Sinking of Singapore is "Irredeemable"

Came across this graphic novel, Irredeemable. Written by Mark Waid (yes, the same Mark Waid who is responsible for DC's Kingdom Come, with artwork by Peter Krause and published by Boom! Studios.

Irredeemable introduces a question of "how does a man go from being the world’s greatest superhero to its greatest supervillain?"

It ought to be tragic, alright.

The central character is the Plutonian who previously was the world's greatest superhero due to unknown events have been twisted into becoming the world's most powerful and merciless supervillain.

The puzzles his former teammates face (and ought to solve pronto, if they are to survive his wrath):
1) What could have made such a selfless and benevolent individual into an irredeemable maniac
2) How to stop him, considering he is more powerful than all of them, knows all their secrets and has no known weaknesses.

The book suggested age group is 15+ but I am not surprised if the (truly graphic) novel were to be banned in Singapore.

In one of the emergency conference of United Nations, the chairperson (soon killed by the Plutonian) seeks to encourage the members to propose ideas on how to stop the supervillain.

Instead, the debate soon turns out to be how the UN members are arguing on how to make the Plutonian part of their nation.

In this comical situation, the Plutonian asks one politician from Singapore:

The Plutonian (TP): You. You're from...
The spectacled politician (Tsp): Singapore.
TP: Singapore. Tell me, Singapore, you want to be my home because...

Tsp: Because we seek your strength and your guidance in a hostile world.
TP: Do you understand the expression "a tiger by the tail"? Do you?

Tsp: We do. But we also recognize your long history of service to our nation. We embrace you because...

TP: I'm listening

(HERE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SPECTACLED POLITICAN FROM SINGAPORE IS SHOWN)

TP: Go on.
Tsp: ... because we are grateful to you.

(THE HEARTBEAT OF THE LYING POLITICIAN SHOWNS A RAPID PATTERN INDICATING THAT HE IS, WELL, LYING)

And the next few pages till the end of the Irredeemable Vol.1 show Singapore is in the process of enduring a diamond (yes, you read it right. Diamond, not meteor) shower till the whole island.

The diamond shower serves as a foundation with which the Plutonian used to pummel the island nation to underneath the sea.

Singapore is the modern age Atlantis--a legendary island sank into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune"?

Sinking of Singapore is totally an irredeemable act! Mark Waid has something against Singapore, huh?

Still the whole plot of the story is intriguing. Looking forward for Irredeemable Vol. 2.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". This is one of the movies that I ought to get the DVD one day. Came across the show last Sunday night on Okto channel part of FilmArt. Curious to see how a show featuring Jim Carrey can somehow be part of the supposedly artful FilmArt (well, with the exception of "The Truman Show", I always feel his movie is just a plain, hilarious comedy).

I also had a vague sense of recognition about the movie's title. After browsing my own posts in the past (yeah, I can be that pathetic, alright), I realize that there was a post almost related: "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind | Picture a day for 39 years".

Rotten Tomatoes has Tomatometer (heh, cute) indicates 93% for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". More about the plot (and spoiler, and so you've been warned) in Wikipedia post on the show here.

PS. The YouTube trailers of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind": here and (longer one) here.

Outrageous: Jesus Christ holds a beer can and a cigarette

The latest righteous fury among Christians in India over the blasphemous picture of Jesus Christ holding a beer can and a cigarette is in retrospect not exactly a new, uhm, news. Sometimes in Aug 2007, a similar incident happened in Malaysia. Again, it featured (in bad taste), Jesus Christ holding a cigarette.

Sigh. Those Who Forget History Are Doomed to Repeat It, indeed...

CHRISTIANS in India's northeast are outraged after a picture showing Jesus Christ holding a beer can and a cigarette was discovered in primary school textbooks.

The image appeared in a handwriting book for children in church-run schools in the Christian-majority state of Meghalaya, where it was used to illustrate the letter 'I' for the word 'Idol'.

'We are deeply shocked and hurt at the objectionable portrayal of Jesus Christ in the school book. We condemn the total lack of respect for religions by the publisher,' Shillong diocese Archbishop Dominic Jala told AFP.

Police said they were hunting for the owner of the New Delhi-based publisher, Skyline Publications, who faces charges of offending religious sentiment, local police superintendent A.R. Mawthoh told AFP.

The Roman Catholic Church in India has banned all textbooks by Skyline, while Protestant leaders called for a public apology. The state government also denounced the publication. 'We strongly condemn such a blasphemous act. Legal action has been initiated against the publisher,' M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, an education minister in the Meghalaya government, said.

