I read that the Republican Party in America is “thinking” of forcing the U.S. government to go into a “brief default” on its debt as a way to force U.S. President Obama to cut spending. To any American readers of my blog, I will say this; the Republican Party is crazy!
Honestly they are because there is no such thing as a “brief default”! If America defaults on its debts, does anyone truly believe nothing will happen? The idea of a technical default, delaying interest payments for a few days, is insane for America because no one buy U.S. Treasury for its returns; people buy U.S. Treasury bonds because it’s safe. America is a safe haven but if America default, then it will no longer be considered a safe haven and people will dump it in a hurry. If its no longer safe, then the U.S. Treasury bills are useless.
So there is no such thing as a “brief default” for America. If the United States cannot make interest payments on its debt…the consequences could be far reaching to say the least.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Good Decision
Let me put it out front first; I think the idea behind putting all adult websites on the internet under the ".xxx" suffix to be one of the stupidest ideas I’ve ever heard of. So it’s no surprise to anyone that I’m glad that the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) says they have no plans to block Singaporeans from accessing future ".xxx" adult websites.
I’m glad because it’s not going to work. Seriously, how is anyone going to regulate this rule? Currently, there are tens of thousands of websites on the internet showing adult content. Put up by thousands of companies all over the world. How in the world is anyone going to make them (all) go under the “.xxx” suffix? It’s just not possible. Doubtlessly there will be thousands of websites who will continue to work under the current system.
So even if there is any government agency who block their people from accessing ".xxx" websites, it still would not stop them from looking at adult websites. That’s why I’m glad the MDA say they have no plans to block these sites. Even if they try, it will be nothing but a waste of time and money.
I’m glad because it’s not going to work. Seriously, how is anyone going to regulate this rule? Currently, there are tens of thousands of websites on the internet showing adult content. Put up by thousands of companies all over the world. How in the world is anyone going to make them (all) go under the “.xxx” suffix? It’s just not possible. Doubtlessly there will be thousands of websites who will continue to work under the current system.
So even if there is any government agency who block their people from accessing ".xxx" websites, it still would not stop them from looking at adult websites. That’s why I’m glad the MDA say they have no plans to block these sites. Even if they try, it will be nothing but a waste of time and money.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Flooding Again in Singapore
Last year, heavy rain in June caused heavy floods along Orchard Road. The flooding caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses and several measures were put in place to prevent a repeat of the floods.
It’s time to go back to the drawing board.
Yesterday morning, heavy rain caused flash floods again along Orchard Road. Only this time, the rainfall was more intense than last year. According to the Public Utilities Board (PUB), 65mm of rainfall was recorded within 30mins. That is compared to 100mm within two hours on June 16, 2010. The report from the PUB prompted the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Vivian Balakrishnan, to admit that Singapore’s weather has changed.
This is big news as this is the first time a government minister from Singapore had openly admitted that climate change is affecting Singapore in a big way. The first thing you have to do to solve a problem is to admit you have a problem. By admitting that Singapore’s weather has changed, I think the Singapore government is on the right track to tackle the flooding problem. I do agree that there’s limit to human engineering but Orchard Road is the prime shopping belt in our country so preventing the area from flooding is a must for the good of the economy.
I must also say I find the response to yesterday’s flooding to be much better than the response last year when Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says that it would be unrealistic for Singapore to be flood free. The PM even asked Singaporeans to “manage their expectations” as it would be too costly to build the facilities needed to prevent the floods. I’m no fan of Mr. Vivian (I did not overspend on the YOG) Balakrishnan, but he did the right thing yesterday. Here’s hoping the PUB can find a way to prevent the floods same time next year.
It’s time to go back to the drawing board.
Yesterday morning, heavy rain caused flash floods again along Orchard Road. Only this time, the rainfall was more intense than last year. According to the Public Utilities Board (PUB), 65mm of rainfall was recorded within 30mins. That is compared to 100mm within two hours on June 16, 2010. The report from the PUB prompted the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Vivian Balakrishnan, to admit that Singapore’s weather has changed.
This is big news as this is the first time a government minister from Singapore had openly admitted that climate change is affecting Singapore in a big way. The first thing you have to do to solve a problem is to admit you have a problem. By admitting that Singapore’s weather has changed, I think the Singapore government is on the right track to tackle the flooding problem. I do agree that there’s limit to human engineering but Orchard Road is the prime shopping belt in our country so preventing the area from flooding is a must for the good of the economy.
