Today is Racial Harmony Day

What happened exactly 44 years ago this day in history?

This Day In History: Race Riots In Singapore
1964. Riots break out and continue for about 10 days between the Chinese and the Malays, resulting in 23 killed and 454 injured. ~ The Straits Times, July 21, 2008

Over six hours yesterday, some 15,000 Singaporeans of all races and religions and tucked into Malay dishes in a tent next to the Geylang Serai Temporary Market. The occasion: A feast organised by community groups, including the Geylang Serai Business Community, to commemorate Prophet Mohammed’s birthday - an important religious festival celebrated by Muslims.

Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who shared lunch at a table with community leaders and orphans from the Jamiyah Children’s Home, said he was “heartened” to see Muslims in Geylang Serai and Kampong Ubi celebrating the occasion with neighbours of other races and religions. “In other countries, we do not see Muslims and people of other religions mixing so easily,” he said. “Here, we organise these activities to promote interethnic and inter-religious harmony.”

Travelling widely across the Middle East for the past two years with the aim of expanding Singapore’s economic space and building diplomatic ties, Mr Goh said he learnt from various countries that Islam has to be practiced in the particular context of the society. Across the Middle East, the practice of Islam has been contextualised through history, geography, culture and outlook, noted the Senior
Minister.

In Singapore, Mr Goh said the practice of religions “must also suit the context of a multi-racial and multi-religious” society, which has to take into account that “Singapore is a very small country which can only survive if it is integrated into the modern world”. “Our underlying tenet of tolerance and respect for other people’s religions, while peacefully practising our own has brought us harmony, stability and progress. Let us keep it that way,” he said.

Yesterday, Singaporeans from all walks shared in the helpings of nasi briyani and traditional Malay cakes. Retiree Margaret Ho Choo Hong, who lives at nearby Haig Road, turned up with her neighbours for the lunch. The 69-year old told Today she was very happy as the lunch allowed her a chance to share the celebration with others. Also treated to free meals were residents of homes for the elderly and orphans from the Jamiyah Children’s Home, as well as the needy from other volunteer welfare organisations. Mr Goh said he was “very happy” to see the disadvantaged being invited to the gathering and were being looked after by the Muslim community. Citing Prophet Mohammed’s teachings of sharing, caring and compassion, Mr Goh said the same could apply across all religions here. “Especially in Singapore, we believe in that looking after our neighbours who are hungry,” said Mr Goh. ~ TODAY, July 21, 2008

Perhaps an opportunity to greet and say “Hello, how’s things been with you?” to your neighbour.

North Face 100 in Oct 2008

Gear up for those who are ultra-marathoners or marathoners aspiring to be in this endurance category. Not running on flat surface roads. Rather, the North Face 100 ultra-marathon will see participants trudging along off-road environments. Here’s the story from Channel News Asia titled Off road ultra-marathon to be held in Singapore in October. Prepare well.

Sexting - a note for parents

Much has been said about the benefits and pitfalls of using technology. Internet chatrooms, IM (instant messaging) over the PC, skyping, youtubing, metacafing etc. Technology has opened a whole new spectrum in the way we communicate. Nothing new about the practice of “sexting” which appeared in MyPaper today. It refers to the sending of sexually explicit text or photographs through one’s mobile phone to friends or potential suitors. This phenomenon is catching on with teenagers in Singapore when MyPaper spoke to several of them.

Student Jane Ashley, 22, admitted to participating in “sexting” when she was younger. Miss Ashley said she sent sexually explicit text messages and photographs to her boyfriend when she was 18. “I thought it would make me seem cool.”. Student Claudette van Maarschalkerweerd, 15, said that “sexting” is quite common in her all-girls school in Katong. Said the Secondary 3 student: “Kids are open about it when they’re at school or with friends, but of course they keep it from their parents.” ~ MyPaper July 15, 2008

Teenagers whom MyPaper spoke to said they have a need to feel accepted by their peers. It’s a “cool” thing to do. My friends are doing it, so I guess it’s okay. What harm can it do to me given I’m not engaging in physical sex, it’s just for fun.

