At this rate, SGD will reach parity with USD by year's end.
Let's see how much more QE the US of A can take.
Meanwhile: Vote wisely!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Vote For The Monkey
This is new GE slang for voting blindly for the opposition.
Originated from the much repeated line: Even if the opposition puts up a monkey to challenge the ruling party, I will still vote for the monkey.
I already smell an opposition win for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC with the SDP A team, and the Aljunied GRC with the WP A team.
Unless the rumors about Vincent Wijaysingha being gay are true, that might cost the SDP some votes.
Originated from the much repeated line: Even if the opposition puts up a monkey to challenge the ruling party, I will still vote for the monkey.
I already smell an opposition win for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC with the SDP A team, and the Aljunied GRC with the WP A team.
Unless the rumors about Vincent Wijaysingha being gay are true, that might cost the SDP some votes.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Your Vote Is Secret
Taken from WP website.
Hope this can clear some doubts abt the "myth" & "Rumours" abt ballotong
Voting and Ballot Secrecy
Have you heard people say that your vote is not secret? The short answer is that individual votes cannot be traced, unless an order of court is obtained under very specific circumstances.
Your Vote Is Secret
Below are some frequently asked questions about the voting process.
Q: Why does the election official call out my name and voter number at the polling station before giving me the ballot paper? I find it unsettling.
A: This is required under the Parliament Elections Act. Calling out you name and number enables the representatives of political parties at the polling station to verify and cross out your name on their registers. This is a transparent process to help both the ruling and opposition parties in 2 ways – to check against double-voting by any voter, and to tally the total number of votes and the number of ballot papers issued out at the close of voting.
Q: Why must the ballot papers have serial numbers?
A: This is a good way to guard against election fraud such as bringing counterfeit ballot papers into the polling station, vote impersonation or basing ballot papers which have been marked by others. We are not the only country in the world to have ballot papers numbered.
Q: After I have cast my vote, what happens to it?
A: After the close of polls at 8 pm, the votes are sealed and moved to the counting centres where they will be counted by civil servants from different departments in the presence of the candidates and agents from both ruling party and opposition. Once counted, the votes, together with all the relevant records, the stubs of the ballot papers as well as unused ballot papers are sealed and transferred to the vault at the Supreme Court where they are kept for at least 6 months. The votes cannot be retrieved unless a court order is obtained on the ground of election fraud.
According to the Elections Department website, no court order has been issued to retrieve votes since Singapore conducted elections in 1948.
At the end of 6 months, the sealed votes and records will be transferred to an incineration plant for destruction. The whole procedure is witnessed by candidates/agents from all parties. The Workers’ Party has been present and has found the seals on the votes and records intact. The Workers’ Party is satisfied about voting secrecy.
Q: After the election, politicians started saying that certain communities / blocks supported the ruling party or the opposition party. This shows that the votes are not secret.
A: Nobody knows how each individual voted. Each polling station serves about 10-20 blocks of flats and/or a few landed housing estates. Since the counting of votes is done by polling stations, it is possible to know the overall results of each polling station, which consists of a few thousand votes. The voting results, sorted by polling stations, are accessible to all political parties contesting in that constituency. It is possible to say a particular zone of residents supported a political party by x%, but it is not possible to narrow down the level of support to a particular block or an individual. The comments of politicians may be based on ground feel and feedback.
Q: How else can you reassure me that my vote is secret?
A: The Workers’ Party has participated in every General Election since the independence of Singapore. Based on our experience, we are certain that the vote is secret.
For anyone who is still in doubt, do bear in mind that tampering with the electoral process is illegal and tantamount to breaking the law. Doing so is not in the interest of the government as its power and legitimacy will be in question and its reputation tarnished locally and internationally. The government actually has more to lose if it fails to ensure that the vote is secret.
source : http://wp.sg/your-vote-is-secret/
Hope this can clear some doubts abt the "myth" & "Rumours" abt ballotong
Voting and Ballot Secrecy
Have you heard people say that your vote is not secret? The short answer is that individual votes cannot be traced, unless an order of court is obtained under very specific circumstances.
Your Vote Is Secret
Below are some frequently asked questions about the voting process.
Q: Why does the election official call out my name and voter number at the polling station before giving me the ballot paper? I find it unsettling.
A: This is required under the Parliament Elections Act. Calling out you name and number enables the representatives of political parties at the polling station to verify and cross out your name on their registers. This is a transparent process to help both the ruling and opposition parties in 2 ways – to check against double-voting by any voter, and to tally the total number of votes and the number of ballot papers issued out at the close of voting.
