Ok. The last comment by KOP got me started to look (again) for a complete list of Chinese numbers.
We all remember till wan (10 thousand) and yi (1 billion). But there are numbers in between and more than that.
Finally, I managed to find a site that listed them down. Visit here. It is very comprehensive.
It also explains the inconsistencies between ancient and modern system, and the floating point system of the Chinese.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Of Measurements and Scales
Recently, I have heard similar comparisons like these :
- Device A is "6 times slower" than Device B
- This earthquake is "9 times smaller" than the previous one
Huh ?
How then, do you make sense of :
- Country A is "2 times colder" than Country B
If Country B 's outdoor temperature is 0 (zero) degrees celcius ? What is the temperature of Country A then ?
When in primary school, I remembered that when comparing a measurement that is smaller than point of reference, it is in fractions (or percentage). Multiples or "times" is for bigger !
Is "make this half the size" equivalent to "make this 2 times smaller" ? Does the latter make any sense to you ?
*~*~*~*~*
Side track :
When you use the term "triple", do you mean "2 times bigger", or "3 time bigger" to you ? If you want to say the former, most probably your mastery of the Chinese language is pretty good.
This happens to mainly Chinese that I know of. I think it is "bi-lingualism" at work.
You see, when you double the size of something, say enlarge by a photocopying machine, the proper Mandarin way of saying it is "fang4 da4 yi1 bei4" (literally 'make bigger by 1 time').
Another example would be comparing salary. A earns $1000, B earns $2000. B earns more by "yi1 bei4". (1 time extra)
Mathematically, B is 200% of A. But the chinese is saying is something like "the EXTRA is 100% more than the original".
Thus the confusion when the English "Double" equivalent in Mandarin is "1 times more" and "Triple" is "2 times more".
Thus I see many people unable to translate quickly between the 2 languages with regards to the terms used.
*~*~*~*~*
Back to the topic.
Whenever there is a comparison, smaller, bigger, faster, slower, etc, there has to be a common point of reference. The easiest is to use one of the object as the point of reference. And it is common understanding to use the first object in the sentence as the reference.
Thus, the correct way is "A is two times the size of B" or "B is half the size of A".
To say "A is two times bigger than B" is obviously a Chinese way of saying it, and most probably conjures different images between Chinese and non-Chinese.
To say "B is two times smaller than A" is obviously incorrect.
- Device A is "6 times slower" than Device B
- This earthquake is "9 times smaller" than the previous one
Huh ?
How then, do you make sense of :
- Country A is "2 times colder" than Country B
If Country B 's outdoor temperature is 0 (zero) degrees celcius ? What is the temperature of Country A then ?
When in primary school, I remembered that when comparing a measurement that is smaller than point of reference, it is in fractions (or percentage). Multiples or "times" is for bigger !
Is "make this half the size" equivalent to "make this 2 times smaller" ? Does the latter make any sense to you ?
*~*~*~*~*
Side track :
When you use the term "triple", do you mean "2 times bigger", or "3 time bigger" to you ? If you want to say the former, most probably your mastery of the Chinese language is pretty good.
This happens to mainly Chinese that I know of. I think it is "bi-lingualism" at work.
You see, when you double the size of something, say enlarge by a photocopying machine, the proper Mandarin way of saying it is "fang4 da4 yi1 bei4" (literally 'make bigger by 1 time').
Another example would be comparing salary. A earns $1000, B earns $2000. B earns more by "yi1 bei4". (1 time extra)
Mathematically, B is 200% of A. But the chinese is saying is something like "the EXTRA is 100% more than the original".
Thus the confusion when the English "Double" equivalent in Mandarin is "1 times more" and "Triple" is "2 times more".
Thus I see many people unable to translate quickly between the 2 languages with regards to the terms used.
*~*~*~*~*
Back to the topic.
Whenever there is a comparison, smaller, bigger, faster, slower, etc, there has to be a common point of reference. The easiest is to use one of the object as the point of reference. And it is common understanding to use the first object in the sentence as the reference.
Thus, the correct way is "A is two times the size of B" or "B is half the size of A".
To say "A is two times bigger than B" is obviously a Chinese way of saying it, and most probably conjures different images between Chinese and non-Chinese.
To say "B is two times smaller than A" is obviously incorrect.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Earthquake ?
It was about 12.15am of 29th March 2005. I was on the net, right after I came back from my holiday.
So here I was using my computer, when I felt my computer table swaying. I thought it was me, moving my mouse too violently. Then I sit back. I saw my CDs rattling, my chair swaying. I am now sure that my apartment (or at least, my bedroom floor) is shaking.
I ran over to my friend's room next door. I asked if he felt the house shaking. He said no. Then I pointed to his wind chime that is dangling against the window grille. It rattled. Then stopped. Then rattled. Then stopped. Total of about 5 times.
I looked downstairs, nothing was happening. I was sure there was an earthquake somewhere. I chatted with a 2 friends on MSN. None felt it.
So now it is confirmed. The tremours I felt in Bt Panjang was slight. Or maybe it was because I had felt 2 earthquakes in Taiwan before and in comparison, this was nothing.
But then, water did not spill from my cup. Things were not falling off my table. There was no panic. It didn't felt threatening anyway. And my friend did not run out screaming. So all is fine.
So here I was using my computer, when I felt my computer table swaying. I thought it was me, moving my mouse too violently. Then I sit back. I saw my CDs rattling, my chair swaying. I am now sure that my apartment (or at least, my bedroom floor) is shaking.
I ran over to my friend's room next door. I asked if he felt the house shaking. He said no. Then I pointed to his wind chime that is dangling against the window grille. It rattled. Then stopped. Then rattled. Then stopped. Total of about 5 times.
I looked downstairs, nothing was happening. I was sure there was an earthquake somewhere. I chatted with a 2 friends on MSN. None felt it.
