Last Spelling Words

Perhaps this is the last time I gave her spelling. It is a bane she had endured all her school life.

It is good that the most demanding week of the A levels is over. The worst was Chemistry with its endless pages of technical words. Glad that is over.

TKGS girl murdered: low probability, high impact

This was long before I read Nassim Taleb's Black Swan. I decided long ago that we will not have a lived in domestic helper - a mouthful for "maid" which is getting less politically correct. The more accepted noun is FDW or foreign domestic worker.

People are very poor at dealing with such low probability high impact events, and they will continue to be so. Now this goes beyond high impact to catastrophe isn't it?

The emotional angle to this tragedy, I can't find the words for them. This was so close to our family.

We never learn. I don't write about it here but I have been thinking about the havoc Typhoon Haiyan had brought to Tacloban for days. Every tragedy there was the result of under estimating the power of that typhoon. Back home but longer term, it is the Hijab issue. They always appear superficially harmless. Nothing about religion is ever harmless. They are all potentially radioactive. One young twenty year old mother just got herself in a pickle because she ranted about the noise coming from a Malay wedding downstairs her block on Facebook. It was Amy Cheong reprise. She never knew what shit she had stirred up until it is stirred yeah?

Hacking: Not Anonymous but Stupid

What a shame, all the hackers were so amateurish. Actually many of them are like that. The really good ones are invisible and the damage is is suddenly catastrophic, but like those viruses of the living variety good at ensuring survival they don't kill you until they can successfully move on. They want to stay in business.

These idiots are going to land hard because the PM wish will be fully pursued by the AG.

Sometimes I think Singapore has created a lucky environment for many so-so business people to be successful. Of course they would typically mistook their luck for skill until they crash into reality.

Update: Nov 20, 8:50pm

Just as I thought, this guy and others will be made examples of as warning to others.

All that's wrong about the Philippines

All the reports from every source about the aftermath of the typhoon are horrible. They make you feel that they could have done better but like numerous times before had failed to. Now here is a picture that captures all that is wrong about them.

Their fecklessness is a real time lesson for the rest of us. Clearly the American officer is more in touch with the troops and the people than the Filipino general. Leaders must always ask themselves if they are out of touch with the ground. Always!

Hijab: Indranee Rajah on WP's position

I thought it would be wiser to for the PAP to ignore the statements the opposition parties had put out on the hijab issue, especially the WP. They should just learn to tell their story better and more persuasively. There is a time to engage the other political parties but that is not now. WP and NSP were just trying to get Malay Muslim support.

The dumbest thing the PAP keep doing is to challenge WP as an equal and able to form the government. They should mostly just ignore them, learn why people are unhappy and get on with doing a better job.

Here are some of the most 'liked' reponses to Indranee's Facebook post.

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  Yazid Idah Aiyah...wateva lah... u all will not debate equally and fairly on this issue... pap will stand by its ground of saying by not wearing hijab promotes racial harmony... what kind of a stupid reason is dat? U take us as fools is it? We are not buying it...

  Like · Reply · 37 · 12 hours ago via mobile
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  Ina Alib For me tis is a racist issue. How can the person that bring up tis matter can be an MP? Im so surprised. We take US as an example, terrorist has attacked them for more then once. But i did not heard any news that their governtment is stoping their muslim religion from wearing a hijab. So whats the matter with hijab?

  Like · Reply · 23 · 12 hours ago via mobile
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  Azhar Abdul Aziz The tudung can impact Racial integration and harmony ? We have never have issues with the Sikh community wearing the turban since their presence in Singapore and now the tudung can cause racial harmony ? I thought these men and women in white are smart and intelligent? Maybe they are, but their hands are tied .. they are boot lickers

  Like · Reply · 18 · 12 hours ago via mobile

All are Malay and I assume Muslim. If you are non Muslim and Malay you probably don't care and leave it to the government to settle this. If you are also a motorist you might be even more interested in the opening of the MCE than this i.e., until cracks appear and troubles start.

My Sikh classmate from NUS was discriminated against when we graduated and he tried to look for a job. To be practical he ended up joining the civil service. BBC did a good program on why the Sikhs wear turbans. Unlike the hijab, it's is not optional and uncontroversial.

Muslims pushing for the hijab are idealistic. They will find that the social realities and engagement will not be as rosy as they imagine if the government give in. Nevertheless I hope over time we mature, accept and give more space to the hijab. Now is not the right time. The result to our society would be a net negative, maybe worse. Really, what's the hurry? Isn't God patient in whatever religion you got to know him.

I am dismayed with the opposition parties opportunism because the electorate is disengaged and poorly informed. However they would look bad when we start to understand this better.

Jack Sim on ego

Jack Sim is prepared to be more honest than most people. What he said here is not only true in social organizations but religious ones too, which is more practiced and sophisticated.

Character education in our schools and families are often action based. Few people know how to work with others especially children at the heart level. Good behavior achieved this way is unsustainable. In fact, it is a hotbed for hypocrisy, a cancer in our society that would eventually destroy us.

Too much of our morality is about looking good and feeding our pride which becomes patently obvious when we become famous, rich or powerful. From my children I have learned that their schools do not know what humility is. What they know is act humble.

Looking forward to the MCE

Can't remember when I was excited about new roads but I am looking forward to the MCE or Marina Coastal Expressway. It would be very good for our daily commute. This are the only moments I think it is worth coughing up money for the COE.


Making a date with the MCE on December 29 when it opens. I am going to visit the GBB on that day.