English-language daily The Shillong Times said Skyline had apologised for 'hurting people's religious sentiments", but had offered no explanation as to how the error occurred. Efforts are underway to recall all copies of the book, the publisher was quoted as saying.

From Straits Times, "Outrage over boozing Jesus".(22/02/10)

A newspaper catering to Malaysia’s ethnic Indians published a front-page apology Thursday for printing an image of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi criticized the action as hurtful and an insult to Christians, and called on people not to play with religion, the national news agency Bernama reported.

“If the Christians get to know about it, it will create problems,” Abdullah was quoted as saying. “I remind them again to stop doing this.”

Mistake
S.M. Periasamy, general manager of the Tamil-language daily Makkal Osai, told The Associated Press that the newspaper published the image by mistake.

“The graphic artist, whom we have already suspended, didn’t see the cigarette,” Periasamy said. “It was a mistake.”

He said the artist downloaded an image of Jesus from the Internet for use along with a quote from the Bible on the paper’s front page Tuesday. But the artist overlooked the fact that the image had been, with a cigarette in one hand and another object — a can or a book — in the other, he said.

Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, who earlier criticized the image as a “desecration,” accepted the newspaper’s apology. In an e-mail to Periasamy, the archbishop’s office said Pakiam now “considers the matter closed.”

'Serious issue'
However, the Malaysian Indian Congress, a party in Malaysia’s ruling coalition, filed a police report and called on the government to close the paper, which has generally been critical of the MIC.

“It’s a very serious issue. For certain things you can apologize, but for this kind of sensitive issue, the editor should be sacked and the paper closed,” senior party official T. Mohan told the AP.

Makkal Osai is one of two newspapers catering to Malaysia’s largely Tamil-speaking ethnic Indians. The other is aligned to the MIC.

Ethnic Indians comprise 10 percent of Malaysia’s 26 million people, and are mostly Hindus with a sprinkling of Christians and Muslims; Chinese, who follow Christianity and Buddhism, 25 percent; Malay Muslims, 60 percent.

From MSNBC, "Malaysia paper apologizes over Jesus photo". (23/08/07)

Christians in India's northeast are outraged after a picture showing Jesus Christ holding a beer can and a cigarette was discovered in primary school textbooks.

The image appeared in a handwriting book for children in church-run schools in the Christian-majority state of Meghalaya, where it was used to illustrate the letter "I" for the word "Idol".

"We are deeply shocked and hurt at the objectionable portrayal of Jesus Christ in the school book. We condemn the total lack of respect for religions by the publisher," Shillong diocese Archbishop Dominic Jala told AFP.

Police said they were hunting for the owner of the New Delhi-based publisher, Skyline Publications, who faces charges of offending religious sentiment, local police superintendent A.R. Mawthoh told AFP.

The Roman Catholic Church in India has banned all textbooks by Skyline, while Protestant leaders called for a public apology.

The state government also denounced the publication.

"We strongly condemn such a blasphemous act. Legal action has been initiated against the publisher," M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, an education minister in the Meghalaya government, said.

English-language daily The Shillong Times said Skyline had apologised for "hurting people's religious sentiments", but had offered no explanation as to how the error occurred.

Efforts are underway to recall all copies of the book, the publisher was quoted as saying.

AFP was unable to reach Skyline for comment.

Christians account for 2.3 percent of India's billion-plus Hindu-majority population. The main concentrations are in the northeast, the eastern state of Orissa and in the southern states of Kerala and Goa.

In 2008, anti-Christian riots in Orissa left more than 100 people dead, according to Christian groups, after missionaries were accused of killing a Hindu holy man.

From Google News, "Boozing Jesus image outrages India's Christians". (22/02/10)

Budget 2010 New Tax Relief: wife relief & spouse relief

What I like best about Singapore's Budget for 2010 is of course the relief part, specifically how wife relief shall expand to spouse relief.

Now that is a perfect example of equality of sexes. For families where the wife is the breadwinner, she will be able to claim spouse relief.

Will that encourage more Singaporeans males venture to be househusbands? Heh. Why not? Equality of sexes, after all, right? The males ought to be given a chance. Perhaps after a period of being a househusband, the male might be more motivated to return to the working life & strive not to be a househusband EVER to be a better breadwinner. Grin.

At his speech outlining Singapore's Budget for 2010, Finance Minister announced new tax reliefs for Singaporeans.

# Increase in parent relief, as well as an enhancement of the relief for taxpayers who are taking care of handicapped parents and grandparents.

# Expansion of wife relief to spouse relief. Wives who are taxpayers can claim a a spouse relief of $2,000, similar to the current scheme for husbands. This will help families where the wife is the breadwinner.