So now it is confirmed. The tremours I felt in Bt Panjang was slight. Or maybe it was because I had felt 2 earthquakes in Taiwan before and in comparison, this was nothing.
But then, water did not spill from my cup. Things were not falling off my table. There was no panic. It didn't felt threatening anyway. And my friend did not run out screaming. So all is fine.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.
This was spotted somewhere on the Internet. Now, if only I know where the location is. I have a bit of PE (C2) and a detonator somewhere in my house....
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
I Hate Myself and I Hate All Sick Drivers ...
Had a bad morning... baaaaaad morning.
I woke up very tired. I did my morning rituals and prepare to go to work. I went down to my car, and it was very dirty. Someone had threw I-dunno-what-the-heck-it-was from upstairs and hit my car.
It wasn't the first time this happened. I had curry rice land on my car-roof one time. And another time, I was standing beside my car, parked in the parking lot, chatting with a friend and heard loud thud of soiled-pampers landing on the car beside me. Sick people, I tell you.
So I opened the boot and took out a bottle of tap water to clear up the mess. Then I threw away the bottle, came back, and drove out of the carpark. Once I hit the main road, I looked at my rear-view mirror and saw that it was half-obsured. I had left my boot opened. Damn. Silly Me.
I put on my hazard light as there was a car coming from behind. In my haste to pull into the bus stop, my front left wheel hit the kerb. I came out, closed my boot and went to take a quick glance at the wheel. Part of the rubber tyre was white with cement residue. My rims also had white marks, which I thought was just cement. Should be cleared once I get to office.
So I went on my journey to office. Going my usual route. Of course, meeting the usual bunch of morning traffic. I was waiting for a turn into my office carpark from the opposite side. There were many cars coming and I had to stop at the junction.
Now this is where I get pissed at the sick and stupid drivers who do not know how to use their signal indicators.
There was this car coming, a little slow, but not slow enough for me to dash across the road. So I waited. And the bastard was turning into the junction just in front of me. Had he signalled his intention, I would have cut across the road, knowing very well that he will be turning away, and the cars behind him is still a distance.
Because of this idiot, I am left with waiting at the junction for another full minute, with streams of cars coming.
Cursing and swearing at such idiots, I begin to wonder why I even bother to signal my intentions even to pedestrians, so that they know whether to cross the road or not. Bloody idiot drivers.
Then I reach my office carpark, got out, and checked the tyres. Lesser white marks. I bent down and took a closer look. Damn ! The rim was damaged. Had deep cuts along almost half the circumference of the rim.
DAMN IT !!!! I HATE EVERYONE !!!!
I woke up very tired. I did my morning rituals and prepare to go to work. I went down to my car, and it was very dirty. Someone had threw I-dunno-what-the-heck-it-was from upstairs and hit my car.
It wasn't the first time this happened. I had curry rice land on my car-roof one time. And another time, I was standing beside my car, parked in the parking lot, chatting with a friend and heard loud thud of soiled-pampers landing on the car beside me. Sick people, I tell you.
So I opened the boot and took out a bottle of tap water to clear up the mess. Then I threw away the bottle, came back, and drove out of the carpark. Once I hit the main road, I looked at my rear-view mirror and saw that it was half-obsured. I had left my boot opened. Damn. Silly Me.
I put on my hazard light as there was a car coming from behind. In my haste to pull into the bus stop, my front left wheel hit the kerb. I came out, closed my boot and went to take a quick glance at the wheel. Part of the rubber tyre was white with cement residue. My rims also had white marks, which I thought was just cement. Should be cleared once I get to office.
So I went on my journey to office. Going my usual route. Of course, meeting the usual bunch of morning traffic. I was waiting for a turn into my office carpark from the opposite side. There were many cars coming and I had to stop at the junction.
Now this is where I get pissed at the sick and stupid drivers who do not know how to use their signal indicators.
There was this car coming, a little slow, but not slow enough for me to dash across the road. So I waited. And the bastard was turning into the junction just in front of me. Had he signalled his intention, I would have cut across the road, knowing very well that he will be turning away, and the cars behind him is still a distance.
Because of this idiot, I am left with waiting at the junction for another full minute, with streams of cars coming.
Cursing and swearing at such idiots, I begin to wonder why I even bother to signal my intentions even to pedestrians, so that they know whether to cross the road or not. Bloody idiot drivers.
Then I reach my office carpark, got out, and checked the tyres. Lesser white marks. I bent down and took a closer look. Damn ! The rim was damaged. Had deep cuts along almost half the circumference of the rim.
DAMN IT !!!! I HATE EVERYONE !!!!
Orrrr. My Father So Naughty
Saw this old packaging of the old water heater that I used when I was young. The heater is no longer around (I think), but the box is used to store other junk.
I think I know why my father bought this brand hor, even though it is not a very famous or popular brand. Wah. How come no R(A) ratings huh ? Movies that show so much, sure kenna slap with R(A) ratings one ...
I think I know why my father bought this brand hor, even though it is not a very famous or popular brand. Wah. How come no R(A) ratings huh ? Movies that show so much, sure kenna slap with R(A) ratings one ...
Economy not good
Took this while I was having dinner.
Economy not good hor... But other stall got long queue leh.... Get her to retrain and sell other food lor.
Economy not good hor... But other stall got long queue leh.... Get her to retrain and sell other food lor.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Early Ching Ming And The Scary World I Live In
I spent the last weekend doing rituals - Ching Ming. On Saturday, my family went to Malaysia to pay respects to my great-grandmother at her grave. (I have taken a few pics of the nice mountain scenary and the grave, but I think nobody wants to see spooky graveyards of someone not related to them, so I shall spare you.)
