I think Singapore didn’t deserve to lose this one, as we played well and created many chances and kept the pressure on the Vietnamese for most of the game. Vietnam, in my opinion, kept a pretty tight ship and managed to hold us back and hit us with counterattacks. One of which scored the winning goal.

The highlight of the match was ?Alam Shah’s? overhead bicycle kick that came unexpectedly, forcing Vietnam’s keeper to make a super save. If that went in, I think it’ll warrant a national holiday!

I really hope that this is not the last game the lions play in the national stadium, I don’t think loosing in the last game is very cool. From what I saw in Singapore in its 0-2 victory against Indonesia, in Jakarta recently, I think we can do much better!

Anyway, here are the pics!

La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Catalunia, Spain. © Jon Huang, 2008

Sri Mariamman Hindu temple, Singapore. © Jon Huang, 2008

It is so rare to see someone give up an MRT seat to another who needs it more, people rush into the trains as if their life depends on it, cutting the queue to top up your fare card. All of this I have noticed in the trains and stations.

Yesterday, Gong, GK and I were in the train heading for Bugis, the train wasn’t full, and we were the only ones standing. At City Hall station, a ‘lady’ in her early thirties rushed in looking like a mad dog and headed for the lone empty seat behind us. To reach this seat which she has a divine right to put her ass on, she chose the shortest path, which was obstructed by gong. So easily, she pushed aside gong, who nearly lost his balance. Plainly speaking, I was pissed.

I see this as a problem in Singapore society. This is not a problem that can be solved quickly, but it may take a generation or two before Singaporeans become more aware of their social behaviour. The best way to do this is by teaching the next generation when they are young. Many may argue that such behaviour is inevitable in a pressure cooker environment such as Singapore, and kiasu behaviour is a survival response.

I think not, as I’m sure people are capable of being gracious as well as competitive. Filtering out situations when selfish behaviour is not necessary to survive, such as a MRT train commute.

There are so many monkeys in the bukit timah hill area, the bad thing is that they all hang out at the visitor center, looking for food. Snatching, stealing, begging, whatever it takes, except picking fruits and berries from trees. I guess after you taste cheese rings, nothing compares.

I smell a fish… considering the circumstances (sick father, no money, no return ticket), why would he have in the first place come to Singapore? If I were him, I would rather go to Miami or somewhere nearer to Jamaica than Singapore halfway round the world to busk. And why the 23rd of Dec? Does his dad get better after that, or are there no more flights home for him, or maybe his visitor pass ends on that day.

Whatever his intentions, his act really draws a crowd. I didn’t really see how good he is, but being the Jamaica No.1 should at least mean something.

This is what’s on his poster:

Father dying of prostate cancer. Fund-raising to purchase flight ticket back to Jamaica to visit sick father in hospital. $2000 required before 23rd of December. Coins, notes, handshake greatly appreciated!

Headcrabs are small, parasitic lifeforms roughly 2 feet (0.61 m) long. Headcrabs have rounded bodies with four legs for movement; two stubby legs at the front, obscured by its claws, and two legs at the back. They have a pair of larger frontal claws for attacking prey or as additional support when standing still.

A headcrab’s primary goal is to attach to the head of a suitable host using its mouth (typically covering the face and most of the head). The headcrab then burrows its claws and hind legs into the host and opens up portions of the skull with its mouth, incorporating parts of its biological workings with the motor cortex of the host’s nervous system. The victim is thus taken over by the headcrab and mutated into a mindless zombie-like being known as a headcrab zombie.

Source: Wikipedia!

Anyway, here are the pics I took when hanging around the finishing line in front of the old supreme court.

Can’t wait to get my hands on one of these on the 10th when it is most likely going to be available in Singapore. Just hope I got enough money.

No more motion blurs or shakey hands!

To understand what is going on, its important to look at the demographics of Thailand. This will tell you why Thaksin and his party (until Dec 2 named the PPP) has gathered so much support even though they have been charged with corruption. Thailand is a country with a majority rural population with only 31.3% in urban areas. Thaksin has done well in focusing his attention on the plight of these farming rural class, and as a result has gained the majority vote. The problem with this, is that the city people don’t really like him, so they got rid of him in the coup in 06. Nevertheless, without Thaksin, the PPP still maintained the popular majority with the support from the rural population.

Now, fast forward to 2008, the anti Thaksin, PAD (people’s alliance for democracy) has forced the court to rule a ban on the PPP, disbanding a formally elected government, Ok, there was corruption and vote buying involved. But which politician is not corrupt? And anyway,I believe the PPP, with their popularity in the countryside, would have still been in power if they didn’t buy votes. Now, do you think all the yellow clad PAD people believe in what they are protesting for. No! I think the party elite have either paid them, or tapped into their monarchical sentiment.Just think about it, who has the resources to feed, clothe and maybe even pay the lost wages of thousands of protesters?

The people of Thailand have been deceived by their own leaders, I don’t think a new government made of anti-Thaksin politicians will make any difference. But that is not for me to say. The main thing is that a democratically elected government has been disbanded due to the coercion of a minority.