Q: Why must the ballot papers have serial numbers?
A: This is a good way to guard against election fraud such as bringing counterfeit ballot papers into the polling station, vote impersonation or basing ballot papers which have been marked by others. We are not the only country in the world to have ballot papers numbered.
Q: After I have cast my vote, what happens to it?
A: After the close of polls at 8 pm, the votes are sealed and moved to the counting centres where they will be counted by civil servants from different departments in the presence of the candidates and agents from both ruling party and opposition. Once counted, the votes, together with all the relevant records, the stubs of the ballot papers as well as unused ballot papers are sealed and transferred to the vault at the Supreme Court where they are kept for at least 6 months. The votes cannot be retrieved unless a court order is obtained on the ground of election fraud.
According to the Elections Department website, no court order has been issued to retrieve votes since Singapore conducted elections in 1948.
At the end of 6 months, the sealed votes and records will be transferred to an incineration plant for destruction. The whole procedure is witnessed by candidates/agents from all parties. The Workers’ Party has been present and has found the seals on the votes and records intact. The Workers’ Party is satisfied about voting secrecy.
Q: After the election, politicians started saying that certain communities / blocks supported the ruling party or the opposition party. This shows that the votes are not secret.
A: Nobody knows how each individual voted. Each polling station serves about 10-20 blocks of flats and/or a few landed housing estates. Since the counting of votes is done by polling stations, it is possible to know the overall results of each polling station, which consists of a few thousand votes. The voting results, sorted by polling stations, are accessible to all political parties contesting in that constituency. It is possible to say a particular zone of residents supported a political party by x%, but it is not possible to narrow down the level of support to a particular block or an individual. The comments of politicians may be based on ground feel and feedback.
Q: How else can you reassure me that my vote is secret?
A: The Workers’ Party has participated in every General Election since the independence of Singapore. Based on our experience, we are certain that the vote is secret.
For anyone who is still in doubt, do bear in mind that tampering with the electoral process is illegal and tantamount to breaking the law. Doing so is not in the interest of the government as its power and legitimacy will be in question and its reputation tarnished locally and internationally. The government actually has more to lose if it fails to ensure that the vote is secret.
source : http://wp.sg/your-vote-is-secret/
Opposition
I'm not pro opposition, nor pro ruling party. My vote is to the candidate(s) who can give the best for my ward. Simple as that.
With that, let me say it here first: this is the year the opposition will make the biggest gains in the elections since Singapore's independence.
The ruling party will be left stunned by the dismal results.
Here's why.
1. New Media
It was touted to change the game back in 2006, but it didn't change the outcome. This time around, its different. The people have gotten accustomed to using the internet to find out, verify and disspell myths and rumours. Showing your support for the other side or dismay at the ruling party is easy as clicking a Like button.
2. Less Fear
Were you one of those who got a chance to vote, then abstained because you were afraid the ruling party could track you and you never believed your vote was secret? There were tons of people like that! Well, this time around the skepticism has subsided. There is a more common herd to follow, and whether the vote is secret or not, many will not care less any further. That's because so many more people are freely declaring their vote to the monkey ("put a monkey there I will also vote for the monkey!"). How many times have you heard that in the last 3 months?
3. A Better Quality Oppositon
No more James Gomez integrity issues or Steve Chia nude pix. Now we have a slate of well-heeled, smart and able class of opposition candidates willing to take the fight to the ruling party. From scholars to ex top civil servants to brilliant top level executives, this new generation will fight on a leveller playing field. Names like Vincent Wijaysingha, Tan Jee Say, Chen Show Mao and even the young Nicole Seah are some to watch. It gives people even more confidence to vote for them.
4. Signs Of A Weakening Ruling Party
All does not seem well in the ruling party when their best and brightest spew the same rhetoric as they have done so arrogently over years of walkover elections, and contradicting each other in the process. Whether crying in a press conference or trying to sound like a meek alternative voice(group think?) is just scripted, staged or even real, the electorate is getting tired of the whining and distraction. Enough is enough as far as ignoring the real issues on the ground and giving repeated non-answers go. Worst yet is the rhetoric from the main man himself, the prodigal son, whose excuses, ducking of real issues and rinse-and-repeat answers are so lame and scripted it makes the old local drama VR Man sound more exciting. You know you've got issues when your predecessor distances himself from you.