The rituals include cleaning the graves of some other relatives and neighbours and inviting them over to my great-grandma's graveyard to taste our offerings and have a gathering. After the candles are burnt and the joss-sticks mostly combusted, we offered to burn hell-bank-notes for them to spend in the netherworld.
Then we went to visit a few of my father's old primary school friends and also neighbours. Ended the evening with a grocery shopping at the nearest mall before heading back home. Of course, I also tried to pump my tank full of cheaper Malaysian petrol before heading back home.
On Sunday, we went to pay respects to my grandfather, who is now living in an apartment in a Chinese temple off Old Holland Road. Even in death, Singaporeans (or a Singapore Resident, in the case of my grandfather,) do not have the luxuary of RIP in landed property.
Of course, not forgetting other relatives who are also housed in the same temple, to share in the offerings.
My father and my grandfather, as far back as I know, were at loggerheads. I shall not attempt to summarize a lifetime of issues here.
Although I have always seen arguments and quarrels in the house when I was younger, my father has always been filial in handling my grandfather's old age, illness and stuff like that. Of course, there are gripes on how the other siblings are not helping and even angry at my father for ill-treating my grandparent's.
Of course, when offered the "If you think I am treating them so badly, then bring them to your house lah ! You show me how to be filial lah !" statement (though not that way literally, my father sugar-coats his words), no one accepts the challenge. My father, by the way, is not the eldest son. He is the 3rd sibling, behind an eldest uncle and an elder auntie.
When my grandfather was alife, I ever wondered whether my father was filial due to "peer pressure" or things of that sort. Even in death, I sometimes wonder whether all these Ching Ming thing is truely from his heart, or just trying to inbue in us this filial ritual so that we will do the same for him when he passes on.
Sometimes, I wonder whether I am really so sick of this world that I even start to doubt the intention of my own father. Sometimes, I think I am the sick one. Why do these thoughts cross my mind ?
The world is already a scary place. I am grateful that I do not have telepathy or any mind-reading abilities, or I have to deal with an even darker world than it already is.
The rituals include cleaning the graves of some other relatives and neighbours and inviting them over to my great-grandma's graveyard to taste our offerings and have a gathering. After the candles are burnt and the joss-sticks mostly combusted, we offered to burn hell-bank-notes for them to spend in the netherworld.
Then we went to visit a few of my father's old primary school friends and also neighbours. Ended the evening with a grocery shopping at the nearest mall before heading back home. Of course, I also tried to pump my tank full of cheaper Malaysian petrol before heading back home.
*~*~*~*~*
On Sunday, we went to pay respects to my grandfather, who is now living in an apartment in a Chinese temple off Old Holland Road. Even in death, Singaporeans (or a Singapore Resident, in the case of my grandfather,) do not have the luxuary of RIP in landed property.
Of course, not forgetting other relatives who are also housed in the same temple, to share in the offerings.
*~*~*~*~*
My father and my grandfather, as far back as I know, were at loggerheads. I shall not attempt to summarize a lifetime of issues here.
Although I have always seen arguments and quarrels in the house when I was younger, my father has always been filial in handling my grandfather's old age, illness and stuff like that. Of course, there are gripes on how the other siblings are not helping and even angry at my father for ill-treating my grandparent's.
Of course, when offered the "If you think I am treating them so badly, then bring them to your house lah ! You show me how to be filial lah !" statement (though not that way literally, my father sugar-coats his words), no one accepts the challenge. My father, by the way, is not the eldest son. He is the 3rd sibling, behind an eldest uncle and an elder auntie.
When my grandfather was alife, I ever wondered whether my father was filial due to "peer pressure" or things of that sort. Even in death, I sometimes wonder whether all these Ching Ming thing is truely from his heart, or just trying to inbue in us this filial ritual so that we will do the same for him when he passes on.
Sometimes, I wonder whether I am really so sick of this world that I even start to doubt the intention of my own father. Sometimes, I think I am the sick one. Why do these thoughts cross my mind ?
The world is already a scary place. I am grateful that I do not have telepathy or any mind-reading abilities, or I have to deal with an even darker world than it already is.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
A Response from Traffic Police
Someone in MyCarForum sent an email to the Traffic Police to clarify some "doubts". I will cut at paste his entire email here :
Dear Mr Tan,
Our responses to your questions are stated below in blue.
My apologies for not replying to you earlier.
Regards
MRS M PRASAD | Head Service Quality | Service Quality Branch | Traffic
Police Dept
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|WARNING: "Privileged/Confidential information may be contained in this|
|message. If you are not the intended addressee, you must not copy,|
|distribute or take any action in reliance thereon. Communication of any|
|information in this email to any unauthorised person is an offence under|
|the Official Secrets Act (Cap 213). Please notify the sender immediately|
|if you receive this in error." |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
To: SPF Feedback TP/SPF/SINGOV@SINGOV
t.sg> cc:
Subject: Clarifications on traffic laws
28/02/2005 02:08
PM
Dear Sir
Many of us drivers are uncertain of a couple of rules which I hope someone
in your organisation can help us with.
1. Is Lane 1 on an expressway designated as an overtaking lane ? and that
only on lane 1, you can overtake other vehicles ?
There is no specific legislation stipulating that the rightmost lane is
only for overtaking.
2. When one drives on Lane 1 on an expressway at the speed limit of 90Kmph,
can one be booked for road hogging - assuming he is not blocking a
emergency vehicle ?
Whether travelling on on the rightmost lane within speed limit constitutes
road hogging is circumstantial. Motorists travelling at or near the speed
limit are generally not deemed to be road hogging.
3. If you overtake another vehicle on lane 2, using lane 1, are you allowed
to exceed the speed limit in the process ?
Driving beyond the speed limit to overtake a vehicle is clearly a speeding
offence.
As these issues are common misunderstandings that might lead to large
groups of drivers to unknowingly break the traffic acts, we hope you can
spare us a bit of your attention and time.