# Enhancing dependant reliefs.The income threshold for dependant-related reliefs will be increased from $2,000 to $4,000. his increase recognises taxpayers' efforts in supporting family members who are genuinely dependant, while giving them the flexibility to do some incidental work.

# Increased course fee relief. This will be increased from $3,500 to $5,500 with effect from Year of Assessment 2011.

# Support for charitable giving. The 250% tax deduction for donations to Institutions of Public Character (IPCs) and other approved institutions will be extended for an additional year.

From Asiaone, "Budget 2010: New tax reliefs".

The government has introduced a slew of tax reliefs to support families, especially the middle-income and those with elderly and handicapped dependants.

For a start, those taking care of their parents and grandparents can expect greater tax relief. Wives who are taxpayers can also claim a spouse relief of $2,000 - similar to the current scheme for husbands.

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced the measures in his 2010 Budget Statement on Monday.

The income threshold for dependant-related reliefs will also go up from $2,000 to $4,000.

Mr Tharman said this increase recognises taxpayers' efforts in supporting family members who are genuinely dependent, while giving them the flexibility to do some incidental work.

And in recognition of the extra resources needed to take care of the disabled, the income threshold for handicapped dependant-related relief will be removed.

For the elderly, there will be a one-off top-up of the CPF-Medisave Accounts of older Singaporeans aged 50 and above.

The older you are, the more you get.

For example, most Singaporeans aged 50 to 59 will get a top-up of between S$200 and S$300. Those aged 70 and above will get about twice as much, at S$400 to S$500. The majority of those aged 60 to 69 will get a top-up of $300 to $400.

The Medisave top-up will benefit about one million Singaporeans and cost the government S$310m.

An additional S$200m will also be set aside for Medifund - which supports needy Singaporeans - and another S$200m for the ElderCare Fund to meet longterm healthcare needs.

For families with children, they can look forward to further top-up of the Post Secondary Education Accounts (PSEA).

For example, children in primary school will get S$200 in their accounts while those between 13 and 20 years old will receive up to S$500.

650,000 young Singaporeans will benefit from the additional top-up, which will cost the government S$230m.

Other tax reliefs include those aimed at lifelong learning and encouraging donations to charities.

Tax relief for course fees will go up from S$3,500 to S$5,500, while the enhanced tax deductions for donations will be extended for another year.

All in, S$1.4 billion will be transferred to households this year.

Including the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme targeted at low-income workers, the total sum transferred to households is S$1.8 billion.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Singapore govt unveils slew of tax reliefs for households".

Singaporeans will continue to benefit from top-ups announced in previous budgets - such as the fourth and last tranche of GST Credits and Senior Citizens' Bonus, and U-Save, S&CC and HDB rental rebates.

Apart from this, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will provide additional special top-ups in this year's Budget to help older Singaporeans as well as families with children.

* Top-up to CPF Medisave Accounts. Older Singaporeans aged 50 and above will get a one-off top-up to their CPF Medisave Accounts, with most receiving a top-up of $200 to $300. Majority of those aged 60 to 69 will get a top-up of $300 to $400, while those aged 70 and above will receive a top-up of $400 to $500. This will cost the government $310 million.

* Top-ups to Medicare and ElderCare Fund. $200 million will be set aside in this year's Budget for Medifund which supports needy Singaporeans and another $200 million for the ElderCare Fund.

* Top-up to Post-Secondary Education Accounts. Children in primary school will receive up to $200 in their accounts, while those between 13 and 20 years old will receive up to $500. This will cost the Government $230 million.

All the measures will translate to $1.4 billion this year in direct transfers for households.

Mr Tharman gave two examples to illustrate: "The first is a low-income household, around the 20th percentile of the population, staying in a three-room HDB flat. The family comprises two working adults in their 30s, earning $1,800 and $800 a month, and an elderly parent in her 60s. The wife will receive $1,100 in WIS (including a special payment this year). Together with their GST Credits, Senior Citizens' Bonus, and Medisave top-up for the elderly parent, and their U-Save, S&CC and property tax rebates, the family can expect to receive about a total of $2,900 in benefits in 2010."

"The benefits for a middle-income family, say a five-room HDB household between the 60th and 70th percentile of incomes, will also be significant. There are two working parents, with neither eligible for WIS. However, with two children, one in secondary school and the other in polytechnic, the family will receive PSEA top-ups. In total, it will receive about $1,700 in benefits."

From Asiaone, "Budget 2010: Additional special top-ups to support households".

Cogent Holdings IPO

Cogent Holdings IPO at $0.22 per share & closing date is 23 Feb. There are total 92 million new shares & the net proceeds is planned for the expansion of the group's container depot operations and warehousing space. Quite interested. Considering...considering...

