Author: Grievous

Some thoughts…

7 comments

A 47-million dollars church building

I once raved about a local mega-church spending $47 million into building a titanium-clad church building and a friend – a non believer – pointed out that he felt there’s really nothing wrong with it because like the 5.5-ton gold Buddha in Thailand, the intention was probably to inspire – i.e. to let the believers see just how they have been collective blessed – or rewarded, depending on your point of view – for their faith.

I do not deny that a $47 millionchurch building may have left believers in awe and inspired by the goodness of God. But unlike the 5.5-ton gold Buddha, which will probably outlast our species even if the human species go extinct, the $47 million church building was, from what I have gathered, built on 30-year leased land. In other words, after 30 years they will have to tear that building down and return the plot of land as it is to the state. That will be approximately the equivalent of paying $1.6 million a year for the lease, and I am not even sure if that $47 million even include land cost.

Simply put, the 5.5-ton gold Buddha would have continue to inspire the Thai people and impress tourists for many generations to come, but in one generation the $47 million church building will only live on in photos or the memories of those who still lived. It begs the question, would God have look less favorable upon a ‘lesser’ church building in lands with strong persecution and the believers built with their own bare hands and material obtained from nature?

It makes one wonder, how those who are charged as stewards of His blessings actually account to Him that this is a prudent use of money. In fact, I wonder how they actually justified that as being part of God’s Will.

Anyway, here’s something out of point: Did you know in the Forbidden Palace in Beijing there’s a almost 300-year-old art piece carved out of a piece of jade weighing almost 5.4 tons? Took them years to mine it from some mountain in Xinjiang and – if I am not wrong – 3 years to ship to Beijing, and then another 6 years to send it to Yangzhou to carve it into the art piece it is today and back.


Photos of the Jade Piece:
[1] (zoom out – showing full jade)
[2] (zoom in – showing part of the art work)

Reality and Ideals

I did not think Cao Cao [曹操] has in his mind all along the plan to seize and hold the Han Emperor hostage as a mean to dominate the other warlords. Indeed, before he even participated in the any military action, be it against the Yellow Turban rebels [黄巾军], or before he participate in the coalition of forces against the warlord Dong Zhuo [董卓], he was nothing more than a security official – sort of the equivalent of the Deputy Commissioner of the Police Department – in the northern part of Imperial capital.

Do note that at times, the younger Cao Cao even seek advice on how to attain certain near term objectives: e.g. stabilizing the areas he rule, how to restore order to the Empire etc. His stature and power only increased over a long period of time – from general to Prince of Wei – over a period of 36 years [184AD to 220AD].

What I am trying is this: be realistic and not idealistic. Many people who achieve greatness or their objectives in the end normally do not let his opponents or any other people determine how it should be done or what the rules of the game is. They look at the reality at that time to make the best of it, or redefine what the rules should be and work towards their ideals one step at a time.

In short, to ask for certain plans to be revealed before the person is given a task is an absurd proposition which only the Tali-PAP Men-In-White can devise to fxxk up the opposition. I don’t even know what to think about the people who would accept that!

The Singapore National Anthem

2 comments

This is my response to some guy who called 93.8FM and asked for the National Anthem to be changed. I don’t know what your reasons are but if it’s “dont understand” or “cannot remember” , then I hope this will help you, and all new immigrants who have recently gotten their citizenship.

It is my considered opinion that our National Anthem is a showcase of our racial harmony. It is also appropriate because of our geographical location. Just take a look at the map if you don’t understand. We are right smacked in the Malay Archipelago. [map]

MAJULAH SINGAPURA!
(Malay – Only this is sung)

Mari kita rakyat Singapura
Sama-sama menuju bahagia
Cita-cita kita yang mulia
Berjaya Singapura

Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru
Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura

ONWARD SINGAPORE!
(English Translation)

Come, fellow Singaporeans
Let us progress towards happiness together
May our noble aspiration bring
Singapore success

Come, let us unite
In a new spirit
Let our voices soar as one
Onward Singapore!
Onward Singapore!

前进吧，新加坡！
(中文翻译)

来吧，新加坡人民，
让我们共同向幸福迈进；
我们崇高的理想，
要使新加坡成功。

来吧，让我们以新的精神，
团结在一起；
我们齐声欢呼；
前进吧，新加坡！
前进吧，新加坡！

Originals are found here.


Attached also is a screen shot of the anthem’s translation in Tamil, since I don’t know how to type in Tamil:

12 Hates When Taking A Dump

4 comments

Do not read further than this if you just had your meals!!!

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You are really sure you wanna read this?

I am not responsible if you lost your meals because of this!!

Don’t say I didn’t warn you!!!