Thanking you in advance
Law abiding citizen
Wow. I like the "There is no specific legislation stipulating that the rightmost lane is only for overtaking" part. Not even the mention of any road courtesy of keeping left. No wonder Singaporeans use all lanes without regards to the common understanding that rightmost lane is for emergency vehicles/overtaking only. Let me check the NEW Basic Theory text to see if it has been changed.
You can have Lane 1 - Lorry at 70km/h, Lane 2 - Car A at 85km/h, Lane 3 - Car B at 85km/h. And since car B is near the speed limit, he/she will not be considered road-hogging. Nevermind that others want to overtake at 89km/h or even 92km/h.
what is courtesy ? What is road manners ? No Road Courtesy Campaign, TP not giving out awards ? Heck lah ! No need to give way ! Singapore, Way to GO, YEAH !!!!!
Dear Mr Tan,
Our responses to your questions are stated below in blue.
My apologies for not replying to you earlier.
Regards
MRS M PRASAD | Head Service Quality | Service Quality Branch | Traffic
Police Dept
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|WARNING: "Privileged/Confidential information may be contained in this|
|message. If you are not the intended addressee, you must not copy,|
|distribute or take any action in reliance thereon. Communication of any|
|information in this email to any unauthorised person is an offence under|
|the Official Secrets Act (Cap 213). Please notify the sender immediately|
|if you receive this in error." |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
To: SPF Feedback TP/SPF/SINGOV@SINGOV
t.sg> cc:
Subject: Clarifications on traffic laws
28/02/2005 02:08
PM
Dear Sir
Many of us drivers are uncertain of a couple of rules which I hope someone
in your organisation can help us with.
1. Is Lane 1 on an expressway designated as an overtaking lane ? and that
only on lane 1, you can overtake other vehicles ?
There is no specific legislation stipulating that the rightmost lane is
only for overtaking.
2. When one drives on Lane 1 on an expressway at the speed limit of 90Kmph,
can one be booked for road hogging - assuming he is not blocking a
emergency vehicle ?
Whether travelling on on the rightmost lane within speed limit constitutes
road hogging is circumstantial. Motorists travelling at or near the speed
limit are generally not deemed to be road hogging.
3. If you overtake another vehicle on lane 2, using lane 1, are you allowed
to exceed the speed limit in the process ?
Driving beyond the speed limit to overtake a vehicle is clearly a speeding
offence.
As these issues are common misunderstandings that might lead to large
groups of drivers to unknowingly break the traffic acts, we hope you can
spare us a bit of your attention and time.
Thanking you in advance
Law abiding citizen
*~*~*~*~*
Wow. I like the "There is no specific legislation stipulating that the rightmost lane is only for overtaking" part. Not even the mention of any road courtesy of keeping left. No wonder Singaporeans use all lanes without regards to the common understanding that rightmost lane is for emergency vehicles/overtaking only. Let me check the NEW Basic Theory text to see if it has been changed.
You can have Lane 1 - Lorry at 70km/h, Lane 2 - Car A at 85km/h, Lane 3 - Car B at 85km/h. And since car B is near the speed limit, he/she will not be considered road-hogging. Nevermind that others want to overtake at 89km/h or even 92km/h.
what is courtesy ? What is road manners ? No Road Courtesy Campaign, TP not giving out awards ? Heck lah ! No need to give way ! Singapore, Way to GO, YEAH !!!!!
Fearoflongwordsphobia
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - Fear of long words.
Damn. These people are sick.. SICK !!!!!!
Damn. These people are sick.. SICK !!!!!!
Ode to Amoeba
Oh, Amoeba, Amoeba,
what amazing creature you are.
Sprouting nonsense without a thought,
hard to believe that all these rot,
came from a single-celled protoplasm.
You have theories for all to hear,
ranging from your life to the kids you rear.
How you can train your little genius,
from an ugly duckling into a princess,
using your pressure tactics disguised as tuition.
In office, your skills of might you display,
Thinking all will bow at your feet and pray.
Alas, amazing days you thought will last forever,
little did you know that it is all going to be over,
if you still stay in your ivory tower.
Like the actual Amoeba when discovered,
you were like a hidden jewel uncovered.
People were pleased with your initial abilities,
continued to watch and were amazed at your faculties,
your utility value was almost at infinity.
But after a while we all got bored,
from a single-cell, permutations not galore.
Your tricks were tried and tested,
on all whose interest were vested,
your actions were mostly as predicted.
Once in a while surpises awaits,
we can see how the Amoeba mutates.
Just when we think "what else is new",
out comes manure that is so 'eeeeew',
Amoeba outshines with new disgusting spew.
what amazing creature you are.
Sprouting nonsense without a thought,
hard to believe that all these rot,
came from a single-celled protoplasm.
You have theories for all to hear,
ranging from your life to the kids you rear.
How you can train your little genius,
from an ugly duckling into a princess,
using your pressure tactics disguised as tuition.
In office, your skills of might you display,
Thinking all will bow at your feet and pray.
Alas, amazing days you thought will last forever,
little did you know that it is all going to be over,
if you still stay in your ivory tower.
Like the actual Amoeba when discovered,
you were like a hidden jewel uncovered.
People were pleased with your initial abilities,
continued to watch and were amazed at your faculties,
your utility value was almost at infinity.
But after a while we all got bored,
from a single-cell, permutations not galore.
Your tricks were tried and tested,
on all whose interest were vested,
your actions were mostly as predicted.
Once in a while surpises awaits,
we can see how the Amoeba mutates.
Just when we think "what else is new",
out comes manure that is so 'eeeeew',
Amoeba outshines with new disgusting spew.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Gays and Their AIDS.
