tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42288128080719653012024-03-13T21:50:13.886+08:00S M OngSM Ong: published/unpublished/uncutUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1053125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-33049239967812866762022-01-01T00:47:00.007+08:002022-01-04T22:53:55.370+08:00I’m interviewed on CNA: On The Red Dot Reunions: Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uvpiyENz1P8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
I'm in this CNA programme, which brought back the cast of Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd for a reunion and to talk about the show, which ended in 2007. There were previous reunion episodes for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUV94HNBBS4">Under One Roof, Growing Up</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/xEewIi6Q4Ig">Singapore Idol</a>.
<br><br>
CNA interviewed me in November (separately from the PCK cast).
<br><br>
I haven't watched it because I can't stand to see myself on screen, but I'm told I don't appear that much in the programme, which first aired last night on New Year's Eve.
<br><br>
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.mewatch.sg/embed/264648" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-7774070167219592742021-12-13T12:21:00.013+08:002021-12-19T15:18:29.619+08:00No more New Paper in print, no more columnLast Friday was the last print edition of The New Paper after 33 years.
<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmSMHcmRvi-DCkC0LyZV87tR2bDI4K3JbTLXWyyzfeB7L_2m9VXQzChQAqltwt4MBoNsRQRq558DZzZODD_DWz9nyBgGPQhktVdH2Fod_g8fvCeGTN4b0SOT84tiWEFSRm9Yhvn3PjZV2g4frslC3not7CvTyOyefsfb7ZVoD-RdNs02qPukzu0bgF" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="589" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmSMHcmRvi-DCkC0LyZV87tR2bDI4K3JbTLXWyyzfeB7L_2m9VXQzChQAqltwt4MBoNsRQRq558DZzZODD_DWz9nyBgGPQhktVdH2Fod_g8fvCeGTN4b0SOT84tiWEFSRm9Yhvn3PjZV2g4frslC3not7CvTyOyefsfb7ZVoD-RdNs02qPukzu0bgF" width=560/></a>
<br><br>
When the staff were first told about it in July, I was surprised and devastated. I was content to do what I was doing at TNP until I die – or forced to retire.
<br><br>
I started working there in February 2008. That’s 13 consecutive years, which is by far, my longest stretch of working at the same place. Before that, my longest was around four years at Mediacorp. Twice.
<br><br>
After working in television for so long, joining TNP was like going back to my roots.
<br><br>
I had studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin and worked at a student newspaper there as a <a href="https://smong.net/2013/04/street-cred-eating-spaghetti-with-spoon.html">writer</a> and page layout artist.
<br><br>
I discovered that it was important to me how my articles showed up on the page. I get very upset when the headline doesn’t accurately represent what I wrote.
<br><br>
What many readers don’t realise is that the headline is not usually written by the same person who writes the article.
<br><br>
Which is ironic since many people just read the headline without reading the article and associate the byline with the headline which the writer didn’t write.
<br><br>
So although I set out to be a writer, I became involved in the so-called backend of the newspaper.
<br><br>
And it evolved such that I started doing more backend stuff than writing.
<br><br>
When I first joined TNP, it was as a sub-editor/columnist, but as the years went by and I re-contracted, the “columnist” part of my job title was dropped even though I still wrote the column.
<br><br>
My main job was as a sub-editor. At first, I did some copy-editing which I dislike, but later, mostly just did layout, which was more my jam.
<br><br>
More importantly, I got to lay out my own column and write my own headline.
<br><br>
I didn’t get a regular column right away. My first piece for TNP as a full-timer was about the <a href="https://smong.net/2008/03/well-we-had-good-run.html">Mas Selamat escape</a>, for which I was accused of being an apologist for the Government. That was when I learnt firsthand that readers would imagine nefarious motivations and conspiracy theories behind things they see in the paper. Since I wrote the damn thing, I know the only thing behind it was me.
<br><br>
Subsequently, I was given a weekly Sunday column that lasted a few years, but from December 2016, it became <a href="https://smong.net/2016/12/sunday-no-more-act-blur-column-now-in.html">every other Monday</a> at my request.
<br><br>
While I appreciated the privilege of having such a platform in a national paper (albeit with a shrinking circulation) and tried not to take it for granted, I came to dread the week my column is due. It was like the Sword of Democles threatening to fall on my head every 14 days. It was a pain in the ass, essentially.
<br><br>
It was such a relief to finish a column and not have to worry about it for at least a week.
<br><br>
But now with the end of TNP in print, the column is done for good and it’s the greatest relief of all.
<br><br>
There’s talk of me continuing the column for the online version of TNP, but I would rather not.
<br><br>
I’m starting work at The Straits Times today as a designer and ST couldn’t care less about me as a columnist.
<br><br>
Writing for TNP online would just be doing extra work that’s not going to help me during my performance appraisal with my ST bosses. I don’t need the additional stress.
<br><br>
I didn’t even feel my TNP bosses cared that much about my column.
<br><br>
So… yah, that’s it.
<br><br>
No more column.
<br><br>
It’s the end of an era and start of a column-free one at ST for me.
<br><br>
Thanks for reading.
<br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-80772218374221885532021-12-06T13:23:00.016+08:002022-02-23T23:05:35.643+08:00Do you believe the Raeesah Khan-spiracy theories? If she’s a spy, I’m the next 007<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yNSUpCdFwdw/Ya2dnw-lHCI/AAAAAAAAbOg/CIkR1X-j9yw3uA12TJZ6EkB_RbTq1Z08wCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/AEEBCE36-AAE8-40D8-A574-613C2E9A23E2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2047" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yNSUpCdFwdw/Ya2dnw-lHCI/AAAAAAAAbOg/CIkR1X-j9yw3uA12TJZ6EkB_RbTq1Z08wCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/AEEBCE36-AAE8-40D8-A574-613C2E9A23E2.JPG" width="500"/></a>
<br><br>
“2021. Best year ever. More drama than Mediacorp produced in its entirety.”
<br><br>
That was how one <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/r91jx4/2021_best_year_ever_more_drama_than_mediacorp/">Reddit</a> discussion title summed it up.
<br><br>
Books Actually, Night Owl Cinematics, Omicron, peacock attack and now this.
<br><br>
Late Friday night, the Committee of Privileges released a report that former Worker’s Party (WP) MP Raeesah Khan said in the hearing that the WP leaders had told her to keep to the lie she told in Parliament – that she accompanied a rape victim to a police station to make a police report.
<br><br>
This contradicted statements made by WP leader Pritam Singh at his press conference the day before, where he told reporters he had directed Ms Khan to take responsibility and admit to her lie in Parliament – but that she had disregarded this order.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheStraitsTimes%2Fposts%2F10158268132622115&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="526" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
Reacting to the report, a friend ranted on Facebook:
<blockquote><b>“Raeesah… what have you done? What are you doing? Were you planted into the WP by the PAP to destroy them?
<br><br>
“Let’s not forget, your father was along for the elected presidency ride… all planned by the PAP...
<br><br>
“Is your whole family working for the PAP?”</b></blockquote>
Wait, huh, what?
<br><br>
Ms Khan is secretly working for the People’s Action Party?
<br><br>
Sure, and I am leaving The New Paper to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond in Licence To Act Blur.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KK0Ulugv2UM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
And I thought the anti-vaxx Covid-19 conspiracy theories were cray.
<br><br>
Yes, Ms Khan’s father <a href="https://sg.theasianparent.com/farid-khan-singapore-presidential-hopeful">Farid Khan</a>, who is a maritime industry bigwig, did apply to run for President against Madam Halimah Yaacob in 2017 – but was rejected because he didn’t qualify.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aU-ma7kc9yc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
That was planned by the PAP? I don’t get it.
<br><br>
I hope my friend doesn’t get Pofma-ed.
<br><br>
But I soon learnt he wasn’t the only one with Raeesah Khan-spiracy theories.
<br><br>
Elsewhere on Facebook, I found wild allegations like this:
<blockquote><b>“It is either she is a PAP mole or she has serious mental disorder. Who in the right frame of mind will make this kind of lie in the first place?”</b></blockquote>
And this:
<blockquote><b>“Raeesah Khan is a spy sent by PAP. Use bird brain to think also know. Her father is a successful millionaire businessman. Why would she want to join WP? She should be joining PAP.”</b></blockquote>
However, another person tried to debunk this mole/spy theory by pointing out:
<blockquote><b>“Her behaviour is quite consistent with her youth as an activist which landed her a role within WP for GE2020. Wokeism’s approach is not something which PAP likes.
<br><br>
“If PAP wants to fix WP, the AHTC case is good enough cos it even touches Low Thia Kiang…”
<br><br>
“If she is a mole, what makes Pritam Singh? Co-conspirator?”</b></blockquote>
But then this disbunking was debunked by someone else point by point:
<blockquote><b>“She only joined WP in 2018. Not a very long time. Spies don’t work immediately. Spies need to take some time to gain the trust etc.
<br><br>
“The AHTC case did not cause WP to lose Aljunied GRC and even let WP take down Sengkang. So PAP needs to come out with new saga.
<br><br>
“Pritam Singh is the boss who gets conned by the mole.”</b></blockquote>
Wow. If Ms Khan can do all that, <i>she</i> should be the new 007. I can be the next Austin Powers.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5vsANcS4Ml8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
Ironically, while these Khan-spiracy theories are meant to portray WP as victim of some underhanded political subterfuge, if they actually turned out to be true, I would be more impressed by PAP for pulling off a long con this elaborate.
<br><br>
I mean, recruiting a woke activist to infiltrate an opposition party and help the party win a GRC in a general election despite her getting a stern warning by the police for social media posts that promoted enmity among different groups and committed contempt by scandalising the court, just so she can get into Parliament and lie about accompanying a rape victim to the police station only to confess to the lie months later – that’s next level, man.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmFEz3oMw40/Ya2V7Xp9xnI/AAAAAAAAbOI/S5MSxlhLikUtri96AnmI8-CqAvKekO4zwCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/evil.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmFEz3oMw40/Ya2V7Xp9xnI/AAAAAAAAbOI/S5MSxlhLikUtri96AnmI8-CqAvKekO4zwCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/evil.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" width=100/></a>Even Dr Evil would be jealous he never thought of it. Game recognises game.
<br><br>
Oh, behave.
<br><br>
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 6 December 2021</i>
<br><br>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-28130228648218500112021-12-02T09:12:00.002+08:002021-12-02T09:24:52.566+08:00Man who duped women into sex won a couples contest organised by Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports 12 years agoYou may have read about De Beers Wong, who pretended to be an agent for rich "sugar daddies" and duped at least 11 women into having sex with him.
<br><br>
In April, he was sentenced to 3½ years' jail and fined $20,000. He appealed.
<br><br>
Yesterday, because of his appeal, his jail term more than doubled from 3½ years to eight years and five months.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheStraitsTimes%2Fposts%2F10158263840437115&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="487" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
Weirdly, long before his unsavoury crime, he has appeared in the newspapers for more wholesomely romantic (and now rather ironic) reasons.
<br><br>
This was published in The Straits Times on 13 May 2009:
<blockquote>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr-6TWVjVtM/YagXbZL7DGI/AAAAAAAAbNg/vQjNcfgG7x4oSYqw6nu7RJ2hc1Kp9OivQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/debeerswong.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr-6TWVjVtM/YagXbZL7DGI/AAAAAAAAbNg/vQjNcfgG7x4oSYqw6nu7RJ2hc1Kp9OivQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/debeerswong.jpg"/></a>
<br><br>
<b>By his own admission, Mr De Beers Wong, 28, is short, tubby and all business – even aloof – while at work.
<br><br>
For the past nine months, he has been romancing Miss Megan Kong, 25.
<br><br>
She is willowy next to him, and also the “angel” liked by everyone in the same office for her warmth and friendliness.
<br><br>
The couple admit they are like chalk and cheese.
<br><br>
As Miss Kong said: “Our colleagues were very shocked when we first got together as we are so different, but we can really communicate.”
<br><br>
The insurance agents are “beautifully imperfect” – exactly the type of couple the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) is looking for in an online contest.
<br><br>
It is no ordinary contest, though. Behind it is the serious business of persuading Singaporeans to get married and have children.
<br><br>
So what does being “beautifully imperfect” have to do with anything?
<br><br>
Everything, said Mr Richard Tan, MCYS’ director of communications and international relations. He cited a 2007 study’s finding that most young Singaporeans did want to get married, but were not doing so, they said, because they had yet to meet their Mr or Miss Right.
<br><br>
But what, exactly, is “right”?
<br><br>
Enter “beautifully imperfect”: The drive aims to inspire marriage-minded singles to find that special person based on character and personality, instead of applying society’s checklist of beauty, wealth, education and family background.
<br><br>
“The person who is not perfect as defined by the world around us may turn out to be the perfect husband or wife,” he said.
<br><br>
To reach out to young, “wired” adults, MCYS tapped the popular social networking site Facebook – the first time it has done so to run a contest – and started a “beautifully imperfect” group last month.
<br><br>
Reach them it did. In just over a month, more than 14,000 people joined the group, and more than 370 couples signed up for the contest.
<br><br>
The hunt for “beautifully imperfect” couples – all 10 winning pairs will be unveiled on Saturday – is part of a drive which has included a commercial about a family that was anything but perfect, but bonded in love all the same.
<br><br>
The commercial, which just ended its run on TV, showed an Indian wife eulogising her dead Chinese husband at his funeral and talking in endearing terms about his snoring and breaking wind in bed.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nw0s4C0g5SM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
To get Singaporeans to think of marriage and children, the Government has pumped in big money in recent years, handing out Baby Bonuses and promoting work-life balance, among other moves.
<br><br>
But challenges could still thwart the Government’s mission. The baby shortage aside, divorces are still going up by the year, with 2007 logging a record 7,226 divorces and annulments.
<br><br>
Ask Mr Wong, and he can give you an earful about imperfect relationships – of the ugly kind. He has been through an annulled marriage – his then wife refused to have children – and had almost given up on relationships.
<br><br>
For Miss Kong, the relationship was nearly a non-starter. She had to handle office gossip about her dating the boss’ son, but her heart was won over by his “sweetness and maturity”.
<br><br>
Mr Wong, drawn to her selflessness, said: “Recently, I wanted to buy her a $600 ring that she really liked, but she said ‘no’ as she could afford to buy it herself. My ex-girlfriends would have said, ‘Please buy it for me now, thank you’.”
<br><br>
Miss Kong no doubt thinks her boyfriend’s dad did right to name him after the famous diamond company.
<br><br>
She said: “De Beers is the biggest diamond in my life.”
<br><br>
A diamond in the rough, perhaps, but beautifully imperfect in her eyes.</b></blockquote>
<br>
The couple was featured again in The New Paper on 17 January 2010:
<blockquote>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NANSBZM7UMk/YagX3bd5WzI/AAAAAAAAbNo/hEgHvcH1Lto1HC6etuW07qgcJRhWMlLLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/debeerswongtnp.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="523" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NANSBZM7UMk/YagX3bd5WzI/AAAAAAAAbNo/hEgHvcH1Lto1HC6etuW07qgcJRhWMlLLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/debeerswongtnp.jpg"/></a>
<br><br>
<b>She’s slim, he’s a bit – shall we say chubby? Some of their friends call them “Beauty and the Beast”.
<br><br>
But Mr De Beers Wong, 28, and Ms Megan Kong, 25, feel they are perfect for each other.
<br><br>
And it seems that netizens agree.
<br><br>
Mr Wong and Ms Kong are one of the 10 dating couples voted as “Beautifully Imperfect” in a Facebook contest organised by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports last year.
<br><br>
Indeed, they are the first of the 10 to get engaged.
<br><br>
The contest was open to all couples, who had to post their pictures on the Facebook page. Some 370 couples took part. The 10 most liked couples won $400 each. Mr Wong and Ms Kong were one of these couples.
<br><br>
Mr Wong and Ms Kong have been colleagues in an insurance company since 2003 and have been going out for 1½ years. Mr Wong proposed to Ms Kong on 18 Nov last year.
<br><br>
It was an unusual proposal.
<br><br>
That day, Ms Kong was supposed to meet a friend at Ion Orchard. Mr Wong got 30 strangers to each give her a rose.
<br><br>
Meanwhile, two of his friends recorded everything with cameras.
<br><br>
When she later turned her back to the cameramen, Mr Wong surprised her by approaching with a 20-rose bouquet and popping the question.
<br><br>
She said yes. They will be getting married this year, on 29 Dec.
<br><br>
Ms Kong said Mr Wong was “beautifully imperfect” because of his idiosyncrasies which she found strange at first.
<br><br>
For instance, he hardly spoke while he was eating, regardless of whether he was in a group or just with her.
<br><br>
This made conversation difficult at first.Mr Wong said he did not like to talk during meals as he wanted to enjoy his food.
<br><br>
Ms Kong said: “It was quite strange at first. But then I got used to it. So when we’re eating, I just do all the talking and hope he listens!”
<br><br>
So when does he do the talking? Mr Wong exclaimed: “When she drives!”
<br><br>
Ms Kong is always the one behind the wheel as Mr Wong does not have a driving licence.
<br><br>
It is through laughing with each other, even through the bad times, that they got closer.
<br><br>
So what do they like about each other?
<br><br>
Ms Kong said: “There are definitely times when people upset you, and it’s good to know you always have a safe space to come back to.”
<br><br>
As for Mr Wong, he is “lucky to have found someone I love unconditionally and who loves me back the same way”.
<br><br>
Ms Kong said: “Our relationship is based on trust and devotion. I know there’s a tendency to just try to look for the richest or most good-looking person, but we’re not like that. We accept one another for who we are.”
<br><br>
Then she added: “But I think he’s very adorable. Even my grandmother thinks so.”
<br><br>
Mr Wong wrote in his caption for their photograph in the contest: “The most beautiful thing that has ever happened in my life is to have you (Ms Kong) in my arms and knowing that you love me as much as I love you...
<br><br>
“Inside, I built a wall so high I thought it (would) never fall, one touch (and) you brought it down.”
</b></blockquote>
There is a lot to unpack there.
<br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-4754067711825673312021-11-22T18:43:00.001+08:002021-11-25T13:41:54.278+08:00Why an otter in TraceTogether app? It should be a merlion and I have one in mindDo merlions cry?
<br><br>
As in can tears come out of their eyes?
<br><br>
Or are they only capable of expelling copious fluid from their mouth like they are vomiting?
