Like most people. I upgraded my Windows to Windows 10 recently. Like most people, I am regretting it! Before my "upgrade", I was using Windows 8.1. It wasn't perfect but there is one thing 8.1 is definetly better than 10. It doesn't forced me to update my Windows!
In case you do not know, Windows 10 force users to always install the latest updates. And I mean FORCED! Since I got the Windows 10, I must had over 5 updates already and I only got it for about 2 months. Worse, I can't turn it off and I can't tell Windows to eve delay the update. There had been times when I'm doing something and the system came to a crawl due to the update.
Also I can't control what is updated. The update is automatic and it doesn't give me any option on what to update or what not to update. Windows 10 system doesn't even tell me when it is updating. I discovered it when my system comes to a crawl.
So after using Windows 10 for 2 months, I will say this. Windows 10 sucks!
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Results of GE 2015
3 days after after General Election (GE) 2015, a few things can be gleamed from the results.
1) Preparation is everything.
Since the start of the year, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has been throwing goodies at Singaporeans like there's no tomorrow. Everything from Road Tax rebates to Pioneer Packages has been thrown at Singaporeans, and it worked!
2) Lee Kuan Yew is still a factor
A ruthless political operator who led Singapore to independence, Mr. Lee led the PAP to decisive victories in every election since the 1968 general elections, and he died this year in March. Singaporeans withstand 7 hours waiting lines to pay their respect to the man at his wake, and his death played a big part in the PAP victory this year. The sympathy was clearly with the PAP this year and that's not something the PAP usually has. He may be gone, but Mr. Lee Kuan Yew has left his mark on Singapore and his influence is not going away anytime soon.
3) Rally size means nothing
I have told many people that the number of people at political rallies means nothing in Singapore and I like to think the results this year show me to be right. The thing is the sheer domination of the press by the PAP. Most people has no access to the opposition outside election time, so when election season comes around, Singaporeans go to the rallies to hear them speak. That's why the size at opposition rallies is so big. It however does not mean the people at the rallies will vote the opposition. It is two different things.
4) The Worker's Party (WP) are on the rise
I know it may not look that way after the results of GE 2015, but I thought the WP did great this GE. There's a 10% swing against the opposition, but the WP still managed to hold on to the 6 seats they won in 2011. The only seat they lost was in Punggol East which they won in a by-election in 2013 and even then, the PAP only won that by a 2% margin. Compare that to the rest of the opposition, that's great.
5) Tan Hui Hui have a political future
In Singapore, people running as independents don't usually do well. Samir Salim Neji got just 0.6% of the vote in Bukit Panjang running as an independent. Tan Hui Hui, running in Radin Mas, got over 10%! For an independent, that's an amazing result. Ms. Tan was energetic and more importantly, she has a cause she firmly believes in. If you saw her posters around Radin Mas, you will her face on the posters along with #RETURNOURCPF below it. That seems to have resonated with voters. If Ms. Tan is willing to join a political party (one willing to raise the CPF issue) and come back for the next GE, she will have a good long political future.
1) Preparation is everything.
Since the start of the year, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has been throwing goodies at Singaporeans like there's no tomorrow. Everything from Road Tax rebates to Pioneer Packages has been thrown at Singaporeans, and it worked!
2) Lee Kuan Yew is still a factor
A ruthless political operator who led Singapore to independence, Mr. Lee led the PAP to decisive victories in every election since the 1968 general elections, and he died this year in March. Singaporeans withstand 7 hours waiting lines to pay their respect to the man at his wake, and his death played a big part in the PAP victory this year. The sympathy was clearly with the PAP this year and that's not something the PAP usually has. He may be gone, but Mr. Lee Kuan Yew has left his mark on Singapore and his influence is not going away anytime soon.
3) Rally size means nothing
I have told many people that the number of people at political rallies means nothing in Singapore and I like to think the results this year show me to be right. The thing is the sheer domination of the press by the PAP. Most people has no access to the opposition outside election time, so when election season comes around, Singaporeans go to the rallies to hear them speak. That's why the size at opposition rallies is so big. It however does not mean the people at the rallies will vote the opposition. It is two different things.
4) The Worker's Party (WP) are on the rise
I know it may not look that way after the results of GE 2015, but I thought the WP did great this GE. There's a 10% swing against the opposition, but the WP still managed to hold on to the 6 seats they won in 2011. The only seat they lost was in Punggol East which they won in a by-election in 2013 and even then, the PAP only won that by a 2% margin. Compare that to the rest of the opposition, that's great.
