Who is most susceptible to fake news

Link to story.

Not in the story but my take for interacting with my Republican American friends is that they are ideological rather than empiricists or pragmatic.

If you are ideologically driven you are also naturally vulnerable to fake news. Anyone who is familiar with your ideology will know how to create false information that fits your beliefs. You would love to read such stuff and your faith in the ideology will deepen - a vicious cycle.

If you are an empiricist then you insist that facts are the most stubborn things and must be respected. It is far harder to monkey with facts to create a false narrative.

For the next ice kacang

I was looking in this blog to discover when was the last time I had ice kacang but found nothing. I think it was more than a year ago. Will it be more than a year before I have this dessert again?

I have always been disciplined with what I eat but with age has become even more disciplined.

South China Sea: Might over Rights

The Chinese have succeeded at softening ASEAN opposition to their claims in the South China Sea. Might has triumphed over rights. If might cannot be resisted, it will be used to create a new legitimacy through revisionism or outright lies. A new set of rights would replace the old set destroyed by might.

This E-book would not convince the Chinese. The population is moved emotionally and not logically.

Japan: A military time bomb

After decades of not coming to terms with what they have done to Asia during the last war, there is no hope that they ever will. In fact we have every reason to fear that history might repeat itself if Japan gets the permission to arm itself again.

Quoting this chilling bit from the story:

The group firmly believes that Japan is to be applauded for its role in liberating Asia from Western colonialists. 

It also says that issues such as the Nanjing Massacre and “comfort women”, a euphemism for women forced into the sex trade, have been grossly exaggerated, and that the Tokyo War Crimes Trial was illegitimate. 

Denouncing what it terms “humiliating apology diplomacy”, 

Nippon Kaigi says this has brought about a loss of pride and patriotism among a younger generation of Japanese. 

When asked last year about the group’s position on Japan's war aggressions and crushing defeat, Professor Takubo said: “For all countries that have gone to war, each one will have a different View of history. If you want to call that revisionism, I’m all right with that.” 

The last doctor in the family

My brother shared this with us a few days ago. Finally my niece is done with medical school. I was wondering what to do with this pic and then it occurred to me that she would be the first and last doctor in our family. The rest of the kids aren't even interested to become doctors and I agree with my ex classmate when he told me why he discouraged his kids from pursuing medicine.

It is so hard to get into medical school. I have come across several families whose kids wanted to become doctors. Some checked all the right boxes but weren't even called up for the admission interview. Many pursue their doctoring dreams overseas and one even went to China knowing that the qualifications there would not be recognized here.

Oh I just remember my cousin is a pediatrician. In fact she attended to my daughter many years ago in NUH.

Update: May 2, 2:55 pm

Got this from my sister.

A doctor can do a lot of good but that demands you choose one of the less traveled roads. I didn't think my cousin take one of such paths and that is why I almost forget she is also a doctor. 

Bought the Zenfone 3

Reluctantly bought the Zenfone 3 ZE552KL from Red White Mobile today. I can't wait because my Galaxy Note 4 is kaput. The phone set is set to "Safe Mode" if I ever power down and turn on again. The volume rocker which I almost never used was somehow frozen in the volume down position. I hate it when I have to make an unplanned purchase.

Paid $428 for the above. Customer service at the store was not great. They weren't rude, just inflexible and unhelpful. I rather to go KAsia Mobile but they don't carry Asus models at the moment. This Zenfone is a compromise between price and camera features. If the Note 8 comes up with some compelling features I might make the switch but I am not holding out for any surprising breakthrough. Innovation seem to be slowing in smartphones. Improvement are incremental and the top of the line phones are asking for a lot more money so little improvements.

New record high temperature: 30.9 Celsius

The highest temperature record was broken only recently. We have new high today at 30.9 C.