Dr Balaji is right. Spike in the MOH HIV/AIDS statistics shows that HIV/AIDS cases due to homosexuality has increase in porportion. Now, they stand at 22%.
Although he said one third. I suspect he included those "bisexuals" into "homosexuals" category. Those bisexuals must have gotten HIV/AIDS from their gay partners. Very sure of it. Chances of getting it from girls are very low.
But I disagree with one thing he said. We should NOT stop the gay parties. Instead, we should :
(1) Openly accept gays into our society. This is very important. Welcome them with open arms.
(2) Not to force gays to change. Not to force them to get married to escape pressure/stigma.
(3) ENCOURAGE more gay sex.
(4) DISCOURAGE the use of condoms. Have more unprotected sex.
(5) Let HIV/AIDS prevail in the gay community.
(6) Do not treat them. Let them die of AIDS.
That way, we will rid Singapore of gays ! Hooray ! I found the solution to keep Singapore a moralistic holy ground. We will not only be Tourist hub, Biomedical Hub, Arts Hub, we will also be the world's first Morally-Upright Hub.
My friends and I have discovered this new Hypothesis :
(1) We have new generation Ministers who has profound insights to many Singapore issues :
"If you want to dance on a bar top, some of us will fall off that bar top. Some people will die as a result of liberalising bar-top dancing. Not just because they've fallen off the bar top, but because it's usually a young girl with a short skirt who's dancing on it, who may attract some insults from some other men. The boyfriend starts fighting. Some people will die. Blood will be shed for liberalising the policy."
- Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Chairman of Remaking S'pore Commitee, Straits Times Oct 3
and
Meanwhile, Dr Balaji revealed that of last year's newly-diagnosed patients, 90 per cent were males with one-third being gays.
He said that the MOH was not aware of the reasons for the sharp increase of HIV in the gay community but an epidemiologist had suggested that it may be linked to an annual, predominantly gay party in Sentosa which allowed gays from high prevalence countries to "fraternise with local gay men, seeding infection in the local community."
He noted, however, that this was a hypothesis and more research needed to be done.
- Today Online, Thursday, March 10, 2005
(2) These are 2 medical doctors
(3) Their names start with "Bala"
So the hypothesis is that medical doctors with names "Bala"-something and are Ministers in Singapore will, sooner or later in their political career, make profound comments that inspire members of the public.
And so far, our hypothesis is 100% accurate. But it still requires more research..
Shared my hypothesis with a forum and someone suggested :
Maybe B.A.L.A. stands for "Best At Ludicrous Assumptions..."
Thanks Dtvox !
Although he said one third. I suspect he included those "bisexuals" into "homosexuals" category. Those bisexuals must have gotten HIV/AIDS from their gay partners. Very sure of it. Chances of getting it from girls are very low.
But I disagree with one thing he said. We should NOT stop the gay parties. Instead, we should :
(1) Openly accept gays into our society. This is very important. Welcome them with open arms.
(2) Not to force gays to change. Not to force them to get married to escape pressure/stigma.
(3) ENCOURAGE more gay sex.
(4) DISCOURAGE the use of condoms. Have more unprotected sex.
(5) Let HIV/AIDS prevail in the gay community.
(6) Do not treat them. Let them die of AIDS.
That way, we will rid Singapore of gays ! Hooray ! I found the solution to keep Singapore a moralistic holy ground. We will not only be Tourist hub, Biomedical Hub, Arts Hub, we will also be the world's first Morally-Upright Hub.
*~*~*~*~*
My friends and I have discovered this new Hypothesis :
(1) We have new generation Ministers who has profound insights to many Singapore issues :
"If you want to dance on a bar top, some of us will fall off that bar top. Some people will die as a result of liberalising bar-top dancing. Not just because they've fallen off the bar top, but because it's usually a young girl with a short skirt who's dancing on it, who may attract some insults from some other men. The boyfriend starts fighting. Some people will die. Blood will be shed for liberalising the policy."
- Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Chairman of Remaking S'pore Commitee, Straits Times Oct 3
and
Meanwhile, Dr Balaji revealed that of last year's newly-diagnosed patients, 90 per cent were males with one-third being gays.
He said that the MOH was not aware of the reasons for the sharp increase of HIV in the gay community but an epidemiologist had suggested that it may be linked to an annual, predominantly gay party in Sentosa which allowed gays from high prevalence countries to "fraternise with local gay men, seeding infection in the local community."
He noted, however, that this was a hypothesis and more research needed to be done.
- Today Online, Thursday, March 10, 2005
(2) These are 2 medical doctors
(3) Their names start with "Bala"
So the hypothesis is that medical doctors with names "Bala"-something and are Ministers in Singapore will, sooner or later in their political career, make profound comments that inspire members of the public.
And so far, our hypothesis is 100% accurate. But it still requires more research..
*~*~*~*~*
Shared my hypothesis with a forum and someone suggested :
Maybe B.A.L.A. stands for "Best At Ludicrous Assumptions..."
Thanks Dtvox !
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Four Steps to Chaos
Sorry I can't provide a link to exactly where I got this from. Though I have very strong feeling that it is from an old issue of Harvard Business Review. Archived in my hard disk for quite some time, so I thought I might as well share it with you guys. I always share knowledge, you know.
So next time, when you are in management (no matter what level), you can participate in corporate games.
Why do things, even very simple ones, so often go wrong in organizations ? Usually, it’s a matter of miscommunication. And, as organizational scholar Chris Argyris points out, the perpetrators are often senior managers who actually have very strong communication skills. When they want to avoid commitment – and responsibility – these managers may deliberately send mixed messages to their organizations, in a way that cuts off debate and, in the end, sows confusion.
