Informatics

Informatics
Lately, things are shaking up at Informatics. I scanned the Internet forum. I heard more complaints rather than compliments about Informatics. Like a volcano eruption, the signs have been there. It was a matter of time before it build up and blow it out.

I have been a student of Informatics. I was taught by lecturers who know only the theories but not the applications of the theories. I was a victim of their mismanagement. In the degree course, we had to take 6 compulsory minor subjects which we had already learnt in Polytechnics. Half-way through, they scrapped the minor subjects. But we we not refunded a cent. I had seen that even the most incompetent student can pass the degree course. That cast doubt on the value of the degree, if any Tom Dick and Harry can pass it without effort.

It's a Sick World
Watching TV can make me sick. That's why I applaud TODAY newspaper for making a stand yesterday not to show the beheading of the South Korean. Why let the terrorist use the media to further their cause? Many media has no moral. They will show whatever makes money, whatever the audience want. Sex, sensational news sell, not boring goody news. The day I retire will be the day I plug the TV out of my living room. No news is good news.
TODAY, I salute you for your stand.

How to Make Money
Crisis brings fortune to those who can see opportunties and seize it like vulture picking the carcass. When there is a big earthquake, buy their real estate. If the country crash, buy what is good. Yes there is risk. Where the risk is, there's money to be made.

One Thailand business woman opens her restaurants in the most dangerous places. Her restaurant are guarded by armed security personnel, and served by local folks, patronised by UN people who had the money to spend. She venture where angels fear to tread.

Baby Friendly Nation?

Is Singapore A Child-Friendly Nation?

Reading the forum in the Straits Times, one gets the impression that Singapore is not a child-friendly society. What the Government advocates does not translates well by institutions.

For example, when a mother was breast feeding her baby at the Esplanade, she was shooed off by the security guard. Some companies are reluctant to recruit pregnant women. They are reluctant to pay for their maternity leave.

Despite the baby bonus, 3 obstacles stand in the way: expensive house, expensive car and short career lifesplan.

It takes almost a lifetime of work to pay off the housing loan. Both parents must work to upkeep the family.

Without a car, try pushing your baby pram and another toddler in your arms, as you moved about in the MRT. What a hassle.

When you reach 40 years old, you will find it hard to keep your job, or to find a decent job. How to afford to maintain a family when your career expires at 40?


People outside Singapore get the impression that the authorities are draconian in the laws so much so that they fear to do anything lest they may commit a crime. Consider the number of Nos - no smoking in..., no jaywalking, no littering, must flush the toilet or else, fine this, fine that. Consider the number of reminders every few seconds on the MRT - please stand behing the yellow lines, no eating or drinking, blab, blab, blab.

How can one not get the impression that the government behaves like a nanny and that Singaporeans are not capable of behaving themselves so they have to be reminded in every thing they do, like having a Romance campaign to remind people to be romantic.

With the recent death of commuters on the MRT track, people are asking the Govt to put on barriers, to slow down the train on arrival, or change the steel xxx into rubber, etc.

About time, Singaporean learn to be responsible for their lives, while the Govt should stop mothering them in every aspect of their lives. Otherwise how are children going to grow up and make responsibile decisions when all the decisions are made for them?

Behind the Prison

Behind the Numbers

You heard so much about the torture of prisoners at Abu XXX prison. It has such a bad reputation that President Bush decided to demolish it and build a new one. Moreover it's so hard for him to pronounce it. A new name is in order.

Personally, I think what is needed is not a change of building, but a change of mindset. Or rather a change of people. There is nothing wrong with the building. It's the people. Who's responsible? The people at the lowest rung became the sacrifical lambs. And then the top men declared that torture is ok. Hello, what happen to the Geneva convention?

They invaded Iraq cos of Weapons of Mass Destruction? Hello, where's the weapons?

I was moved to read the news of a prisoner from Abu XX prison, who are released and returned to the arms of his two lovely daughters while his wife burst into tears. Behind every figure, every prisoner is a family man.

It is easy to look at people as figures and statistics. But everyone is a person with a family. It was reported that two Reuter staff were caughted in the wrong place at the wrong time and got thrown into the prison and subjected to torture and humiliation. Yes, there are innocent prisoners.

A few days ago, it was reported that 40 foreign workers were holed up for two months without pay. They did not received their pay for the last 5-6 months. They were knocking from door to door for their food. Their employer didn't have the money to pay them.
One of them said that if they are hungry, they can bear it, but not their family.

Behind every foreign worker is a family at home depending on them to send the money home.When news broke out, 20 people came forward to offer them food, money and medical aids. One of the workers said he cannot accept their money cos he did not earn it. I salute their integrity. They are the ones who build our landscapes, yet they are treated as disposable by their employers. That's despicable.

Sometimes, the foreign workers would be working at the lift just outside my house. When my 3-year old daughter hears their voices, she would naturally greet them and chat with them. I think about the workers who too have children and wives at home. How they miss their family too.

Yesterday I watch a moving Philipino TV programme about a maid who sacrifice herself to provide for the family. How she deprived herself in order to provide for her family. How she has to take good care of the employer's children while she long for the embrace of her own children.

My own maid had children of similar ages to mine. As she see our children grow, taking the first step, utter the first words, milking her, she feels sad cos she could not witness the same for her own child. She could not be there at home for her own. She has to milk other people's child, but she cannot milk her own child. As she carry my child in her arms, she must have wish it was her own child she is carrying. After a few months, she got homesick and asked to be returned to her hometown. The money in the world could never buy the moment of togetherness between a mother and a child.