Teacher's Day . Remembering the deed.

Today is Teacher's Day !!!. To those special soul out there that has shaped my life and had painted me when I was just a piece of white cloth, a very big thank you from me from the bottom of my heart.

Teacher's Day in Singapore has always been celebrated with a concert put together and performed by the students followed by the showering of flowers and chocolates. Since then and now, the festivity of the day has changed nothing much when I was still in school back in the 80s except for the price of the gifts, the cost of the flowers and maybe the elaborateness of the show however the intent and the purpose remains unchanged.

What is so significant about Teacher's Day that we showered them with gifts and flowers? I doubt so that anyone of them actually had the least amount of expectation to receive any thing from their students. I doubt so that there is any manual or Standard Operating Procedure on what to do and expect during Teacher's Day when they were undergoing training. But still we g o all out during Teacher's Day to show our appreciation to them by giving out cards and flowers. I supposed it is the realisation of how special they are in our life.

There has been several teachers in my life that had really touched my life and shaped me to be what I am now. I remembered when I was in Secondary school, my form teacher was Mr Tan, a quiet bespectacled Chinese man who I have never seen loosed his temper before a feat I supposed considering how notorious we were back then. I was in Siglap Secondary School, a neighbourhood school tucked away in a quiet corner of Cheviot Hill before it moves to the current spanking new complex. Back then the school is sprawled over a large compound with the school block being a two storey building with some 20 classes on each floor.

I remembered that it was Maths lessons and how my friend and I hated the lessons. Our Maths teacher was late for class and we had taken the opportunity to make a gracious exit out of the school as per normal. Not wanting to walk out from the front door so as not to compromise our truancy attempt and school break, my friend and I, about 6 of us decided to make our exit from the rear window of the classroom. Though our classroom is on the second floor of the block, it was however facing the slope. We all decided to jump off from the window over to the slope and under the man made hole in the fencing that had been our usual escape route. As we walked away from the school, feeling jubilant over our victorious escape, our ecstasy was short lived when just a few meters away, stood Mr Tan standing quietly under a tree looking and waiting for us. When we all saw him, half of us wanted to run away whilst the other half of us stood rooted to the ground in pure shock. Mr Tan approached us and without saying much asked all of us to follow him back to school Through out the whole journey back to school, "Detention" "Punishment" "Scolding" kept floating across our mind. However to our surprise he brought us back to classroom, apologised to the Math teacher and told her that he had delayed us in an assignment and walked away. It really surprises me. Not a scolding from him, but instead he apologise for us for our mischievous act.

I must admit that I am no angel when I was in school. If I could remember correctly, I would think that I spent more time trying to play truant rather than studying. I remembered how we used to play hide and seek with Mr Azman my Discipline Master and our Chemistry teacher, a burly big man with hairy hands. I remembered how intimidated we all were whenever he walks around the school in his school beat with a cane on his right hand and a black detention book on the other. There were once where my friend and I had tried to 'hijack' the detention book from him but end up serving detention for a week when our act was caught.

Teachers play an important role in educating our next generation. Some even go beyond the call of duty and do more for their students. I salute them for their dedication. As the world becomes our classroom today, teachers have a more challenging task. Students today are far more exposed to the world, whether through cyberspace or travels. They are more questioning; so are their parents. However, the teacher’s role as a moral compass in guiding their students and imparting in them strong values should not be under-estimated. It is not just what the teachers teach in subject contents, but what they teach about life, and how they live it out by personal examples which will make the strongest impact on the impressionistic young minds. I learn a lot more from such teachers. I also know that teaching is not a bed of roses. But at the end of the day, I know that the only satisfaction that the teacher's derived is the knowledge that they have done their job well when we leave school and become graduates When your former students meet you years later and come up to pay their respects to you, you feel gratified.

To all my teachers, mentors and guidance of life, once again a very big thank you from me, without your patience and perseverance I doubt that I will be who I am now. Happy Teacher's Day to all of you.

Be thankful for all those in your life who have taken the time to share their gifts and knowledge.

I once had a teacher who taught me to read

and how to spell words that I someday would need.

How could she have known where that someday would lead

when she shared her gift with me?

I once had a teacher who taught me to sing.

A song in your heart is a wonderful thing.

I wonder if she knew how much joy that would bring

when she shared her gift with me?

I once had a teacher who taught me to draw.

She opened my eyes to the beauty I saw.

She taught me to see there is beauty in us all

when she shared her gift with me.