<br><br>
I am asking because somewhere out there, there must be a very sad merlion right now.
<br><br>
His name is Merli.
<br><br>
“Who?” you may ask
<br><br>
Merli is the “heart-warming and whimsical” cartoon character based on Singapore’s mythical national icon – no, not Phua Chu Kang – the Merlion, created by the <a href="https://www.stb.gov.sg/content/stb/en/media-centre/media-releases/merli-makes-a-splash.html">Singapore Tourism Board</a> (STB) in 2018 to appeal to families with kids.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fyFT3-SYZFM/YZtqQqk1yNI/AAAAAAAAbMU/0tdAIXdtn98qa2wqs1fXB_JicsxULiaLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/e0da7677-6c57-49c0-af01-c53f7f53a77a_merli-guide1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fyFT3-SYZFM/YZtqQqk1yNI/AAAAAAAAbMU/0tdAIXdtn98qa2wqs1fXB_JicsxULiaLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/e0da7677-6c57-49c0-af01-c53f7f53a77a_merli-guide1.jpg" width="600"/></a>
<br><br>
According to STB, Merli the merlion “is energetic and outgoing, and has many friends from Singapore and around the world”.
<br><br>
He also “makes it a point to treat his friends to his favourite food – kaya toast – which he loves for its unique taste”.
<br><br>
So cute, right?
<br><br>
Merli eats kaya toast like a typical Singaporean – and human being. He thinks he is people.
<br><br>
Merli has appeared in various marketing collateral, including animated videos produced by STB, but you don’t really hear much about him.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3uD8LPjtuos" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
Fast forward to today.
<br><br>
GovTech has updated its TraceTogether app to show your Covid-19 vaccination and test statuses on your check-in pass after you scan the QR code.
<br><br>
For those who are vaccinated, the screen will have a green background for venue staff to see easily from a distance so that queues can be cleared quickly.
<br><br>
The screen will also have animation for venue staff to easily check that it is not a screenshot in case people want to cheat.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gX1DQeoXL5I" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
So for the animation, GovTech decided to have a cute cartoon critter swimming back and forth across the screen.
<br><br>
Merli is perfect for this.
<br><br>
I mean, he is a cute cartoon critter and he is half fish. So swimming back and forth is not a problem for Merli.
<br><br>
Obvious choice, right?
<br><br>
But what did GovTech choose to put in the animation?
<br><br>
Not Merli. Or even Phua Chu Kang.
<br><br>
<b>GovTech picked a damn otter.</b>
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mXAocVlGxLc/YZtjg8iLB0I/AAAAAAAAbMM/ceuDMbkHShw60cSG_Nr9Q-joibR3IWFNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/file7id0rrroxiv3wg4x34r.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="451" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mXAocVlGxLc/YZtjg8iLB0I/AAAAAAAAbMM/ceuDMbkHShw60cSG_Nr9Q-joibR3IWFNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/file7id0rrroxiv3wg4x34r.jpg"/></a>
<br><br>
Because according to GovTech, “what’s not to like about a cute floating otter”.
<br><br>
Well, there is a lot not to like if you have precious koi that were eaten by a otter. You wouldn’t have that problem with kaya toast-loving Merli.
<br><br>
Hey, at least GovTech didn’t make it a baby panda.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheStraitsTimes%2Fposts%2F10158246288582115&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="487" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
So instead of using a pre-existing animated critter that officially represents our country and can swim, GovTech wastefully creates a brand new animated critter based on… what? Popularity?
<br><br>
No wonder The Washington Post recently claimed: “Otters are taking over Singapore.”
<br><br>
Last month, the US newspaper reported: “Using drainpipes as highways, the carnivorous mammals traverse the city, sometimes popping up in rush-hour traffic, or racing through university campuses…
<br><br>
“They visit hospital lobbies and condominium pools, hunting for koi fish and drinking from fountains.”
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwashingtonpost%2Fposts%2F10161340099857293&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="569" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
They have been featured in <a href="https://youtu.be/J7f6s2g8C0I">BBC</a> and <a href="https://sg.style.yahoo.com/netflixs-night-on-earth-features-singapores-famous-otters-and-rare-colugo-092223700.html">Netflix</a> documentaries.
<br><br>
They have gone viral by <a href="https://youtu.be/YAsLxvM6e_Y">crashing a marriage proposal</a> and writhing around a tree like they were possessed.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZGQMAiDQGBM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
They were once voted by <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/st-readers-choose-bishan-otters-to-represent-singapore-in-her-51st-year">Straits Times readers</a> to represent Singapore for National Day.
<br><br>
Just last week, when an otter pup died after suffering injuries from a fight with other otters, it was front page news in this very paper you are reading.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5WWTxGnrHRk/YZttRYB3poI/AAAAAAAAbMc/i3_rsXEXJdYMUmG1TG4qSgYrEFQZIbu9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="550" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5WWTxGnrHRk/YZttRYB3poI/AAAAAAAAbMc/i3_rsXEXJdYMUmG1TG4qSgYrEFQZIbu9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p1.JPG" width="500"/></a>
<br><br>
The animal couldn’t get more publicity if it were marrying <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/actress-rebecca-lim-thanks-well-wishers-posts-picture-showing-side-profile-of">Rebecca Lim</a>.
<br><br>
After Jack Neo finishes the Ah Girls Go Army movie, the logical sequel would be Otters Go Army (that is, if he can find a trangender otter to be in the cast).
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheStraitsTimes%2Fposts%2F10158241677007115&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="525" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
Which brings me to my point.
<br><br>
The otters have so much already. Couldn’t GovTech have at least given the TraceTogether animated screen to poor Merli who has so little?
<br><br>
I mean, he is right there!
<br><br>
STB must have paid someone a lot of money to create Merli.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fziqun91%2Fposts%2F10159205571523796&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="771" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
What a missed opportunity. With the drop in tourism due to the pandemic, he could use the work.
<br><br>
Maybe he can get a gig promoting Shopee like PCK did.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HWs36-vGsN0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
The sad, under-utilised merlion is probably somewhere out there drowning his sorrows in kaya toast right now.
<br><br>
Damn otters.
<br><br>
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 22 November 2021</i>
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HoLN-ROwAmE/YZtxwgWyR_I/AAAAAAAAbMk/ElpQDiEvF-w6a2eb55x7-1CloiQPln--gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/oscol22.JPG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="451" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HoLN-ROwAmE/YZtxwgWyR_I/AAAAAAAAbMk/ElpQDiEvF-w6a2eb55x7-1CloiQPln--gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/oscol22.JPG"/></a>
<br><br>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-64553837036774949072021-11-08T11:35:00.005+08:002021-11-29T22:39:00.085+08:00Is Bollywood scene in Eternals movie racist? Happy Deepavali!<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQ8No6hDOLU/YYiZ1KSC7yI/AAAAAAAAbLQ/MZpduHCUWK8H1Kc-PP5IqMZF6hcBIirqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/kumail.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQ8No6hDOLU/YYiZ1KSC7yI/AAAAAAAAbLQ/MZpduHCUWK8H1Kc-PP5IqMZF6hcBIirqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/kumail.jpg" width=600/></a>
<br><br>
What is racist?
<br><br>
That may be obvious to many but not to all.
<br><br>
How else do you explain the viral 14-second video posted by a gym of two middle-aged Chinese women doing a seated row with elastic bands while shaking their heads like broken bobblehead dolls and repeating “happy Deepavali” to laughter from an unseen audience?
<br><br>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CV4SG9rJtoB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CV4SG9rJtoB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CV4SG9rJtoB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Wake Up, Singapore 🇸🇬 (@wakeupsingapore)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br><br>
Never mind the Eternals movie. The video should’ve been rated M18 for immature content.
<br><br>
But someone must have thought it was okay and not racist at all because it was posted on Instagram by F45 Serangoon Garden South to mark the Hindu festival last week.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTQToOIQ5Dk/YYiOxMqWmqI/AAAAAAAAbKs/LjDPv9kfb6EHMt6RuRRcCK2prBfh9ztpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/f45.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="910" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTQToOIQ5Dk/YYiOxMqWmqI/AAAAAAAAbKs/LjDPv9kfb6EHMt6RuRRcCK2prBfh9ztpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/f45.jpg" width=200/></a>After receiving “feedback that this video is racially insensitive”, the gym apologised: “We are very sorry for the mistakes and hope to seek your forgiveness.”
<br><br>
With the Internet being the Internet, at least one of the women has been supposedly identified and the company she works for has also been targeted by those demanding that the woman be sacked.
<br><br>
It’s like <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/people-never-let-me-forget-says-amy-cheong">Amy Cheong</a> all over again. Remember her?
<br><br>
The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urbanrevivo.intl/">company</a> responded that it was aware of the video, adding: “We are treating this matter very seriously and we are currently in the process of investigating the incident.”
<br><br>
But the video was not the only racially-charged Deepavali-related incident that went viral last week.
<br><br>
So did this tweet by a Twitter user named sham: “my siblings my niece and i were just playing with sparklers for Deepavali and someone from on top threw an egg at us.”
<br><br>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">my siblings my niece and i were just playing with sparklers for Deepavali and someone from on top threw an egg at us????? wtf is this <a href="https://t.co/GzQRF3hkGZ">pic.twitter.com/GzQRF3hkGZ</a></p>— sham (@sham_ugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/sham_ugh/status/1456235824085803008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<br><br>
He also tweeted pictures of a family including a young girl playing with sparklers outdoors and pictures of a smashed egg at what looked like the foot of a Housing Board block.
<br><br>
The Twitter user did not outright call it a racist incident, but some took it as such.
<br><br>
As one person commented: “I’m sorry that some racist person had to show his/her downright ugliness when y’all were enjoying the sparklers.”
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x_me3xsvDgk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
But I would like to report a possibly racist Deepavali-related incident that not enough people are talking about.
<br><br>
It’s in the Eternals movie, which opened in Singapore on Deepavali.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGeekCulture%2Fposts%2F4456666681088946&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="487" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
I know the movie received the M18 rating and is banned in a several Middle Eastern countries because of a scene with two gay men kissing. But what raises my hackles is a different scene.
<br><br>
Come on, Marvel, you have the first South Asian superhero Kingo played by Pakistani-American actor Kumail Nanjiani and what do you do?
<br><br>
You put him in a Bollywood dance number.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lXed5Inp844" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
Stereotype much?
<br><br>
I guess I should be grateful that you didn’t make Gilgamesh played by Korean-American actor Don Lee sing K-pop and play Squid Game.
<br><br>
Or make Ajak played by Mexican-American actress Selma Hayek eat tacos and clean houses.
<br><br>
Or make Sersi played by Chinese-British actress Gemma Chan know gongfu and ride a giant flying Chinese dragon in the end – no, wait, that is another movie.
<br><br>
It is particularly jarring considering the movie is a woke wet dream with a hyper-diverse cast that also includes a deaf actress, two British guys who played brothers in Game Of Thrones and Angelina Jolie.
<br><br>
Plus the movie is directed by what Americans like to call a “<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/21/17888042/the-eternals-director-marvel-chloe-zhao">woman of colour</a>”, Oscar winner Chloe Zhao.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftechinsider%2Fposts%2F2332882793576730&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="505" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
As Eternals has become the worst reviewed Marvel Cinematic Universe movie ever, some fans are calling its critics <a href="https://gamerant.com/eternals-hard-time-with-critics-explained/">racist</a> and misogynist.
<br><br>
So it almost does not matter that Kingo was originally Japanese in the comics. No one is accusing Marvel of brown-washing for making the character a South Asian just to have a Bollywood sequence.
<br><br>
All is forgiven, <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/2021/06/tilda-swinton-doctor-strange-whitewashing-kevin-feige-regrets-1234647796/">Tilda Swinton</a>?
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rnr8TFiszlI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
Yay, representation.
<br><br>
The movie may not be as outright racist as the F45 video, but both trade on the same old racial stereotypes.
<br><br>
Shaking my head.
<br><br>
But not like that.
<br><br>
<i>- Publihsed in The New Paper, 8 November 2021</i>
<br><br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7A3bP8vtwrk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br><br>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-72412578975001170312021-10-25T12:02:00.006+08:002021-11-01T11:23:48.966+08:00ITE College West canteen needs support, so I ordered the cheese balls (among other things)The Internet is not all bad.
<br><br>
Yes, even <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2021/10/24/criticism-of-facebook-continues-on-several-fronts-with-more-bad-publicity-expected-monday/">Facebook</a>. (Or whatever it’s changing its <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/21/facebooks-reported-name-change-7-rebrands-that-worked-or-didnt.html">name</a> to)
<br><br>
Two weeks ago, someone named Wendy Choo posted an appeal in Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HawkersUnited2020/posts/638866550447716">Hawkers United - Dabao 2020</a>.
<br><br>
It read:
<blockquote><b>“For ppl who are staying/ working near to CCK ITE West College ...
<br><br>
“U can visit the canteen located in the school.
<br><br>
“Business had been badly affected as students are mainly having HBL (home-based learning).
<br><br>
“They served a variety of food. Stall owners are barely making to cover the rental...
<br><br>
“Do help to support them if you are around that area.”</b></blockquote>
The post went viral, having been shared over 4,000 times and was reported by <a href="https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/barely-covering-rental-netizen-urges-westies-support-ite-college-west-canteen-stalls">AsiaOne</a>, <a href="https://mothership.sg/2021/10/ite-college-west-canteen/">Mothership.sg</a>, <a href="https://mustsharenews.com/ite-college-west-canteen/">Mustsharenews.com</a> and <a href="https://sethlui.com/ite-college-west-public-support-singapore-oct-2021/?fbclid=IwAR00d4Im1W-uRLofYjVH3bhxi1M0FMifV6KCNCbcoBpkbH7QIFR7_z92J3s">SethLui.com.</a>
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fasiaonecom%2Fposts%2F4635592096499334&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="464" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
I first saw the post in the Friends Of Yew Tee Facebook group.
<br><br>
I am in the Friends of Yew Tee Facebook group because, well, I live in Yew Tee, which is near enough to the ITE College West campus that I feel I should try to help out by grabbing a meal there even though it is a bit out of the way.
<br><br>
If you don’t drive, you can get there by taking the train to Teck Whye LRT station. That is two MRT and three LRT stations away from my place.
<br><br>
I decided to make the trip last Friday afternoon with my wife.
<br><br>
At the ITE campus SafeEntry check-in point, I asked the security guard where the canteen was. He told me to turn right and there it was.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7d8U1IXWD1c/YXYmD5DdXlI/AAAAAAAAa_A/0hfkLZKKfrIeBVIHa_XZxM4gO1LYEYQ5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_5075.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7d8U1IXWD1c/YXYmD5DdXlI/AAAAAAAAa_A/0hfkLZKKfrIeBVIHa_XZxM4gO1LYEYQ5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_5075.JPG" width="560"/></a>
<br><br>
At the canteen entrance, there was a big sign that said: “Food court open to public.”
<br><br>
The problem is that the location of the sign is such that not many members of the public can actually see it.
<br><br>
The food court was brightly lit and spacious with tables arranged far apart due to Covid-19 safety measures.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ4sOgly9No/YXYmuSL11dI/AAAAAAAAa_I/3Clw0r_D5qkdOLE3_ZBBTkxL6EY9zONfACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_5077.JPG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ4sOgly9No/YXYmuSL11dI/AAAAAAAAa_I/3Clw0r_D5qkdOLE3_ZBBTkxL6EY9zONfACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_5077.JPG" width="560"/></a>
<br><br>
There weren’t many people eating there, but then it was almost 2pm, a little after lunchtime. I saw a few students in uniform and diners who didn’t look like students.
<br><br>
Of the 18 food stalls, only 10 were open. The vegetarian food stall seemed open, but the guy behind it gave me the international hand gesture for “no more food”.
<br><br>
I was intrigued by a stall called Australian Delights, but it looked like it had closed down for good. Did it sell BBQ kangaroo fillet or something?
<br><br>
So I ordered a $2 roti john from the Malay Cuisine stall, but when I found out it contained sardines, my wife didn’t allow me to eat it because of my gout. She ate it instead.
<br><br>
In the end, I had the spaghetti alfredo with grilled fish (not sardine) from the pasta stall. It was only $4, but I added two fried cheese balls for another $1.50 because, you know, I wanted to support the place.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy7CD5ZI-tk/YXYo0j6LdFI/AAAAAAAAa_Q/rrSwJVL36m4fM0OYORQeJNidCS44FRl-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_5079.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy7CD5ZI-tk/YXYo0j6LdFI/AAAAAAAAa_Q/rrSwJVL36m4fM0OYORQeJNidCS44FRl-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_5079.JPG" width="560"/></a>
<br><br>
I regretted the balls. It was all a bit too rich for my blood. I was feeling kind of bloated afterwards.
<br><br>
Including a $1.20 iced Milo and a $1 iced tea-O (no straws) for my wife and me, I spent less than $10 on lunch for both of us.
<br><br>
I felt like a hero, having done my good deed for the day.
<br><br>
Then I went home and found out that some local YouTuber named Zermatt Neo had posted a video about spending over $50 buying items from every stall in the ITE College West food court, including the roti john, pasta, fried rice, chicken rice, hot plate, fishball noodles and waffles.
<br><br>
The waffle stall was closed when I was there, damn it.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ADH1L5boEWM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
But he didn’t get the cheese balls.
<br><br>
Anyway, this is not a competition. It is not about who spends more money in the food court and is therefore the bigger hero. Am I right?
<br><br>
It is about supporting the stall owners.
<br><br>
The woman who sold me the roti john told me that thanks to the viral post, more people were eating at the food court.
<br><br>
She said that previously, members of the public were “scared” to go there because they didn’t know the food court was open to the public.
<br><br>
Well, I certainly wouldn’t have gone there if not for the viral post. And that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZlUAff0s1IbMJlIDrw3TKQ">over-eating yet inexplicably not overweight YouTuber</a> too.
<br><br>
So the Internet is not just for spreading misinformation about <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/pofma-correction-direction-issued-truth-warriors-website-over-misinformation-about-covid">Covid-19 vaccines</a> and alleged sex videos of Night Owl Cinematics co-founder <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/nocs-sylvia-chan-files-police-reports-over-death-threats-sex-video-current-separate-report">Sylvia Chan</a>.
<br><br>
It can do some good too.
<br><br>
Unlike those cheese balls.