I must also say I find the response to yesterday’s flooding to be much better than the response last year when Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says that it would be unrealistic for Singapore to be flood free. The PM even asked Singaporeans to “manage their expectations” as it would be too costly to build the facilities needed to prevent the floods. I’m no fan of Mr. Vivian (I did not overspend on the YOG) Balakrishnan, but he did the right thing yesterday. Here’s hoping the PUB can find a way to prevent the floods same time next year.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Comics this week
S.H.I.E.L.D #1- The second volume of S.H.I.E.L.D begins where the last volume left off; the war between Isaac Newton and Leonardo Da Vinci is in full swing and Leonid is standing on the sidelines wondering what to do about it. Writer Jonathan Hickman then quickly introduces Michaelangelo’s backstory into the equation, showing him as the mover and shaker of the various events in volume 1. Having some of our questions answers may be satisfying but you know what’s the best part of this issue? The various characters page at the back! Volume 1 was such a confusing mess in storytelling that I’m glad that Hickman and Marvel added the characters pages. Without it, I would still have no idea what had happened in volume 1. If you have collected the first volume and had no idea what the story was about; pick up this issue. The summary pages will explain all.
X-23 #11- This is more like it. Last issue, I said that I found Wolverine and Jubilee guest-starring roles to be useless. Now I still find Wolverine’s presence to be useless but at least there’s a reason for Jubilee to be here. Having a girlfriend for X-23 might be a good idea as thus far, X-23’s life has been filled and ruled by the men around her. The shopping scene between Jubilee and X-23 was great. Jubilee worked so well maybe writer Marjorie Liu could consider making her a regular.
Secret Six #34– Finally out of hell, the Six got down to business immediately by hunting down the sociopath who unfortunately kidnapped and tortured Scandal’s girlfriend Liana. Payback’s a bitch as the Six gleefully tortured and then killed the man. Writer Gail Simone seem to be having a wonderful time as the characters bonded over their time in hell. This was a great issue so I find it quite sad that the series is ending due to an editorial imposed reboot of the DCU. I think there’s still a lot of stories to be told about the Six and hopefully we would get to read those stories sooner or later.
X-23 #11- This is more like it. Last issue, I said that I found Wolverine and Jubilee guest-starring roles to be useless. Now I still find Wolverine’s presence to be useless but at least there’s a reason for Jubilee to be here. Having a girlfriend for X-23 might be a good idea as thus far, X-23’s life has been filled and ruled by the men around her. The shopping scene between Jubilee and X-23 was great. Jubilee worked so well maybe writer Marjorie Liu could consider making her a regular.
Secret Six #34– Finally out of hell, the Six got down to business immediately by hunting down the sociopath who unfortunately kidnapped and tortured Scandal’s girlfriend Liana. Payback’s a bitch as the Six gleefully tortured and then killed the man. Writer Gail Simone seem to be having a wonderful time as the characters bonded over their time in hell. This was a great issue so I find it quite sad that the series is ending due to an editorial imposed reboot of the DCU. I think there’s still a lot of stories to be told about the Six and hopefully we would get to read those stories sooner or later.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Shocking Expenses
With the General Elections 2011 (GE 2011) over, the various political parties in Singapore are opening their books to show how much they spent on the GE. As expected, the People's Action Party (PAP) Tanjong Pagar team was the first to open their books.
This was because there wasn’t a contest in Tanjong Pagar, so they would have the easiest time their expenses right. Their numbers shocked everyone.
The PAP Tanjong Pagar team reported that they racked up S$164,000 in expenses during the recent GE campaign. How the hell does one racked up S$164,000 in expenses when there’s not even a contest in the ward? During the recent GE campaign, the (smaller) Singapore People's Party (SPP) racked up only around $30,000 in total for the three constituencies it contested. Yet somehow, the PAP Tanjong Pagar managed to rack up 5 times that amount in a single ward where there wasn’t even a contest!
How the hell is that possible? I think the PAP and the Tanjong Pagar team need to answer questions on their expenses. Almost everyone I spoke to find the number ridiculous and they are awaiting the rest of the numbers with a slight sense of dread. If this is the number for Tanjong Pagar, what are the expenses for the other PAP teams where there were contests?
The only good thing that came out of this; the SPP spend 5 times less and still managed to almost win the Potong Pasir ward. This shows that in politics at least, money isn’t everything.
This was because there wasn’t a contest in Tanjong Pagar, so they would have the easiest time their expenses right. Their numbers shocked everyone.