I once had a teacher who taught me to play

as part of a team - not always my way.

He taught me a lesson on sharing that day

when he shared his gift with me.

All of these teachers shared gifts that were free.

What I do with these lessons is all up to me.

If I share them with others how thankful they will be

that they shared their gifts with me.

Our Social Gracious ? A Test of our Society

How long has it been since we had the courtesy campaign launched in Singapore all in the effort to promote a more gracious society?

I remembered when I was still in primary school we used to have this kindness movement activities being held in school where there is this weird looking yellow bear that goes around giving out pencils. I was one of those curious ones amongst hundreds others that would actually made the effort to skip lunch or recess time to just have the opportunity to shake its hand. I have never really understood what the event is all about, all we cared was the opportunity to collect the pencils that were being handed out.

Fast forward more than 20 years, I got wiser and more aware of what is going on. I began to appreciate national campaigns but one of those campaigns that never failed to amuse me is the courtesy campaign.

How far are we towards achieving a gracious society from the many decades of courtesy campaigns? Year in and year out and many campaigns after have we become a more evolved society? My two cents worth is that we are still far far away from reaching the same standards of graciousness that our neighbors far north, the Thais have without having to spend millions in campaigns, posters and advertisement.

The Private Lavatory

I took a ride up the escalator to my friend's house during the festive visit in a newly upgraded block. The walk along the pavement was an enjoyable with rows of plants being planted along side the kerb and the beautifully lit gardens. Waiting at the elevator lobby, I pressed the call button and read the posters being displayed at the notice boards. As the elevator door opens a familiar smell hit my nose, the same smell that you would expect when you visit a coffeeshop or the old hawker stores public toilets. Right at the corner of the lift where the buttons panel were, a pool of urine stained the floor and the side of the lift walls. It really boils me !! Why can't this idiot hold their bladder and just do it at home instead of a public elevator. I wonder how would they feel if I were to urinate in front of their doorstep I am sure they will be perturbed by it. If they really have problem holding on to their bladder may I suggest bringing along a rubber band for them to tie their freaking "dick" with. Rubber band is free for god sake.

Morning Madness

I supposed one of the other reasons why I have given up on public transport was that I hate the experience of taking the MRTs during peak hours. I would rather be burden by the cost of fuel rather then having to endure the attitude of many Singaporeans whenever they are taking public trains. The last time I took the train was about a month ago when I had to attend a course at city. Thinking that going public may be a good idea vis-a-vis having to pay the never ending gantries along the expressway I decided to immerse myself with the experience of going public again. When I was at the platform waiting for the train several other commuters were already waiting looking anxiously. A lady with a baby troller was amongst many commuters waiting for the train. As the train arrives, everyone rushes in, into the train without having any regard to the lady. She had to wait for everyone to alight and enter before making her way in. I followed behind her noticing the disgusted look of many other commuters who apparently was unhappy having to make way for the trolley. For god sake, what is their problem? Cant they just shift their asshole and heavy feet a few inches to make way for her. I wouldn't want to even start commenting on the ever pretenders in the train who had the opportunity to sit. There will be those who will close their eyes in an apparent attempt to sleep but would miraculously be awake when their stop approached. They will be another group who would shifts their eyes all over the place apparently reading every posters and notices that their eyes could set on. In that particular moment even the instructions on how to stop the train during emergency seems like an interesting reading materials. Then there would be those would just pretend to not see anything and acts like as if their seat as their right and the asshole is glued to it. I have had to push my way out of the train when my stop arrives. Don's Singaporean ever learned how to queue and wait for the passengers to alight first. I would have think that if there are anything that Singaporeans are good at they are the masters of queuing up.

Tissue Booking

Then there are those who places their tissue paper at the coffeshop table during lunch time and leaves to order their food. I have had this experience when I was at Adam Road's food centre during lunch time. As the lunch crowd starts to swell, my friends and I managed to locate an available table that was vacant. We sat on the table and my friend noticed a packet of tissue paper on the table. Thinking that it was left behind by the previous patron we happily took slides by slides of the tissue to wipe on the table and our selves. Before long, four Chinese ladies all with food in tray came and rudely told us that the table is theirs. Apparently it seems that the tissue paper that were placed on the table is an indication that the table has been booked by them. I have never realised that there is such a policy of booking table using their tissue and whoever came up with such a dumb ass idea? May I suggest that in future instead of putting their tissue could we instead put handphones or wallets instead? Least I know that the table is occupied provided that the handphone or wallet is still there by the time they returned.

