Quick link (politics)

Came across an interesting article on politics in Singapore, particularly after the 2011 General Elections. I think this curious desynch gap between what is written online and what actually happens on the ground is closing. The online rhetoric is toning down with more intelligent comments and suggestions being put forth, while voters are more willing to exercise their choice of what they want in their leader. As the voter population evolves: more people being able to vote, past achievements will not be forgotten, but will have less emphasis than what the promised future will be. It is not that they are ungrateful or pro-opposition?

In an ideal world, we would also do away with the GRC system and have all single seat constiuencies. This would remove a chunk of the resentment that this rather cumbersome system has generated, and allow voters to feel represented. The only issue with this system is the level of uncertainty, and aside from causing sleepless nights for all involved (less so for voters, but still) this might cause some foreigners to lose business confidence.

Stun gun (not) fun

Was reading the news online when this article caught my eye thanks to its eyecatching *groan* headline: Police fire stun gun at naked foreigner in Geylang

Reading the article itself, i couldn't help but notice that there was no mention of the guy's clothing (or lack thereof), nor any mention about where he was hit. Would be interesting to combine these two facts and assume he was hit with a Taser in the unmentionables. LOL

Even if we give him the benefit of doubt, and say that maybe due to a communication breakdown, he thought $8 secures him the room for the day (and night?) but how unlikely is that? Who charges $8 for a room these days anyways? He must have been very tired and just wanted a half an hour powernap.....at 8am in the morning. *facepalm*

This is also the first time i've seen the use of the stun gun in Singapore reported in the media. =)

AsiaOneMonday, Nov 14, 2011
Police yesterday used a Taser stun gun on a Caucasian man who charged at an officer in Geylang.
Staff of a Geylang lodging house had requested for assistance after the 34-year-old man, believed to be Russian, overstayed in a room.
The New Paper reported that he had checked in at 8am with a woman and paid $8 to stay for half an hour. The police were called at about 9.30am after the man insisted on staying on even after staff informed him that his time was up. When the police arrived, the man became violent and charged at one of them.
According to The Straits Times, a police spokesperson said the man intended to cause hurt and continued to use violence and attempted to hit the officer despite police advice.
A Taser gun was then discharged at the man to ensure the safety of the officer and the public. He was later arrested for use of criminal force against a public servant. The man was also taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital in a conscious state. He was discharged at 12.30pm and driven to a police station.
According to The Straits Times, the Singapore Police Force first bought Taser X26 stun guns in 2005. The weapon uses electrical currents to immobilise a person by shooting two barbed darts that hook onto a suspect's skin or clothes. The barbs then send a 50,000-volt electric current through the body for five seconds, temporarily incapacitating the person by inducing involuntary muscle contractions.

dancing at work

Was on the way from the bathroom when i encountered someone in the hallway and for a brief awkward moment, we did the awkward hallway shuffle.

This happens when engineers walking in opposite directions meet in a corridor or doorway, one would move to his (yes, engineer = male, i'm not sexist, i'm just stereotyping, it's faster) left and the other would move to his right, ends up both shuffling in a common direction, then change direction at the same time, which leads them to share a common direction again. In the meantime, the gap between us is closing quickly and there is a brief moment of shared panic on our faces when we realise imminent collision is close when at the last moment, one of us stops moving altogether, and we continue on our seperate non-colliding paths. I think next time, i'll just fake a move one direction then quickly dive to the other way, into a forward roll, then stand up and raise my arms up. Tah-dah!

In other random bits, the following bit of conversation i had with an old friend:
J: i always related our friendship to be like wine.... gets better with age
z: some wines can be corked you know hahahahaha
J: YES.... faintz haha!!
z: damn corks screw everything up