<br><br>
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 25 October 2021</i>
<br><br>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-17053676321847455432021-10-11T13:26:00.006+08:002021-10-11T20:53:14.086+08:00Instead of Helen & Ivan's coins, I propose more relatable PSLE questions for the new normalHelen and Ivan have a lot to answer for.
<br /><br />
Because of them, children cried, parents complained and everyone memed.
<br /><br />
This year’s Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) mathematics paper was reportedly so brutal that you almost expect to win <a href="https://wgntv.com/news/netflix-hit-squid-game-has-viewers-asking-how-much-is-45-6-billion-won/">45.6 billion Korean won</a> (S$52 million) in cash for surviving it.
<br /><br />
But instead of the deadly games in Squid Game, 12-year-olds taking the exam apparently had to overcome such merciless questions like this one:
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpsySSuhpNo/YWO8vjD-GwI/AAAAAAAAawM/VKNh6RvxW7oQnPc1uAlTS3oI1EaguBE0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/helenivan.jpg" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="612" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpsySSuhpNo/YWO8vjD-GwI/AAAAAAAAawM/VKNh6RvxW7oQnPc1uAlTS3oI1EaguBE0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/helenivan.jpg" width=560/></a>
<br /><br />
No, it wasn’t the terrible English of “more heavier” that reduced the kids to tears.
<br /><br />
Did the Ministry of Education (MOE) hire Phua Chu Kang to set the exam after he finished shooting Covid-19 videos and Shopee ads?
<br /><br />
The question went so viral that all sorts of organisations jumped on the trendwagon by creating memes about what Helen and Ivan did or should do with all those coins:
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOCBC.Singapore%2Fposts%2F2412415725557112&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="244" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpubliclibrarysg%2Fposts%2F162750372698085&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="716" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSingaporeGeneralHospital%2Fposts%2F10158033889746681&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="256" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdbs.sg%2Fposts%2F4425315817582633&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="256" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSengkangnpc%2Fposts%2F166388285668138&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="729" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMOFsg%2Fposts%2F229588689200945&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="460" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmasjidahmadibrahim%2Fposts%2F2946736002205530&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="696" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ueo9Cu5gPdk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FIKEASingapore%2Fposts%2F4412511282158909&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="590" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Even MOE weighed in (so to speak), posting on social media:
<blockquote><b>“We met up with Helen and Ivan this week to solve their weighty money issue. Some found it challenging while others found it familiar from work they had done in class before.
<br /><br />
“Like every year, the examination paper has a balanced spread of test items of varying difficulties ranging from easy, moderate to challenging questions. We would like to assure parents that this year’s paper was set to comparable standards (to) past years’ papers...
<br /><br />
“Some parents also mentioned that the Helen and Ivan question included the phrase ‘more heavier’, which is grammatically incorrect. We would like to clarify that the question in the PSLE paper did not use this phrase.”</b>
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmoesingapore%2Fposts%2F227265952769898&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="735" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
</blockquote>
So MOE didn’t hire PCK after all. He must be too busy telling people to get your shot.
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cf2T3YgyaHA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
Still, the ministry can’t deny that Helen and Ivan walking around with all that loose change isn’t exactly the most relatable of scenarios.
<br /><br />
So here are a few proposed questions for next year’s PSLE to reflect the new normal:
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>
Last Wednesday, the Ministry of Health reported a total of 3,562 new Covid-19 cases in the community and migrant worker dormitories. If the number also came in second in the <a href="https://sg.gidapp.com/lottery/sp/4d/en/2021-10-06">4D draw</a> that day, how much do you bet on the number of new local cases the next day?
</li><br /><li>
On Saturday, Singapore announced that those who are fully vaccinated can travel to eight more countries: Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Britain and the US. How soon after did the <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-airlines-sia-website-down-vaccinated-travel-lanes-announcement-2232686">Singapore Airlines website</a> crash?
</li><br /><li>
Of Singapore’s population, 83 per cent have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccines and 85 per cent have received at least one dose. How many who refuse to be vaccinated will eventually take ivermectin because their “<a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/grandmother-hospitalised-after-taking-ivermectin-to-protect-herself-against-covid-19">church friends</a>” in Telegram chat groups tell them to?
</li><br /><li>
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaks for 25 minutes on the Covid-19 situation using 3,063 words. How many times does he drink from his <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/dear-pm-lee-where-is-your-magic-cup">magic cup</a>?<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C0cB0K1S1D4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</li><br /><li>
Helen and Ivan are dating. She is vaccinated. He is not and doesn’t want to be. From Wednesday, only those who are vaccinated will be allowed to enter malls and dine in (with a <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/grace-period-of-one-week-to-be-given-before-entry-rules-on-unvaccinated-people-kick-in">one-week grace period</a> for malls). How long before Helen finds a new boyfriend? Oh, Ivan is also a cheapskate who always seems to have only coins with him.
</li></ul><br />
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 11 October 2021</i>
<br /><br />
<blockquote>Dear Mr. Ong<br /><br />
I refer to your cheek-in-tongue article in today's TNP. It is as humorous as ever.
<br /><br />
On a more serious note, I wonder why some parents are so upset about the difficult Maths question. Firstly, it is just one question out of so many questions. Secondly, isn't, by having a few difficult questions, a means to differentiate those students who are strong academically from the rest? Thirdly, why are students so weak emotionally nowadays that they will cry over things like this? Is it the end of the world? Fourthly, shouldn't we, including those parents who voiced their displeasure and concern for their children, be helping the children to take challenges in their stride instead of over-protecting them?
<br /><br />
Obviously there will be different views about it. I guess this is one way to make further improvement in the education system (or for that matter, any topic or subject).
<br /><br />
BTW, as I mentioned to SEAB in the email below, even though they were not the ones who made the grammatical error, it is still their responsibility to ensure that the parents and children will learn to use proper English now. Otherwise, we will definitely have bigger problems in the future.
<br /><br />
Another observation. There is a tendency for most, if not all of us, to make more assumptions nowadays. Just like in this case about the grammatically wrong question. Almost everyone, including me, assumed that it was SEAB who made the mistake. In many cases, no one bothers to seek clarification before jumping to a conclusion. Making assumptions is a double-edged sword. It can help in improving efficiency and help to separate those who have better means of reading the intent of an instruction, programme from those who need to be told of every minute detail (which will help in identifying managers and leaders). On the other hand, it can also lead to wrong implementation of programmes and processes which lead to big issues subsequently. Won't it be great if someone has a solution to this?
<br /><br />
Regards<br />
LEE </blockquote>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-15827160761044628872021-09-27T18:03:00.001+08:002021-09-28T07:24:24.568+08:00What do PSLE parents fear most – Covid, clowns or going to a ‘lousy school’?It’s that time of the year again.
<br><br>
I feel sorry for Primary 6 kids and their parents. How stressful it must be for them right now. The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) starts this week. More children are getting infected with Covid-19 and so far, none of the Covid-19 vaccines available in Singapore have been approved for use in children under 12.
<br><br>
But despite all that, you know what parents could be more afraid of more than the coronavirus?
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RHNz9Z1Jxw/YVGP2TifONI/AAAAAAAAahg/Ce7mPzy_aaUM5hwX-MdoPsBtwK37o6yvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/clown.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="910" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RHNz9Z1Jxw/YVGP2TifONI/AAAAAAAAahg/Ce7mPzy_aaUM5hwX-MdoPsBtwK37o6yvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/clown.jpg" width=400/></a>Clowns.
<br><br>
And Singapore tested positive for them last week.
<br><br>
The bad news is there is no vaccine against them either – for children <i>and</i> adults. Pfizer and Big Pharma are sleeping on the job.
<br><br>
But then who could’ve predicted we would have an outbreak of a <a href="https://youtu.be/FnCdOQsX5kc">Stephen King movie</a>? And I'm not talking about <a href="https://youtu.be/-Nf9yCgdNNI">The Stand</a>.
<br><br>
Last Monday, Singaporeans woke up to the bizarre reports of clowns terrorising children outside their schools.
<br><br>
It turned out to be maybe just one clown sent by an education company called Speech Academy Asia to promote its classes.
<br><br>
No, it isn’t bliss and no, we don’t approve. And yes, it is kind of queer.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oOerswMvjOY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
Sondheim aside, not everyone is down to clown around town.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djASSpyR6Pg/YVGTcYf-BRI/AAAAAAAAaho/hHLCUO954GMSI8RsOq-LDpuMRHt0iSSzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/pennywise.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djASSpyR6Pg/YVGTcYf-BRI/AAAAAAAAaho/hHLCUO954GMSI8RsOq-LDpuMRHt0iSSzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/pennywise.jpg" width="200"/></a>What the company probably hoped to be more like Ronald McDonald turned out to be more like It, prompting multiple police reports and Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin to post on Facebook last Monday: “Whoever is doing what I assume to be some viral marketing nonsense, stop it!”
<br><br>
Or at least wait a month until Halloween if you want to frighten children with your budget Pennywise cosplay.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTanChuanJin1%2Fposts%2F402581954570629&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="497" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
The story was even picked up by overseas media outlets such as The Washington Post, South China Morning Post and Vice.
<br><br>
The Sun had this headline: “Parents terrified after creepy ‘<a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16202309/creepy-clowns-lurk-around-school/">killer clowns</a>’ spotted lurking outside school and asking kids to ‘follow them’.”
<br><br>
Fact check: Unlike the coronavirus, the supposed “killer clowns” didn’t actually kill anybody, although safe distancing from clowns is still advised, preferably a lot more than 1 metre.
<br><br>
Speech Academy Asia has since apologised, posting on Facebook:
<blockquote><b>“We would like to clarify that; although indeed, the promoter is an employee of Speech Academy Asia, our team does not offer any form of monetary rewards for children to follow them.
<br><br>
“Additionally, our promoters strictly do not take any children out of the vicinity.
<br><br>
“We truly understand your concern for the safety of your children; hence we will be putting an immediate stop to our roadshows.”</b></blockquote>
And thus, the clownoravirus cluster was quickly closed to the relief of all.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSpeechAcademyAsia%2Fposts%2F4272831732806387&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="295" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
Taking the PSLE in the middle of a pandemic is harrowing enough without having to fend off circus acts too.
<br><br>
Well, at least you no longer have to worry about your child not making it to Raffles Institution (RI).
<br><br>
I remember my parents really wanted me to go to RI. But after my PSLE, I was posted to Bukit Merah Secondary School.
<br><br>
For a long time, I felt like such a failure for disappointing my parents.
<br><br>
But I don’t anymore, thanks to Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
Or at least I think it’s him.
<br><br>
About two weeks ago, Dr Balakrishnan posted on Facebook:
<blockquote><b>“I called Mr Leong Mun Wai today to apologise for my private comments to a colleague in Parliament yesterday.
<br><br>
“I disagree with him on the issue, but I should not have said what I said. Mr Leong has accepted my apology.”</b></blockquote>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FVivian.Balakrishnan.Sg%2Fposts%2F393247595502258&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="218" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
However, the minister did not specify exactly what comments he was apologising for.
<br><br>
The Straits Times reported that during a Parliamentary debate on Sept 14, after Mr Leong spoke, a voice could be heard saying “he’s illiterate”.
<br><br>
Later, a microphone picked up someone saying: “Seriously, how did he get into RI?... Must have been a lousy school.”
<br><br>
Mr Leong, who is a Non-Constituency MP from Progress Singapore Party, was an RI student.
ST said that it is understood that these remarks were made by Dr Balakrishnan, who was from Anglo-Chinese School.
<br><br>
<iframe id="reddit-embed" src="https://www.redditmedia.com/r/singapore/comments/po7s8y/vivian_balakrishnan_can_be_heard_mocking_leong/?ref_source=embed&ref=share&embed=true" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups" style="border: none;" height="428" width="640" scrolling="no"></iframe>
<br><br>
However, there has also been some conjecture online that not all the offending remarks were made by Dr Balakrishnan, who was sitting next to Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in Parliament.
<br><br>
Last Wednesday, in Mr Wong’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceWongST/videos/989770001877545/">Facebook Live post</a> about jobs, someone daringly went off-topic to write in the comments section: “Actually I think people are more interested to know whether you were the one who made the ‘lousy school’ comment in Parliament.”
<br><br>
And Mr Wong actually replied: “Thanks for the question. I assure you that I did not make any of those comments.”
<br><br>
And there you have it.
<br><br>
I believe the minister, who was from Tanjong Katong Secondary School.
<br><br>
So yes, it is thanks to Dr Balakrishnan that I no longer have to feel like a loser for not going to RI. I can feel like a loser for other reasons.
<br><br>
And parents don’t have to pressure their PSLE-taking kids to go to RI anymore.
<br><br>
Tanjong Katong will do. You can even become Finance Minister.
<br><br>
Or Bukit Merah and become a famous alleged humour columnist like me.
<br><br>
Just don’t call me a clown.
<br><br>
As for the pandemic, is it ever going to end?
<br><br>
Well, maybe next year.
<br><br>
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 27 September 2021</i>
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lTaT1SxCssM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-79180774941468304182021-09-13T10:44:00.014+08:002021-09-14T21:33:46.338+08:00Soh Rui Yong's 2.4km challenge and the Commandos: ‘Never a me vs them scenario’<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uAc6NoiwzTo/YT8oqokh6hI/AAAAAAAAabE/q3LcWrCGkIwY7KDgLxgRCcJBG33TPwYAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/soh.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="561" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uAc6NoiwzTo/YT8oqokh6hI/AAAAAAAAabE/q3LcWrCGkIwY7KDgLxgRCcJBG33TPwYAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/soh.jpg" width="560"/></a>
<br><br>
Well, that escalated quickly.
<br><br>
Maybe even quicker than marathoner Soh Rui Yong running 2.4km in 6 minutes 53.18 seconds.
<br><br>
On Sept 4, the two-time SEA Games gold medallist officially became the first Singaporean to complete the distance in less than 7 minutes.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IgjPWaOoiIQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
Is that fast? You may ask.
<br><br>
For reference, in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT), if you are younger than 22 years old, you need to run 2.4km in only 8 and a half minutes to get the maximum points. Any faster, you’re just showing off.
<br><br>
Soh wasn’t taking his IPPT, but he isn’t averse to showing off either.
<br><br>
Someone must have said something because last Wednesday, Soh posted his lap splits on social media with the comment:
<blockquote><b>“Somehow, some people still think their ‘army/commando bmt mate who smokes’ ran faster.”</b></blockquote>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fruiyong.soh%2Fposts%2F10161351443239968&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
That comment didn’t go over well with everyone.
<br><br>
So the next day, he posted:
<blockquote><b>“It has come to my attention that a number of former Singapore Army Commandos are taking offence to the last line of my previous post, and are doubling down on their claims, insisting that a sub 7 minute 2.4km is a common occurrence within the Commandos.”</b></blockquote>
He continued:
<blockquote><b>“Firstly, that line, read in context and in entirety, was not targeted at Commandos specifically.
<br><br>
“The point is this. Army 2.4km myths always go something like, ‘last time my friend from BMT/Army/Commandos/NDU/Guards can run (insert magical number here) for 2.4km. Some more ah, he is a smoker.’
<br><br>
“I’m just making reference to those kind of statements.”</b></blockquote>
Meaning he wasn’t dissing Commandos – he was just calling out the unsubstantiated claims.
<br><br>
To make his point, Soh issued this challenge:
<blockquote><b>“Any Singaporean who runs sub-7:00 for 2.4km at next month’s Pocari Sweat Singapore 2.4km Run (Ground Race, 9-10 Oct) will receive $700 and 700 bottles of Pocari Sweat, both paid for by me.”</b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTllRNuF11A/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTllRNuF11A/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTllRNuF11A/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Soh Rui Yong 🇸🇬 (苏睿勇) (@runsohfast)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br><br>
Many responded with the same army joke about their encik’s grandmother.
<br><br>
Soh did not specify whether the bottles of Pocari Sweat would be 500ml or 2 litres, but what the hell is anyone supposed to do with 700 bottles of “ion supply” drink anyway, whatever the size is?
<br><br>
Why Pocari Sweat? Because 30-year-old Soh is its brand ambassador.
<br><br>
But other companies have also jumped on the bandwagon for a free ride, such as Circles.Life, Fitness Best Asia and Smoobar.
<br><br>
The prize pot has grown to include a Suunto watch, two 90-minute deep tissue sports massages, 700 packets of chicken rice and a year’s supply of toilet paper, which would come in handy after eating 700 packets of chicken rice.
<br><br>
Then out of nowhere, Olympic swimmer Joseph Schooling crashed the party by randomly issuing his own challenge on Instagram: “I’ll give anyone a 10-second head start for a 200. Winner gets to pick a @boss suit paid for by me.”
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fruiyong.soh%2Fposts%2F10161355897159968&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="487" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
Wait. What? Where? When? Why?
<br><br>
Is anyone claiming that they know naval divers who can swim 200m faster than Schooling?
<br><br>
At least Soh’s challenge has a venue, a date and a purpose.
<br><br>
Schooling’s challenge is like something he just made up on the spot to give his sponsor, Hugo Boss, a shout-out.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FFuPOWBAY6E" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
But while all this may seem like fun and games, things took a dark turn early yesterday morning when Soh posted on Facebook:
<blockquote><b>“Over the past week, I’ve seen hate comments from some members of the Commando fraternity on Facebook and leaked messages from Commando whatsapp chat groups strategising how to get back at me for announcing the 2.4km Challenge. (Apparently, because it makes them look bad, or so I've read.)
<br><br>
“Sabotage tactics I’ve seen being discussed range from writing in to my sponsors and calling for them to drop me, to finding ways to smear my character in public.
<br><br>
“The Commando motto is ‘For Honour And Glory’. I think most Commandos live up to this. I hope these black sheep can strive to do the same. There is nothing honorable or glorious about turning down a fair challenge and resorting to sabotage schemes. While trying to smear me, what you’re really doing is smearing the reputable name of the Commandos - your own band of brothers.
<br><br>
“I believe that a bit of this may have come from keyboard warriors having fun stirring the pot to pit me vs the Commandos and enjoying the show.”</b></blockquote>
In hopes of de-escalating the situation, he added:
<blockquote><b>“To clear up any misunderstandings, I reiterate that I respect what the Commandos have gone through, and there is so much more to being a Commando than just running.