The Dog Walker

Don't get me wrong. I love dogs even though I can't have one. I find them huggable and cute except for those bulldog breed. I am sorry.. just hate how they look. But I couldn't stand those owners that behave like their pet or even worst of. Just yesterday, I had just completed my run around my estate and was warming down at the park stretching myself and giving myself time whilst my breath catches up with me and to check if I had left behind any part of myself whilst running without realising it. :-). Just as I was sitting at the side of the running track a lady was letting loose her dog whilst she was busy talking on the phone. Just then the dog poo in the middle of the track and as if it is suffering from some constipation problem a mere distance later, it poo again. The lady looked at the dog and just walked away leaving the two spots in the middle of the track alone as if expecting that there is gonna be a maid tagging behind her to pick it up after her.

I gave the lady the disgusted looked and asked her if she realised that her dog had poo in the middle of the track. She gave me a quizzical look, (I supposed the only stupid look that she can afford to have) glanced over, said a half hearted sorry and walked away. I asked if she should at least pick it up after her and her look turned from that of quizzical to total bewilderment. (Still believe me she looks stupid). She picked her dog up after her and jog off. I just hope that her dog would poo on her sorry ass instead.

So Are We a Gracious Society?

So tell me? Are we a gracious society. I supposed that we are far from it. AFter many millions spent on campaigns after campaigns, adverts and billboards, Singaporeans by far are no more gracious then we used to be decades ago.

Enough with the Pressing !!

I rushed to Raffles Hotel to attend a luncheon with a dear friend of mine who was visiting Singapore after almost five years. All dressed up and late as usual, I rushed to the posh lobby of the hotel and literally ran towards the lift lobby passed my way through a number of tourists who I wondered may be thinking that the interior of the hotel lobby is the most interesting sight in Singapore.

20 metres away and a marathon dash later I finally reached my destination with a quizzical look from some of the patrons and staff. Wanting to look as compose as possible I could only manage a smile, pressed the lift button and looked intently at the floor numbers as it went up and down.

Not long after another lady came by and stood beside me. She then pressed the lift button again beside it being lighted. Hmmmmm okey, I have already done that I thought to myself. The lift numbers changed slowly, creeping slowly down to the lobby. Apparently it seems that the lift decides to make it a policy for itself to stop on every floor and open its door to see whether there is any person. The journey that it took to reach the lobby seems like an eternity.

Feeling the same exasperation as I do in waiting for the lift, she pressed the lift button again, this time harder. If the button on the lift had not been made out of aluminum I am certain that it would undoubtedly left an indentation on it. Her faced changed to that of sheer disgust as she looked at the lift numbers crawling and creeping to the ground floor. She pressed harder, this time in repetition and with an obvious swearing escaping from her mouth. As the carriage finally arrives and opens it doors, she was the first to rush in into the lift. I bet if there is a lift attendant inside the lift she would have given him the disgusted looked plus a scolding or two.

When the elevator finally arrives the lady quickly 'hurrumph' herself into the carriage with an obvious disgust, pressed her destination and stood at one end of the carriage seemingly trying very hard to pretend that I was never present at all. Now I am being disgusted. She acts as if the whole elevator shafts revolves around her. Gritting my teeth, holding my breath, I intend to make her stay in the elevator as much as a living hell as I could. And as if the elevator was in total agreement with me a group of obvious tourist came rushing for the lifts, a couple, their four children and an elderly lady with her maid. The couple entered the lift followed with the children, in obvious delight, shouting laughing and jumping around in total defiance of their parents plea to quieten down. Their mother's embarrassing look is nothing in comparison to the look that I am seeing from the lady at the far end.

Seeing that it is obvious that the couple's elderly mother is no olympic medallist and is no hurry to enter the lift, the gentleman suggested to her wife to proceed up first whist he take the second ride. I with full conviction insisted that we will wait and pressed the 'door open' button with my dear life. The walked to the elevator door was taking an eternity and I could swear that every step that she takes the whole world 'wizzed' passed in fast motion. But the sight of the lady in total disgust by my gut to hold the lift door is priceless coupled by the harrowing shout and laughter of their children.

I supposed our fast paced life in pursuit of wealth and success had eliminate our ability to exercise the social graciousness and empathy towards others. We are so 'hard up' with time and commitment that we are no able to appreciate life and all the wonders that it has to offer. So the next time that you are taking the elevator up take time to look all the people taking the elevator with you and stop pressing the button more than once.