12 things I hate when I am taking a dump…

  1. the previous user has failed to flush and left his handiwork behind in its ‘full glory’ ;

  2. discovered that there is no plastic seat (it has been removed) or that it is dirty because the last ‘fireman’ was ‘testing his hose’ ;

  3. discovered unobstructed holes in the cubicle walls;

  4. discovered that the door cannot be secured and someone kicked the door open while you are in the midst of crap ‘extrusion’ ;

  5. over sensitive sensor flush – it flushes periodically and the blast of water is so strong that the ‘mist’ wet your ass cheeks;

  6. the clown in the next cubicle smokes because he can’t stand the ‘fragrance’ of his own ‘product’;

  7. the guy entering / leaving the next cubicle slams the door;

  8. the guy in the next cubicle is blasting music out of his speaker phone – for e.g. Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker – as if it is conducive to bowel movements;

  9. you can listen in to the next guy’s lively phone conversation – for e.g. “kio li mai ka hor wa leow bel hiao tia si boh? Wa jit zoon na pang sai lah!! KNN…”;

  10. you finished your business and found there’s no more toilet paper;

  11. the cleaner keeps testing your door as if he can’t believe you are still inside;

  12. [The most ultimate] discovered that your own mobile number is on the cubicle walls and it says Dial 9xxxxxxx for free sex

Amirah’s Grills

One comment

Meet up with an old friend today. He has not been well on and off over the past few weeks and since he’s feeling better today we decided to meet up at Marina Square for a chat. After a long chat, we had a hard time deciding where we should have dinner. We wanted to do it at Black Angus at One Full Of Shit Fullerton but we noticed some boards have been put up blocking the sea view so I proposed we might as well go down to Pahang Street and dine at El Sheikh instead as I sort of missed the delicious mixed kebab I had last week.

My friend then suggested that I should also try out Amirah’s Grill. So, we walked over to the bus stop outside Fullerton Hotel and took bus 196 to the bus stop in front of the Concourse along Nicoll Highway and walked over because both buses 100 and 107 refused to show up. (They did show up, after we boarded onto 196. Bleah!).

Surprising, both El Sheikh and Amirah’s were quite ‘deserted’ today. But even the entire SunTec – Marina – Raffles City hall area was empty today anyway, probably because many people were either down at the Natas Fair over at the Expo or have left the country on vacation to avoid the National Day week vacation rush.

So, my friend and I was all alone in Amirah’s. Great environment and interesting music – I was told they are in Arab – which I had no clue what was being sung. The decoration is probably Islamic and Middle Eastern, if I am not mistaken. There are also paintings depicting ancient Egyptians and the Pharaohs. Unfortunately, I took only one picture of a part of the restaurant with my Nokia 7390 camera phone because I suck at taking photos. The quality isn’t so good because I didn’t use the flash as I didn’t ask any permission to take photos

Again, I ordered the Mixed Kebab – the Turkish one. My idea is that the mixed dish always have all the meat in the same dish so you can sample them all, and if you liked one of the meat very much, the next round you come by you can always order just the kebab with that meat alone. Similarly, if one of the meat is not good, then you can always give it a miss. And if all three is good – as in this case – then you don’t end up missing something good.

While all three of the meat from the dish is good, the beef was fantastic. It’s been a long time since I have eaten beef so tender. The last round I had beef that good was back in Shanghai having Kobe beef there. But unlike El Sheikh (just next door) where the sauce comes separately, Amirah had them poured onto all the meat already. In both cases, the sauce goes well with all the meat. The portion is smaller compared to El Sheikh, and I actually liked it because I could no longer eat as much as I used to when I was younger. I strongly recommend this dish to you.


Inside Amirah’s


The Turkish Mixed Kebab


Moroccan Mint Tea (Cold)

For drinks, I ordered a cold Moroccan Mint Tea. It was quite soothing and refreshing and certainly value for money because every single sip I take, the mint flavor is present. I was presently surprised that the mint leaves put there aren’t just for show, unlike a lot of our so-called iced lemon tea with a slice of lemon and you had to use your straw to poke the slice to squeeze every last drop of lemon juice out it to even taste something.

Total damage, $51.10, and that include another plate of roasted potato because we finished our carbohydrates faster than we liked. I would say it’s certainly value for money as I believe it would have cost us 20 – 25% more – and probably not as satisfying – if we had taken our dinner at Black Angus. (Do not be mistaken, it is not that Black Angus isn’t good on its own!)

Do give Amirah’s Grill a visit when you have time. In fact, we are going to check out some of the eateries at Haji Lane in the near future.

Transportation and ERP…

5 comments

I love my country, even though at times I may feel I don’t belong, even when I find some of the things the Tali-PAP do to be quite repulsive…

I have definitely always make noise about what I found repulsive, and some of my friends have definitely heard or read some of my more radical and insane comments. But whatever those insane and dumb comments were, there’s always what can realistically be achieve, and what cannot. And having that realization is what separates me from the insane and the stupid.