<br><br>
“I can’t do what they do because I don’t train like them, similar to how they can’t do what I do without training like a distance runner. There was never a me vs them scenario.”</b></blockquote>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fruiyong.soh%2Fposts%2F10161358808989968&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="755" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
Clearly, this is spiralling out to be more than Soh bargained for when he started the challenge. The runner has a knack for running off at the mouth.
<br><br>
After run-ins with <a href="https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-athletics-marathoner-soh-rui-yong-call-truce-over-legal-dispute-002239996.html">Singapore Athletics</a> and fellow marathoner <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/athletics-marathoner-soh-rui-yong-loses-two-of-three-appeals-has-to-pay-10k-to-ashley-liew-for">Ashley Liew</a>, now the Commandos?
<br><br>
Who knew the perennial winners of the SAF Best Combat Unit could be so thin-skinned?
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9vAOwiUueXM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
Perhaps Soh could offer the 700 bottles of Pocari Sweat as a peace offering – the big 2-litre ones.
<br><br>
And throw in 700 deep-tissue sports massages as well.
<br><br>
We all want a happy ending, don’t we?
<br><br>
The big twist could be his rival Liew shows up at the 2.4km challenge and beats Soh (again).
<br><br>
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 13 September 2021</i>
<br><br>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-31102697249652976772021-08-30T13:47:00.004+08:002021-08-31T13:58:43.172+08:00Oh, ‘Kamala’ spelt backwards is ‘alamak’? Shut up your face<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6xitCWWAW8Q/YSxwM_pYOII/AAAAAAAAaaM/bxB_Hdq0Y3YvsapnxLJWE9XPJ11GtsStQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/kamala.png" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6xitCWWAW8Q/YSxwM_pYOII/AAAAAAAAaaM/bxB_Hdq0Y3YvsapnxLJWE9XPJ11GtsStQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/kamala.png" width="560" /></a>
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0af8yZNS9o/YSxorhnd_rI/AAAAAAAAaaE/4cI_hkJwlawWGKUV5e8_g89eTvBvz2A_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1160/IMG_4328.PNG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0af8yZNS9o/YSxorhnd_rI/AAAAAAAAaaE/4cI_hkJwlawWGKUV5e8_g89eTvBvz2A_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_4328.PNG"/></a>Alamak, nasi lemak.
<br><br>
Do you know that “nasi lemak” spelt backwards is “Kamel Isan”, which happens to be the name of my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kamel.isan.79">Facebook friend</a> in Indonesia?
<br><br>
Sure, she is no Vice-President of the United States of America, but still, what a coincidence!
<br><br>
When US V-P Kamala Harris visited Singapore last week, I saw a bunch of posts online pointing out with some glee that “Kamala” spelt backwards is “alamak”.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c0FwVCKsbQc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
Even though the meme spread faster than the Delta variant, I shall resist referring to it as the Kamala virus. There is no vaccine for it – Michelle Pfeiffer-BioNTech, Madonna or otherwise.
<br><br>
Apparently, many were so tickled by the alamak-Kamala joke (if you can call it that) that they couldn’t help infecting others with it.
<br><br>
One of them was a friend of Marine Parade GRC MP <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeahKianPeng">Seah Kian Peng</a>.
<br><br>
Mr Seah then became a super spreader himself by sharing the joke on Facebook last Monday:
<blockquote><b>“As we know, VP of USA, Ms Kamala Harris chose Singapore for her first stop of her Asia tour. And with it, a friend pointed out to me that Kamala’s name spelt backwards is Alamak… what a coincidence! #singapore #usa #alamak #coincidence #humour”</b></blockquote>
Thank goodness for that last hashtag. How else would you know the post was meant to be humorous? I’m speaking from experience.
<br><br>
But you can’t find the post any more.
<br><br>
Mr Seah told Mothership.sg: "Yes, I did post this on my FB page last evening just before I went for my MPS (Meet-the-People Session).
<br><br>
“Midway through my MPS, a friend ping me and as I reflected on it, I agree it was not appropriate and decided to take down the posting.”
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMothershipSG%2Fposts%2F4656508664388749&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="524" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
Unfortunately, the Internet doesn’t forget.
<br><br>
Although Mr Seah, who is also CEO of NTUC FairPrice, deleted the post, someone has already taken a screenshot, which went viral with people calling the joke racist and misogynist.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsingaporenewsnetwork%2Fposts%2F216335257172394&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="530" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
I’m more offended by the repetitiveness of seeing versions of the same joke over and over again.
<br><br>
Before Mr Seah, others have also shared the joke, including <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sgag.sg/photos/4995039233844358">SGAG</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/goodyfeed/posts/2674330962872929">Goody Feed</a>, and it remains on their Facebook pages. They have yet to be shamed into removing it.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aALf38Wz3Gw/YSxiWlYiLgI/AAAAAAAAaZw/22McxiEu3Vs1LvEgHU2c_5lV2tlIUXEXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_4323.PNG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aALf38Wz3Gw/YSxiWlYiLgI/AAAAAAAAaZw/22McxiEu3Vs1LvEgHU2c_5lV2tlIUXEXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_4323.PNG" height=400/></a>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VI39GGdTPlY/YSxiWi2m0eI/AAAAAAAAaZs/jwNTzbAzIuExADolgO-wcRTwB5qYxX24ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_4324.PNG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="749" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VI39GGdTPlY/YSxiWi2m0eI/AAAAAAAAaZs/jwNTzbAzIuExADolgO-wcRTwB5qYxX24ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_4324.PNG" height=400/></a>
<br><br>
In fact, the joke has been going around long before Ms Harris landed on our sometimes rainy shores.
<br><br>
I first started encountering it last November after Mr Joe Biden won the US presidential election with Ms Harris as his running mate (alleged voter fraud and deadly insurrection notwithstanding).
<br><br>
Even Mothership.sg shared the joke, together with this knee-slapper: “China is already welcoming Biden. China is prepared. They have even named a famous landmark in central Beijing for Biden since the Ming dynasty in the 14th century.”
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c26GJLLWvGM/YSxnNago7MI/AAAAAAAAaZ8/hIZKFNgGXNgD7TBYRo5_qoXpY-VekOorACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_4326%2B%25282%2529.PNG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="749" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c26GJLLWvGM/YSxnNago7MI/AAAAAAAAaZ8/hIZKFNgGXNgD7TBYRo5_qoXpY-VekOorACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_4326%2B%25282%2529.PNG" height=400/></a>The punchline: “FOR BIDEN CITY!”
<br><br>
Get it?
<br><br>
And it is still there on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MothershipSG/posts/3806342136072077">Facebook</a>.
<br><br>
(By the way, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City">Forbidden City</a> was actually built in the 15th century, but what’s a century or two between friends?)
<br><br>
So if the alamak-Kamala joke has been around for at least nine months, why are people seemingly taking offence only now?
<br><br>
As author Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh wrote online: “I’ve seen this Alamak-Kamala ‘joke’ on private forums and comedy boards, but for a politician to do so publicly… hmmm.”
<br><br>
In other words, Mr Seah is an elected official, not SGAG. Or me.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsudhir.vadaketh%2Fposts%2F10159476474375944&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="443" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
The one good thing to come out of the backlash the MP received is that hopefully, it has made everyone realise how inappropriate the joke is – which he acknowledged – and this is the vaccine that will prevent folks from spreading this over-repeated so-called “joke” ever again.
<br><br>
Don’t be anti-vax.
<br><br>
My friend Kamel and I thank you.
<br><br>
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 30 August 2021</i>
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sXkBEgf1i7Q" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-54265561021351993852021-08-17T06:47:00.013+08:002021-08-20T09:31:12.353+08:00Oh, brother! I once pitched to Mediacorp Channel 5 an idea for sitcom about a Malay family and was told to add a Chinese characterOh no, she didn’t!
<br><br>
But she did. I think someone just called Mediacorp racist.
<br><br>
Or did she?
<br><br>
That someone is broadcast journalist Sharanjit Leyl.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSharanjitLeylBBC%2Fposts%2F260196292583356&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="636" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
In a BBC radio programme that aired two days before National Day, she said: “My pride in multicultural Singapore comes with the acknowledgement that had I been born Chinese, my life would have been a lot easier.”
<br><br>
She talked about how even though she had a master’s degree and broadcast journalism experience in Canada, “I struggled to get my foot in the door at the local news broadcaster”.
<br><br>
The “local news broadcaster” she was referring to is, of course, Mediacorp.
<br><br>
So she got a job at Bloomberg, where one of her duties was to provide currency updates to Mediacorp.
<br><br>
“They told my bosses they didn’t want me doing TV updates for them,” said Ms Sharanjit.
<br><br>
“I know the man who ran the newsroom of that same TV channel, who ironically happens to be Indian Singaporean.
<br><br>
“And I confronted him about why there were still so few Indian and Malay anchors presenting their programmes.
<br><br>
“His response was that viewers did not like watching darker-skinned presenters.”
<br><br>
So she was not actually accusing Mediacorp of being racist. She was accusing Mediacorp of accusing its viewers of being racist.
<br><br>
Mediacorp has since released a <a href="https://www.mediacorp.sg/en/corporate/mediacorp-in-the-news/media-releases/mediacorp-s-statement-15388610">statement</a> that Ms Sharanjit appears to be referring to its editor-in-chief <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/mediacorp-editor-chief-walter-fernandez-sustainability-officer-1883426">Walter Fernandez</a>, who did not say what she said he said.
<br><br>
He said: “To my recollection, I did not reference race or skin colour at all in our conversation.”
<br><br>
The company also said that it is “committed to equal opportunities and diversity in our workforce” and its “hiring policies and practices are based on merit”.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsleyl%2Fposts%2F10157967136236962&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="692" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
I was once (actually thrice) a Mediacorp employee and this reminds me of my own experience there.
<br><br>
I used to work on Channel 5 shows like <a href="https://smong.net/2008/08/educating-phua-chu-kang-and-failing.html">Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd</a>, Under One Roof, Living With Lydia and <a href="https://smong.net/2011/03/shiver-me-timbers-its-back-from-dead.html">Shiver</a>.
<br><br>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-GDfDN8NxWM/Skm2SOQlOTI/AAAAAAAACNs/Kwd-o3ZOVoY/s1600-h/pckset.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353010056288090418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-GDfDN8NxWM/Skm2SOQlOTI/AAAAAAAACNs/Kwd-o3ZOVoY/s400/pckset.jpg" width="500/" /></a><br />
<br><br>
We regularly had pitch meetings where we proposed new show ideas for the channel.
<br><br>
One day, I decided to pitch a sitcom about a Malay family. It had never been done on Channel 5 before. The closest we got was Police & Thief, starring Mark Lee and Suhaimi Yusof, which was about a Malay family – and also a Chinese family.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N9deEk2va5Y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
It seems that on Channel 5, while Chinese characters can be the leads, if there are minority characters, they are part of the ensemble or co-leads at best.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p0a1NG9DbW0/YRstmKasZlI/AAAAAAAAaYU/NCs4pVgeSiQ1-HKxaSz2ENOSZb5aO2LbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/land.jpg" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p0a1NG9DbW0/YRstmKasZlI/AAAAAAAAaYU/NCs4pVgeSiQ1-HKxaSz2ENOSZb5aO2LbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/land.jpg" width="560"/></a>
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uIvZvTq2gyg/YRsw_YDEZ3I/AAAAAAAAaYc/c4ivYRDD4-InqDe_yp2dQQDC-OJXo84PQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/achar.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="593" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uIvZvTq2gyg/YRsw_YDEZ3I/AAAAAAAAaYc/c4ivYRDD4-InqDe_yp2dQQDC-OJXo84PQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/achar.jpg" width="560"/></a>
<br><br>
The rationale, of course, is that since Singapore is majority Chinese, this should be reflected in the casting of the show to get the most viewers.
<br><br>
But when I analysed the viewership of the most popular Channel 5 programmes, what I noticed was that Malays comprised a sizable chunk disproportionate to their population.
<br><br>
I figured that if I could grow this demographic, I could get boffo ratings for my show. Most Chinese viewers are watching Channel 8 anyway.
<br><br>
So my motivation was more commercial than woke.
<br><br>
I also thought that a Channel 5 series with an all-Malay cast would be a first and make a great marketing hook.
<br><br>
When I pitched my concept, the feedback I got from the executives running Channel 5 (all Chinese) was they liked the idea – but could I include a Chinese character as well?
<br><br>
What? That would defeat the whole purpose of the show!
<br><br>
No, I wasn’t going to change anything, I snapped.
<br><br>
My reaction was so antagonistic that the executives just didn’t want to deal with me any more and moved on to another pitch.
<br><br>
I immediately regretted my outburst. I guess I could have added a Chinese character. Or pretended that I would.
<br><br>
But in hindsight, perhaps it was for the best. A blessing in disguise. I am probably not the most qualified person to create a sitcom about a Malay family.
<br><br>
My idea was a show called Brudder! which would centre around two brothers. A lot of the dialogue would just be them going “Brudder!”
<br><br>
That would not have aged well. I definitely dodged a bullet there. I should thank those Channel 5 execs for saving me from myself by rejecting my pitch, even though it was due less to its lack of merit and more to my obnoxiousness.
<br><br>
But I did do a pilot about an Indian family starring Gurmit Singh for Channel 5 that didn’t go to series and was never aired.
<br><br>
Yes, it did have Chinese characters.
<br><br>
Well, at least nobody told me that Channel 5 viewers did not like watching darker-skinned characters.
<br><br>
<i>- Unpublished</i>
<br><br>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-63522696053335524422021-08-16T15:23:00.006+08:002021-08-16T16:36:55.131+08:00Strong arm of the law minister: Shanmugam does some heavy lifting<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHe-P49GHcQ/YRoRh7tDNvI/AAAAAAAAaXw/KEyuXoEh6GIEgWP4qx03I-cDSR1OMQDJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/oscol16.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="864" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHe-P49GHcQ/YRoRh7tDNvI/AAAAAAAAaXw/KEyuXoEh6GIEgWP4qx03I-cDSR1OMQDJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/oscol16.JPG" width="500/" /></a>
<br /><br />
Last week, we were finally allowed back in the gym for no-mask high-intensity workouts with the easing of Covid-19 measures.
<br /><br />
And probably none too soon for Singapore’s overnight gym bro sensation, Minister for Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sduWROEs-8c" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
While the rest of us were stuffing our faces with the Hainanese Chicken Burger on Saturday, our new Minister of Swole posted on social media an 84-second video of him in a gym, deadlifting progressively heavier weights to applause.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fk.shanmugam.page%2Fvideos%2F342307657536225%2F&show_text=false&width=380&t=0" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="380"></iframe>
<br /><br />
He wrote:
<blockquote><b>“For slightly more than a year now, I have added weight training to my exercise routine.
<br /><br />
“After some months of training, (with Covid interruptions), I did a test to see what weight I can carry.
<br /><br />
“Here is a video, it starts with my attempt at 80kg, and then increased weights, going up to 105kg – my body weight is 70kg, so 105 kg is 150% of my body weight. (This was when gym training, with masks off, was allowed for a period, last year.)”</b></blockquote>
Too bad he did not also tell us his height so we can calculate his body mass index.
<br /><br />
Trying not to appear like he was just showing off his gains, the 62-year-old also threw in this health advisory:
<blockquote><b>“We have to encourage more people to exercise – walk, go to the gym, swim, do something to move.
<br /><br />
“And add weight training, for strengthening bones, other benefits. For older persons, it helps reduce muscle loss. Good to have a varied routine.”</b></blockquote>
Way to lead by example, Mr Shanzenegger.
<br /><br />
But he was not done. He was not going to stop at just 150 per cent of his body weight. He continued:
<blockquote><b>“In the next few months, I am going to try and lift 120kg.”</b></blockquote>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmGw5SjvqQs/YRoVbnt6TAI/AAAAAAAAaX4/B-EN1TXETwkP_3nrruhabYw-nyrao7LlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s686/535841_233716826772564_1561668070_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="686" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmGw5SjvqQs/YRoVbnt6TAI/AAAAAAAAaX4/B-EN1TXETwkP_3nrruhabYw-nyrao7LlgCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h310/535841_233716826772564_1561668070_n.jpg" width="320" align="right"></a>Then it was his turn to get advice from a Facebook user named Ben Ho, a former strongman competitor, who commented: “You can hit 120kg faster if you wear proper shoes for deadlifting. Normal sneakers like those, with their squishy soles and relatively high heels are the worst for these exercises.”
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGDLVjZrHd4/YRoWFz3_LQI/AAAAAAAAaYA/t8WltLX63jgDV1XRDOEWDo6nJgHEV8lJACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/shoes.jpg" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGDLVjZrHd4/YRoWFz3_LQI/AAAAAAAAaYA/t8WltLX63jgDV1XRDOEWDo6nJgHEV8lJACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/shoes.jpg" width=200/></a>
<br /><br />
Yeah, those chunky dad shoes ain’t gonna cut it although they do match the People’s Action Party Men-In-White tee-and-shorts ensemble.
<br /><br />
The post ends with a sneaky humblebrag:
<blockquote><b>“Reality check: the lady you see in the gym, in background in the video weighs less than 50kg and lifts 120kg!”</b></blockquote>
Which would seem like he was being modest by comparing himself unfavourably to the buff babe standing nearby – except that she was staring admiringly at him like he was Asian Thor.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YG8ah8op62E/YRoiq7ZHSEI/AAAAAAAAaYI/7ruD9Od3-z0uvP-9Jv2Xa1OkFFK8ehIpACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/lift.jpg" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="859" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YG8ah8op62E/YRoiq7ZHSEI/AAAAAAAAaYI/7ruD9Od3-z0uvP-9Jv2Xa1OkFFK8ehIpACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/lift.jpg" width="476"/></a>
<br /><br />
The video has since been viewed more than 250,000 times across Facebook and Instagram. It’s no Jia Jia popping one out video, but still.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwrs.sg%2Fvideos%2F869181637328247%2F&show_text=false&width=476&t=0" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="476"></iframe>
<br /><br />
The MP for Nee Soon GRC may not be a panda, but you should see him in beast mode.
<br /><br />
So what if we didn’t bring home any Olympic medals this time? We have an Olympian god in our Cabinet.
<br /><br />
Or is it Norse god? He was certainly bringing the thunder in the video.
<br /><br />
Will he make it to 120kg?
<br /><br />
A Crispy Hainanese Chicken Burger might help.