What does it mean to be Singaporean?

We celebrated the nation's 43rd birthday a few days ago much to the hype and sensation of fireworks and songs, music and dances. Singaporeans of all walks of life, the entrepreneurs to the housewives, the elderly to the youths, the locals to the foreigners immerse themselves in a night of colourful shows and sensational performances. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric. We were all proud and happy to celebrate our nation's 43rd year of independence. As all the glitter and fun ends with a spectacular fireworks shows that light up the night skies, we all returned back home, feeling exhausted and tired from the long queues at the MRT stations and buses and the long traffic jams on the roads leading away from the stadium.

The next morning we woke up to the sunshine of a brand new day. The experience of yesterday's event still fresh in our memories. As we open up the Sunday's morning news, we read the post articles of yesterday's event, the full colour print and photos that immortalise the day forever.

Two days later, as we are all back to work, bogged down by our daily routines and commitments, the event of August 8 fades away from our mind.

So what is the significants of the National Day to us then? Is it another day for us to break from the norms and spent the day with the family and friends. To some, they may say that it is a day for us to remember the struggle for independence and the ardous journey of nation building. But that sounds cliche.

I am sure that in the thoughts of many people of my generation, the significant of National Day bears the same standing as any other major public holidays. It is just another day where we could all enjoy an unceremonious break from the office, from the mundane routine of daily life. I met with a few of my friends the day after the National event and no one recounted their experience of either watching the event in the television, the event was never discussed at all as if it has never happened at all.

So what does it mean to be a Singaporean if we all lost all the affliation to the meaning. The national day event is just a catalysts, and outlet of national patriotism however affliation to the country should go beyond a national day event. The meaning of being a Singaporean is being proud to be one. It is the unexplainable feeling one has whenever the National Anthem is being played and the flag being flown by. It is the sense of pride that one has whenever we are overseas and the desire to announce to anyone we met that we are from Singapore.

Many would argue that the meaning of being a Singaporean is more to that but for me suffice to begin that we are proud of the achievements that we have attained thus far from our humble beginning to being a cosmopolitan city.

Dying Trades, Relive

I was driving into the car park of my home when I saw a tired looking old man holding on to two metallic paraphernalia and hitting both the objects together making a unique 'clinking' sound. Standing by the car park in front of a row of cars and under the blazing hot sun, the presence of the old man did not fail to attract my attention. For one there is something familiar about what he was doing. The metal clinking sound that he generated from the two metallic objects held on his hand and the white looking substance that is inside the aluminium casing which he was seen hitting it with occasionally, catapult me back to the days when I was still in primary school.

He is the seller of a home made sweet flour. A hardened paste mixed with sugar and flour. The scene and sound made, reminds me of my younger days when we used to rush out of school compound just to get a packet of the sweet flour from an old Chinese man who would wait under a big Angsana tree outside our school. Dressed in his usual shorts but with his signature big rattan hat, he will rhythmically knock on his metal apparatus signalling his presence to the hordes of students coming out of the school. Like a scene of the Piped Piper from Hamelin where the children were taken away from the village by the piped piper, the scene

that was played were less dramatic however still nostalgic. We would line up often with our parents in towed to get a packet of the sweet paste. Back then there are no branded sweets or chocolates that is the staples for our young nowadays, the sweet white paste of flour and sugar mixture is our favourite sweet of the day.

Simple flavour without the sophistication of content or the mixture of vanilla, chocolate or strawberry or any other flavour and ingredients that we will find in today's' s sweet, the trade of the old days was simple flour and cane sugar. If we used to see the old seller almost everyday during my younger years or growing days, now the sight is seldom and as rare as an antique beetle. The Sweet Flour seller is one of Singapore's dying trades that is being swallowed by the wave of rapid modernisation.

It is safe to say that the uncle that sold my packet of sweet flour is the last in his family to ever carry out the trade. Undoubtedly his children would never ever want to carry on with his trade.

I did not waste the opportunity to talk to him and asked him how long he has been selling the sweet flour. He relived his younger years where he used to sell the sweet flour along the rustic roads and pathway of old Chinatown. Back then he said children would rushed to the sound of

his clicking metal and the content of his metal plate would be gone in a matter of minutes, hotter then a plate of Laksa. Even the older folks whose teeth have seen their better days would not passed the opportunity of sucking their way into the hardened flour. But now he lamented, to even finish selling the whole plate by the time the sun sets would be a feat. As I sucked my way through my packet of sweet, I bid my farewell to the old man, realising that I may never see him again and that it would be my last packet of sweetened flour that would make my way through my watery mouth.