On another not-so-related note, 'cogent' is also an adjective which means:
1. convincing or believable by virtue of forcible, clear, or incisive presentation; telling.
2. to the point; relevant; pertinent.

Good omen, if one is to be superstitious. Heh.

Homegrown logistics group Cogent Holdings plans to raise net proceeds of S$9.1 million in an initial public offering in Singapore.

It plans to list on SGX's mainboard and is offering 92 million new shares at 22 cents each.

Cogent is a full-service logistics management service provider in Singapore.

The group provides trucking services for both laden and empty containers between ports and warehouses, as well as transportation for oil and gas equipment.

It also manages and leases approximately 4 million square feet of warehousing space and premises, as part of its warehousing and container depot management services business.

In 2008, Cogent expanded into the automotive logistics business, offering a comprehensive spectrum of services for the processing, transportation and storage of motor vehicles.

Cogent plans to use the main bulk of the net proceeds for the expansion of the group's container depot operations and warehousing space.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Cogent plans to raise net proceeds of S$9.1m in IPO".

Homegrown logistics group Cogent Holdings, plans to raise net proceeds of $9.1 million in an initial public offering in Singapore. The company plans to list on the Singapore Exchange Mainboard and is offering 92 million new shares at 22 cents each.

Cogent is a full-service logistics management service provider in Singapore which provides trucking services between ports and warehouses as well as transportation for oil and gas equipment.

It manages and leases approximately 4 million square feet of warehousing space and premises as part of its warehousing and container depot management services business.

In 2008, Cogent expanded into the automotive logistics business, offering a comprehensive spectrum of services for processing, transporting and storing motor vehicles.

Cogent plans to use the main bulk of the net proceeds or about $6.1 million for the expansion of the Group's container depot operations and warehousing space.

Another $2 million is for the expansion of its vehicle logistics operations and the remaining $1 million is for working capital purposes.

From Today, "Cogent Holdings plans IPO".

Chicken with Plums

Currently enjoying "Chicken with Plums". Yummy story. Hur hur.

Gamble responsibly, these people do not...

Not surprising to read about how the 8 people got into trouble since Resorts World Sentosa casino opening. To blame it on the casino is ridiculous. These people fail themselves & have only themselves to be blamed. Even if it's not here, they could have got the problem elsewhere (in other casino).

EIGHT people have landed in trouble within the first three days of the Resorts World Sentosa casino opening.

Two Mongolians were arrested on Monday at the casino entrance at Resorts World Sentosa for cheating by impersonation.

The pair, aged 45 and 18, are released on police bail and investigations are ongoing. The younger Mongolian, who is studying in a private school here, had allegedly used the passport of the 45-year-old's son to enter the casino as he is underage.

Meanwhile, five others, including Singaporeans and permanent residents, have been caught for trying to sneak into the casino without paying the $100 levy on Sunday - the first day the casino was opened to the public.

The day levy is $100 and the annual fee is $2,000.

Separately, an Indonesian gambler who claimed he lost all his money at the RWS casino, stole a mobile phone from an undergraduate at Changi Airport. Paulus Djohar, 49, unemployed, was jailed for four weeks on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

From Straits Times, "8 face casino-linked offences".

AN INDONESIAN man who lost all his money at the Resorts World Sentosa casino stole a mobile phone from an undergraduate at Changi Airport.

Paulus Djohar, 49, unemployed, was jailed for four weeks on Wednesday after pleading guilty to stealing a $500 phone from Ms Lim Tse Min at Terminal 1 on Tuesday.

A court heard that he came here from Malaysia last Tuesday with the intention of patronising the newly-opened casino at RWS. As he lost all his money gambling at the casino on Monday, the second day of its opening, he decided to steal from passengers at Changi Airport.

Early on Tuesday morning, Djohar was at the airport when he approached Ms Lim, who was with a group sending a friend off.

One of them in the group saw his suspicious movements and alerted Ms Lim, who discovered the phone gone from the side pocket of her backpack. She and the witness confronted Djohar.

Djohar, who said he regretted what he had done, could have been jailed for up to three years and/or fined.

From Straits Times, "Man stole after casino losses".

ZamZam Ismail: the cat killer thrown to jail for ONLY 10 weeks?!?!

ZamZam Ismail committed the crime on Jan 1. What a way to celebrate the New Year, eh, psycho?! Considering this animal can be punished up to 5 years in prison, his merely 10-week jail is annoyingly very light.

A question: is this the only feline-related crime this criminal has committed? Another question: has there been any cases of cats murdered in the vicinity of Block 269 Bukit Batok East Avenue 4?

Just wondering aloud...

A MAN who killed a cat by swinging it twice against the wall was jailed for 10 weeks on Wednesday.