<br /><br />
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 16 August 2021</i>
<br /><br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSRmni5nho6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSRmni5nho6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSRmni5nho6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Shoeman Ong (@sm_ong)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br /><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-72061472810107132082021-07-26T12:36:00.002+08:002021-07-26T12:43:10.323+08:00From flow chart to no dine-in apocalypse: Table for one, please?<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h8TsyrdumTQ/YP458mmtxwI/AAAAAAAAaWc/nVy-QARqbuQ_Qm_nC8frKXTnWybSL40CQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_3792%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h8TsyrdumTQ/YP458mmtxwI/AAAAAAAAaWc/nVy-QARqbuQ_Qm_nC8frKXTnWybSL40CQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_3792%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="500" /></a>
<br><br>
Remember just over a week ago when the Government announced that for dining in, the maximum group size would be reduced from five to two because of the resurgence of coronavirus cases in Singapore.
<br><br>
Except!
<br><br>
Groups of up to five might be allowed depending on whether you were vaccinated, from the same household, under 12 years old or could down <a href="https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/granny-downs-10-bowls-curry-mee-45-minutes-food-court-return-p2ha-dine-ban">10 bowls of curry noodles</a> in one sitting.
<br><br>
There were more permutations than variants of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55659820">Covid-19</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/loki-variants-explained-kid-loki-alligator-loki-tom-hiddleston-marvel-2021-7">Loki</a>. You needed a flow chart and a stiff drink.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftodayonline%2Fposts%2F10158919497137572&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="657" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
It was so mind-bogglingly convoluted that some restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Subway, Long John Silver’s, Toast Box and Nando’s said screw it, we would just limit it to two people.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmcdsg%2Fphotos%2Fa.161567683889813%2F4275980365781837%2F&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="694" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
That lasted like three days.
<br><br>
Oh, were the rules too complicated for you snowflakes? Now the Government has made it simpler for everyone.
<br><br>
Vaccinated, unvaccinated, same household, different households, children, no children, pets, don’t care. How many diners? Zero.
<br><br>
Any questions?
<br><br>
What a rollercoaster ride it has been for the F&B industry this month.
<br><br>
Or year. When 2021 started, the number was 8. Then in May, it went down to five.
<br><br>
People were grumbling that they couldn’t celebrate Mother’s Day properly.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftodayonline%2Fposts%2F10158750390142572&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="524" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
Today, we would sell their mothers to get back those days again as a week after Mother’s Day, dining in was banned altogether.
<br><br>
We had to do take-outs for <a href="https://smong.net/2013/05/mothers-day-from-fathers-perspective.html">Father’s Day</a>, getting the shorter end of the stick as usual.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSAFRAsg%2Fposts%2F4436276623071171&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="501" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
When July started, the number was two. Then up to five. Then it was down to two again but five if you have the right combination. Now it’s back to zero.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pXu1h9Vc544" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
Pardon the whiplash.
<br><br>
Some blame the KTV joints. Some blame the dirty old men. Some blame the Government’s oversight and/or the lack of it. I blame the Japanese for inventing karaoke.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FChannelNewsAsia%2Fposts%2F10158423246602934&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="487" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
But instead of playing the blame game where everyone loses, I believe it is time for a new idea.
Or perhaps the revival of an old one?
<br><br>
On May 25, in the midst of the post-Mother’s Day dine-in ban, The Straits Times published a letter from reader Cheng Shoong Tat suggesting that we resume dining-in with only one diner per table:
<blockquote><b>“In response to essential and front-line workers not having enough places to consume their takeaway food at, many malls are opening up their foodcourts and public places for this purpose.
<br><br>
“Only one diner is allowed per table, which must be placed at least 1m from the next one.
<br><br>
“By the same token, why not allow food outlets to resume dine-in service on the same basis, in addition to serving takeaways?
<br><br>
“Outlets that are able to rearrange their seating into single-diner tables at least 1m apart should be allowed to resume limited dine-in service in order to supplement their takings from selling takeaway food.
<br><br>
“This way, the impact of the recent Covid-19 measures on food outlets can be somewhat cushioned, while less takeaway waste is produced.”</b></blockquote>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheStraitsTimes%2Fposts%2F10157926220037115&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="487" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
While some, including me, liked the idea, many were against it, like the person who wrote this <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/not-a-good-idea-to-allow-single-diners">letter</a> that ST published a few days later:
<blockquote><b>“It is not wise to allow one diner per table during this current period of heightened alert, as suggested by Mr Cheng Shoong Tat (Allow dining in to resume with one diner per table, May 25).
<br><br>
“It is acceptable to make an exception for essential workers, including delivery riders, who do need a place to eat - usually for only a short while.
<br><br>
“But if one diner per table were allowed for the community at large, there may be instances where diners continue to linger unmasked after having their meal.
<br><br>
“Furthermore, there could be a potential loophole when two family members or friends go out together for a meal. They might chat with each other while having their meal, even if they are seated apart.”</b></blockquote>
It’s an enforcement issue then?
<br><br>
Anyway, the idea became moot and fell by the wayside once dining-in resumed with up to two diners per table (better than one) on June 21.
<br><br>
But now that we have doubled back to the post-Mother’s Day zero dining-in apocalypse since last Thursday, the single-diner idea is worth revisiting as it offers some respite.
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheStraitsTimes%2Fposts%2F10158034373157115&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="530" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
While it has been argued that it’s the removal of your mask while you are eating that is the issue regardless of whether it’s one or more diners, the way the Government has been playing yo-yo with the number of diners demonstrates otherwise.
<br><br>
If nothing else, you could finally eat alone in a restaurant without people feeling sorry for you because they think you have no friends.
<br><br>
Best of all, no flow chart required.
<br><br>
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 26 July 2021</i>
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l5261s3Z3RU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br><br>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-5929974423704841352021-07-12T18:56:00.005+08:002021-07-13T12:37:14.852+08:00Why is the singer not wearing a mask on the bus in the new NDP 2021 music video?<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mA259VrF4v4/YOxAq3vmOUI/AAAAAAAAaQU/TUwbKB-qAqYsKHcDoiY6fb-MjiElNavDACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/oscol12.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1911" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mA259VrF4v4/YOxAq3vmOUI/AAAAAAAAaQU/TUwbKB-qAqYsKHcDoiY6fb-MjiElNavDACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/oscol12.jpg" width="560"/></a>
<br><br>
Dear Linying,
<br><br>
Congratulations on the positive response to your National Day Parade (NDP) 2021 theme song, The Road Ahead, you composed with producer Evan Low.
<br><br>
I am not going to report you for not wearing a mask on the bus in the music video as you were lip-syncing to the song even though all the other passengers were wearing a mask.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/II_5jBaYmGQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
I understand that we would not be able to see you lip-syncing to the song if we could not see your lips if you were wearing a mask.
<br><br>
However, I am a little perturbed that you were quoted in <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/community/composers-of-ndp-theme-song-overwhelmed-by-positive-response-online">The Straits Times report</a> last week as saying: “I’m quite grateful because I was so prepared for the hate, but it turned out well.”
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheStraitsTimes%2Fposts%2F10158004589782115&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="524" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br>
Why were you “prepared for the hate”?
<br><br>
What hate?
<br><br>
Don’t you know that our NDP songs are so universally beloved around the globe that at least <a href="https://smong.net/2021/03/i-feel-like-fool-for-believing-joey.html">one person in India</a> has plagiarised Count On Me Singapore and claimed to have written it?
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eD7vYGAO0z8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
When that happened a few months ago, all Singaporeans stood up, stood up for the song as ours, proof that we have nothing but love for the NDP songs.
<br><br>
So I am not sure why you were expecting hate for yours.
<br><br>
Is it because every new NDP song since Dick Lee’s composition <a href="https://youtu.be/-u3GcGDHiB8">Home</a> in the past 20 years or so has not been as well received such that it has practically become a national tradition to criticise every new NDP song and ask whether we really need yet another new NDP song?
<br><br>
One year, 2013, the NDP song, One Singapore, got so much hate that it was decided that, no, we did not need yet another new NDP song the next year.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AtZmmtyKS7E" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
At least it was not a song about fun packs sung to the tune of a <a href="https://youtu.be/qrO4YZeyl0I">Lady Gaga hit</a>.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y-yre6nyRZk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
To be fair, that was not meant to be the National Day song that year, 2011. It was just a song about fun packs – meant to be sung on National Day.
<br><br>
Since your song does not mention fun packs or sound like Bad Romance, you are safe.
<br><br>
It also helps that you resisted using any Singlish in your song unlike the Ministry of Health, which lacked such self- restraint with the Phua Chu Kang Covid-19 music videos.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cf2T3YgyaHA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
The chorus for The Road Ahead could have easily been “Come what may on the road ahead, just you wait and see, steady pom pi pi.”
<br><br>
But you said no. Why? Because you have standards. And an Ah Beng contractor in yellow boots is not singing it.
<br><br>
Maybe next year.
<br><br>
Also, great job not mentioning “Singapore” in a song about Singapore.
<br><br>
Otherwise, you would have to rhyme “Singapore” with “more”, “roar” or “a land to treasure right down to the core”, whatever that means. <a href="https://smong.net/2015/05/dick-lees-ndp-song-for-sg50-why-because.html">What “core”?</a> Earth core? Apple core? Softcore?
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-docVbsuMFU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
One drawback is that without “Singapore”, you are making the song easier for people in India to copy without having to change the lyrics.
<br><br>
No, wait, “island” is mentioned several times in your song and India is not an island. Well played, madam. Well played.
<br><br>
But if videos start popping up on YouTube of Mumbai school children singing The Road Ahead with “nation” replacing “island”, that would just be reaffirmation that the song is good enough to steal.
<br><br>
It feels weird not mocking the new NDP song like Singaporeans usually do.
<br><br>
Is this the abnormal new normal?
<br><br>
The next time people ask me to put on a mask on the bus, I will just show them your video on my phone and start lip-syncing to it.
<br><br>
I will also tell them I used to be from the navy.
<br><br>
Steady pom pi pi.
<br><br>
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 12 July 2021</i>
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheStraitsTimes%2Fposts%2F10157965655682115&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="524" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br><br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-86528322996050152712021-06-30T08:06:00.003+08:002021-06-30T11:52:01.574+08:00TIL Gurmit Singh's daughter Gabbi Wenyi Ayane Virk is 'an ícon in Singapore's queer community' and more power to her<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3xcwvbLnQuA/VENuQND_Q8I/AAAAAAAAMIE/YDKVdEMEqWI/s1600/gabbi.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3xcwvbLnQuA/VENuQND_Q8I/AAAAAAAAMIE/YDKVdEMEqWI/s1600/gabbi.jpg" width="500" /></a>
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCWYs50bPqc/YNtP61Y4h_I/AAAAAAAAaPQ/Z6OZvPz-fCIn---i_TWwfahRR5a_mBs3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/baby.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="593" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCWYs50bPqc/YNtP61Y4h_I/AAAAAAAAaPQ/Z6OZvPz-fCIn---i_TWwfahRR5a_mBs3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/baby.jpg"/></a></div>You may have read about <a href="https://www.herworld.com/gallery/life/entertainment/these-celebrity-children-are-following-footsteps-their-famous-parents/">kids of local celebrities</a> following their parents' footsteps into showbiz.
<br><br>
But you probably haven't read about Gurmit Singh's daughter, Gabrielle.
<br><br>
She did make the news in 2014 after she went viral with her <a href="https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/gurmits-kid-not-seeking-attention-online-post">open letter to Forever 21</a>, calling out the misogynistic rap song being played in a clothing store targeted at women. She was 17 then.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9jv0RlYLTBw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
That was seven years ago.
<br><br>
A couple of weeks ago, I was researching <a href="https://smong.net/2021/06/no-gurmit-singh-wasnt-driving-his-lambo.html">my column about Gurmit's Lamborghini</a> when I came across this <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/889aj3/gabbi-wenyi-singapore-lgbtq-queer-community-art">2020 Vice article</a> about Gabbi Wenyi Ayane Virk, calling her "an icon in Singapore’s queer community".
<br><br>
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fviceasia%2Fposts%2F2655012928098577&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="486" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share">
</iframe>
<br><br>
Wait, what? Is this Gurmit's daughter? I cross-checked her very unique name. Yes, it is.
<br><br>
Here's an excerpt from the article:
<blockquote><b>Gabbi is a lot of things. Primarily, they're a thing maker, body-shaker, and a rule-breaker; or at least that’s what it says on their website.
<br><br>
Gabbi Wenyi Ayane Virk, 22, is an icon in Singapore’s queer community. The person behind the extremely popular <a href="https://www.instagram.com/queerzinefestsg/">Queer ZineFest</a>, they're also the organiser of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/queertheyear/">QUEERTHEYEAR! Cabaret</a>, a night of unabashed self expression for queer artists.</b></blockquote>
Nowhere in the article was mentioned that she is the daughter of one of the most famous people in Singapore.
<br><br>
And then I discovered she was a contributor to <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/author/gabbi-wenyi-ayane-virk">Huffington Post</a> from 2016 to 2017 and I was further impressed.
<br><br>
One of her articles was titled <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/growing-up-straight-a-timeline_b_57cff0f6e4b0273330ab5be1">Growing Up Straight: A Timeline</a>.
<br><br>
She also has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7VbyQQSPJoniUHYLVcpo-w">YouTube channel</a>, which has 23 videos, the most recent published in February last year.
<br><br>
But the video that caught my attention was one published in June 2, 2018, titled "happy pride month - here's my coming out video".
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CyxQjNNsXJc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
It's a powerful, emotionally raw 13-minute video about her struggle with her sexuality and how she eventually came out to her parents, one of whom is, of course, Gurmit.
<br><br>
To start with, she identified as queer. She said in the video:
<blockquote><b>Personally, I’m not a big fan of labels. At some point, I said I was bisexual. Then I was like no, I’m pansexual.
<br><br>
And now I kind of just go by queer because I’m attracted to people. I don’t really care about people’s gender when I’m attracted to them.
<br><br>
So yes, I’m queer and it has taken me quite a while to get comfortable saying that I’m queer because I live in Singapore which is very conservative and then I grew up in a Christian household which is also very conservative. </b></blockquote>
She said that when homosexuality was talked about, it was “always in a bad light like we were sinners”.
<blockquote><b>In my mid-teens, like 15, I went through a phase where I was super super religious. I was cell reading. I was going to church. I was volunteering. I was reading the Bible every day… That was me trying to pray the gay away.
<br><br>
So I just laid low and pretended to be straight for a couple of years.</b></blockquote>
She sort of came out to her mother one night, but things got weird.
<blockquote><b>When I was 18, that was when I came out to my mum.
I drunk-called my mother… she’s so lovely. She came and picked me up. In the car, I held it together.
<br><br>
And then we got home and I just started crying. ‘Oh my god, I’m a lesbian! I like girls! And I don’t know what to do and it’s so difficult.'
<br><br>
She kind of just sat by me and nodded and like patted my shoulder.
<br><br>
And the next morning, she didn’t say anything about it.
<br><br>
I never dreamed that my parents would be okay with my sexuality because they’re Christian and because the Christianity that I grew up with was not supportive of my sexuality at all.</b></blockquote>
But her struggles continued.
<blockquote><b>A few months down the road, I wrote an article about homosexuality. My parents read it and they were not very okay with it. But they were more not okay with the fact that I hadn’t told them. That I put it online before telling them.</b></blockquote>
She was probably referring to the Huffpost article mentioned above.
<blockquote><b>I felt really bad about my sexuality. So in order to work things out, I would start dating boys… Maybe I’m gay because I haven’t found the right straight cis man to warm my heart!
<br><br>
I just went out with a string of “normal” boys who turned out to be really predatory.</b></blockquote>
But when she went to university in the UK, she continued dating boys, which she described as "horrible". She also started dating girls which she preferred.
<br><br>
She finally came out to both her parents by sending them a video.
<blockquote><b>I knew things were still weird with my parents. I really love my family. So it really bothers me when things are off with us. And I knew things were off because of me.
<br><br>
So I made them a really long really dramatic video, like I cried a lot and my make-up got messed up. I made them a really long coming-out video where I said I needed to tell them things and address the elephant in the room.
<br><br>
I sent it to them and I basically just lie in my bed terrified that they might disown me.
<br><br>
They both texted me. They were really sweet. They were like “Thank you for telling us and feeling safe enough to tell us and we can tell that it’s something that’s very important to you and we’re glad that you opened up.”
<br><br>
So I came home for Christmas break. During that break, both my parents took me out individually. My dad was really sweet… He was like “I can’t control who you choose to love and I’m just going to support you.” And I was like yay!
<br><br>
I know I’m really lucky because I know a lot of friends who can’t come out to their parents because their parents would not be this nice to them. So I am very very grateful.</b></blockquote>
She said she came out to her parents a year and a half before making the YouTube video, so it was likely aound the end of 2016.
<br><br>
What I find poignant is that I know Gurmit went through his own struggles with his Sikh parents when he converted to Christianity, especially his father; and later, his daughter would struggle with her sexuality partly due to the Christianity she grew up with.
<br><br>
I hope she's in a better place now.
<br><br>
Also on Gabbi's YouTube channel is this amazing video of her performing her obviously NSFW poem, Things to Say While You're Sucking His Dick. It was not what I expected.
<br><br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IDZWh6gWE_c" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>
She is clearly a very passionate, funny, talented young woman with a cause.
<br><br>
More Singaporeans should know about Gabbi Wenyi Ayane Virk and not just because of her famous father.
<br><br><br>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-14622870089640884882021-06-28T16:23:00.012+08:002021-06-29T18:56:38.218+08:00Should you get the McDonald's BTS Meal even if you're not a fan of BTS?<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nGKidYfGYKU/YNlE4d7Mj5I/AAAAAAAAaOs/UtJpDkWw8gY5imcjx37fUDE2rA8b6lqLACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_3265.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nGKidYfGYKU/YNlE4d7Mj5I/AAAAAAAAaOs/UtJpDkWw8gY5imcjx37fUDE2rA8b6lqLACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_3265.JPG" width="560" /></a>
<br /><br />
Dear non-BTS fans,
<br /><br />
How do you even exist?
<br /><br />
How do you live in this world and not be a BTS fan?
<br /><br />
I mean, I can understand if you are a non-MBS fan who does not know Marina Bay Sands is not in <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/us-teen-whose-mbs-chattanooga-tennessee-post-went-viral-says-it-was-meant-jest-we-have">downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee</a>.