It is with sad realisation that the old trade of the past is fast disappearing as society is being swept through the rapid pace of modernisation and globalisation. The things and experiences that we used to take for granted is vanishing into the dark chasm of history. Sooner or later many of the trade that we are seeing now would only be seen in museums or through the annals of history.

The gates of the world that used to separate nations from its neighbours, society from other cultures are now groaning wide open. From the marble balconies of someone's home and over the airwaves of local radios, demagogues decry new risks to ancient cultures and traditional values because of globalisation. Satellites, the Internet, and jumbo jets carry

the contagion. To many people, "foreign" has become a synonym for "danger." Many have now cried afoul of how globalisation has slowly eroded our cultural and heritage values. Of course, now the chants of cultural preservation and heritage and anthems of nationalism are gaining voices. Virtually every individual at every level of society can sense the impact of international changes. They can see and hear it in their media, taste it in their food, and sense it in the products that they buy. Even more visceral and threatening to those who fear these changes is how the two waves of modernisation and globalisation is threatening our cultural and heritage values.

More and more our old heritage are gone, blown away by the wind, evaporating like snow capes over a mountain. People like the old chinese uncle who braves the glaring sun to sell his produce are disappearing. Many other scenes like parrot fortune teller, the streets walker shoes mender or even our fame barber shops that cuts our hair for less than 10 dollars are now being replace by hair beauty saloons and Mr Shoeman.

I supposed that we will not be able to stand against the tide of change and moderniation that is sweeping through us. What we can do now is to immerse ourselves with the remaining heritage that is left. For me at lease, I will enjoy my last packet of sweet flour.

Feasting with the Wandering Souls

I was walking down the streets from the carpark to my home after a long day at work. The usually quite and uneventful walk was profoundly different today. The air was laced with a acrid smell of burnt paper and covered with a light hazed of smoke. Strips of white paper with silver and gold paintings were strewned all over the walkway. The pathway was lighted not by the usual fluorescent lamp but by an eerie yellow light of red candles that were set apart close to each other. Here and there, there were heaps of paper being burnt in the glowing pile or burnt and black residue marked by the patches of blackened grass. 

Something about tonight is different. As I tried to recall the significant of tonight and looked around the neighbourhood, I saw a group of people over a burning heap of fire chanting and and in various forms of procrastinate. I t then hit me in realisation the significance of today, it is the start of the Hungry Ghost festival. 

Just as the Americans has Halloween to celebrate in October, the Chinese has the ‘Hungry Ghost festival’. I remembered the ‘spooky’ details that was 'shared' or rather told to me when I was young with the apparent intent to scare me when I was young back then. The tales are still being shared till now. There are even movies centred around the Hungry Ghost Festival. 

Hungry Ghost festival is a popular occasion that is taken very seriously by the Chinese. This festival that falls on the 7th month of the lunar New Year is celebrated mainly in China, Singapore and Malaysia. According to Chinese traditional believe, it its said that during this month, the gates of hell are opened to free the hungry ghosts who then wander off to Earth to seek food. Some even think that the ghosts who has unfinished business on Earth would seek revenge on those who had wronged them in their lives. The reason why the Chinese celebrate this festival is to remember their dead family members and pay tribute to them. They also feel that offering food to the deceased appeases them and wards off bad luck.

The Chinese believe that their dead relatives or loved ones returned to visit their living relatives during the 7th month. Thus they would then prepare a sumptuous meal for the ‘hungry ghosts’. By satisfying the ghosts good fortune and luck are assured in their lives. Prayers are offered to the deceased by burning joss sticks and hell money. I is a common sight in Singapore to see entertaining ‘wayang’ shows and concerts performed on outdoor stages in some neighborhoods. These events always held at night are to appease those wandering ghosts. But watchers beware, if ever you decide to enjoy the wayangs, do not ever occupy the front row which is reserved for the dead. Even in death, they are given priority seating. For me even to get a priority seating in a cinema, I will have to reserve months in advance which may not necessarily land me with one. 