ZamZam Ismail, 41, an odd-job labourer, admitted to committing mischief at the void deck of Block 269 Bukit Batok East Avenue 4 on Jan 1.

A woman was walking past the void deck when she saw ZamZam swing the cat against the wall twice and throw the animal away. She called the police.

ZamZam who has previous convictions for criminal intimidation and theft could have been jailed for up to five years and/or fined for the offence.

From Straits Times, "Cat killer jailed 10 weeks".

PM Lee Hsien Loong: "Productivity doesn't JUST mean you are working longer hours..."

I'd prefer reading PM's remark about productivity as quoted in the title of this post without the word 'just'. With this word sneaked in as part of the comment, it implies that well, in addition to working longer hour, productivity also means something else.

Productivity is never about working longer hour. It's about how much you can achieve within the so-called allocated office hours. Sadly, though, many still mistakenly attribute productivity to working longer hour.

People, don't you realize that the falling Total Fertility Rate (from 1.28 in 2008 to 1.23 last year, the lowest ever) is an alarm that tells us to change our mindset: complete the task on time, go home & make baby, pronto!

SINGAPORE has some way to go in the push to work smarter.

But Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is confident that with the right investment, training and organisation, the target of 2 to 3 per cent annual productivity growth over the next decade can be met. 'Productivity will be a major focus in the Budget and we have quite a number of ideas,' he said on Sunday, adding that these will be made known when the Budget is announced next Monday.

'Productivity doesn't just mean you are working longer hours. It means you are working smarter, doing the right jobs - the jobs which are in demand and where we can earn a living for ourselves in the world.'

Two weeks ago, the Economic Strategies Committee said raising workers' efficiency and effectiveness was key as the country seeks to manage its dependence on foreign workers.

Mr Lee was speaking to reporters on Sunday after visiting staff of Swissotel The Stamford and Fairmont Singapore to distribute oranges and hongbao. He and labour leaders traditionally visit workers on the first day of the Chinese New Year to thank them for keeping things running while many are celebrating the holiday.

This year, he visited a hotel as exciting developments are taking place in the hospitality sector. Efforts are being made to improve service quality, upgrade skills and promote tourism, and the PM wanted to show his support and see first-hand what was being done.

From Straits Times, "Work smart to lift output".

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Sunday the country has a considerable way to go in its productivity drive, especially when compared with other countries which have achieved significant productivity growth.

He said Singapore's productivity level is 60 to 70 per cent of what is possible.

Mr Lee's remarks follow the release of the Economic Strategies Committee Report, which placed productivity as the key growth strategy for Singapore's economy.

The Prime Minister made the assessment on the first day of the Year of the Tiger, as he visited a select group of workers who are keeping the country going during the holiday period.

Accompanied by key union leaders, Mr Lee gave away S$10 hong baos and oranges to some 150 staff at Swissotel the Stamford and Fairmont Singapore.

Mr Lee said efforts must redouble if Singapore is to achieve the target of two to three per cent productivity growth over the next 10 years.

"It's a turning point. Your numbers will grow more slowly and if you want the economy to do well, that means the productivity must go up," said Mr Lee.

"And if your productivity doesn't go up and we don't get the growth, then I think you may feel that you're relaxing a little bit more but the mood, the buoyancy, the optimism, will be quite different. So we have to work hard and take this very seriously."

To help staff increase their productivity levels, some hotels have been using a device called the Ezi-Maid.

The device is able to elevate beds to waist level, making it easier for cleaning staff to change the sheets and vacuum under the bed, cutting the time taken to clean a room.

The job scope of workers is also being re-looked.

General secretary of Food, Drinks and Allied Workers' Union, Tan Hock Soon, said: "We're working with management to upgrade the skills of the workers through expansion of knowledge, through skills upgrading, so that we can ultimately integrate jobs. So that productivity goes up, therefore better wages for our workers in the industry."

Mr Lee also touched on the need for Singaporeans to have more babies.

He said that while there is no "magic bullet" to boost the fertility rate, working mothers will need family support, and husbands can play a part.

"(Husbands can) start by changing nappies!" said Mr Lee. "When the kids grow a bit older, you're not just a father figure, but you're helping around the house and showing them a good example, so when they grow up they also know how to look (after) the house."

Singapore's resident Total Fertility Rate slid from 1.28 in 2008 to 1.23 last year, the lowest ever.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Singapore's productivity level is 60-70% of what is possible: PM Lee".

Universal Studios Singapore on Flickr

Universal Studios Singapore on Flickr uploaded on February 14, 2010 by ashleyt. Fantastic shots! Check them out...

