Sassyjan said:

My dad passed away on 31 Oct 2009 [...] (On 13 January 2010) night, my dad’s handphone rung umpteen times. Eventually, I picked it up. The guy claims that my dad owed them $6K and we have to pay up. They say they’ll give us 2 days to decide or they will continue with this. [...] For 2 days I called the Inspecting Officer in-charge - No Answer.

Recommended by yuhui: "Highlights the ineffectiveness of our politicians and police in solving the loan shark problem."

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Mr Wang Says So said:

I proceeded to check out the available graduate scholarships at the NUS Law Faculty. Alas, I saw that in fact, almost all the scholarships were reserved for non-Singaporeans.

That's still the way it is today. See the current list of graduate scholarships here:

(1) Research Scholarship
(2) Graduate Scholarship for ASEAN Nationals (NUS GSA)
(3) Faculty Graduate Scholarship (FGS)
(4) Scholarship for Young Asian Academics
(5) Microsoft Scholarship

The 1st scholarship is open to both Singaporean and foreign applicants.
The 2nd scholarship is open to students from all ASEAN countries, except Singaporeans.
The 3rd scholarship is open to students from anywhere in the world, except Singaporeans.
The 4th scholarship is open to all Asian students, except Singaporeans.
The 5th scholarship is open to students from anywhere in the world, except Singaporeans.

Is it strange that so many Singaporeans feel marginalised in their own country? No, it is not strange at all. It is clear that in our country today, citizenship often turns out to be a liability.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "In Singapore, citizens are automatically disqualified from most scholarships, just because they are citizens. Amazing."

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Jeffrey said:

With my tainted glasses, i view everything and everyone in the military as i think they are. NS is a waste of time. These commanders are fierce and have no life. Please. I am smarter than you are, i boast of perfect scores at my A-levels. You are a platoon sergeant who is just over me in rank but in the society outside these fences, you are nothing compared to me, a potential high-achiever. I am biased. I admit it. I like my tainted glasses. They help me see clearer.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "A Melbourn-based Singaporean medical student reflects on our attitude towards National Service."

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echizen92 said:

LPV...fieldpack everyone's dream christmas present. -- http://tweet.sg 11:03 PM Jul 14th from TweetSG

One man down...
11:01 PM Jul 16th from TweetSG

is taking his 1 capsule of tamiflu everyday diligently after lunch. about 18 hours ago from TweetSG

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Probably the first NS Man twittering his National service experience from Tekong while at BMTC.

Little content, but would be nice to follow his tweets

The H1N1 situation and how it's being handled is also quite interesting."

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squawkster said:

As a mother, I find it hard to imagine that after years of sheltered school life where students are taught values, to be gentlemanly and polite and respect their elders, these boys have to do NS run by officers who do not blink an eye when they curse their mother, sister, girlfriend and the whole female population by way of conversation.

My boys were shocked to realise that NS is a rite of passage where they will be officially subjected to bullying, shouting and cursing - nothing gentlemanly at all.

Recommended by squawkster: "Is it true that our parents REALLY don't have any idea what kind of language is being used in the army?"

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Taikiew said:

Such swift action can only mean that the government view this as a serious matter. While I certainly do not believe in online censorship, it could perhaps be the best cause of action in babying dedicate and immature Singaporeans from an possible civil unrest that could result from such publications.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "MDA blocks website swiftly after couple arrested for distributing seditious publications"

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The Christian Post said:

It is not a conflict between homosexuals and Christian fundamentalists

Rather, it is a conflict between a liberal and conservative worldview and those who hold the mutually opposing views. One group believes that there are no absolute morals and that every view is and has been socially-constructed and socially-determined. The other side maintains that moral absolutes exist; that there is such a thing as right and wrong, virtue and vice, decency and decadence. ...

The timeless clash between the liberal or anti-moral and conservative camps cannot be resolved unless one viewpoint is utterly conquered.

