for such a variety of reasons. Some people are drunkards who can't tell the difference between the platform and a pub. Others are ingenious cold-blooded killers who decide that the best way to eradicate their ex-girlfriends is to give them a loving push onto the wooden tracks, where they walk the planks (literally), and meet their doom.
Yes, death by MRT collision is an increasing fad amongst Singaporeans these days.
As we know, however, we must evaluate the problem before trying to suggest any solutions. Taking a closer look at the situation, these deaths are not isolated accidents. Most of the cases go like this: Boy pushes his girlfriend on the tracks in fury. Man commits suicide by hopping onto the tracks. In fact, the death mentioned in the article is one of few pure accidents resulting in death.
SMRT has improved safety measures, with not-so-young men patrolling the stations (some look as agile as elephants), unsightly cement blocks plopped on the yellow safety lines and so on, and this certainly helps to cut down on accidental deaths.
The problem of intentional killings, however, still lingers. People with the desire to kill can and will indefinitely find a way around these safety measures, literally. If a guy was really out to kill his girlfriend, a few cement blocks won't stop him at all. However, the person, assuming that he is of competent intelligence, would merely push his girlfriend through the gaps between these blocks.
We could completely blockade the stations with cement walls, and force the commuters to bash through Platform 93/4 style, but, as much as that idea sounds fun, what we really need is a foolproof system. One airtight system proposed was to have all stations similar to the underground stations; a fully enclosed air-conditioned station where doors would only open when the train arrived.
This seems like a great idea to me. Not only does this ensure safety, but I can use the air-conditioning as well, especially with Singapore's perpetually hot weather. Probably to cut costs, SMRT has yet to implement that system. Alternatively, SMRT can install cheap metal barriers that act just like the other system, minus the air-conditioning. SMRT could also fine people who venture too near the tracks as a deterrant.
However, I am no real expert on SMRT affairs, and as far as I know, we can come up with all these solutions, but SMRT has got to take action fast, not just spout hot air, and get their track safety back on track, before Singapore's declining population is attributed to its trains.
(499 words exactly)
# SGH: Singapore General Hospital
Labels: ep
27.2.07
9:37:00 PM
English Portfolio - Colour Blindness is Not A Bad Thing
In response to controversial issues in the article Govt confident migrant population growth won't affect social harmony on ChannelNewsAsia.com
*** here the action begins ***
(cue to start word count)
Over the years, Singapore's migrant community has been increasing drastically, and the article highlights this. One word pops out. Racism.
Just think of Singapore as a plate, and the different races as the food from a Eat-All-You-Can Salad Bar at Sizzlers. You can take lots. You can take more. You can take even more. However, tastes of foods can and will clash. Potato salad and Pineapple Tidbits taste terrible. Chicken Soup doesn't go with Romaine Lettuce. Worse still, the food can fall right off your plate and give you one heck of a mess.
Not trying to make a meal of things, I feel that the racism is totally ludicrous. Whatever happened to Racial Harmony? I mean; A Singaporean in a Lexus is a businessman. A "Chinaman" in a Lexus? These innocent jokes done in the name of fun are merely the tip of the iceberg. It’s no different from the Blacks and the Whites in America in the time past. The increase in immigrants is nothing for us to invent jokes about. Who is going to do all the dirty work for us? If we don't get the bunch of Bangladeshi workers into Singapore, our Circle Line would merely be a fantasy. What happened to Singaporeans and our favourite D&T?
Darn I can't. I broke a nail.
Mr Mah was asked how population growth through migration will affect Singapore's ethnic mix. The migrants are here for our good. To preserve racial harmony, everyone just needs to understand that. I don't mean they should think they are lower than us just because they are building the underground MRT Line, or anything. I feel that we need to understand that there is no shame in doing these "lower-down" jobs. I think we should eradicate this mindset that there is a spectrum of job "ratings" with some being marginally lower.
Why is this mindset even there? I find it quite immature, really. There is a Circle Line construction site right next to my house at Marymount Road, and despite rain, cold or even hot sun, the resilient workers there keep doing their thing, not giving in to "a few droplets of rain".