Year of the Tiger: HK to have more luck, thanks to no.53?!

So it's the right time to invest in components stocks of Hang Seng Index? If only it's that easy...

HONG Kong's luck will improve in the Year of the Tiger according to the results of an annual Lunar New Year fortune-telling ceremony held on Monday.

In a closely watched ritual, lawmaker Lau Wong-fat shook a bundle of numbered bamboo fortune sticks until one fell to the ground, number 53, which was later interpreted by a stick-reader to be the harbinger of better times.

The draw was good news for Mr Lau whose unlucky pick of 27 in 2009 - the Year of the Ox - predicted doom and gloom for the city of seven million as it was wracked by the global financial crisis.

The ritual, carried out on the second day of Chinese New Year at a suburban temple, is seen by many as an indicator of what the coming year has in store for the financial hub.

In 2003, home affairs minister Patrick Ho picked number 83, an unlucky number according to Chinese custom.

His selection was followed by 12 months of crisis in which the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) virus killed several hundred people and ruined the economy, while unprecedented political protests left the government in turmoil.

From Straits Times, "HK to have more luck".

Pastor Rony Tan: 'Let there be no criticism of any religion.'

Leader of independent church had earlier apologised to Buddhists and Taoists and in his first public appearance since being (rightly) rebuked over his insensitive comments on others' religions, Pastor Rony Tan urged his church members: 'Let there be no criticism of any religion.'

Well said, and it should not be just to his church members. But the call ought to be for all over-zealous members of any religions who think they can do better in promoting their religions by making fun or slighting others' belief.

ISD has shown that they are prompt & tough in their action. Pastor Rony Tan should do well to walk the talk himself.

IN HIS first public appearance since being rebuked for disparaging other religions, Pastor Rony Tan promised again to promote religious harmony and urged church members to do the same.

The leader of Lighthouse Evangelism, an independent church with 12,000 members, took to the stage and spoke to a crowded floor about 30 minutes into a weekly church service in Woodlands on Saturday evening.

He was wearing a black suit and spoke slowly. Reading from a prepared speech that lasted about five minutes, Pastor Tan said that since he was told off by the Internal Security Department last Monday, the church had been 'eliminating all possible offensive recorded material' from its website.

He then appealed to members to be more sensitive while preaching the gospel to non-Christians: 'Let there be no criticism of any religion.'

Pastor Tan got into trouble with the Government last week for comments he made during a church service about Buddhism and Taoism, which many people felt were insensitive. His comments were recorded on video and posted on several websites and online forums, on which discussion over the matter is ongoing.

He has since apologised for his remarks on his website, and in a private meeting with the leaders of the Buddhist and Taoist communities here. Making perhaps an implicit reference to how some church-goers had gone online to defend him, Pastor Tan urged them not to do so. 'A wrong is a wrong and must be rectified, not justified,' he said.

From Straits Times, "Pastor Rony Tan speaks". (15/02/10)

THE Government called up a Christian church leader yesterday after receiving complaints about online video clips that show him making insensitive comments about Buddhism.

The Internal Security Department yesterday met Senior Pastor Rony Tan, founder of the Lighthouse Evangelism independent church, and told him that what he did was wrong.

Last night, he posted an apology on the church's website, promising to respect other faiths and 'not ridicule them in any way, shape or fashion'.

The video clips, which first appeared on the church's website two weeks ago, showed Pastor Tan questioning two church members as they recounted their past experiences as Buddhists.

In the exchanges, some of Pastor Tan's comments - on Buddhist precepts of rebirth, karma and nirvana - drew laughter from his audience.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said last night that his comments were 'highly inappropriate and unacceptable as they trivialised and insulted the beliefs of Buddhists and Taoists'.

From Straits Times, "Pastor called up by ISD". (09/02/10)

---

Update on 16/02/10: Pastor Tan might have confused 'remorse' with 'apologizing profusely more than once'. After twice apologizing for the insensitive remarks, he again expressed remorse to his church members. Move on, Pastor Tan. Walk your talk, why don't you? Action speaks louder than words, doesn't it always?!

AFTER apologising twice for remarks that upset Buddhists and Taoists and landed him into trouble with the Internal Security Department, Senior Pastor Rony Tan expressed remorse once more - this time, to his church members.

Making his first public appearance since news of his brush with the authorities broke on Feb 9, he revealed that the episode left him feeling so 'unbearably terrible' that he had contemplated leaving Singapore.

The founder and senior pastor of Lighthouse Evangelism, an independent Christian megachurch with 12,000 members, said he regretted about what had happened and added: 'I've let many people down.'

He said the church was going through its online archives to remove 'all possible offensive recorded material' that might offend non-Christians, and he urged members not to circulate recordings of past sermons which might prove objectionable too.