Recommended by at82: "Apparently one of the side believe that the conflict will NEVER end until the other side is "UTTERLY CONQUERED"..."

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Conscript said:

All this talk about National Integration and integration of foreigners into Singapore misses the mark. We are talking about welcome others when we treat our own so poorly. What am I talking about?

I am talking about National Service. I am talking about mandatory 2 years (formerly 2.5 years) of conscription of Singaporean male citizens into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

I am talking about the 10 years of reservist obligations comprising but not limited to:

* annual in-camp training lasting 2 to 21 days (in practice but legally up to 40 days under the law)
* annual individual physical proficiency tests (IPPT) for those medically fit NSmen (those who fail to clear their tests are subject to Remedial Training of twice/thrice a week)
* notifying Mindef Notification Centre for any overseas trips exceeding 24 hours
* need to apply for exit permit for trips of 6 months or longer
* annual operations manning or mobilisation exercises than can happen 2-3 times a year

To be male and Singaporean is to serve and f*** off
These obligations are not new. They have been imposed on NSmen since the whole NS system was developed just after Singapore gained independence and as the British withdrew their military forces out of Singapore not long after.

What is new is that the pace of immigration to Singapore has increased tremendously. It has created a truly global city, Singapore Inc, with the implications of a labour market that is competitive in every sense of the word.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "As a fellow reservist, I feel his pain too. Why are Singaporean men so cham? Our only wrong is to be born here in Singapore and get punished by government who embrace foreigners."

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Alvinology said:

It takes skills and a lot of effort to saw open a durian this way! Well done. I am wondering how they manage to eat it with the durian seeds halved.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Funny lah! Use light saber cut one."

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fireopal said:

New legislature forming to stop the streaming of 'live' Internet radio in Singapore?

Apparently so, according the Power 98FM website

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "New censorship?"

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Soh Tiang Keng said:

Despite signs of revival since the 1980s, a gradual extinction of the Peranakan culture and lifestyle will probably take place in decades to come. The fast-dwindling Singaporeans, steeped in Peranakan culture and practices, are becoming an endangered species which may fade into oblivion within the next 120 years or so.

Recommended by misty_cloud: "An interesting read on the origins of Peranakans. After the telecast of the Little Nonya TV series on Mediacorp Channel 8, there is this mad craze for "anything Peranakan" - from Peranakan food, music and fashion to history and tourism. An influx of visitors to Malacca to see for themselves the Peranakan culture.

But as the article says, is this sustainable? What will happen after the craze dies off? Is a TV series enough to revive the interest in Peranakan culture and the willingness to preserve that for the future generations?

Just some food for thought."

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mrbiao said:

Hey, I would love it (and I’m sure many Singaporeans would agree with me) if I can get free public transport by paying 1.5% extra GST! I wouldn’t even mind paying 2% more!

Since Minister Lim was able to make that statement so confidently, there must be some level of confidence that the Government can implement such a system! The Singapore Government is so clean and transparent, it won’t lie to Singaporeans, will it?

So if SIngaporeans are willing to accept a GST hike of 1.5%, we can get free public transport? That’s an awesome deal. As an undergraduate, I estimate that I spend less than $10k a year. 1.5% comes to just $150… for a year of transportation. Wow. I don’t even mind paying 3% more in GST!

Recommended by at82: "Singaporeans should urge the Government to offer what it’s spokesperson (Minister Lim) had so confidently challenged us to accept - increase GST by 1.5%, and offer free public transport. If it cannot be done, then Minister Lim should be held accountable for making the unqualified statement."

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Redsports.sg said:

National Stadium, Sunday, December 21, 2008 - Some Singaporeans showed last night what idiots they were when they criminally attacked Vietnamese supporters who were celebrating outside the stadium after the game, leaving some with bloodied faces.

Singapore lost 0-1 last night in the second leg semi-final of the ASEAN Football Championship against Vietnam and for some ‘fans’, it was apparently too much to bear.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "We may not match other footballing powerhouse nations in terms of skill nor the fanaticism of its fans...but lamentably, we seem to be gaining some ground in football hooliganism...