Thus, I wrote a post to arguing that the opposition parties are in no position now to take over and it is my considered opinion they should avoid making a fool of themselves by doing that. From the way I looked at it, a people – government gahmen relationship is not that of a girlfriend – boyfriend relationship, but one more akin to an employer – employee relationship. For e.g. when we got our asses kicked out from the Federation of Malaysia, the Tali-PAP’s situation was more like that of a junior staff discovering himself being thrust into the position of a senior and it rose up to the challenge. Was the Tali-PAP ready for that? I doubt so when I remember MM Lee shedding his tears on national TV realizing just what a mess he has gotten himself into, for fighting for a Malaysia for all Malaysians.

But in the case of our opposition parties now, it is more like that of a fresh graduate looking for a job and with nothing much to show except for his FYP (Final Year Projects) or internships. For one to argue that the opposition has nothing to show and thus shouldn’t be allowed into parliament would be equal to the argument that no fresh graduate should ever be given a job for his lack of experience, or having no clue on how he should be doing his job! The fact that both Potong Pasir and Hougang have taken that step to vote in Chiam See Tong and Low Thia Khiang respectively, would say a lot about what they think a people – gahmen relationship should be.

Anyway, let me categorically say: the current system put in place by the Tali-PAP still works, or at least has worked for the past 43 years since our nation’s forced independence from Malaysia. There is nothing seriously wrong yet with the current system for Singaporeans to demand for a change in leadership. But there are kinks in the system that should be addressed, and it is my opinion that feedback over some of the kinks are not seriously address as mentioned in my earlier post here. But do note, unlike some of the unrealistic whiners out there, I am not saying everything I talked about in that post – from town council sinking funds to GIC investments – must be addressed, but rather the gahmen should look into what can realistically be addressed and do so without any serious compromise to our nation’s financial security.

Next, other than the kinks in the system, the gahmen should start treating us with a little more respect. And I am not talking about respect as in the gahmen should cower and fear us, but rather it should understand that most Singaporeans are a reasonable and understanding lot. Treat us as a partner in nation building, since we are clearly educated enough to be rational and logical. For starters, make some serious efforts in telling us why they are doing certain things. Once these things are explained nicely, most of us – with the exception of the unreasonable, irrational and illogical whiners – will really just accept it and find our own ways to work around them. Let me take for example here the ERP (Electronic Road Pricing).

Singaporeans find it really hard to accept ERP because they are sick and tired of the gahmen telling us that the ERP is a traffic congestion measure. Just quit trying to justify ERP’s existence by telling us which other countries have also adopted it. To us, all of that is really total bullshit. While congestion control might be one aspect of ERP, it is not much talked about ERP being a fairer method at taxing all road users for usage. We may have heard some mini$ter$ talk about how road tax has been cut to make ERP as cost neutral as possible to car owners, but it is difficult for someone who takes a cab regularly, or a company with a fleet of vans to see it as cost neutral to their activities. Is our gahmen not aware the cut in road tax has done nothing to alleviate the suffering of a person taking the cab, and a delivery company which has several vehicles passing under the ERP several times daily will hardly find that bearable?

Thus, it would have been just far more acceptable to tell us that ERP will gradually replace road tax as an attrition tax for the maintenance of our roads, and that all road users – not only car owners – are expected to do their part. It gives every road user no excuse from paying ERP and in a way they would be far less unhappy looking at ERP gantries popping out everywhere – even HDB estates – in the future. On top of that, the people may not like to hear it, but make it clear it also served the purpose of driving those people who didn’t like to pay it to use public transports. In short, it would be clearly obvious to a lot of us that ERP as part of a multi-pronged plan in dealing with the transportation matter as a whole.

And to address the complaints of those who are driven to use public transports that the system itself is inefficient, it must also be shown to them that there are plans in place, for e.g. to put in more MRT lines in the next 5 – 10 years. On top of which, it is also hope that the ERP will ensure there will be a steady ridership in the new systems as otherwise, there will be not enough users to justify their construction.

Simply put, the gahmen needs to seriously brush up on its public relation skills. On the top, the big picture maybe clear to the bigwigs, but Singaporeans may not necessarily understand all of them tie in together as they look at ERP as nothing more than a daily nightmare. Having the mini$ter respond to a question here and there once in awhile, or having the news comes out in disjointed parts doesn’t really help us Singaporeans to see the big picture. Just how many of us reads the White Paper or whatever shit anyway? Too many words and it bores us since we are also busy people trying to earn a living. The gahmen should make full use of SPH, and use one issue of Sunday Times or Nanyang Zaobao, to put all these things in simple graphical form to link them altogether to make it easily understandable – just like those pictures in letters informing us why we are getting GST rebates.

I am not asking for the gahmen to please us, but from what I gather from my friends and colleagues whenever we discuss some of these issues, giving us a proper, detailed explanation is what they expected. Do not just presume we can’t grasp something on a bigger scale. That shouldn’t be too hard for the gahmen to do, right?

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