Around Singapore

[earthfriendly]

Two part introduction to Toa Payoh town. It is in Mandarin with English subtitles.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2zr2 ... 9B%86_auto


https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2zr2 ... 9B%86_auto

[earthfriendly]

Rather than start a new thread, I changed the title (from "Toa Payoh") so I can post stuff about SG.

Geyland adventures....

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/c ... xtor=CS-01

https://www.facebook.com/geylangadventu ... &ref=br_tf

[earthfriendly]

Clementi

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/g ... tor=CS1-10

[earthfriendly]

https://www.facebook.com/irememberSG/vi ... 9/?fref=nf

Due to land scarcity, graves were cleared out and exhumed. Many families would visit and clean the tombs of their loved ones on Ching Ming day. My grandfather was one of those exhumed and his ashes now stores neatly and compactly in a rectangular urn in the temple. These urns are housed on shelves with many levels. Like HDB flats. And hence the introduction of vertical living. For both the dead and the alive .

[earthfriendly]

One of the best change to come out of SG

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/o ... tor=CS1-10

[earthfriendly]

Singaporean, Damien Tan, did well in sushi contest held in Japan.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asi ... ?cid=fbint

[earthfriendly]

On being gay Singaporean. A "walking gay encyclopaedia" .

How has the reaction from your Army mates been like so far?

Very positive, which really elevates my military experience. Nobody is having issues with it, nor am I facing any homophobia. They respected me, and admired my courage. They were all more bewildered with the fact that being gay is considered a medical condition serious enough to land you in PES C, than the fact that I’m gay. For many of them, I was a walking gay encyclopaedia because I’m the first openly gay person they know, and they bombarded me with questions at the start. We would also joke about things with politically incorrect gay undertones.

Most importantly, I am not treated any differently as a soldier, especially from my commanders, which is something I’m truly grateful about. One of my commanders told me how he has ‘crazy’ gay friends, a few others asked me questions to gain a better understanding. One of them even confessed that he used to be very homophobic, but not anymore.

http://dearstraightpeople.com/2015/11/0 ... his-story/

[nakatago]

On being gay Singaporean. A "walking gay encyclopaedia" .

How has the reaction from your Army mates been like so far?

Very positive, which really elevates my military experience. Nobody is having issues with it, nor am I facing any homophobia. They respected me, and admired my courage. They were all more bewildered with the fact that being gay is considered a medical condition serious enough to land you in PES C, than the fact that I’m gay. For many of them, I was a walking gay encyclopaedia because I’m the first openly gay person they know, and they bombarded me with questions at the start. We would also joke about things with politically incorrect gay undertones.

Most importantly, I am not treated any differently as a soldier, especially from my commanders, which is something I’m truly grateful about. One of my commanders told me how he has ‘crazy’ gay friends, a few others asked me questions to gain a better understanding. One of them even confessed that he used to be very homophobic, but not anymore.

http://dearstraightpeople.com/2015/11/0 ... his-story/

TL;DR but maybe those army mates know the gay guy is not being a faggot...

Faggot didn’t mean gay when I was a kid, you called somebody a faggot because they were being a faggot. [...] I would never call a gay guy a faggot, unless he was being a faggot, but not because he’s gay. Like, if I saw two guys blowing each other, I don’t know why I’m watching them do it... I don’t know, I stumbled upon a couple of fellas blowing one another... I would be respectful to them, "Hello, gentlemen." But if one of them took...started acting all faggy and saying annoying faggy things, "You know, people from Phoenix are Phonecians" or something like that. I’d be like, "Hey, shut up, faggot."

Ok, that's a bit of flame-bait...but, hey.

[earthfriendly]

On the Botanic Gardens.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatl ... -here.html

[earthfriendly]

There is a place for Ruslan. In SG.

https://www.viddsee.com/video/ruslan/jz ... M.facebook

[earthfriendly]

8 years imprisonment for burglary. That is harsh. I understand such measures play a part in keeping the crime rate low in SG. It comes with a dark side. This method of law and order is unyielding. If you should stray and fall off from the "approved" path any point in your life, we are going to make sure you pay dearly for it. Not good for the mental health of a nation. It contributes to the neuroticism.

Some people learn from their first mistake. Others would keep trying and testing the system and they will need to make the mistakes many times over before they understand how it all works. And then, there are the late bloomers. We all do it in our own pace and timing. We need to allow space and breathing room for each other. And those who work in the rehabilitary field will tell you that most people are rehabilitable. Unless there is a mental condition involved. And then the odds are stacked against them. Which is the very reason that we should not mess around with somebody's mental health.

http://themiddleground.sg/2016/01/02/hu ... ging-2016/

A step in the right direction. It is not always about the numbers and size. This way of thinking leads to performance anxiety.

[earthfriendly]

Mental health, post traumatic disorder, jury duty. Did not take place in SG but we, humans are the same.

http://nypost.com/2016/01/11/the-haunte ... SocialFlow

[earthfriendly]

Moving rain sculpture in Terminal 1.


http://www.arch2o.com/kinetic-rain-art-com/

[earthfriendly]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sin ... l?cid=FBSG

Thank you. On behalf of all the children in SG. Out you go. Tuition centers and tiger moms!

[nakatago]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/focus-on-a-love-for/2437848.html?cid=FBSG

Thank you. On behalf of all the children in SG. Out you go. Tuition centers and tiger moms!

I've decided that whenever children say "Why do I have to learn this?" or "Why do I have to take these tests?", I would respond by telling them that when they become adults, they will end up doing things they don't like or they feel are pointless and doing them in school will be good practice*.

Because the world sucks, it's filled with people you won't like and most of the time, have no choice but to deal with, and unless you have the will and patience, you can do very little about it. Sometimes, it's not about who's right or wrong but about who has leverage over you.

* Not really, but this would be my version of Santa Claus