From “Skilled Incompetence” – by Chris Argyris
How does a manager send mixed messages ? It takes skill. Here are four rules :
1. Design a clearly ambiguous message.
For example, “Be innovative and take risks, but be careful” is a message that says, in effect, “Go, but go just so far” without specifying how far “far” is. The ambiguity and imprecision cover the speaker who can’t know ahead of time what is too far. The receivers may also need an out someday and may want to keep the message imprecise. Receivers don’t want “far” defined any more clearly than the senders do.
2. Ignore any inconsistencies in the message.
When people send mixed messages, they usually do it spontaneously and with no sign that the message is mixed. Indeed, if they did appear to hesitate, they would defeat their purpose of maintaining control. Even worse, they might appear weak.
3. Make the ambiguity and inconsistency in the message undiscussable.
The whole point of sending a mixed message is to avoid dealing with a situation straight on. An executive is not about to send a mixed message and then ask, “Do you find my message inconsistent and ambiguous ?” The executive also renders the message undiscussable by the very natural way of sending it. To challenge the innocence of the sender is to imply that the sender is duplicitous – not a likely thing for a subordinate to do.
4. Make the undiscussability also undiscussable.
One of the best ways to do this is to send the mixed message in a setting that is not conducive to open inquiry, such as a large meeting or a group where people of unequal organizational status are present. No one wants to launder linen in public. During a meeting, people rarely talk about how the organizational culture, including the meeting, makes discussing the undiscussable difficult.
So next time, when you are in management (no matter what level), you can participate in corporate games.
*~*~*~*~*
Why do things, even very simple ones, so often go wrong in organizations ? Usually, it’s a matter of miscommunication. And, as organizational scholar Chris Argyris points out, the perpetrators are often senior managers who actually have very strong communication skills. When they want to avoid commitment – and responsibility – these managers may deliberately send mixed messages to their organizations, in a way that cuts off debate and, in the end, sows confusion.
From “Skilled Incompetence” – by Chris Argyris
How does a manager send mixed messages ? It takes skill. Here are four rules :
1. Design a clearly ambiguous message.
For example, “Be innovative and take risks, but be careful” is a message that says, in effect, “Go, but go just so far” without specifying how far “far” is. The ambiguity and imprecision cover the speaker who can’t know ahead of time what is too far. The receivers may also need an out someday and may want to keep the message imprecise. Receivers don’t want “far” defined any more clearly than the senders do.
2. Ignore any inconsistencies in the message.
When people send mixed messages, they usually do it spontaneously and with no sign that the message is mixed. Indeed, if they did appear to hesitate, they would defeat their purpose of maintaining control. Even worse, they might appear weak.
3. Make the ambiguity and inconsistency in the message undiscussable.
The whole point of sending a mixed message is to avoid dealing with a situation straight on. An executive is not about to send a mixed message and then ask, “Do you find my message inconsistent and ambiguous ?” The executive also renders the message undiscussable by the very natural way of sending it. To challenge the innocence of the sender is to imply that the sender is duplicitous – not a likely thing for a subordinate to do.
4. Make the undiscussability also undiscussable.
One of the best ways to do this is to send the mixed message in a setting that is not conducive to open inquiry, such as a large meeting or a group where people of unequal organizational status are present. No one wants to launder linen in public. During a meeting, people rarely talk about how the organizational culture, including the meeting, makes discussing the undiscussable difficult.
Dental Visit
Just came back from the dreaded dental visit. It was precipitated by my dinner last night.
Ok. Promise not to laugh. Put up your hand and swear... Really...
Had dinner last night with a few friends. One of them is trying his baking skills. So he brought some cookies for all of us to try. I took one. It was hard. Took the first bite with my front teeth and started chewing.
All was fine, until I finished the whole cookie. I felt something stuck in my front teeth, thus I used my tongue to get it out. Couldn't. So I excused myself and went to the washroom. I discovered, to my dread, that a filling had disloged.
It did not come out completely, but it is definitely loose. I managed to scrape through dinner and supper. Once I got home, I tried to get the piece out. After 10 minutes, I managed to do so. It left a slight gap between my teeth.
This morning, I called the dentist and went over asap. Got it filled. Now I am back. I have to watch what I put in my front teeth.
*~*~*~*~
You promised not to laugh !
Oh well, it was not unlike an incident that I knew of, long time ago. Except that it was more dramatic and I was the one laughing. Ok. Retribution.
Ok. Promise not to laugh. Put up your hand and swear... Really...
Had dinner last night with a few friends. One of them is trying his baking skills. So he brought some cookies for all of us to try. I took one. It was hard. Took the first bite with my front teeth and started chewing.
All was fine, until I finished the whole cookie. I felt something stuck in my front teeth, thus I used my tongue to get it out. Couldn't. So I excused myself and went to the washroom. I discovered, to my dread, that a filling had disloged.
It did not come out completely, but it is definitely loose. I managed to scrape through dinner and supper. Once I got home, I tried to get the piece out. After 10 minutes, I managed to do so. It left a slight gap between my teeth.
This morning, I called the dentist and went over asap. Got it filled. Now I am back. I have to watch what I put in my front teeth.
*~*~*~*~
You promised not to laugh !
Oh well, it was not unlike an incident that I knew of, long time ago. Except that it was more dramatic and I was the one laughing. Ok. Retribution.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Painful Weekend
Yesterday, I went with a group of friends to Wild Wild Wet at Pasir Ris. Was there at about 10 in the morning. Had breakfast at Burger King.
Now, an interesting conversation happened while ordering breakfast. Ordered Croissant meal, and the lady at the counter ask "Do you want Bacon, Sausage or Ham ?". I was pondering my choices verbally with my friend, trying to decide what kind of meat to take. It took me a full 15 seconds before I realize 2 things :
(1) The 3 choices are from the same animal - Pig
(2) Burger King is supposed to be a Halal Restaurant.