5) Tan Hui Hui have a political future
In Singapore, people running as independents don't usually do well. Samir Salim Neji got just 0.6% of the vote in Bukit Panjang running as an independent. Tan Hui Hui, running in Radin Mas, got over 10%! For an independent, that's an amazing result. Ms. Tan was energetic and more importantly, she has a cause she firmly believes in. If you saw her posters around Radin Mas, you will her face on the posters along with #RETURNOURCPF below it. That seems to have resonated with voters. If Ms. Tan is willing to join a political party (one willing to raise the CPF issue) and come back for the next GE, she will have a good long political future.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Status Quo
With the results of the General Election (GE) in, many Singaporeans say saying this was a great election for the ruling People's Action Party (PAP). On paper, it seems that way as the PAP got more votes than they did in 2011 when they won with 60% of the popular vote.
There's only 1 problem with that belief. In Singapore, the popular vote doesn't matter.
In the 2011 GE, the PAP won 81 seats with the opposition, Worker's Party (WP), winning the other 6. You look at the results yesterday and you see the PAP winning 83 seats with the WP winning the other 6. So in 2011, the PAP lost 6 seats with 60% of the vote. In 2015, the PAP lost 6 sets with 69.86% of the vote. I don't see that as a great result for the PAP.
The only seat the PAP gained yesterday was the one in Punggol East which the PAP also won in 2011. The WP only got the seat in a 2013 by-election and the seat was always in danger when the PAP announced that veteran Charles Chong is going to put off retirement to contest the seat. Even then, he won with just 51% of the vote. You take things as they are and you will understand why WP chief Low Thia Khiang said he was satisfied with his party's performance.
For the WP, there's no change! The results in 2015 mirrors those in 2011. Yes, the PAP got more votes this time but again; that does not matter! Singaporean obsessed over the vote count but in Singapore, it is the number of seats you win that's important and in that count, the WP did as well in 2015 as they did in 2011.
The end results of GE 2015 is this; there is no change. The PAP got more votes but did not get more seats than they did in 2011. This is a status quo election.
There's only 1 problem with that belief. In Singapore, the popular vote doesn't matter.
In the 2011 GE, the PAP won 81 seats with the opposition, Worker's Party (WP), winning the other 6. You look at the results yesterday and you see the PAP winning 83 seats with the WP winning the other 6. So in 2011, the PAP lost 6 seats with 60% of the vote. In 2015, the PAP lost 6 sets with 69.86% of the vote. I don't see that as a great result for the PAP.
The only seat the PAP gained yesterday was the one in Punggol East which the PAP also won in 2011. The WP only got the seat in a 2013 by-election and the seat was always in danger when the PAP announced that veteran Charles Chong is going to put off retirement to contest the seat. Even then, he won with just 51% of the vote. You take things as they are and you will understand why WP chief Low Thia Khiang said he was satisfied with his party's performance.
For the WP, there's no change! The results in 2015 mirrors those in 2011. Yes, the PAP got more votes this time but again; that does not matter! Singaporean obsessed over the vote count but in Singapore, it is the number of seats you win that's important and in that count, the WP did as well in 2015 as they did in 2011.
The end results of GE 2015 is this; there is no change. The PAP got more votes but did not get more seats than they did in 2011. This is a status quo election.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Comics this week
Deadly Class #16- Good news, bad news time! Bad news; this series is taking another break and will only return in December. Good news; the return is going to be killer! After some issues treading water, writer Rick Remender finally put the hammer down as the teachers of the academy free the handle bars and allow these murderous kids to prove they have what it takes to go on to the second year of the academy. Unfortunately, we need to wait till December to see the fallout but when it gets here; I will be there.
Injection #5- The opening arc of Injection comes to an end as writer Warren Ellis reveals the birth of the Injection, what it was designed to do, and what it is now. Anyone reading the series from the beginning will not be too surprised by the reveal as Ellis has been dropping hints about the Injection since #2, but it does seem like we will be seeing more of the members of the CCCU outside Maria Kilbride from now on. Two members are working together and Robin Morel was basically told by a spirit he summoned to man up and embrace his magical heritage. To me, that's a good thing. Keep it coming!