Migrants are not just construction workers. Maids: many of us have them in our homes; their function? A machine which does housework. Based on my calculations,
maids = machines
aeroplanes = machines
So, based on our logic, Maids are as good as Aeroplanes. Let's all get us a A380 for our houses shan't we? It can have a private hangar in the puny space-room/bomb-shelter next to the kitchen!
The ironic thing is, these people whom we look down on do not complain at all. They have resilience, perseverance and courage to leave home and come to an alien country, so they all can become like aeroplanes. Well, go fly kites. The golden rule is so true here. We may shun them now, but wait till we go abroad.
An American at Harvard is smart. A Singaporean at Harvard is?
Suffering.
word count: 500.
Labels: ep
12.2.07
8:50:00 PM
English Portfolio #1:
This portfolio entry was written in response to two articles: the first found on ChannelNewsasia's online website click here and the other on the CNN Website click here .
Suvarnabhumi Airport: The Dream That Never Took Off.
---
After almost 2 hours, the spanking new Suvarnabhumi Airport came into view; a welcome sight for the passengers after seeing nothing but endless clouds. On landing, however, distress signals were being processed in every single of the passengers' brains, crew included. The mighty 747 shuddered with irregular spasms at it teetered precariously on the new runway. After minutes, which seemed like hours, of nervous anticipation, the passengers were finally released from the thrill ride that never seemed like ending. The torture was not yet over...
Bangkok's new airport, named Suvarnabhumi Airport, after a mythical South-East-Asian land, opened last September, only to face talks of closure, due to a wide variety of problems.
(above, left: revolutionary architecture of Suvarnabhumi, right: tallest control tower in the world at Suvarnabhumi)
Suvarnabhumi's architecture is revolutionary; the list of amenities endless. A 5 star airport hotel, duty free shops, high-tech check-in counters, etc. However, despite all these "touristy attractions", basic things such as toilets were severely neglected. Tourists described the toilets as "dingy grey" with a desperate need for a "de-stink" and the number of urinals were inadequate.
This is not the only problem. Poor space management means that the poor tourists in transit have no option but to be squashed mercilessly by the millions of others in the airport. A friend of mine who recently went to Bangkok described it as “an MRT train in the morning.”
(above:cracks in the runway)
Even the newly-build runways are posing problems to airport authorities. Mysterious cracks have appeared on the runways, right under the nose of "the world’s tallest control tower", posing major safety issues for incoming and outgoing air traffic.
The Thais are now facing many political problems as well. This airport was the "pet project" of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra. It has been mangled by corruption talk for ages, and to complicate things, the world is engaged in a huge conflict of opinions over whether to rank safety first and reopen the older and smaller Don Muang Airport, or to rank tourism first, and keep the giant Suvarnabhumi up and running.
As a frequent holidayer, I would definitely want to avoid Bangkok altogether, because if I can’t get to a place in one piece, forget it. Tourists share similar mindsets, putting their personal safety first, rather than to try a death defying stunt like entering Suvarnabhumi. Thailand depends heavily on the tourist industry for money, and this airport certainly puts them in financial jeopardy (bear in mind that the construction costs are not cheap in the first place.)
This incident teaches us a huge lesson on planning before we act. We should not do last minute work and then make a huge mess out of things, like the Airport Authorities did here. It applies in our school life, especially. It also teaches us to be upright and uncorrupt, as this will lead to problems down the road; in this case, Thaksin’s corruption caused massive delays, and flaws in planning.
... The gleaming white 747 looked so peaceful in such a time, of trouble, crisis and conflict. Would it ever take off again?
---
(exactly 500 words excluding image captions and title; word count starts from "After almost 2 hours...")
First image adapted from one found HERE . The one with the runway cracks is taken from HERE .
Labels: ep
8.2.07
2:22:00 PM
Just Testing
I'm just testing to see if I can squeeze in the Blogger label function so I don't have to create a new blog for the English Portfolio thing..
Labels: ep