He also appealed to church members not to defend or justify his actions to others, saying: 'A wrong is a wrong and must be rectified, not justified.'

Pastor Tan, who has not responded to several requests to be interviewed, read from a prepared text when he addressed the weekly church service in Woodlands on Saturday.

From Straits Times, "'I've let many people down'".

Singapore River Hongbao 2010: Photos Galore

Finally visited Singapore River Hongbao 2010 located at The Float @Marina Bay on the highly commercialized Valentine's Day which also happens to be the 1st day of the Lunar New Year. The light fantastic event is held from 12th Feb 2010 to 20th Feb 2010.

Managed to snap quite a lot of photos. Here are some 14 of them (shared more than what I did for Singapore River Hongbao 2007 which only featured 8 photos):

1. On the way to the Singapore River Hongbao 2010 venue. Like how the monks add the heavenly colors to the modern setting & buzzing construction in the background.

2. The Singapore River Hongbao 2010 also has some of the usual FUN games like "bumper car"...

3. ... and "sky rider"...

4. ... and "vortex".

5. Here's the gate to enter the venue of Singapore River Hongbao 2010. Have I not told you I arrived early?

6. This tiger statue is located near the gate. No, the gate is not named the Dragon Tiger Gate. The Bangladeshi foreign talents posing near the statue does well to enrich the multi-racial harmonious culture of Singapore.

7. There are a few statues of dragon. Here is a dragon fully made of sweets. It tastes like a sweet, but sweeter...Never mind.

8. Oh, and a dragon made of porcelains! The light in its mouth is actually that from the spot lights.

9. And of course, there is a dragon made of a lantern. Colorful!

10. There is a stadium as well for a performance. Didn't stay for it, but the queue looks, well, impressively long & it does look organized with the staff hovering around.

11. Oh, by the way how can I forget to feature the God of Wealth?

12. And the beautiful Peacock Princess? Not to be mistaken with Ka'iulani, though.

13. It's a wonderful event. And safe. Evident with the strong presence of the auxiliary police officers. Irregardless of their sex.

14. Getting dark & lightful and I made a wrong decision to head back home for my overdue sleeping. Heh.

You like the photos? You should give it a try. I lost a few photo-worthy moments like how a group of Indian asking a Caucasian guy a permission to take a photo with his sweet little girl who's donning a sweet red cheongsam. It will be a nice picture if I can take their photo being taken together. Oh well...some other chance, maybe.

And in the news:

The annual River Hongbao celebrations for the Lunar New Year were launched on Friday evening.

Performers from Chengdu and Taiwan added an international feel to it. Visitors enjoyed an award-winning arts show from Taiwan performers as well.

Singapore groups and schools also put up performances.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean graced the opening at the Marina Bay Floating Platform.

The festival will close on February 20, which is the seventh day of the Lunar New Year.

From Channel NewsAsia, "River Hongbao celebrations open with performances from Chengdu & Taiwan".

It's not just Resorts World at Sentosa that's drawing the crowds in Singapore over the past few days.

The River Hongbao Festival has seen more than 540,000 visitors within four days of its opening on 12 February.

According to the organisers, the number has surpassed the initial target of 300,000.

Apart from the Chengdu performances, visitors to River Hongbao on Wednesday night will be able to attend a special concert featuring popular Chinese pop songs from 1960s to the year 2000.

Visitors will get to be part of the performance when they sing along with a live band.

Famous Taiwanese singer Luo Shi Feng and popular local singer Joi Chua will be special performers for the night and they will perform their most popular songs at the concert.

Through the concert, the organiser hopes to create a memorable evening for the visitors as they celebrate the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

River Hongbao is being held at The Float@Marina Bay (previously known as Marina Bay Floating Platform).

From Channel NewsAsia, "River Hongbao attracts 540,000 visitors within four days".

The Umbrella Academy: Dallas

After immensely enjoying "The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite", I'm so glad I manage to get hold of "The Umbrella Academy: Dallas". You'll love to see how one of the protagonists, "Number 5" (or The Boy) is mostly featured and 2 of the futuristic (and psychotic) agents, Hazel & Cha-Cha are introduced. Heh.

No. 5 aka The Boy
Bad guys: Hazel & Cha-Cha

Google vs Goojje

Goojje.com

Google accused Goojje (above) of infringing on its trademark rights, saying the logo of the Chinese website could make users believe it was authorised by or linked to the US company.

When you google the word 'goojje', though, you'll come across the first site (with Chinese characters) & it shall bring you to http://dierqi.com/. I'd have expected the website address is simply http://goojje.com.