Ms. Marvel #18- One issue to go before the series ends and go into reboot mode, writer G. Willow Wilson deals with the family dynamics of the Khan family as Kamala's brother gains superpowers and we discovered that her mother knew about her being a superhero. I love this issue! Part of the charm of Kamala Khan is the fact that she's very unsure about her role in life. She wants to be a superhero but isn't always sure what that means. At the same time, she wants to be a good daughter but isn't sure being a superhero is something her parents will approve of. Wilson again proves she's the perfect writer for the character as it looks like we will be gaining closure on some of these questions. Great issue!
Injection #5- The opening arc of Injection comes to an end as writer Warren Ellis reveals the birth of the Injection, what it was designed to do, and what it is now. Anyone reading the series from the beginning will not be too surprised by the reveal as Ellis has been dropping hints about the Injection since #2, but it does seem like we will be seeing more of the members of the CCCU outside Maria Kilbride from now on. Two members are working together and Robin Morel was basically told by a spirit he summoned to man up and embrace his magical heritage. To me, that's a good thing. Keep it coming!
Ms. Marvel #18- One issue to go before the series ends and go into reboot mode, writer G. Willow Wilson deals with the family dynamics of the Khan family as Kamala's brother gains superpowers and we discovered that her mother knew about her being a superhero. I love this issue! Part of the charm of Kamala Khan is the fact that she's very unsure about her role in life. She wants to be a superhero but isn't always sure what that means. At the same time, she wants to be a good daughter but isn't sure being a superhero is something her parents will approve of. Wilson again proves she's the perfect writer for the character as it looks like we will be gaining closure on some of these questions. Great issue!
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Riot In Shah Alam Stadium
Just when it seems it can't get any worse for Malaysia, now their football fans have rioted! Malaysia’s World Cup qualifier with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday was halted when fans threw flares onto the pitch. Malaysia was trailing 2-1 when the game was suspended in the 88th min.
Fans has been unhappy since last week's 10-0 defeat to UAE which caused former coach Dollah Salleh to resign, but that does not give them any right to riot. As unhappy as the fans are, they need to understand the simple fact that they were facing one of Asia's top teams. Saudi Arabia is ranked much higher than Malaysia and a 2-1 defeat to them is hardly a disgrace. I will admit I did not see the game but even at home, a 2-1 loss is not a reason for a riot.
Worse is the fact that the fans even attacked Saudi supporters at the match. Unconfirmed reports said two Saudi supporters were attacked. Malaysian Police had said that 11 people had been arrested on charges of rioting. That's good and well but things may get a lot worse for Malaysian football once the Asian Football Confederation gets a report on the riot.
And honestly, the Malaysian will have no one to blame but themselves.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
No Effect
With Polling Day in 3 days, this may be he worst time for the MRT to suffer another breakdown. With the North-East Line having another breakdown, some people are wondering if this latest breakdown will cause Singaporeans to vote against the People's Action Party (PAP).
Not likely.
I think the breakdown will have absolutely no effect on how Singaporeans will vote on Friday. Not because of how mature Singaporeans are, but because Singaporeans are so used to the breakdowns, no one even care anymore. Our MRT suffer so many breakdowns, it's almost normal.
So come Friday, the latest MRT breakdown today will have no affect. It is so common, Singaporeans have already factor the breakdowns into their daily lives already.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Not A Chance
Drop it? Not a chance!
That's seems to be the word from the Worker's Party (WP) on the Aljunied-Hougang Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) issue. For years, the WP has been under attack from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on the AHPETC and I will say now what I said then; Singaporeans don't care!
That's seems to be the word from the Worker's Party (WP) on the Aljunied-Hougang Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) issue. For years, the WP has been under attack from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on the AHPETC and I will say now what I said then; Singaporeans don't care!
As long as my bills do not increase and the garbage get cleared on time, who cares how much it cost the town council to do the job. Honestly, I have no idea how much money my town council uses to run my ward and I'm sure I'm not alone in this. The attacks by the PAP on the WP on the AHPETC issue was stupid from the get-go and now that they realized there's no traction n the ground, the PAP want to move on to other tropics.
"Not a chance," says the WP. Sensing the mood on the ground, the WP now will not let the matter rest, worse they are going on the counterattack! WP chief Low Thia Khiang said in a rally speech on Saturday night that in 2013 when they took over the Punggol East ward after the by-election, the ward had a deficit of $280,000.
Now, Mr. Low may have smudged the truth a little as the PAP say although there was a deficit in the fund to the tune of $282,009, the amount could be claimed as reimbursement from the CIPC fund. However the point has been made; there was a deficit and it happened during the PAP watch.
So let the AHPETC saga drop? Not if the WP can help it.
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