Singapore Ultras? hmm..."

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The Online Citizen said:

Former Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief of the Today newspaper, said that he sometimes “shuddered looking at some of the stories that are displayed” in the Singapore papers. Comparing the local papers to the Financial Times, which he called a “class act” with “crisp” writings, he said of the mainstream press: “There is an attempt to go downstream by the Straits Times.”

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "A critical assessment of local mainstream media by an insider"

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Link to cached copy (thanks Ganga)

Tan Kin Lian said:

FOR TOP PRIORITY ATTENTION

A RM of a bank called me. He is willing to come forward to sign a statement that he has been giving the wrong information about the credit-linked notes to the bank customers, due to his ignorance. He will be contacting other RMs to come forward and make a similar statement.

He told me that his bank had put pressure on him by stating that he would be held personally responsible to compensate the customers, if he admitted to giving the wrong information.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "A call for bank Relationship Managers to stand together as a group and make a statement. If you are willing to make this statement, email kinlian@gmail.com."

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Laremy said:

My cousin enlisted for his National Service last Friday and I tagged along out of curiosity - to see how things have changed in six years (not much) - and to do a bit of research - getting into the military groove while preparing for the rewrite of Full Tank!. I took some videos to document part of the process, so enjoy the final, edited piece.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "A video of enlistment day at BMT."

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Bobo says,

These pictures say it all. For those who don't know what these are about... Those paint patches are by the Town Council people who are trying to cover up spray paint marks by loansharks. Loansharks often spray "O$P$" owe money pay money... and the debtor's name, IC and a phone number on the walls of HDB. When Bobo went to her new place today, she saw all these on the main lift landing. She walked up the stairs and saw all these patches on EVERY staircase landing... all the way up the stairs and EVERY lift landing on the way up. Even some of the neighbours' plants have blue paint on them. She took a peep at the supposed unit and saw blue paint on their windows.

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Creative Commons Singapore said:

...if you are a Singapore-based author/creator there is nothing stopping you from using another country’s license from the Creative Commons website, but it makes all the sense in the world to use the Singapore-specific licenses - these are crafted with a language that is tailored to Singapore law and this will be helpful for local legal experts and courts in case you ever need to take legal action against unlawful uses of your content. So, you’re doing yourself a favor if you use the Singapore-specific Creative Commons licenses (and of course you’re also making those of us who worked on them happy to see the licenses used in practice)!

Recommended by ramblinglibrarian: "Hope this would create more awareness among Singapore-based authors/ creators/ bloggers who are interested in sharing their works online AND who wish to ensure their rights are properly articulated."

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Vantan said:

It was a calm, clear morning in Singapore. Buona Vista Road was busy as usual. A steady stream of traffic droned by, adding to the humdrum of yet another working day.

It was, really, just a normal Friday.

And then a cluster of crazed students dressed as chickens, ducks, bears, bunnies, female fantasy figures (including cross-dressers), superheroes, warriors, scuba divers and other oddities streamed past, cheering all the way into school.

Recommended by tinkertailor: "In case you saw some weird stuff at Buona Vista last Friday."

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Yasim Ahmad said:

"A friend told me recently that one local paper attacked me for always showing my films in Singapore before Malaysia. I didn't read the article, but apparently they accused me of being disloyal, or words to that effect.

Truth beknown, the reason for this is that the Singaporeans are just quicker on the uptake than we are."

Recommended by Otterman: "One of Malaysia's creative talents and director of "Sepet," "Gubra" and "Mukhsin" finds it easier to screen her films in Singapore, uncut, then in Malaysia. And she says its safe from piracy too!

Another talent, Amir Muhammad, has had the same experience too.

But the same could be said about Singaporean filmmakers who deal with sensitive material - they will find it easier to showcase their films in Malaysia. Cheaper and faster travel means its hard to deny enthusiasts their fare.

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