Superstitions

An interesting superstition that the Chinese have about the festival is that it is bad to go swimming during the 7th month. They think that an evil ghost might cause you to drown in the swimming pool. I am not however sure if this is closely observed in our society nowadays. A visit to the swimming pool, you will see hordes of people tanning themselves. I supposed the only reason why we stay away from the water would be if there is a government waning to say that the water is polluted. In addition to this, children are also advised to return home early and not to wander around alone at night. This belief is due to the reason that the wandering ghosts might possess children. Hmmmm I wonder how would this affect St James and Ministry of Music discos and pubs.

Offerings to the Dead

The Chinese also do a lot of offerings to the deceased. These offerings are made by burning fake money notes, which are also known as ‘hell money’ and even paper television or radio sets. Some families also burn paper houses & cars to give to their dead relatives. The Chinese feel that these offerings reach the ghosts and help them live comfortably in their world. Too bad no one would give me any of these earthly possession when I am still around. I wouldn't mind the extra case and bigger cars. My only question is do the ghost suffers from the same high oil prices and inlfation as we do?

Dark Knight.. Dark Scene

I finally convince myself to pull myself off from work and all other non ending commitments or lack thereof to afford a moment of R&R. Movie was my choice after mulling it over for sometime. I log on to the Golden Village website to choose between the number of movies on show. Not much of a choice I must say but at the end, I choose Dark Knight.

There has been much hype about the movie before it was showned. Frankly I dont really enjoyed watching the previous Batman movies which to me was forgettable but the movie that was starred by Heath Ledger, his last movie before he died has received many good reviews and many claimed that it is the movie of the year. The Dark Knight will hit theaters with all the hoopla and fanboy avidity of the summer season's earlier movies based on comic books.

Seating at the cinema with a cup of coffee and popcorn, I can only conclude... heads up: a thunderbolt is about to rip into the blanket of bland we call summer movies. The Dark Knight is a potent provocation better then Batman begines. Feverish action? Check. Dazzling spectacle? Check. Devilish fun? Check. The movie has all these element in it.

The Dark Knight creates a place where good and evil — expected to do battle — decide instead to get it on and dance. The movie evolved with Batman, a.k.a. playboy Bruce Wayne was tired of being the white knight and unhappy with the label of being a vigilante. He decides then to leave the hero stuff to district attorney Harvey Dent and by doing so hopeful to stop the DA from moving in on Rachel Dawes, the lady love who is Batman's only hope for a normal life.

Everything gleams like sin in Gotham City and the bad guys seem jazzed by their evildoing. Take the Joker, who treats a stunningly staged bank robbery like his private video game with accomplices in Joker masks, blood spurting and only one winner. Ledger is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker and his performance is miles apart from Jack Nicholson's. Ledger takes the role to the shadows, where even what's comic is hardly a relief. No plastic mask for Ledger; his face is caked with moldy makeup that highlights the red scar of a grin, the grungy hair and the yellowing teeth of a hound fresh out of hell. To the clown prince of crime, a knife is preferable to a gun, the better to "savor the moment."

In its rethinking and transcending of a schlock source, The Dark Knight is up there with David Cronenberg's 1986 version of The Fly. It turns pulp into dark poetry. Just as that movie found metaphors of cancer, AIDS and death in the story of a man devolving into an insect, so this one plumbs the nature of identity. Who are we? Has Bruce lost himself in the myth of the hero? Is his Batman persona a mission or an affliction? Can crusading Dent live down the nickname (Two-Face) some rancorous cops have pinned on him? Only the Joker seems unconflicted. He knows what he is: an "agent of chaos." Your worst nightmare.

Personally, having transfixed on my seat watching the movie throughout without even blinking an eye or falling asleep which many oast movies that I have watched is capable of doing, I can safely say that Dark Knight is worth the $10 ticket money. My only lingering thoughts after watching the show is on the character of Rachel Dawes. I remembered seeing her as the girl that captured the heart of Spiderman and now she captured the heart of Batman.. what is with her and men in spandex.

Why Are We Cool about Hot Prices?

All over the globe the rising oil and food prices seems to have an equilibrium effect on the people. Hardships and Stress. And in response to those stresses and perceived hardships people take it to the streets to express their displeasure, anger and rage.India and Malaysia raised gasoline prices last month with the two Asian countries citing soaring oil costs as they struggle under the growing burden of subsidies for the motor fuel.Prices in Malaysia rose a dramatic 40 percent.

The price hike in India, the second this year, was smaller, about 11 percent in New Delhi, the capital, but will still weigh on consumers. India also raised prices on diesel fuel and cooking gas.In Malaysia, long lines of vehicles formed at gasoline stations overnight to fill up before midnight when the new pricing came into effect, and brawls broke out as some motorists tried to jump the queue. Angry protesters fueled by the opposition parties cries for change in the government leadership has taken to the streets to protest the sudden increase in the fuel prices which they claimed to be aimed in increasing the government coffers without the regard of the needs of the masses.

