Day 3 of Mas Selamat bin Kastari’s escape and still no news from the government on how did the escape happen. Singaporeans are so curious about the escape that even the pro-government newspapers in Singapore admitted that many Singaporeans were more curious about the escape itself than where Kastari is right now.
I am one of those Singaporeans. Foremost in my head: Is Kastari still in Singapore? Is he acting alone? How did a 40+ man who walks with a limp escape from the police manhunt? Personally, I doubt any answers will come soon. Four government MPs had questioned Singapore's Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Wong Kan Seng, in Parliament on Thursday without any real answer yet. Mr. Wong basically told Parliament "not to speculate" until an independent investigation had completed its work. If MPs from the ruling PAP can’t get answers from the government in Parliament, I highly doubt anyone else in Singapore has a chance of getting anything.
If anything, foreigners seem to have more info on the matter than Singaporeans. Singapore’s neighbors, Malaysian and Indonesia, have already said that they are coordinating very closely with Singapore’s security and intelligence agencies and their security forces are beefing up patrols around the borders. See, they already know more than we do!
Isn’t Singapore supposed to be aiming to be some sort of info/tech hub? How about so info here?
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
JI leader escape in Singapore
Here in the Lion City, Singaporeans got a rude shock when news reported that Mas Selamat bin Kastari, the leader of Singapore's wing of the Islamic militant network Jemaah Islamiah (JI), has escaped from police detention.
Wong Kan Seng, Singapore's minister for home affairs, reported that Kastari escaped from the toilet of a police detention facility on Wednesday afternoon in a "security lapse that should have never happened". Thousands of policemen were deployed in a massive hunt for Kastari, who was thought to have escaped unarmed. The JI leader was arrested by the Indonesian police in January 2006 and deported back to Singapore. He had since been held under Singapore's Internal Security Act ever since.
And...that's it. That's all the news Singaporeans have. A dangerous man escaped from jail, is free in Singapore, and that's all the news we have. If this escape has happened in Indonesia, there would be wall-to-wall almost gleeful articles in the Strait Times, but because this was in 'safe' Singapore, there had been almost no news at all.
Look, I don't care how bad it will make Singapore look but when a leader of JI escape in Singapore from the police; I want more news and information than "should have never happened" and "everything is being done to find him". How about answering some questions like how did Kastari escape from the toliet and more importantly; if the police still believe he is in Singapore?
I don't really care about how bad this will make the government look, but I would like some answers please.
Wong Kan Seng, Singapore's minister for home affairs, reported that Kastari escaped from the toilet of a police detention facility on Wednesday afternoon in a "security lapse that should have never happened". Thousands of policemen were deployed in a massive hunt for Kastari, who was thought to have escaped unarmed. The JI leader was arrested by the Indonesian police in January 2006 and deported back to Singapore. He had since been held under Singapore's Internal Security Act ever since.
And...that's it. That's all the news Singaporeans have. A dangerous man escaped from jail, is free in Singapore, and that's all the news we have. If this escape has happened in Indonesia, there would be wall-to-wall almost gleeful articles in the Strait Times, but because this was in 'safe' Singapore, there had been almost no news at all.
Look, I don't care how bad it will make Singapore look but when a leader of JI escape in Singapore from the police; I want more news and information than "should have never happened" and "everything is being done to find him". How about answering some questions like how did Kastari escape from the toliet and more importantly; if the police still believe he is in Singapore?
I don't really care about how bad this will make the government look, but I would like some answers please.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Just ay No, Take-Two
Thank you, thank you, thank you! That’s my feeling when I heard that Take-Two, the company behind the "Grand Theft Auto" series, has rejected a takeover bid from Electronic Arts, the company behind…Madden NFL and FIFA Soccer!
Bad price, bad timing was the reason for Take-Two’s rejection and I hope it stay that way! EA, who are on a buying spree recently (BioWare Corp. anyone?), isn’t known for giving their sub-companies full creative control and independence.
However, it’s not over. Take-Two said it is open to discussions with EA, but wants to wait until April 30, the day after the latest version of Grand Theft Auto hits store shelves. Please…just say ‘NO’.
Bad price, bad timing was the reason for Take-Two’s rejection and I hope it stay that way! EA, who are on a buying spree recently (BioWare Corp. anyone?), isn’t known for giving their sub-companies full creative control and independence.
However, it’s not over. Take-Two said it is open to discussions with EA, but wants to wait until April 30, the day after the latest version of Grand Theft Auto hits store shelves. Please…just say ‘NO’.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Oscar Night
They came, they saw, they conquered.
On a night when over-rated thriller "No Country for Old Men" won the best picture Oscar at the 80th Academy Awards, Europeans swept all the acting honors.
"No Country for Old Men" may have been the biggest winner with four Oscars but the big story was the wins by the Europeans. As expected Spain’s Javier Bardem won for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role as a psychopathic hitman in "No Country for Old Men", and Ireland's Daniel Day-Lewis won “Best Actor” for "There Will Be Blood”.