5. A Fully Voting Electorate
Never underestimate the herd mentality. Even the 'fixed deposit' wards can be lost in a wave of alternate demand. This will be the first time since independance that almost all eligible Singaporeans will get to vote. And a lot of people out there have got an axe to grind.
The dissatisfaction and activism on the ground is very real and from the way I see it, the ruling party's reponses have left much to be desired up until this point. Revising from an earlier blog post, I now think the opposition can actually win at least 4 GRCs and 6 SMCs.
Watch this space. You heard it here first.
With that, let me say it here first: this is the year the opposition will make the biggest gains in the elections since Singapore's independence.
The ruling party will be left stunned by the dismal results.
Here's why.
1. New Media
It was touted to change the game back in 2006, but it didn't change the outcome. This time around, its different. The people have gotten accustomed to using the internet to find out, verify and disspell myths and rumours. Showing your support for the other side or dismay at the ruling party is easy as clicking a Like button.
2. Less Fear
Were you one of those who got a chance to vote, then abstained because you were afraid the ruling party could track you and you never believed your vote was secret? There were tons of people like that! Well, this time around the skepticism has subsided. There is a more common herd to follow, and whether the vote is secret or not, many will not care less any further. That's because so many more people are freely declaring their vote to the monkey ("put a monkey there I will also vote for the monkey!"). How many times have you heard that in the last 3 months?
3. A Better Quality Oppositon
No more James Gomez integrity issues or Steve Chia nude pix. Now we have a slate of well-heeled, smart and able class of opposition candidates willing to take the fight to the ruling party. From scholars to ex top civil servants to brilliant top level executives, this new generation will fight on a leveller playing field. Names like Vincent Wijaysingha, Tan Jee Say, Chen Show Mao and even the young Nicole Seah are some to watch. It gives people even more confidence to vote for them.
4. Signs Of A Weakening Ruling Party
All does not seem well in the ruling party when their best and brightest spew the same rhetoric as they have done so arrogently over years of walkover elections, and contradicting each other in the process. Whether crying in a press conference or trying to sound like a meek alternative voice(group think?) is just scripted, staged or even real, the electorate is getting tired of the whining and distraction. Enough is enough as far as ignoring the real issues on the ground and giving repeated non-answers go. Worst yet is the rhetoric from the main man himself, the prodigal son, whose excuses, ducking of real issues and rinse-and-repeat answers are so lame and scripted it makes the old local drama VR Man sound more exciting. You know you've got issues when your predecessor distances himself from you.
5. A Fully Voting Electorate
Never underestimate the herd mentality. Even the 'fixed deposit' wards can be lost in a wave of alternate demand. This will be the first time since independance that almost all eligible Singaporeans will get to vote. And a lot of people out there have got an axe to grind.
The dissatisfaction and activism on the ground is very real and from the way I see it, the ruling party's reponses have left much to be desired up until this point. Revising from an earlier blog post, I now think the opposition can actually win at least 4 GRCs and 6 SMCs.
Watch this space. You heard it here first.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
B Is For Broad
Purely for documentation's sake, I just want to make sure I remember all the below during my next ICT two years on (hopefully).
B is for Broad - during our departmental presentation, we had a slide on the screen where the commander said, "All this information is abit..." and JK pisses RT off when he unconsciously rattles off the word "broad" in front of the whole world. I mean, you don't diss your own work during an official presentation. Nor shoot your mouth off like that. He proceeds to piss RT off several more times during ICT. Incident is now famously known as Broad-gate.
C is for Captain - WF not knowing WL was holding the rank of Captain all this while. Also not knowing my name or BS's dialect names even though we have been in the same department for years. The guy has serious dysfunctional issues when he's in military garb man.
M is for movies - watched Sanctum and Limitless at Jurong Point. My first two movies in more than 8mths.
T is for triathelete - AL takes his 2.4km run during IPPT, got misdirected to a wrong route costing him an extra 300m and wrong direction. Still came back in a time of 8.56min. Fact.
V is for Vasectomy - BS got that done and the rest is history. For him at least.
Fond memories are often made of these quirky experiences with good friends. Some things just cannot be made up.
B is for Broad - during our departmental presentation, we had a slide on the screen where the commander said, "All this information is abit..." and JK pisses RT off when he unconsciously rattles off the word "broad" in front of the whole world. I mean, you don't diss your own work during an official presentation. Nor shoot your mouth off like that. He proceeds to piss RT off several more times during ICT. Incident is now famously known as Broad-gate.