In Indonesia, thousands of students across the country took to the streets in opposition to fight the government's plan to raise fuel prices. Although smaller in number, the rally was reminiscent of a wave of student demonstrations in May 1998 that led to the resignation of then president Suharto after 32 years in power.The scene is also similar up north in Thailand as thousands of truckers went on a half-day strike in Bangkok demanding government help against rising fuel prices. Roads were blocked into Bangkok, piling more pressure on a government already facing a prolonged street protest over its attempt to change the constitution.

As we see the streets protests across the globe and more prominently in the streets of our immediate neighbours, we should be asking ourselves why is it we Singaporeans are sheltered and seems nonchalant with the happenings around us. Are we just not affected? The only close resemblance of a protest over the rising oil and food prices were those that were organised by Chee Soon Juan and 18 others. If we could even called it a street protest.We could explain our lack of response to what is happening around us to eight simple reasons.

1) The Heart : Are we Scarry Cat?

Do you think we will take it out to the streets with big banners saying that we are unhappy with the price increase? That will never happen at least in my lifetime or our children lifetime. Unlike our neighbours in the north or the south, Singaporeans is never known to openly expressed our displeasure with any government policies. I supposed that the only riots that had occurred in Singapore was way back in the 50s.

2) Energy Booster : The $ 4 billion payouts.

The government had announced a $ 4 billion GST offset package to all Singaporeans with the lower income receiving a larger portion. Though the GST offset package may not be a lot but it is helpful lessening the pain considerably. The payouts has had a positive effect on Singaporeans in general.

3) The Legs - Help is Just a Walk Awake.

Singaporeans know for a fact that complaining will be futile and that nothing good will come out of it. So instead of complaining they do the next logical step that is to seek help from their Member of Parliament. The MPs will be able to give them some sort of financial assistance and the government has been quite generous in giving out handouts through agencies such as the Resident's Committee (RC) and the Community Development Council (CDC).

4) The Brain - Are we Just more Well Informed & Rational.

To a certain extent it is true that Singaporeans as a whole are more well informed of what is happening outside its borders and the far reaches of the globe. This could be due to the fact that television ownership is amongst the highest in the world with every household in Singapore owning at least one television set. The viewership to the free to air channels such as Channel News Asia has also increased steadily. The print media has also complemented in circulating news.Singaporeans are generally appreciative that the prices increases are necessary and are an expected reaction to the increasing oil prices because of global shortages. They are also aware that businesses are free to adjust prices in response to their cost structures.

5) The Memory: We have a Rather Short Term Memory.

We may not be daring enough to take it to the streets but we are not short in the department of complaint. If there is one thing that Singaporeans in general are good at that would be to complain over every single thing that they can think of, from why the road is not straight to why the rubbish is not collected. We will complain for two days, murmurmed in silence and in two or so days, we will get used to the changes, accept it and lovewill be back to normal.

6) The Hand: We don't Want to Waste our Time

Let's faced it will we transcend beyond the boundaries of verbal complain to actually doing something about it. Personally 'I wouldn't write bother to write a a letter of complaint to the government and including a proposal with alternative suggestions to the government because I'd just get a standard 'Thank You' reply from the government thanking me for the letter.

7) Pain Sensors: We have a high threshold of pain

Singaporeans in general have a very high threshold of pain. When the GST increased was announced, people were expected to be badly hit with the increase but the GST pay out annnouncement increase our tolerance to the GST increase. When the oil prices went spiralling up, we were expecting public transport fares to shoot up by more than 1 per cent but the 1 cent increase lowers the expectation. Although they are not overjoyed, most feel that they can live with a 1 cent increase in their bus fares.

8) The Skin: We do not feel the heat

The Singapore's enigma is best describe as "The frog in the Hot Water" podigy. 'The challenges that Singaporeans faced are are calibrated with little increments over time making us less susceptible to the increase in heat if it is done a little at a time. The opposite polar effect would be Malaysia's sudden increase in the oil prices by 41% increasing massive public protest.

Organ for Sales? Why not Legalised It.

The issue of organ transplant has received new found interest in Singapore in recent days not because of a renewed eagerness for Singaporean to come forth and be organ pledgers but because of the recent court trial against two Indonesian Sulaiman Dernanik and Toni who were convicted recently in a District Court for charges under the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) and the Oaths and Declaration Act (ODA).