Then I looked at the lady. She looked Malay and her name tag says a Malay name. She even spoke with Malay accent. While she was preparing our orders, I quickly looked at the menu and sure enough, I found the Halal food logo there.
I bit my tongue to prevent myself from clarifying where their "Bacon, Sausage and Ham" came from. I was thinking the Sausage could be from chicken or beef. But Bacon and Ham ???
Anyway, we hit the waters at around 11. It was pretty fun. Took all the rides (there were not many in the first place) and hung around at the wave pool.
By the time we decided to leave, it was about 4 and my body was red. Needless to say, I was burnt. Real bad.
I got home about 7pm and started to put on more moisturizer. I had a few small blisters on my back. Ouch. I slept without my shirt and with my back facing the sky (ok, the ceiling).
Now, it still hurts and is also itchy. I will have to hang a sign on my back to tell everyone to back-off and not to touch me. *sigh* I am going to suffer for a week...
Now, an interesting conversation happened while ordering breakfast. Ordered Croissant meal, and the lady at the counter ask "Do you want Bacon, Sausage or Ham ?". I was pondering my choices verbally with my friend, trying to decide what kind of meat to take. It took me a full 15 seconds before I realize 2 things :
(1) The 3 choices are from the same animal - Pig
(2) Burger King is supposed to be a Halal Restaurant.
Then I looked at the lady. She looked Malay and her name tag says a Malay name. She even spoke with Malay accent. While she was preparing our orders, I quickly looked at the menu and sure enough, I found the Halal food logo there.
I bit my tongue to prevent myself from clarifying where their "Bacon, Sausage and Ham" came from. I was thinking the Sausage could be from chicken or beef. But Bacon and Ham ???
Anyway, we hit the waters at around 11. It was pretty fun. Took all the rides (there were not many in the first place) and hung around at the wave pool.
By the time we decided to leave, it was about 4 and my body was red. Needless to say, I was burnt. Real bad.
I got home about 7pm and started to put on more moisturizer. I had a few small blisters on my back. Ouch. I slept without my shirt and with my back facing the sky (ok, the ceiling).
Now, it still hurts and is also itchy. I will have to hang a sign on my back to tell everyone to back-off and not to touch me. *sigh* I am going to suffer for a week...
Friday, March 04, 2005
My Encounter with BizFile
I received a letter from ACRA asking me to renew my business registration.
Catch is, I MUST do it ONLINE.
Ok. Fine.
Day 1 :
Evening, at home. Using Firefox, I tried to access www.bizfile.gov.sg as directed. Page did not load.
Wait 5 minutes - Surf Porn on separate tabs.
Hit Reload - Server Busy.
Hit Reload - Page empty.
Wait 5 minutes - download Porn.
Thinking maybe it doesn't support firefox, I opened my IE and tried.
Again, Server Busy.
Forget it. Will do it in office tomorrow.
For now, Porn, porn and more porn.
Day 2 :
In Office, tried with Firefox.
Page loaded. Click to use SingPass.
CPF site busy (Damn, must be those students registering for JAE)
Waited a while. Checked office mail.
Redo from start. Load BizFile.
Click SingPass
Entered NRIC
Entered Password
Server Busy (I was not sure which server, CPF or BizFile)
Went for lunch. (Hey, I worked in between ok. Not as if all I did the whole day is to renew my registration.)
Afternoon, tried again.
Server is either always busy, or page did not load.
Tried IE as well.
Several times, got terminated during SingPass authentication process.
Night, went home.
Tried a few times, unsuccessful.
Yeah, you guessed it. More porn...
Day 3 :
Office, Loaded BizFile, Entered SingPass. Hooray, Success. In Main Page.
Select "Business Renewal".
Entered my business registration number.
Select 1 year renewal.
Select pay by Credit card.
Page hangs - nothing is loaded.
Clicking on the button again yields a message that says request is being processed, click OK to abort.
Firefox logo is showing no data transfer.
Click abort.
Session terminated.
Redo from start.
Encountered 3 times of "Server Busy" at various stages.
Frustration, anger. Can't download porn in office to de-stress.
Wanted to write an email to or call a customer service to complain. Can't find their contact on www.bizfile.com. Damn. Wanted to scream at someone... Give up for the day.
Day 4 :
Tried again.
With a few reloads needed, I managed to login via SingPass again.
Clicked Business Renewal.
Prompted that I had transaction pending.
Select Continue transaction.
Click Pay by Credit Card.
Hanged.
Took deep breaths. Mumbled curses. Took snacks.
Tried again.
Login via SingPass again.
Clicked Business Renewal.
Prompted that I had transaction pending.
Select Continue transaction.
Click Pay by Credit Card
Page loaded. *Finally*
Entered Credit Card information.
Click Submit.
Says successful.
Click on "Print Receipt"
Page not found. *What the heck*
Click again.
Page loaded. Printed Receipt.
How wonder, this e-citizen concept and stuff...
Catch is, I MUST do it ONLINE.
Ok. Fine.
Day 1 :
Evening, at home. Using Firefox, I tried to access www.bizfile.gov.sg as directed. Page did not load.
Wait 5 minutes - Surf Porn on separate tabs.
Hit Reload - Server Busy.
Hit Reload - Page empty.
Wait 5 minutes - download Porn.
Thinking maybe it doesn't support firefox, I opened my IE and tried.
Again, Server Busy.
Forget it. Will do it in office tomorrow.
For now, Porn, porn and more porn.
Day 2 :
In Office, tried with Firefox.
Page loaded. Click to use SingPass.
CPF site busy (Damn, must be those students registering for JAE)
Waited a while. Checked office mail.
Redo from start. Load BizFile.
Click SingPass
Entered NRIC
Entered Password
Server Busy (I was not sure which server, CPF or BizFile)
Went for lunch. (Hey, I worked in between ok. Not as if all I did the whole day is to renew my registration.)