Repossessing the mobile phone from your teenager may not necessarily be the best solution to prevent them from sexting. Perhaps a heart-to-heart discussion in raising awareness of the benefits of using the mobile phone as well as the pitfalls when it comes to sexting. It’s important for teens to know what’s right and what’s wrong…not what’s popular and unpopular, among their circle of friends.

See you in Facebook

Facebook. The social interactive platform that enables one’s face and life to be described where friends, and friends of friends can view your profile. I was just one of the many faces that recently jumped into the Facebook wagon after receiving an e-invite from a friend. Incredibly, I had the opportunity to link up with a few very ”old” classmates of more than 30 years ago. One cannot miss the distinct facial features though we were all “botak” during our primary schooldays. Each of us had gone on different paths and assume various occupations since then. Some married while some are “still looking”. Some still reside in Singapore while some have taken up residence in faraway places. The usual plump facial features which now appear in Facebook compared to the scrawny frame during our much younger days can be easily missed while trawling the images of friends, and friends of friends. It was hard to imagine how we have come this far in each of our life’s journey and yet be connected in this this platform. It’s good to keep in touch after such a long while.

On the other hand, Facebook has also become a platform for Ministers and Members of Parliament. Read the story from TODAY, July 9, 2008.

See You In Facebook.
See You In Facebook…contd.

F-35 JSF, Singapore expressed interest

An article published in TODAY newspaper which describe Singapore’s interest in possibly buying up to 100 of this 5th generation fighter aircraft. One of the world’s most advance multi-role fighter aircraft which can operate in any environment in attacking moving targets. Here’s the scoop.

Singapore has shown interest in possibly buying up to 100 of the stealthy, multi-role F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft over coming decades, said the general in charge of the programme for the Pentagon.

Said Air Force Major-General Charles Davis, the Pentagon’s programme chief: “The Israelis have said they’d take up to 100 aircraft. The Singaporeans have said basically the same thing.” Embassy spokesmen for the two countries had no immediate comment. The world’s most advanced fighter jet, the supersonic F-35 is designed to attack moving targets in any environment.

It uses stealth technology to prevent detection by radar or infrared sensors. Development of the super-fighter was co-financed by Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway. Singapore, as a security cooperation participant of the multinational programme, has access to proprietary information, including flight simulations. Israel is currently the only nation involved at this level, one rung down from the nine JSF programme partners.

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence, in a previous comment on the F-35 JSF, said the plane was “a potential candidate” to meet the air force’s “longer-term requirements for a multi-role fighter”. The United States currently plans to buy a total of 2,443 F-35 models. Hundreds of others may be sold overseas to replace a range of fighters, including Lockheed Martin F-16s and Boeing F-18s. It is the costliest US arms programme ever at a projected US$299 billion (S$407 billion). The conventional version is projected to cost about US$68 million a piece. ~ AGENCIES

WASHINGTON: The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which Singapore has reportedly expressed interest in purchasing 100 in quantity, is expected to be the world’s premier strike aircraft through 2040. The stealthy F-35 Lightning II, as it is called, will redefine the concept of multi-role strike aircraft.

It is the first-ever aircraft designed to replace four existing aircraft from three US services. These are operational fighters such as the US Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcon and the “tank-killing” A-10 Thunderbolt, the US Navy and Marine Corps’ F-18 Hornet and the Marines’ AV-8 Harrier “jump jet”. In addition to stealth, speed and manoeuvreability, the fifth-generation F-35 has increased range and carries a greater payload than the fighters it is replacing. It is able to simultaneously fight at least eight enemy planes and, at the same time, lock-on to as many as 16 enemy ground targets. Also, it can track literally hundreds of targets for 360 degrees and at tracking distances that far exceed the distances of existing fighter aircraft.