<br /><br />
But a non-BTS fan? That’s like the law of physics in a <a href="https://youtu.be/cdsUD3fijJg">Fast And Furious</a> movie – you’re non-existent. <a href="https://smong.net/2017/04/furious-that-they-forgot-about-han-so.html">#JusticeforHan</a>
<br /><br />
However, for the sake of discussion, let’s say you do exist and the BTS Army hasn’t hunted you down like the dog that you are yet.
<br /><br />
Let’s say you can’t tell Jungkook from Joo Koon MRT station.
<br /><br />
Let’s say you think Dynamite and Butter are the same song. Break it down!
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ozXJ066rBec" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Let’s say up is down, orange is black and <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/robinsons-customers-cite-mixed-feelings-ahead-of-stores-online-only-relaunch">Robinsons is back</a> – whatever.
<br /><br />
Even if you don’t stan the only Korean act to ever top the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart – three times! – you must have heard that McDonald’s belatedly launched its much-hyped <a href="https://www.mcdonalds.com.sg/thebtsmeal/">BTS Meal</a> in Singapore last Monday, delayed by some deadly virus that has been going around.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ULOS7snkBCI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
At long last, Singaporeans get to experience what is basically an upsized nine-piece McNugget meal but with two “special” dipping sauces, namely Cajun and Sweet Chilli, allegedly picked by the boyband themselves and inspired by McDonald’s South Korea.
<br /><br />
Surprisingly, no butter. A missed cross-promo opportunity? No sticks of dynamite either.
<br /><br />
So how special are the “special” sauces?
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6JcaMe9BE8k/YNmBM9JAnNI/AAAAAAAAaO8/TCaxEpUG0Q4WN4Xdo_Kqr5dYwysQwCpEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/sauces.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6JcaMe9BE8k/YNmBM9JAnNI/AAAAAAAAaO8/TCaxEpUG0Q4WN4Xdo_Kqr5dYwysQwCpEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/sauces.jpg" width="560" /></a>
<br /><br />
Let me put it this way. The Cajun sauce isn’t going to transport you to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It’s just honey mustard.
<br /><br />
The Sweet Chilli, on the other hand, takes me back to my childhood because that was when I used to put Sinsin chilli sauce on everything.
<br /><br />
But if you’re ordering the BTS Meal for the food, you’re missing the point.
<br /><br />
Remember those bad old days when we used to queue at McDonald’s for the Hello Kitty toys like how people are now queuing for <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/long-queues-outside-bedok-sheng-siong-again-before-an-early-sell-out">durian</a> and <a href="https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/woman-allegedly-offers-1000-spot-queue-sinovac-vaccine">Sinovac</a>? We got our priorities right back then.
<br /><br />
The food was just the necessary evil that came with the mouthless cat.
<br /><br />
For the BTS Meal, it’s all about the special BTS Meal packaging.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K1ERt6LEwMo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
And McDonald’s knows this as it tells you upfront on its app and website: “BTS-branded brown bag is not available in Singapore.”
<br /><br />
What you do get is a BTS-branded McNuggets box, a very large BTS-branded cup and I suppose the little tubs for the sauces.
<br /><br />
There are hundreds of listings for these items on Carousell. I don’t know how many people are actually buying them though.
<br /><br />
<div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3LZTkbY_Gg/YNr7bdKjASI/AAAAAAAAaPI/1i6kzgmLGQEIxpZlntG1gJBRx4WsIk28wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1663/nvapzrydjl671.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1663" data-original-width="1079" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3LZTkbY_Gg/YNr7bdKjASI/AAAAAAAAaPI/1i6kzgmLGQEIxpZlntG1gJBRx4WsIk28wCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/nvapzrydjl671.jpg" /></a></div>At least one person is selling a McNugget that the seller claims is shaped like BTS member <a href="https://theindependent.sg/carouseller-alleged-to-sell-mcdonalds-nugget-that-looks-like-south-korean-singer-jungkook-bts-for-50/">Jungkook</a>. Or an MRT station if you can’t tell the difference.
<br /><br />
Not to be confused with the McNugget from a BTS Meal that resembled a character from the online game Among Us and was apparently sold for US$99,997 (S$134,000) on US eBay.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="502" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fforbes%2Fposts%2F10159624526012509&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><br />
It seems that people would do anything rather than eat the McNugget.
<br /><br />
One Singaporean managed to craft a pair of shoes out of the packaging from six BTS Meals. That’s quite a feet.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="498" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flasalle.sg%2Fposts%2F10160094215583690&show_text=false&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><br />
What amazes me is that for all this, the BTS Meal itself is priced at $8.90, just 40 cents more than the non-BTS upsized nine-piece McNugget meal.
<br /><br />
The only caveat is that the BTS Meal is only available for delivery to avoid a repeat of the krazy Hello Kitty kueues of yore.
<br /><br />
That means a delivery charge of $4 if you use McDelivery or you can use another food delivery service.
<br /><br />
As it has been a week since the launch, the hype has died down a bit and ordering online should be easier now.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="531" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FChannelNewsAsia%2Fposts%2F10158377459682934&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><br />
So even if you’re not a BTS fan, why not?
<br /><br />
You may be able to recoup some of your cost by selling the used packaging on Carousell to someone to make footwear with.
<br /><br />
The way I see it, you have two options.
<br /><br />
It’s either the BTS Meal or the unholy crime-against-nature mutant abomination that is the <a href="https://youtu.be/J2jGxdpems0">KFC Cheesy Zinger Triple Down</a>.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKFC.SG%2Fvideos%2F204572338203380%2F&show_text=false&width=380&t=0" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="380"></iframe>
<br /><br />
And that has even less right to exist than you do.
<br /><br />
Break it down!
<br /><br />
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 28 June 2021</i>
<br /><br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQk0W5wHKIP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQk0W5wHKIP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQk0W5wHKIP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Shoeman Ong (@sm_ong)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-34176399899908098782021-06-14T14:27:00.006+08:002021-06-14T20:33:15.526+08:00No, Gurmit Singh wasn't driving his Lambo when he was caught speeding at 131kmh<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--js-nmmktDg/VENgP0ZcKiI/AAAAAAAAMH0/FjMSmP7t1eE/s1600/lambo.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--js-nmmktDg/VENgP0ZcKiI/AAAAAAAAMH0/FjMSmP7t1eE/s1600/lambo.jpg" /></a>
<br /><br />
Well, in the Get Your Shot, Steady Pom Pi Pi video, he did say “faster go and vaccinate”.
<br /><br />
But perhaps not 131kmh fast.
<br /><br />
Yes, that was the speed Gurmit Singh was caught driving at on that fateful April 12 night along Woodlands Avenue 12.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="506" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheStraitsTimes%2Fposts%2F10157952125557115&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Fastest in Singapore and JB, and some say Batam?
<br /><br />
At least he was not naked (presumably), unlike another road user who was arrested by police last week for riding a motorcycle without a helmet – or any clothes.
<br /><br />
Even worse, no mask.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="506" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstraitstimes.stomp%2Fposts%2F4385345148163560&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><br />
The naked guy has since been remanded at the Institute of Mental Health.
<br /><br />
As for Singh, he was fined $800 last week and banned from driving for three months. He apologised on Instagram for what he did and said: “I hope to do better.”
<br /><br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CP2dmZ9Hket/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CP2dmZ9Hket/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CP2dmZ9Hket/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Gurmit singh (@gurmit.65)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br /><br />
If he was speeding, he must have been driving his Lamborghini, right?
<br /><br />
After all, if the man who plays Phua Chu Kang is famous for anything else besides playing Phua Chu Kang, it’s owning a Lambo.
<br /><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqTT4-hkYDg/UYTajU5WioI/AAAAAAAAINI/yDGtyIz2UwI/s1600/01a8ce7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqTT4-hkYDg/UYTajU5WioI/AAAAAAAAINI/yDGtyIz2UwI/s400/01a8ce7a.jpg" width="100" /></a>It’s like <a href="https://smong.net/2013/05/celebrating-singapores-17-year-love.html">Ann Kok</a> and that iconic see-through top she wore at the 1996 Star Awards. People still talk about it.
<br /><br />
Whether she likes it or not.
<br /><br />
The Lambo is Singh’s see-through top.
<br /><br />
It all kind of started in July 2011 when <a href="https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20110708-288145/2.html">The New Paper</a> reported: “After a local magazine published in May a picture of his <a href="https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercar/lambo-gallardo-your-life">Lamborghini Gallardo</a> that he bought last December, he has been called ‘arrogant’, even by a friend.”
<br /><br />
Singh told TNP:
<blockquote><b>“I was very saddened by that remark. It’s very easy for people to jump on the wrong idea or label me as ‘hao lian’. I don’t like to be seen as pushing it in your face like, ‘Oh, look at how successful I am.’ People see me driving the car, but they don't have to announce it to the world.”</b></blockquote>
He later explained to <a href="https://sg.style.yahoo.com/blogs/singapore-showbiz/m-not-funnyman-people-think-am-gurmit-singh-033439646.html">another publication</a>:
<blockquote><b>“Once I got (the car), I started sharing with a few friends and by the time I shared with my sixth or seventh friend, one person said, ‘So show-off.’
<br /><br />
“I went, ‘No, I’m just sharing happy news, I want you to be happy for me that this guy from a poor Punjabi family who slept on the floor for all his life now drives a Lamborghini.’”</b></blockquote>
He sold the car after two years. It may be gone but not forgotten.
<br /><br />
In 2017, a <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/on-the-record-gurmit-singh-actor-comedian-host-9415432">CNA</a> reporter interviewed Singh and wrote: “This is when I decide to discuss the Lamborghini, a car he owned a few years ago when Mediacorp was still at Caldecott Hill.
<br /><br />
“My newsroom used to be close to the open-air carpark and the roar of the engine signalling his comings and goings would penetrate the walls. Publicly, he was called a show-off.
<br /><br />
“When I raise this, I sense his struggle to hide how such talk perturbs him.”
<br /><br />
Singh told the reporter:
<blockquote><b>“I know you guys in the compound could hear the Lamborghini. I didn’t do it on purpose. It’s just how the engine is. I wasn’t trying to show off. I wasn’t pressing the accelerator.
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qdfr4X5y-LI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
“To me, it’s not about materialism. I understand what’s been put into it – the effort and the blood, sweat and all that. It’s not just superficial. It’s like driving the Batmobile.
<br /><br />
“It’s like people who buy handbags… I don’t get it. But I know they do. So I respect that.”
</b></blockquote>
More recently in 2019, during the <a href="https://www.notagainpodcast.com/podcast/episode/b60175d1/not-again-podcast-episode-102-gurmit-singh">Not Again Podcast with Gary Tan</a>, the subject came up again, but it was a less defensive conversation.
<br /><br />
Singh raved about his Italian supercar to the interviewer:
<blockquote><b>“It was great having a Lamborghini for two years. I drove it every day. It’s my favourite car of all time. Love it to pieces.
<br /><br />
“I love it so much that one day when my wife said, ‘Get, we have to get toilet paper.’ I said, ‘Okay, I’ll go buy.’
<br /><br />
“We have the family car and we have the Lamborghini, right? And I took the Lamborghini, drove to the supermarket, bought the roll of toilet paper, came back.
<br /><br />
“She said, ‘Did you just drive all the way just to buy toilet paper?’ I said, ‘Yes, what’s wrong with that?’
<br /><br />
“And then I asked her, ‘Do you want to buy anything else? I can buy it. Item by item, please.’ She said no! That’s how much I love the car.”</b></blockquote>
He added:
<blockquote><b>“I’m a simple guy, you know. I love Lamborghinis, but I’m a simple guy. A simple Lamborghini guy. It’s a contradiction, I know. Oxymoron.”</b></blockquote>
In the same podcast, Singh reminisced about how he first fell in lust with the vehicle:
<blockquote><b>“When I was a little boy, I watched Tom Selleck in Magnum PI, a detective show. And he would drive a Ferrari. I said, ‘What a great car!’
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LBIgXhiOpeQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
“So fast forward, when I was able to rent a Ferrari for the weekend, I drove it. I was so happy… I couldn’t afford one yet. So I thought I’d rent it.”</b></blockquote>
Then he spotted a Lambo.
<blockquote><b>“Oh, there’s a Lamborghini as well. So I went to rent a Lamborghini. I tell you, when I sat in a Lamborghini, without even turning the engine on first, I already felt it was way better than Ferrari. It felt like a jet. I felt like Batman.
<br /><br />
“And when I turned on the engine and sat that low, and I drove it with that low throttle sound – my goodness, my hair all stood up. Hair that I didn’t know I had all came up and said, ‘Hello! Hello!’
<br /><br />
“Hallelujah.”</b></blockquote>
He might have just described what’s called a <a href="https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cargasm">cargasm</a>.
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnotagainpodcast%2Fposts%2F2251571971596503&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="558" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Also in 2019, he told <a href="https://www.8days.sg/sceneandheard/celebrities/gurmit-singh-on-how-he-nearly-died-last-year-his-epic-reduction-11820774">8 Days</a>: “Till this day, I’m still missing my Lamborghini!”
<br /><br />
But he can no longer afford one after an “epic reduction in salary” when he ended his full-time contract with Mediacorp in 2014 after 20 years.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tiejsxchiew" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
So if Singh was not driving his Lambo, what car was he caught speeding in?
<br /><br />
According to <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/gurmit-singh-gets-3-month-driving-ban-800-fine-for-speeding-with-son-in-car">The Straits Times</a>, he was “believed to be” driving an Audi A8 L.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xuI2rrkg3rQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Sure, apart from the “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChannelNewsAsia/posts/10158350666152934">flapping sound</a>” Singh claimed the car made, the Audi luxury sedan is okay.
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfvEoPAuBNQ/YMbw2oQL2jI/AAAAAAAAaIk/NgxRM6cuyc0SVBqUKIErFfpMiHzGaGOPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1370/1200px-Lamborghini_Logo.svg.png" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfvEoPAuBNQ/YMbw2oQL2jI/AAAAAAAAaIk/NgxRM6cuyc0SVBqUKIErFfpMiHzGaGOPwCLcBGAsYHQ/w175-h200/1200px-Lamborghini_Logo.svg.png" width="175" /></a></div>But it’s no Batmobile like the Lambo.
<br /><br />
Who knows? If he makes many more of those Covid-19 videos for our Government as the pandemic drags on, he may be able to afford the Bull again.
<br /><br />
Hallelujah.
<br /><br />
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 14 June 2021</i>
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cf2T3YgyaHA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-62688788168256146802021-05-31T17:34:00.023+08:002021-06-06T11:37:39.441+08:00Oh no, am I part of the Jem-Westgate cluster?<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDlQnIjDCeE/YLSzpG_mwtI/AAAAAAAAaHM/KPd_4tDtGDIhHC1xtWmRDIrepm0xksHpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/jem.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDlQnIjDCeE/YLSzpG_mwtI/AAAAAAAAaHM/KPd_4tDtGDIhHC1xtWmRDIrepm0xksHpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/jem.jpg" width="500"/></a>
<br /><br />
Dear Ministry of Health,
<br /><br />
I thought I could get away with it.
<br /><br />
The pandemic had been going on for more than a year, and I had managed not to get swabbed for a Covid-19 test. No sticks up my nose, thank you very much.
<br /><br />
And then Jem happened.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7CSPQiKU2qM/YLSkb1QjxuI/AAAAAAAAaGs/yIcNm93EP9wh9HHA8HFUz_518qsYUz_gQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_4227.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="959" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7CSPQiKU2qM/YLSkb1QjxuI/AAAAAAAAaGs/yIcNm93EP9wh9HHA8HFUz_518qsYUz_gQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_4227.JPG" width="500" /></a>
<br /><br />
<div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZabImCfNNU/YLScV9z1HbI/AAAAAAAAaGE/1Bs2mFxC1l0jwZX5UDp-THJnZSYuM5kcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_2579.PNG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="746" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZabImCfNNU/YLScV9z1HbI/AAAAAAAAaGE/1Bs2mFxC1l0jwZX5UDp-THJnZSYuM5kcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_2579.PNG" width="200" /></a></div>All I wanted was some bananas and bacon bits.
<br /><br />
That was why I was at the FairPrice Xtra hypermarket in the Jurong East mall that day.
<br /><br />
So on May 18, when I read that you were “encouraging” those who visited Jem or Westgate shopping malls between May 10 to 14 to go for a free swab test, I knew. I just knew.
<br /><br />
I reviewed my TraceTogether history. Yup, I checked in at Jem on May 12.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2K_omP-bjA/YLSdjv2Wy_I/AAAAAAAAaGM/I8zqUKrL5y4kWfKKazLRGpIVmq8oxmUkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_E2676.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2K_omP-bjA/YLSdjv2Wy_I/AAAAAAAAaGM/I8zqUKrL5y4kWfKKazLRGpIVmq8oxmUkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_E2676.JPG" width="500" /></a>
<br /><br />
My nose can kiss its virginity goodbye.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQT25NUf7Ak/YLSfKO697GI/AAAAAAAAaGU/JBVGZSqzhdQIBv7m9lnj3Z8P_4Jy_v7kgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1192/IMG_2198.PNG" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="746" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQT25NUf7Ak/YLSfKO697GI/AAAAAAAAaGU/JBVGZSqzhdQIBv7m9lnj3Z8P_4Jy_v7kgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h320/IMG_2198.PNG" width="250" /></a>On your <a href="https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/rsc/jem-and-westgate-covid-19-testing">website</a>, you provided a list of options for the swab test, including “walk in to Raffles Medical at Shaw Centre Orchard”.
<br /><br />
But on May 19, when I attempted to walk in to Raffles Medical at Shaw Centre Orchard, there was a queue extending dangerously into the multi-storey carpark.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPyrU2_sAao/YLSg9DrFlkI/AAAAAAAAaGk/HF4YqvnQc8Mpkle-L8jKswQ9zqe9SfWhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_2201.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPyrU2_sAao/YLSg9DrFlkI/AAAAAAAAaGk/HF4YqvnQc8Mpkle-L8jKswQ9zqe9SfWhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_2201.JPG" width="400" /></a>
<br /><br />
I was willing to wait, but then I was told that only those who received an SMS from you could take the test that day. This was not mentioned on your website.
<br /><br />
Since I did not get any SMS, I had to go back the next day. So I had gone all the way there for nothing.