The evening's surprises was by the ladies. Britain's Tilda Swinton, who played a scheming corporate legal chief in "Michael Clayton", got the nod for “Best Supporting Actress” in a minor upset. But the big one was France's Marion Cotillard winning “Best Actress” for "La Vie En Rose" as tragic chanteuse Edith Piaf. She is the first Frenchwoman to win the best actress Oscar since 1960 and only the second time in history that the best actress award had gone to a performance in a non-English speaking role. A non-English speaking role winning for best actress? Now that’s a surprise.
The wins brighten what was a pretty boring show. Thank god for Jon Stewart; hate to think how bad it could be without him
On a night when over-rated thriller "No Country for Old Men" won the best picture Oscar at the 80th Academy Awards, Europeans swept all the acting honors.
"No Country for Old Men" may have been the biggest winner with four Oscars but the big story was the wins by the Europeans. As expected Spain’s Javier Bardem won for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role as a psychopathic hitman in "No Country for Old Men", and Ireland's Daniel Day-Lewis won “Best Actor” for "There Will Be Blood”.
The evening's surprises was by the ladies. Britain's Tilda Swinton, who played a scheming corporate legal chief in "Michael Clayton", got the nod for “Best Supporting Actress” in a minor upset. But the big one was France's Marion Cotillard winning “Best Actress” for "La Vie En Rose" as tragic chanteuse Edith Piaf. She is the first Frenchwoman to win the best actress Oscar since 1960 and only the second time in history that the best actress award had gone to a performance in a non-English speaking role. A non-English speaking role winning for best actress? Now that’s a surprise.
The wins brighten what was a pretty boring show. Thank god for Jon Stewart; hate to think how bad it could be without him
Monday, February 25, 2008
Leo as Akira
After years in development hell, Akira will be on the big screen. Yes, the anime classic will finally have a live-action adaptation by Hollywood and the lead role for Akira is going to…Leonardo DiCaprio?
Cough, cough, vomit, AHHHHHHHHHHH!
What? Little blond-hair pretty boy is going to be Akira? Cough, cough. Are you kidding me? I know Leo may be Hollywood’s biggest star, but him as Akira? What the hell were they thinking? Don’t get me wrong, I think DiCaprio is a very good actor (he was excellent in ‘What’s eating Gilbert Grape?’) but he isn’t Akira. He’s too pretty. Simple, sweet and short. He is too pretty to be Akira.
I don’t mind that the action will be in New York City instead of Tokyo but Leonardo DiCaprio as Akira is something I cannot accept
Cough, cough, vomit, AHHHHHHHHHHH!
What? Little blond-hair pretty boy is going to be Akira? Cough, cough. Are you kidding me? I know Leo may be Hollywood’s biggest star, but him as Akira? What the hell were they thinking? Don’t get me wrong, I think DiCaprio is a very good actor (he was excellent in ‘What’s eating Gilbert Grape?’) but he isn’t Akira. He’s too pretty. Simple, sweet and short. He is too pretty to be Akira.
I don’t mind that the action will be in New York City instead of Tokyo but Leonardo DiCaprio as Akira is something I cannot accept
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Comics this week
Countdown to Final Crisis #10- Usually when the writers concentrate on the Holly Robinson story, Countdown will range from bad to terrible. Amazingly, the Holly storyline in this issue is both interesting and funny. Yes, they finally got Harley Quinn right and she was actually funny here. I also like the new powers given to both Harley and Holly Robinson; it made sense. Finally the death of Karate Kid was a long time in coming. Finally it's over. Next is Jimmy Olsen...please.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Is Edison a victim?
After a month in hiding, Edison Chen has finally returned to Hong Kong. The actor, who is at the centre of an Internet sex photos scandal, has finally admitted that he took the photos.
Too little, too late; I’m afraid. Even though he has apologized for the explicit photographs, Edison has realized this and announced his retirement from the Hong Kong entertainment scene. The biggest problem Edison has was the sad fact that no one think of him as a victim. I think he IS a victim but while most people felt sorry for the ladies involved and the problems they faced (Gillian Chung’s career seems to be pretty much over); they don’t feel the same way for Edison. As the one who took the pictures/videos, most people think he was asking for it. Running away at the height of the storm didn’t help his cause at all.
Luckily for Edison, he has a budding career in America. A role in the upcoming ‘The Dark Knight’ can (maybe) save his acting career, but in Asia, it will take some time before he can return to the top.
Too little, too late; I’m afraid. Even though he has apologized for the explicit photographs, Edison has realized this and announced his retirement from the Hong Kong entertainment scene. The biggest problem Edison has was the sad fact that no one think of him as a victim. I think he IS a victim but while most people felt sorry for the ladies involved and the problems they faced (Gillian Chung’s career seems to be pretty much over); they don’t feel the same way for Edison. As the one who took the pictures/videos, most people think he was asking for it. Running away at the height of the storm didn’t help his cause at all.
Luckily for Edison, he has a budding career in America. A role in the upcoming ‘The Dark Knight’ can (maybe) save his acting career, but in Asia, it will take some time before he can return to the top.
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