Though the arrest and prosecution of the two individuals have received front page news, the fact that the sales are to be made to C K Tang executive Chairman Tang Wee Sung for $ 22K have received greater interests and public debate over the morality of the rich and the have over those who are less fortunate. This is Singapore first prosecution under the act since it was first enacted and already it has generated much debate within the community and in parliament. There is now calls for the government to seriously looked at the issue and questioned the morality of the banned or lacked thereof.

Singapore like many other countries across the globe adopted the banned in the sales of organ based on the principles of morality. We believe that human lives have intrinsic value and should not be degraded by means of their commodification.

Ceteris paribus, what would be the main motivation behind one's reason for the sale of one's organs? Was it because of one's own desire towards the preservation of precious life. Iran is the only country in the whole world that allows the sales of organ. The procurement and sales of organ through the government was touted as having no financial gain but the donors will be compensated for the loss of income during the period of recuperation. Donors also enjoy government health subsidies which is much sought for in a country as poor as Iran. On top of that there are also the element of gift which is based on the concept of 'ikhlas' or as one's willing. The so called gifts which is privately arranged is made between the donors and the buyer. If were to study the Iranian model of organ 'sharing' it seems clear and evident that poverty remains the chief motivating factor behind the sales. The existence of such financial duress in the procurement of organs as commodities from the poor communities is a travesty of distributive justice

However having argued that, should society and governments play the role of a moral guardian and condemn a man to death purely to uphold the principle of morality. This is what the law that prohibits the sales of organs is doing to many people. Kidney patients have to suffer the agonizing experience of the dialysis daily just to keep themselves alive for years just because the wait for suitable donor long.

Many argues that a human body and its part should not be allowed to be bought, sold or traded. Allowing the trade of organ will only benefit a section of the community, the rich as unfortunately showned in the recent case and is out to exploit the poor. The poor will not be able to jump into the band wagon of benefiting themselves from the sales and purchase as they, logically do not possess the economic ability to do so.

Yes, if one were to put forth the above as an argument against the sales and purchase of human organ, these are good arguments. But however against those arguments the underlying facts remained that lives that could have been saved by the sale were not saved because of morality, principle and law. Is the law by itself draconian?

Every day, three people in Singapore lose the use of their kidneys but just only one cadaveric kidney becomes available every week. That would mean that 20 people were added into the existing list of hopeful recipients and only one of them went through the transplant each week. Multiply that by months, we have 80 new patients each month and by the end of the year 960 patients, of which only 48 of them will receive a new kidney from donors. What of the other 9 12 patients?

What are the options available to them? Wait for their turn and to go on dialysis or remain hopeful that a close relatives came forth to willingly donate their kidney before their time runs out, or, go overseas and try to get a kidney on the black market. More than 300 Singaporeans have done just that. Yest they may have broken the law but the starking fact remains that they are still alive to face the music.

It is well established that both the quality of life and the survival rate are far greater for those who receive transplants compared to those who are on dialysis. Wouldn't it be better to introduce a system where organ trade system exists in a manner that protects the interest and well-being of the donor.

In retrospect, by allowing the able to purchase kidneys direct from donors, this will increase the life savings organs available for transplant. The rich that buy the organ can automatically be taken off the waiting list for a cadaveric organ. A shorter waiting list would translate into a better survival real those in need transplants.

The sellers would benefit financially. For many, the sale might lead to a better life for his or her family. However there are still those who argued that the argument that money received helps the seller-donor rise above his poverty is gravely flawed. It must be the duty of a civilized society to ensure that none of its citizens is in such a dire state of poverty that the poor have to be reduced to selling themselves piecemeal for survival.

Should society stop the sale of organ, or should the decision be left to the individual sellers? Those who speak against the sales themselves are not in need of an organ themselves. But if you are one of those small percentage that are in dire need of the organ or are has someone close who suffers from organ failure, I am certain that you may not be so quick to deplore the act.

In every society, there is a situation where change may not necessarily be easily acceptable. When Singapore first ban of smoking in public places, many have spoken up against it condemning the ban as an infringement to individual rights. Now that many other countries have seen light and benefit behind it, they themselves have adopted and implemented the ban in their own country. Who knows perhaps Singapore can take the lead in studying and implementing a system which permits the sales of organ that would strike a balance between individual needs and societal principal.