<br /><br />
Not cool, MOH. This was what I got for trying to be a good citizen?
<br /><br />
I was so annoyed at you that I decided to skip the swab test altogether. I had no symptoms and was fully vaccinated anyway.
<br /><br />
Since I am okay with needles, you may ask, why am I making a fuss over a swab test?
<br><br>
The difference is I have had injections all my life, but a long stick up my nose was terra incognita.
<br><br>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KXvOKzVRMWE/YLha0FlztzI/AAAAAAAAaHs/BBzBdMxtwdwWkcIoYcaA1RgNlm54y29RwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/swab.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="725" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KXvOKzVRMWE/YLha0FlztzI/AAAAAAAAaHs/BBzBdMxtwdwWkcIoYcaA1RgNlm54y29RwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/swab.jpg" width="500"/></a>
<br><br>
What if I sneeze in the middle of a swab? Would my brain be punctured?
<br><br>
So it is something I'm happy not to do if I don't have to.
<br><br>
A few days later, Jem and Westgate were forced to shut for two weeks as the cluster grew and grew. It was alarming enough that I reconsidered getting the stick up my nose.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="505" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftodayonline%2Fposts%2F10158792409942572&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><br />
So last Tuesday, after getting turned away at a couple of clinics near my home because I did not book beforehand, I finally ended up at Keat Hong Family Medicine Clinic where I was told I had to wait about 45 minutes for the test. No problem!
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqCd7a1UTWU/YLSls_hnoXI/AAAAAAAAaG0/rJ9d8cpVip06dFgSOKbi35QKnDR2c5n8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_2394.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqCd7a1UTWU/YLSls_hnoXI/AAAAAAAAaG0/rJ9d8cpVip06dFgSOKbi35QKnDR2c5n8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_2394.JPG" width="500" /></a>
<br /><br />
At least I was not queueing in a multi-storey carpark at the risk of getting knocked down by oncoming vehicles.
<br /><br />
All this for some bananas and bacon bits. Damn you, alliterative grocery items.
<br /><br />
After everything I went through, I wanted something to commemorate my hard-to-get first Covid-19 swab test.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ON6bM7UO11A/YLSo5G01h9I/AAAAAAAAaHE/FtLO0OtHWe0lKaotrePZ8lH_qW5jhfIgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2397.JPG" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ON6bM7UO11A/YLSo5G01h9I/AAAAAAAAaHE/FtLO0OtHWe0lKaotrePZ8lH_qW5jhfIgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_2397.JPG" /></a>So as I sat down for the swab, I set my phone to video mode and placed it discreetly on my lap to record the stick going up my nose.
<br /><br />
I guess I was not discreet enough because the nurse said: “No filming.”
<br /><br />
I thought I could get away with it.
<br /><br />
As I fumbled with my phone, trying to switch it to photo mode, she said: “Please keep your phone in your pocket.”
<br /><br />
Oh. She had to swab God knows how many people a day and did not need to deal with any more idiots like me as well.
<br /><br />
Then I realised it might not have been the best idea in the world to antagonise someone who was about to insert a stick up my nose.
<br /><br />
It was my first time. Please be gentle.
<br /><br />
With my head tilted back, she went disconcertingly deep into both my nostrils. It tickled a bit but wasn't painful. I did not sneeze.
<br /><br />
And thus my nose cherry was popped. I survived my first Covid-19 swab test and didn't even have a selfie to show for it.
<br /><br />
The good news is I got my test result the next day – negative. I would not be adding to the Jem-Westgate cluster.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NU1HR--CQlw/YLSnfwcBdQI/AAAAAAAAaG8/1krVJdBBJcsHF-ek6CeyZW4jU5JXXmfLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1348/IMG_E2677.JPG" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NU1HR--CQlw/YLSnfwcBdQI/AAAAAAAAaG8/1krVJdBBJcsHF-ek6CeyZW4jU5JXXmfLgCLcBGAsYHQ/w223-h400/IMG_E2677.JPG" width="223" /></a>Ironically, that was also the same day I received an SMS from you “encouraging” me to go for a free swab test.
<br /><br />
Where was this SMS when I needed it, MOH? You were a week late.
<br /><br />
The information on your website has since been updated several times – no more walk-ins, it seems.
<br /><br />
I just wish you had planned this whole testing thing better from the start.
<br /><br />
To make up for it, the least you can do is allow selfies during the swab test.
<br /><br />
You know, for the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sm_ong/">Gram</a>.
<br /><br />
Thank you.
<br /><br />
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 31 May 2021</i>
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqZeQq9XMSs/YLS1cFX4ODI/AAAAAAAAaHU/Covq-yR05K8YCllMF-KJd4OfNbQwVRDIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/selfie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqZeQq9XMSs/YLS1cFX4ODI/AAAAAAAAaHU/Covq-yR05K8YCllMF-KJd4OfNbQwVRDIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/selfie.jpg" width="600"/></a>
<br /><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-1449947354660450812021-05-17T11:48:00.024+08:002021-06-23T13:35:57.146+08:00Hey, NEA, how do we return our trays when we’re not even allowed to eat out now?<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="502" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fasiaonecom%2Fposts%2F4177621075629774&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Dear National Environment Agency,
<br /><br />
It was one of the most humiliating experiences in my life.
<br /><br />
And I wrote <a href="https://smong.net/2010/08/pck-movie-reviews-are-in-and-mean.html">Phua Chu Kang The Movie</a>, so I am very familiar with public humiliation.
<br /><br />
I was having lunch at a staff cafeteria that I had never been to before.
<br /><br />
This was a number of years ago, so I don’t recall exactly where it was and why I was there even though I wasn't a member of the staff.
<br /><br />
What I do remember is after finishing my meal, as I started to walk away from my table, I was startled when the cafeteria suddenly erupted with angry shouting.
<br /><br />
It was alarming how quickly the previously civilised office workers calmly eating their food just a second ago turned unhinged and rabid.
<br /><br />
What was even scarier was realising that their feral rage was directed at me. It was as if I asked them a question about editorial independence or something. They looked like they were about to rip me to shreds.
<br /><br />
What did I do?
<br /><br />
Eventually, I figured out from the angry shouting that my fellow diners were taking rather extreme umbrage at me leaving behind my tray of dirty dishes on the table.
<br /><br />
I looked around and saw signs reminding people to return their trays, which I hadn’t noticed before. I felt like such an idiot.
<br /><br />
I swiftly picked up my tray and searched for where I could return it.
<br /><br />
The shouting finally died down and my fellow diners let me live.
<br /><br />
How was I to know that returning trays was part of the workplace culture there?
<br /><br />
Talk about peer pressure. I wonder how many noobs were similarly traumatised into compliance like I was.
<br /><br />
Yes, there were signs, but in most places where I have eaten, the signs are ignored and no one cares.
<br /><br />
Whatcha gonna do?
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5TV_kLwTE9A" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
And that’s probably why you announced last Friday that you are making it mandatory for diners in hawker centres to return their trays and clear their table litter from June 1 with the threat of fines up to $2,000 for repeat offenders.
<br /><br />
Wait, but on Friday, it was also announced that from yesterday, dining out is banned until June 13 because of the surge of Covid-19 cases in the community.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ThpVJEcNAAA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
<b>So as much as we would love to return our trays and clean our table litter after we eat in the hawker centre from June 1, unfortunately, we won’t even be allowed to eat in any hawker centre from June 1 to 13.</b>
<br /><br />
This throwback to tighter Covid-19 restrictions must have caught you by surprise. Like <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/celebrities-hilarious-reactions-to-bennifer-reunion">Bennifer</a>, it’s a sequel or reboot no one asked for.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-fZ2Nm57Xo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
I get it. The Government is a huge place. Sometimes the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. This just slipped through the butt crack. It happens.
<br /><br />
All I’m asking you for is this.
<br /><br />
You announced that there will be a grace period of three months from June 1 for people to adjust to this new return-your-tray rule. You will start enforcement only from Sept 1.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="555" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fseedlysg%2Fposts%2F1688573304664030&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><br />
But since we will only be permitted to start eating in hawker centres again from June 14 (fingers crossed), can you also start enforcement from Sept 14 so that we get the full three months of the grace period?
<br /><br />
Thanks. We need all the time that we can get to adjust to this new new normal.
<br /><br />
Don’t you wish Miss Universe Singapore had “Return your tray” written on her national costume instead of “Stop Asian hate”?
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="464" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fasiaonecom%2Fposts%2F4178012715590610&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Did you try to get Phua Chu Kang to do a “Don't play play, return your tray” video? I guess he’s too busy promoting <a href="https://youtu.be/7ys40omCF4k">Shopee</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/03/singapore-turns-to-disco-to-keep-covid-vaccine-rollout-on-track">Covid vaccination</a> these days. Did I mention I wrote Phua Chu Kang The Movie?
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cf2T3YgyaHA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Anyway, it’s really too bad you have to resort to fines to force people to return their trays.
<br /><br />
If only angry shouting could work nationwide.
<br /><br />
Or can it?
<br /><br />
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 17 May 2021</i>
<br /><br /><br />
<b>JUNE 2021 UPDATE:</b>
<br /><br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftodayonline%2Fposts%2F10158862276432572&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="506" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
<br /><br /><br /><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-68843164115552030662021-05-11T14:55:00.015+08:002021-05-11T17:21:27.529+08:00You've seen the page 1, but what was inside the paper that day? Here's The New Paper's 1997 General Election polling day coverageYou have probably seen this image of Workers' Party secretary-general Pritam Singh holding up a copy of The New Paper page one in Parliament yesterday.
<BR><BR>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Nr1I6RXtco/YJogK6dmG_I/AAAAAAAAaDQ/01xkZjQdGx8V2KPuh-xATDjQzx-QuJCRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/2021-05-10.png"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="860" height="427" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Nr1I6RXtco/YJogK6dmG_I/AAAAAAAAaDQ/01xkZjQdGx8V2KPuh-xATDjQzx-QuJCRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h427/2021-05-10.png" width="640" /></a>
<BR><BR>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c9fZgzdbmoQ?start=5791" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/asiaonecom/posts/4165881170137098" data-width="500" data-show-text="true"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/asiaonecom/posts/4165881170137098" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><p>Pritam Singh clash with S Iswaran over funding, editorial independence of SPH's new media entity</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/asiaonecom/">AsiaOne</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/asiaonecom/posts/4165881170137098">Monday, May 10, 2021</a></blockquote></div>
<BR><BR>
Here's a close-up of the page:
<BR><BR>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NrnwYmmuorw/YJogK114BNI/AAAAAAAAaDM/VH1BhocWCl4FUX8dyFmzOs5ZVxp-VBC-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/182385393_1778507612352316_394542964675133257_n.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="542" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NrnwYmmuorw/YJogK114BNI/AAAAAAAAaDM/VH1BhocWCl4FUX8dyFmzOs5ZVxp-VBC-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/182385393_1778507612352316_394542964675133257_n.jpg" /></a></div>
It's from 2 January 1997, the day Singaporeans cast their vote in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Singaporean_general_election">1997 General Election</a> and more than a decade before I joined the paper.
<BR><BR>
This image of the TNP page one has been circulating online long before yesterday, but no one ever showed what was actually inside the paper. A case of judging a book by its cover perhaps?
<BR><BR>
I was curious enough that I found these pages from that day's TNP in the NLB online archives.
<BR><BR>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7Ms7q3OVdk/YJocrhNoY9I/AAAAAAAAaCw/NVDfb8sgGYwGJ-8yCshCfhlznqLS_pAVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p3.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="657" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7Ms7q3OVdk/YJocrhNoY9I/AAAAAAAAaCw/NVDfb8sgGYwGJ-8yCshCfhlznqLS_pAVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p3.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QD9TGINdVBA/YJocrzcKCVI/AAAAAAAAaC4/9aB0UwIl8CEY_-b0tCak8CBiOFLEZulFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p4.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="655" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QD9TGINdVBA/YJocrzcKCVI/AAAAAAAAaC4/9aB0UwIl8CEY_-b0tCak8CBiOFLEZulFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p4.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3FhL-XWkiKU/YJodI6iSJkI/AAAAAAAAaDE/PGZDXI_4XZIoSE3-ZUIYWOYOqqNOSM-wwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p5a.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="679" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3FhL-XWkiKU/YJodI6iSJkI/AAAAAAAAaDE/PGZDXI_4XZIoSE3-ZUIYWOYOqqNOSM-wwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p5a.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfNBS-gPWwA/YJocrwq0ROI/AAAAAAAAaC0/jkYOruLZmg4PdwycQzXkNvoTQlAIG7q2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p6.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="670" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CfNBS-gPWwA/YJocrwq0ROI/AAAAAAAAaC0/jkYOruLZmg4PdwycQzXkNvoTQlAIG7q2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/p6.JPG" /></a></div>
Sorry, I didn't look up the football pages.
<BR><BR>
To recreate more of that 90s vibe, here are the No. 1 songs that week in the US and UK.
<BR><BR>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p2Rch6WvPJE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NprOiFNytY8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
The New Paper editor at the time was PN Balji, who ironically wrote this commentary for Yahoo:
<br><br>
<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/YahooSingapore/posts/10159194390723001" data-width="500" data-show-text="true"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/YahooSingapore/posts/10159194390723001" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><p>"The government, the biggest stakeholder in the media business, needs to relax its vice-like grip on The Straits Times....</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YahooSingapore/">Yahoo Singapore</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YahooSingapore/posts/10159194390723001">Monday, May 10, 2021</a></blockquote></div>
<br><br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-24599353119098751232021-05-03T16:06:00.004+08:002021-05-05T07:01:10.421+08:00Coronavirus pandemic: How Bloomberg and a bunch of Harvard nerds jinxed Singapore<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-04-27/singapore-is-now-the-world-s-best-place-to-be-during-covid"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="898" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-al8RQrEfZ44/YI-xXG31xPI/AAAAAAAAaCQ/qjdWGNwT5H43jsMzrSzUcysQU4k3lmengCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/bestplace.JPG" width="560"/></a>
<br /><br />
Dear Bloomberg,
<br /><br />
Let me first say, I’m not a superstitious person.
<br /><br />
But I can’t help but notice a pattern – and not the badminton kind.
<br /><br />
Someone saying something good about our MRT usually results in something bad happening to our MRT.
<br /><br />
I wrote a <a href="https://smong.net/2015/07/was-it-worst-mrt-breakdown-heres-how-to.html">column</a> about this back in 2015.
<br /><br />
Early that year, SMRT won some Global Risk Award for “delivering value through risk management” in London. The presenter was actress Joanna Lumley, star of Absolutely Fabulous.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ERLsN_vmzI0/YI-fdtnqlGI/AAAAAAAAaCA/7rvY2mJhQFUfnK246T_hDbE5PccSMALkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Risk%2BManagement%2BAwards.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ERLsN_vmzI0/YI-fdtnqlGI/AAAAAAAAaCA/7rvY2mJhQFUfnK246T_hDbE5PccSMALkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Risk%2BManagement%2BAwards.jpg" width="560"/></a>
<br /><br />
The award was followed days later by a spate of MRT-related incidents that included a fire, a man walking on the tracks and a girl getting her leg stuck in the platform gap.
<br /><br />
Which made the award absolutely ironic.
<br /><br />
Months later, then SMRT CEO Desmond Kuek boasted about that and another award during the company’s annual general meeting, saying: “These external endorsements are important signals that we are on the right track in bringing the group to higher levels of excellence in every field.”
<br /><br />
This was followed mere hours later by what was described as “<a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/in-pictures-the-massive-breakdown-that-affected-more-than-250000-commuters">possibly the worst MRT breakdown Singapore has experienced</a>”, affecting the East-West Line, North-South Line and more than 250,000 commuters during evening rush hour.
<br /><br />
Can you detect a pattern here?
<br /><br />
Praising our MRT jinxes it.
<br /><br />
Want more evidence? How about something more recent?
<br /><br />
In March, Transport Minister (though not for long) Ong Ye Kung was at the ground-breaking for the new integrated train testing centre in Tuas.
<br /><br />
<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimes/posts/10157775405902115" data-width="500" data-show-text="true"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimes/posts/10157775405902115" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><p>The centre will be able to test different trains and rail systems at the same time without disrupting regular passenger services.
<br /><br />
Get the latest news delivered to you on Telegram: https://t.me/TheStraitsTimes</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimes/">The Straits Times</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimes/posts/10157775405902115">Wednesday, March 17, 2021</a></blockquote></div>
<br /><br />
In his <a href="https://www.mot.gov.sg/news-centre/news/Detail/speech-by-minister-for-transport-mr-ong-ye-kung-at-groundbreaking-of-the-integrated-train-testing-centre#:~:text=11%20But%20no%20matter%20how,and%20learn%20from%20the%20experience.">speech</a>, he acknowledged: “No matter how hard we work and try, the occasional disruption in any engineering system will unfortunately be quite inevitable.”
<br /><br />
But he could not resist working in this tiny brag: “Today, the Mean Kilometres Between Failure, or MKBF, of our MRT network is over 1 million train-km. This is a great encouragement and source of pride for the team, and we will do what we can to maintain it."
<br /><br />
Even this sliver of self-congratulation was enough to rile the rail gods as in less than two weeks, commuters suffered train service disruptions on two consecutive days.
<br /><br />
<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/ChannelNewsAsia/posts/10158196948572934" data-width="500" data-show-text="true"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/ChannelNewsAsia/posts/10158196948572934" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><p>The train service disruptions today and yesterday happened on different lines and for different reasons, says LTA.</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChannelNewsAsia/">CNA</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChannelNewsAsia/posts/10158196948572934">Sunday, March 28, 2021</a></blockquote></div>
<br /><br />
The Land Transport Authority called it “<a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/lta-mrt-smrt-2-train-disruptions-2-days-north-south-east-line-14515736">very unfortunate and frustrating</a>”. I call it karma.
<br /><br />
MKBF should stand for MRT Keeps Breaking - Fuck!
<br /><br />
But what is more troubling is that like a virus, the curse appears to have mutated into new deadlier strains to spread beyond the MRT.
<br /><br />
Let me take you back February last year at the beginning of the pandemic.
<br /><br />
Singapore was averaging fewer than 10 new coronavirus cases a day. We thought we were doing so well.
<br /><br />
A bunch of Harvard University researchers described Singapore as “a <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/coronavirus-detection-in-singapore-gold-standard-for-case-detection-harvard-study">gold standard</a> of near-perfect detection”.