The PAP Tanjong Pagar team reported that they racked up S$164,000 in expenses during the recent GE campaign. How the hell does one racked up S$164,000 in expenses when there’s not even a contest in the ward? During the recent GE campaign, the (smaller) Singapore People's Party (SPP) racked up only around $30,000 in total for the three constituencies it contested. Yet somehow, the PAP Tanjong Pagar managed to rack up 5 times that amount in a single ward where there wasn’t even a contest!
How the hell is that possible? I think the PAP and the Tanjong Pagar team need to answer questions on their expenses. Almost everyone I spoke to find the number ridiculous and they are awaiting the rest of the numbers with a slight sense of dread. If this is the number for Tanjong Pagar, what are the expenses for the other PAP teams where there were contests?
The only good thing that came out of this; the SPP spend 5 times less and still managed to almost win the Potong Pasir ward. This shows that in politics at least, money isn’t everything.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Go For It!
One of the surprises in the just concluded General Elections 2011 (GE 2011) was the defeat of former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo. During the hustling, it was reported that if he was defeated, Mr Yeo would be a candidate for the Presidential Election.
This was vehemently denied by Mr Yeo during and immediately after the elections. Now it seems that he had changed his mind. In his latest update on his Facebook page, Mr Yeo hinted that he is reconsidering his decision as "many Singaporeans from different walks of life, young and old, have asked me to reconsider my decision on the Presidency.”
So far, the views on his decision have been mixed. Some believe he is going back on his word, while others love the idea of him being the President. My view on this; knock yourself out Mr Yeo!
Elections are about choices and if a 23 year veteran of the political scene want to contest the Presidential Election, that’s a good thing for Singaporeans. He is experienced, intelligent and respected in the region. Even the most pro-opposition supporter in Singapore would be hard-pressed to say he will make a bad President.
So if Mr Yeo decides to contest the Presidential Election, I’m all for it. Singaporeans can make a choice of whether to vote him in as the President, and it will be good to have such a choice to make.
This was vehemently denied by Mr Yeo during and immediately after the elections. Now it seems that he had changed his mind. In his latest update on his Facebook page, Mr Yeo hinted that he is reconsidering his decision as "many Singaporeans from different walks of life, young and old, have asked me to reconsider my decision on the Presidency.”
So far, the views on his decision have been mixed. Some believe he is going back on his word, while others love the idea of him being the President. My view on this; knock yourself out Mr Yeo!
Elections are about choices and if a 23 year veteran of the political scene want to contest the Presidential Election, that’s a good thing for Singaporeans. He is experienced, intelligent and respected in the region. Even the most pro-opposition supporter in Singapore would be hard-pressed to say he will make a bad President.
So if Mr Yeo decides to contest the Presidential Election, I’m all for it. Singaporeans can make a choice of whether to vote him in as the President, and it will be good to have such a choice to make.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Another DC Revamp
Once upon a time, comics revamp happened once every 10-20 years. Companies would revamp their entire line of superhero comics to draw in new readers and to “keep things fresh”.
Nowadays, it seems that comics revamp comes once 5 years or so. DC Comics is the latest company set to relaunch all their titles. They intend to release 52 new series with new origins for many characters, and new character designs for all of them. The idea is to draw in new readers by making the characters younger.
What else is new right? However there is one rumor that I truly hope is not true. Rumors on the internet say that DC intends to erase continuity in the Superman line by…making Superman single! Lois and Clark never happened; under the revamp, they never got married.
As radical as it sounds, something like this isn’t new. A few years ago, Marvel got rid of Spiderman and Mary Jane's marriage by having Peter Parker make a deal with a devil. It has been years and the writers (and Marvel) are still receiving hate mail on the matter from fans.
So I have to ask; there is no way DC is mad enough to do something as crazy as that…right?
Nowadays, it seems that comics revamp comes once 5 years or so. DC Comics is the latest company set to relaunch all their titles. They intend to release 52 new series with new origins for many characters, and new character designs for all of them. The idea is to draw in new readers by making the characters younger.
What else is new right? However there is one rumor that I truly hope is not true. Rumors on the internet say that DC intends to erase continuity in the Superman line by…making Superman single! Lois and Clark never happened; under the revamp, they never got married.
As radical as it sounds, something like this isn’t new. A few years ago, Marvel got rid of Spiderman and Mary Jane's marriage by having Peter Parker make a deal with a devil. It has been years and the writers (and Marvel) are still receiving hate mail on the matter from fans.
So I have to ask; there is no way DC is mad enough to do something as crazy as that…right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)