C is for Captain - WF not knowing WL was holding the rank of Captain all this while. Also not knowing my name or BS's dialect names even though we have been in the same department for years. The guy has serious dysfunctional issues when he's in military garb man.
M is for movies - watched Sanctum and Limitless at Jurong Point. My first two movies in more than 8mths.
T is for triathelete - AL takes his 2.4km run during IPPT, got misdirected to a wrong route costing him an extra 300m and wrong direction. Still came back in a time of 8.56min. Fact.
V is for Vasectomy - BS got that done and the rest is history. For him at least.
Fond memories are often made of these quirky experiences with good friends. Some things just cannot be made up.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Rally Cry Of The Little Dragon
Eh, hallabout I wantch to helpch young singaporelang to lift better lifes. Improve their regisdential surroundings. Election time very exciting, I get gooseberries... Wassabout Let's rolling!!!
- Little Dragon
- Little Dragon
Another Away Draw
Darn. Just drew 0-0 away to Newcastle. Glut of chances and we missed them all. Definitely 2 point points dropped IMHO.
Pity our poor away form all season. The stretch of a game every 3-4 days must be taking its toll. Hopefully this game won't matter heading down this final EPL stretch.
Hoping Chelsea draw at home to Birmingham and Tottenham beat Arsenal at White Hart Lane tomorrow.
Then we still have to thrash Everton at OT this weekend.
Lotsa internet chatter about the 'family man' millionaire footballer shagging Imogen Thomas is Ryan Giggs. I'm definitely surprised to say the least. But then shit happens all the time does it not?
Pity our poor away form all season. The stretch of a game every 3-4 days must be taking its toll. Hopefully this game won't matter heading down this final EPL stretch.
Hoping Chelsea draw at home to Birmingham and Tottenham beat Arsenal at White Hart Lane tomorrow.
Then we still have to thrash Everton at OT this weekend.
Lotsa internet chatter about the 'family man' millionaire footballer shagging Imogen Thomas is Ryan Giggs. I'm definitely surprised to say the least. But then shit happens all the time does it not?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Elections Lai Lo!
Singapore Government has dissolved parliament for the upcoming 14th GE.
Can't wait to attend some rallies for Pasir Ris - Punggol.
I think this elections with be trully exciting.
I am predicting that the opposition with win at least 1 GRC and 4 SMCs this time around. Still less than 2/3 majority but more ground gained nonetheless.
A healthy check and balance is on the cards!
Can't wait to attend some rallies for Pasir Ris - Punggol.
I think this elections with be trully exciting.
I am predicting that the opposition with win at least 1 GRC and 4 SMCs this time around. Still less than 2/3 majority but more ground gained nonetheless.
A healthy check and balance is on the cards!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Panic Vs Choking
Panic, is the opposite of choking.
Choking is about thinking too much. Panic is about thinking too little.
Choking is about loss of instinct. Panic is reversion to instinct.
They may look the same, but they are worlds apart.
- Malcolm Gladwell, What The Dog Saw
Choking is about thinking too much. Panic is about thinking too little.
Choking is about loss of instinct. Panic is reversion to instinct.
They may look the same, but they are worlds apart.
- Malcolm Gladwell, What The Dog Saw
Wahahahahaha!
Following the Arsenal - Liverpool match earlier.
Final score 1-1.
All 90 mins hardly any action and then in the 96th minute, Arsenal gets a penalty, van Persie scores. I think its all over, bury my head in my hands and think what a lousy weekend this has been. Then in the 101st minute, Liverpool gets a penalty! Kuyt scores! Suddenly I'm happy all over again.
6 games left to go and we're now 6 points clear at the top. As long as we win our 4 other games, the two crucial ones against Arsenal and Chelsea won't even matter! Haha! Can't be happier right now. For once, we just might have Liverpool to thank for.
Let's get the job done against Newcastle Tuesday!
FA Cup? What FA Cup?
Final score 1-1.
All 90 mins hardly any action and then in the 96th minute, Arsenal gets a penalty, van Persie scores. I think its all over, bury my head in my hands and think what a lousy weekend this has been. Then in the 101st minute, Liverpool gets a penalty! Kuyt scores! Suddenly I'm happy all over again.
6 games left to go and we're now 6 points clear at the top. As long as we win our 4 other games, the two crucial ones against Arsenal and Chelsea won't even matter! Haha! Can't be happier right now. For once, we just might have Liverpool to thank for.
Let's get the job done against Newcastle Tuesday!
FA Cup? What FA Cup?
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