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t2t4pxfTOQw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
But in two months, we were averaging up to 1,000 new cases a day, mostly migrant workers. We were no longer doing well.
<br /><br />
One news headline read: “<a href="https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-gold-standard-cautionary-tale-dissecting-first-3-months-spores-covid-19-response">From ‘gold standard’ to ‘cautionary tale’</a>.”
Those damn Harvard nerds jinxed us.
<br /><br />
Fortunately, the numbers have come down since then with zero new cases in the community on most days over the last few months. We didn’t even cancel Chinese New Year.
<br /><br />
Then last week, it happened again.
<br /><br />
We were doing so well that you declared “<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-04-27/singapore-is-now-the-world-s-best-place-to-be-during-covid">Singapore is now the world’s best place to be during Covid</a>” as we overtook New Zealand in your latest Covid Resilience Ranking.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AFixWG0MBNw/YI-oczGQiNI/AAAAAAAAaCI/BTk0fXoeQv0aMEZ_h70vSnhe6T9OMD9bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/apr-2021-covid-resilience-ranking-bloomberg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1122" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AFixWG0MBNw/YI-oczGQiNI/AAAAAAAAaCI/BTk0fXoeQv0aMEZ_h70vSnhe6T9OMD9bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/apr-2021-covid-resilience-ranking-bloomberg.jpg" width="560"/></a>
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0L_VdTpsR4Y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
Along with the recent hoopla over another attempt at the <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-singapore-hong-kong-travel-bubble-ong-ye-kung-14696014">Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble</a>, we were just tempting fate.
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CNinHrY1Wgg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z2gjFX6EKqo" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
You and I know what happened next.
<br /><br />
Recovered migrant workers at a dormitory tested positive for Covid-19. A cluster emerged at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_a8jPY7ZImk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
On Saturday, we had our first Covid-19 death since March. Those days of zero new community cases are over.
<br /><br />
Our Prime Minister even warned of another circuit breaker.
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0FT9ZQ5A1io" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
From “world’s best place to be during Covid“ back to square one.
<br /><br />
See what you did?
<br /><br />
You jinxed us like those Harvard nerds did last year.
<br /><br />
I guess we won’t be topping your damn Covid Resilience Ranking this month.
<br /><br />
Thanks a lot, Bloomberg.
<br /><br />
<i>- Published In The New Paper, 3 May 2021</i>
<br /><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-45106132510230166092021-04-19T16:54:00.007+08:002021-04-20T17:45:20.984+08:00I got the Moderna vaccine because I didn't know I could choose by vaccination centreDear Ministry of Health,
<br /><br />
I am sort of a healthcare professional. Or at least used to be.
<br /><br />
I was a medic in the navy during my national service and used to vaccinate shiploads of servicemen. That was hundreds of pricks. I mean the injections. The jabs were mostly for tetanus, rubella and hepatitis.
<br /><br />
I became rather proficient with a syringe. I had good reviews.
<br /><br />
So I am more accustomed to giving injections than getting one.
<br /><br />
I wanted to share this fun fact about myself with the young woman giving my first dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to show that I can relate to what she was doing.
<br /><br />
She probably wouldn’t care, although that hasn’t stopped me before. Otherwise, this column would not exist.
<br /><br />
But there was a long queue at Hong Kah North Community Club and I did not want to hold up the line with my reminiscence of injecting seamen 35 years ago.
<br /><br />
The young woman was pretty deft with the needle too. Maybe even better than I was. It was over before I knew it. I barely felt the prick. It was like nothing.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5v5zxeO1G9U/YH02vthp1tI/AAAAAAAAaBQ/khZvbifqrGAfNdoaR7pqXhGRSFVMBgK0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0522.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5v5zxeO1G9U/YH02vthp1tI/AAAAAAAAaBQ/khZvbifqrGAfNdoaR7pqXhGRSFVMBgK0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0522.JPG" width=560></a>
<br /><br />
The pain only hit me the day after and it hit like a sumbitch.
<br /><br />
My left shoulder felt as if it had been punched by shiploads of servicemen. The rest of me was also out of sorts.
<br /><br />
But I was fine by the next day, although I still feel a lingering ache in my left shoulder even now when I exercise, two weeks after the jab.
<br /><br />
My wife, who had the injection at the same time as me, had the same side effects except maybe a little worse. She also had headaches.
<br /><br />
She blamed the Moderna vaccine we were given because her mother, who is in her 90s, reported only minor side effects after getting the Pfizer vaccine.
<br /><br />
Before you <a href="https://sg.news.yahoo.com/pofma-orders-issued-on-facebook-posts-regarding-covid-19-vaccine-055923383.html">Pofma</a> me, I should clarify that clinical trials for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have shown that younger adults tend to report more frequent and severe side effects than older people.
<br /><br />
So my wife is wrong to blame Moderna for her suffering. She should blame being younger than her mother.
<br /><br />
But despite all the unpleasant side effects, I am still glad I had my shot.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pC7S5SkzlmI/YH0g97ocjaI/AAAAAAAAaBA/bnujrhv-DAEoLmMZsuikTfDOxDFlrIZvACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1141.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pC7S5SkzlmI/YH0g97ocjaI/AAAAAAAAaBA/bnujrhv-DAEoLmMZsuikTfDOxDFlrIZvACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1141.JPG" /></a>You know why? Because I got a free box of 50 disposable masks and small bottle of water out of it. Woo-hoo!
<br /><br />
That is how you get more Singaporeans to go for vaccination – free stuff! Why aren’t you advertising this?
<br><br>
I later found out that a friend who went to a different vaccination centre didn’t get anything. So not everyone gets freebies.
<br /><br />
It was only after our injections that we discovered you had published a <a href="https://www.vaccine.gov.sg/locations-vcs">list</a> indicating which vaccination centre administers the Pfizer and which the Moderna vaccine – but not which centre hands out free stuff.
<br /><br />
If we had known earlier, my wife would have chosen the Pfizer one since the Pfizer vaccine is supposedly 1 per cent more effective than Moderna.
<br /><br />
That 1 per cent makes all the difference to her.
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K3odScka55A" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
Don’t you find it funny that even for vaccines, people also care about brand name now?
<br /><br />
When I was injecting seamen in the navy, I didn’t know whether the vaccine was from Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson or Dettol.
<br /><br />
I didn’t know if anyone had a <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/askst-how-concerned-should-we-be-about-side-effects-of-the-astrazeneca-johnson">blood clot</a> or a microchip tracked by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates implanted in them after getting vaccinated.
<br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SwqeIOvRfAQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
Nowadays, we seem to know so much about the Covid-19 vaccines and yet not enough.
<br /><br />
Back then, I just made sure to expel any air bubbles in the needle before sticking it in to avoid accidentally giving someone an air embolism. Hopefully, I didn’t kill anyone.
<br /><br />
I can’t wait for my second dose to get more free stuff.
<br /><br />
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 19 April 2021</i>
<br /><br /><blockquote>
Dear Mr Ong
<br /><br />
I do understand your articles are meant not to be taken seriously. And I must say that it is humourless most of the time. There is also a lot of creative writing in your articles. However, I wonder where the boundary line is, as far as use of improper English is concerned.
<br /><br />
You mentioned 'don't profma me'. Don't you think that the way you write has a great influence on the readers, especially those who are young and impressionable and those who have little or no proper education in the English language?
<br /><br />
I have also seen a lot of others using 'whatapps me,' 'pm me', 'dm me', etc The list goes on. Could you possibly be one of those who are encouraging the use of improper English?
<br /><br />
With regards<br />
LEE Thien Poh Steven</blockquote>
<br />
Okay, boomer.
<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-67364659931983328612021-04-14T14:54:00.005+08:002021-04-14T15:00:03.111+08:00I bought the KFC mask and here's my reviewSo KFC started selling masks today.
<br /><br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNmxZU6H4mZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNmxZU6H4mZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNmxZU6H4mZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by KFC Singapore (@kfc_sg)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br>
Instead of Original or Extra Crispy, the choice is Night or Day. I picked Night because it's black.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShPnZGIY9fQ/YHaIEv2lg7I/AAAAAAAAZ_E/pz4Bi9VT720fYlGWyKSrnA8ttLt-b3hKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0797.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShPnZGIY9fQ/YHaIEv2lg7I/AAAAAAAAZ_E/pz4Bi9VT720fYlGWyKSrnA8ttLt-b3hKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0797.JPG" width="540/" /></a>
<br /><br />
The price is $6.95, but if you order it as an add-on with your food, the mask is only $1.65.
<br /><br />
KFC makes no claims that it will protect you from any virus and the packaging says it's "not intended for medical use".
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zeZlmFzUkx8/YHaJ8jT9yYI/AAAAAAAAZ_Y/X_ga6I_EqIYb7FSQcBjnk1tnedsHAKEkACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0798%2B-%2BCopy.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zeZlmFzUkx8/YHaJ8jT9yYI/AAAAAAAAZ_Y/X_ga6I_EqIYb7FSQcBjnk1tnedsHAKEkACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0798%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="540//" /></a>
<br /><br />
It's made up of two layers of fabric, so it's not so flimsy.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L64proUDtco/YHaM23PiQRI/AAAAAAAAZ_g/YfmIf3JEbngE8P56FPe4kTfSVg4x8j8lgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0821.JPG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L64proUDtco/YHaM23PiQRI/AAAAAAAAZ_g/YfmIf3JEbngE8P56FPe4kTfSVg4x8j8lgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0821.JPG" width="540/" /></a>
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAyu9Y-kKkg/YHaM283sAuI/AAAAAAAAZ_k/pXx3aVaWFSMgABdxZSnUj493UMlV1ZXUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0824.JPG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAyu9Y-kKkg/YHaM283sAuI/AAAAAAAAZ_k/pXx3aVaWFSMgABdxZSnUj493UMlV1ZXUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0824.JPG" width="540/" /></a>
<br /><br />
The mask comes in only one size though. I feel it's slightly small for my giant-ass flat face, but because of the adjustable ear loops, it doesn't feel too snug or uncomfortable.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIUqmiKlJIQ/YHaNtgqknpI/AAAAAAAAZ_4/4FD6afV0GpYnfKhZPHTuKrDUkQ6XlPRcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0800.JPG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIUqmiKlJIQ/YHaNtgqknpI/AAAAAAAAZ_4/4FD6afV0GpYnfKhZPHTuKrDUkQ6XlPRcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0800.JPG" width="540/" /></a>
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfXOaHbY5MU/YHaNtsesKUI/AAAAAAAAZ_0/6F-xnw4qMLUDn9dgl9wjTJ7ME4JFKuLxACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0804.JPG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfXOaHbY5MU/YHaNtsesKUI/AAAAAAAAZ_0/6F-xnw4qMLUDn9dgl9wjTJ7ME4JFKuLxACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0804.JPG" width="540/" /></a>
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mkpR__Blxo/YHaNtpZ1mdI/AAAAAAAAZ_w/rEDIIkXv9sQ81bJ1QAHzqHjRzWBA3j8vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0806%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mkpR__Blxo/YHaNtpZ1mdI/AAAAAAAAZ_w/rEDIIkXv9sQ81bJ1QAHzqHjRzWBA3j8vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0806%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="540/" /></a>
<br /><br />
I like the KFC mask enough that I may get the other design.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bM06ka1A-tE/YHaPWR8VuqI/AAAAAAAAaAI/3YoVhEywJAUEdlzOnOuqFYiOPQNMUNHNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0794.PNG" ><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="748" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bM06ka1A-tE/YHaPWR8VuqI/AAAAAAAAaAI/3YoVhEywJAUEdlzOnOuqFYiOPQNMUNHNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_0794.PNG" width="540/" /></a>
<br /><br />
Which is rather similar to the McDonald's pyjamas from two years ago.
<br /><br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3bLI0aHWNY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3bLI0aHWNY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3bLI0aHWNY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by SM Ong (@sm_ong)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br /><br />
<b>EARLIER: <a href="https://smong.net/2019/10/inspired-by-alfian-saat-i-wrote-poem.html">Inspired by Alfian Sa'at, I wrote a poem called McDonald's, You Did Not Have My Pyjama</a>s</b>
<br /><br /><br /><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228812808071965301.post-756963443136251522021-04-05T11:32:00.004+08:002021-04-05T14:04:52.999+08:00No April Fool's joke: After 3 years, Burger King finally makes Chocolate Whopper a reality<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ApTlnQRyT4Y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br /><br />
No one likes to be played for a fool.
<br /><br />
Yet, it remains an annual tradition that otherwise veracious people and organisations would lie in the name of April Fool’s.
<br /><br />
And it is your own fault for being dumb enough to fall victim to a joke.
<br /><br />
It is probably the only time of year when victim-blaming is acceptable and practically a sport. It is all fun and games until it happens to you.
<br /><br />
You think you are too smart to be fooled? Me too.
<br /><br />
Beware the end of March as the first of April is nigh.
<br /><br />
<div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tFV48i4N9w/YGqCnRc9aRI/AAAAAAAAZ-Q/Zmgpxnl7uUAmiij09SBz_U8GrQfdDUAvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/bunny.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1006" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tFV48i4N9w/YGqCnRc9aRI/AAAAAAAAZ-Q/Zmgpxnl7uUAmiij09SBz_U8GrQfdDUAvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w176-h200/bunny.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>So I started questioning everything I read and even reality itself.
<br /><br />
A giant ship blocked the Suez Canal, disrupting 12 per cent of world trade?
<br /><br />
Yeah, sure. Was the Easter Bunny on board too?
<br /><br />
But a giant ship did block the canal for six days and someone should search the decks for a bow-tied hare with a basket of chocolate eggs.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AfjTti1VPFU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Speaking of sweet treats, when Durex announced three new condom flavours called Mao Shan Wang, Singapore Chendol and Botak Coconut Sherbet, I knew immediately it was a lie.
<br /><br />
Come on, it was so obvious. You put a condom on your penis during sex to prevent pregnancy or disease transmission.
<br /><br />
You do not eat it. Why would it come in different flavours?
<br /><br />
I was proven right when Durex confirmed that it was a “prank” on April Fool’s Day and said that the three aforementioned flavours were actually the new flavours of Udders ice cream.
<br /><br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGxbuLLIG2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGxbuLLIG2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGxbuLLIG2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Durex Singapore (@durexsingapore)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br /><br />
I thought that was another joke, but Durex added the hashtag #NotAJoke.
<br /><br />
Why would Udders partner with Durex to promote its new flavours?
<br /><br />
Now when I think of Udders ice cream, I imagine it tastes like rubber.
<br /><br />
I have a question for you – which would you prefer, rubbery ice cream or a chocolate burger?
<br /><br />
The rubbery ice cream is hypothetical, but the chocolate burger is not.
<br /><br />
At first, I assumed it was another April Fool’s joke when last week, Burger King launched its Chocolate Whopper, described as a “beef patty topped with fresh juicy tomatoes and onion, dressed with a layer of rich chocolate sauce swirly richness and cushioned between the King’s signature sesame drench buns”.
<br /><br />
After all, the restaurant chain had teased the Chocolate Whopper exactly three years ago, but that turned out to be a hoax, <a href="https://smong.net/2018/04/april-drool-flame-grilled-chocolate.html">cheating my feelings</a>.
<br /><br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBurgerKingSG%2Fvideos%2F10156216012471774%2F&show_text=0&width=476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="476"></iframe>
<br /><br />
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, I must really want the Chocolate Whopper.
<br /><br />
So it shook me to learn that like Pizza Hut’s alleged-crime-against-nature <a href="https://smong.net/2021/02/pizza-huts-sugary-new-bubble-tea.html">Bubble Tea Blossom Pizza</a>, the Chocolate Whopper is for real.
<br /><br />
It seems the joke this time is that it’s not a joke. Well played, Burger King, well played.
<br /><br />
<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/BurgerKingSG/posts/10159297383551774" data-show-text="true" data-width="500"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/BurgerKingSG/posts/10159297383551774" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><p>We ain’t joking this time! Get your hands on the King’s new sweet and savoury treats this April Fool’s. Available until 15 April.</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BurgerKingSG/">Burger King Singapore</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BurgerKingSG/posts/10159297383551774">Thursday, April 1, 2021</a></blockquote></div>
<br /><br />
Like a diabetic moth to a sugary flame, I was drawn to the brown abomination.
<br /><br />
Surprisingly, the Chocolate Whopper is not as disgusting as it may look and sound. My only complaint is that I could have used more chocolate sauce and less onion. Those two ingredients kind of clashed.
<br /><br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNHsVrGnQn4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNHsVrGnQn4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNHsVrGnQn4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by SM Ong (@sm_ong)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br /><br />
To complete the meal, BK is also offering nuggets with chocolate sauce for dipping plus fries in a chocolate sundae for, ummm... dessert?
<br /><br />
All that chocolate! And just in time for Easter too.
<br /><br />
Shiok!
<br /><br />
Which, by the way, is now officially part of the German language.
<br /><br />
Last Thursday, German Ambassador to Singapore Norbert Riedel tweeted: “Shiok, the #Singlish word to express a delightful experience such as eating delicious food, has made it into the Duden, the official dictionary of the German language.”
<br /><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">+++ Breaking news +++ ‚Shiok', the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Singlish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Singlish</a> word to express a delightful experience such as eating delicious food has made it into the ‚Duden', the official dictionary of the German language.😉(tb) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dudenverlag?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dudenverlag</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gweezilla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gweezilla</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Vossstrasse17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vossstrasse17</a> <a href="https://t.co/gBkCaN366e">pic.twitter.com/gBkCaN366e</a></p>— Ambassador Norbert Riedel (@GermanyinSGP) <a href="https://twitter.com/GermanyinSGP/status/1377497704998170626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br /><br />
The German embassy even posted a video online showing supposed German individuals saying “shiok” while eating.
<br /><br />
So not only has Singlish been recognised by Oxford dictionary, but also... wait a minute.
<br /><br />
What was last Thursday’s date?
<br /><br />
Dammit!
<br /><br />
Et tu, Germany?
<br /><br />
<i>- Published in The New Paper, 5 April 2021</i>
<br /><br /><br />
<b>EARLIER: <a href="https://smong.net/2018/04/april-drool-flame-grilled-chocolate.html">April drool: Flame-grilled Chocolate Whopper is mouth-watering fake news</a></b>
<br /><br /><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com