Afternoon, tried again.
Server is either always busy, or page did not load.
Tried IE as well.
Several times, got terminated during SingPass authentication process.
Night, went home.
Tried a few times, unsuccessful.
Yeah, you guessed it. More porn...
Day 3 :
Office, Loaded BizFile, Entered SingPass. Hooray, Success. In Main Page.
Select "Business Renewal".
Entered my business registration number.
Select 1 year renewal.
Select pay by Credit card.
Page hangs - nothing is loaded.
Clicking on the button again yields a message that says request is being processed, click OK to abort.
Firefox logo is showing no data transfer.
Click abort.
Session terminated.
Redo from start.
Encountered 3 times of "Server Busy" at various stages.
Frustration, anger. Can't download porn in office to de-stress.
Wanted to write an email to or call a customer service to complain. Can't find their contact on www.bizfile.com. Damn. Wanted to scream at someone... Give up for the day.
Day 4 :
Tried again.
With a few reloads needed, I managed to login via SingPass again.
Clicked Business Renewal.
Prompted that I had transaction pending.
Select Continue transaction.
Click Pay by Credit Card.
Hanged.
Took deep breaths. Mumbled curses. Took snacks.
Tried again.
Login via SingPass again.
Clicked Business Renewal.
Prompted that I had transaction pending.
Select Continue transaction.
Click Pay by Credit Card
Page loaded. *Finally*
Entered Credit Card information.
Click Submit.
Says successful.
Click on "Print Receipt"
Page not found. *What the heck*
Click again.
Page loaded. Printed Receipt.
How wonder, this e-citizen concept and stuff...
Ban Smoking in Public Places
This debate in our parlimentary discussion yesterday. Our Nation-building press had an article, and I am only cutting the relevant portion :
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) survey found that about one in three smokers is in favour of banning people from lighting up in pubs, bars and other entertainment outlets. About one in five smokers is in favour of a similar move in hawker centres and coffee shops. And about two in three smokers are in favour of a ban in open-air places frequented by the young.
Among non-smokers, the figures are predictably higher - with more than 70 per cent in favour of a ban at entertainment outlets and more than 60 per cent at hawker centres and coffee shops. Many were also in favour of bans at bus stops, alfresco dining areas, and places such as Jurong BirdPark and the Singapore Zoo.
HPB conducted the door-to-door survey in November and December last year. A total of 1,300 people - 715 non-smokers and 585 smokers - were interviewed.
Now, if only the one-in-three and one-int-five smokers will voluntarily not smoke in public, would that help a lot ? I get a feeling that more than half of those one-in-three and one-in-five are actually just giving politically-correct answers.
Solution ? I know.
Increase tax, increase price.
Oh, it has been done ?
Damn, I am always slow...
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) survey found that about one in three smokers is in favour of banning people from lighting up in pubs, bars and other entertainment outlets. About one in five smokers is in favour of a similar move in hawker centres and coffee shops. And about two in three smokers are in favour of a ban in open-air places frequented by the young.
Among non-smokers, the figures are predictably higher - with more than 70 per cent in favour of a ban at entertainment outlets and more than 60 per cent at hawker centres and coffee shops. Many were also in favour of bans at bus stops, alfresco dining areas, and places such as Jurong BirdPark and the Singapore Zoo.
HPB conducted the door-to-door survey in November and December last year. A total of 1,300 people - 715 non-smokers and 585 smokers - were interviewed.
Now, if only the one-in-three and one-int-five smokers will voluntarily not smoke in public, would that help a lot ? I get a feeling that more than half of those one-in-three and one-in-five are actually just giving politically-correct answers.
Solution ? I know.
Increase tax, increase price.
Oh, it has been done ?
Damn, I am always slow...
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
I wish I could write like that
I guess I am not an extremely intellectual writer. Yeah yeah, I know I am not an intellectual person. So that explains it huh.
2 Issues I came across the last weekend. Both touches 2 aspects our society :
(1) Singapore Towards an open and inclusive society ?
I liked the way the author shines his bright torch using the Formula 17 movie ban. Also his precision knife cutting open the inconsistency and double-standard of our censorship board with regards to the Manazine ban.
(2) Singapore's Chinese Buddist - Every which way you look, it's a relic
Now that I've told you that, you can see how the Shanghai WFC has both a Chinese spirit and a majesty of immense power. It is also strikingly handsome. It testifies to the cultural confidence and historical depth of China that they build such buildings today.
But let me tell you, the architectural firm that conceptualised it was Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, headquartered in New York City, a fact which seriously undercuts the common but parochial belief that only Chinese can understand Chineseness. We can all cross cultural and aesthetic boundaries when we apply our minds and sensibilities to it. Add imagination, and a stunningly beautiful icon of both the age and the land is created.
I must do lots of deep thinking, keen observation, and learn to be more articulate...
2 Issues I came across the last weekend. Both touches 2 aspects our society :
(1) Singapore Towards an open and inclusive society ?
I liked the way the author shines his bright torch using the Formula 17 movie ban. Also his precision knife cutting open the inconsistency and double-standard of our censorship board with regards to the Manazine ban.
(2) Singapore's Chinese Buddist - Every which way you look, it's a relic
Now that I've told you that, you can see how the Shanghai WFC has both a Chinese spirit and a majesty of immense power. It is also strikingly handsome. It testifies to the cultural confidence and historical depth of China that they build such buildings today.
But let me tell you, the architectural firm that conceptualised it was Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, headquartered in New York City, a fact which seriously undercuts the common but parochial belief that only Chinese can understand Chineseness. We can all cross cultural and aesthetic boundaries when we apply our minds and sensibilities to it. Add imagination, and a stunningly beautiful icon of both the age and the land is created.
I must do lots of deep thinking, keen observation, and learn to be more articulate...
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