The multi-role, all-weather day-and-night fighter and attack air system is designed to operate as a Short Take-off and Vertically Land (STOVL) aircraft from land bases and from the next generation of aircraft carriers. Its new AIM-9X air-to-air missile can perform high off-boresight shots without turning the aircraft’s nose towards the target. Its Aesa radar allows the aircraft to invade, blind or fool enemy sensors and radar at ranges of up to hundreds of kilometres. The JSF will take on the mission of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

A fleet of F-35s will be able to conduct missions deep into enemy territory to take advantage of physics, by being nearer the targets, while deepening the areas of surveillance. The F-35 Lightning II’s first successful flight was in December 2006. The pilots who fly the super-fighter have nothing but accolades for the aircraft. Said Lockheed Martin’s chief test pilot Jon Beesley: “This is the plane that, because of its stealth, will be able to go in and kick down the door on the first day of a war.” ~ AGENCIES

F-35 JSF Aircraft Specifications

Badminton or Busminton?

Sighted this very unique piece of advertisement on the bus, or rather on the top of the bus. Even Ronald Susilo or the reigning world champion of the Thomas Cup may have a hard time trying to hit it over the net or over the bus. But firstly, got to get a giant racket.

Singaporean terror suspect arrested

This is one piece of news hot from the press. AP (Associated Press) writer, Zakki Hakim, has this to say from Jakarta, Indonesia.

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A Singaporean who met several times with Osama bin Laden was among nine terror suspects arrested Wednesday in western Indonesia, a local television station reported. Read the full report.

Sian Sheng, Ni Hao!

My mobile phoned buzzed. The screen displayed “Unknown Number”. Wonder who could the caller be? Usually, the name of the caller will appear on the screen of the handphone if you have his/her number stored in your phone directory. Otherwise, it would just be the telephone number of the caller that will appear.

“Hello, Good morning”, I answered, after pressing the key to accept the incoming call. The response from the female caller came in heavy accented Mandarin, “Sian Sheng, Ni Hao! Ni Hui Jiang Hua Yu Ma?” - translation (Hello mister, do you know how to speak Mandarin).

I have heard rumours of phonecalls from unknown persons that try to strike up a conversation with you for whatever reasons only known to them. Thereafter, you will probably get a shock when you notice your telephone bill at month-end for phone charges you have neither made or known. I’m certain if the caller has a genuine reason for making the call, he/she will try to have someone to speak on their behalf in English, how broken it may be.

“Sorry, I speak English”, was my response. Abruptly, the call was terminated by the female caller. Has anyone encountered such a situation before and perhaps shed some light on such phonecalls?

Demise of the PAGER

During the early 80s before the stocky Motorola handphone known as the `tai kor tai’ (referring to big brother chieftian) came into the scene, a humble credit-card size mobile equipment known as the “pager” or “beeper” made its first appearance in Singapore. Hooked to your belt with a thin chain that clips to your pants to prevent it from falling off undetected, it epitomised the social status of the person who has one in possession. A person who is probably a VVIP that has to be easily reached via the paging service and probably to decide on some very important matters when paged.

As technology improves with the proliferation of a variety of mobile equipments available today such as 3G mobile phones, smartphones, PDAs, this humble little pager will make an exit from the technology scene as Singtel will cease the paging service on 10th July 2008.

Another piece of electronic trash? Or perhaps I’ll just keep it as a piece of technological artefact.

Do you feel like a Millionaire?

Jet-setting across the globe in your private jet. Dining at posh eateries. Limousine service at the wave of your hand. Sounds like what everybody has been dreaming and hoping for.

According to a recent report, Singapore saw a total of 10,000 people joining the millionaires club, bringing the total number here to 77,000.

Though you may not qualify to be a member in the prestigous millionaires club, you can still feel like one. Here’s what was written by a writer to MyPaper when she said she feels like a millionaire. Read the full text. I’m sure each of us feel like a millionaire in our own ways.