Anyway, what I'm curious about is how Google is able to enforce their threat against the artful copycat Goojje. See, I doubt Chinese government will bother to entertain Google's demand. Remember about 4 weeks ago, Google made the dramatic announcement that it will no longer censor its search results in China, even if that means exiting that huge Internet market. The decision, Google said, was prompted by its discovery that a China-originated attack let malicious hackers steal Google intellectual property and partially break into the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. (More in ComputerWorld, "After China pull-out bluster, will Google backtrack?")

Google can bark, but it can't bite...at least not in China.

GOOGLE has warned a copycat Chinese website to stop using a logo that resembles the US Internet giant's or face possible legal action, state media reported on Monday.

The warning issued to the 'Goojje' website comes as Google is contemplating its future in China after saying it would no longer obey government censorship rules and could pull out entirely over alleged cyberattacks.

Google accused Goojje of infringing on its trademark rights, saying the logo of the Chinese website could make users believe it was authorised by or linked to the US company, the Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

In a letter sent to Goojje by Google's lawyers, the US Internet firm demanded the Chinese site stop using the logo by Monday, the report said.

Reports have said Goojje was launched last month by a 20-strong team led by a college student identified only by the surname Wen, after Google issued its threat to pull out from China. The operators of Goojje have posted vague statements on the website construed by some media as offering support for Google.

Goojje's homepage imitates Google's design and its Chinese name ends with a character that means 'big sister'. Google's Chinese name, meanwhile, ends with a character that is a homonym for 'big brother'.

From Straits Times, "Google warns Goojje". (08/02/10)

If imitation is the best form of flattery, Google has been paid the ultimate compliment by a group of 20 fans paying homage with copycat search engine goojje.com, a site currently racking up a million clicks a day.

Upon hearing the news that google.cn would possibly pull out from the Chinese market on January 12, the group, comprised of both students and professionals from a QQ discussion forum, decided on creating the online tribute.

"We didn't want google. cn to leave us, so we built this website in commemoration. If google-fans feel lonely when google.cn leaves, they can visit our site and feel not so lonely," he said. Xiaoxuan, a member of the goojje.com operation and handling press relations, told the Global Times.

Organized by a 20-year-old university sophomore surnamed Wen, googjje.com officially registered its domain name and was up on January 14.

However, the site refused to provide any more information about its founder, explaining that at present she is reluctant to comment.

Designed in similar white background and simple format, the "jj" added to the col-ored logo stands for "jiejie" or "sister," a pun on the Chinese translation of google, "gu ge," the "ge" sounding like the word "brother."

Also different from "brother google," the logo also sports the blue paw print logo of baidu. com, the second database from which goojje.com draws its search results. The site hopes "to combine the strong points of both engines into their searches"

Although the page has several features such as news and polls, it also features a forum focused on creating an online community of google fans, according to Xiaoxuan.

"We chat, make friends and introduce goojje to more and more people. I think it is a good thing."

And so does its growing community. Goojje is quickly expanding, now with more than 150 people on staff, 80 of them university students hailing from such top-tier schools as Peking University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

An additional 2,000 applicants are also looking to sign up from all over the country, as well as some studying abroad in the US and Germany.

When asked to comment on the site, Google spokesman Lynn Lin issued a one sentence statement reading "The site is not affiliated with Google."

But Google doesn't seem to have any reason to worry. These fans are just showing their love for their digital "brother."

"Making a profit is not the aim in opening the website," Xiaoxuan said. "We just want to have fun, and make every visitor feel at home," he said.

From Global Times, "Student starts Google copycat search engine". (02/02/10)

Cache Logistics Trust IPO

I'm puzzled at the timing of this Cache Logistics Trusts or CLT to be listed in Singapore stock markets. Then again, there is no exact dates mentioned in any of the news reports so far. Perhaps this could be a hype being (attempted to be) built on.

Mainboard-listed ARA Asset Management and CWT said their joint venture REIT has obtained a letter of eligibility to list its units on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).

The joint venture REIT, called Cache Logistics Trust or CLT, will invest principally in logistics properties in the Asia Pacific region.

It will be managed by ARA-CWT Trust Management, which is 60 per cent owned by ARA and 40 per cent by CWT.

CLT will have an initial portfolio of six high quality logistics properties located in Singapore valued at about S$730 million.

It will also have a right of first refusal to acquire logistics properties in the Asia-Pacific region owned by CWT and its substantial shareholder, C&P Holdings.

From Channel NewsAsia, "ARA-CWT joint venture REIT gets go-ahead to list units on SGX". (08/02/10)

Cache Logistics Trust, a REIT investing principally in logistics properties in the Asia Pacific region, has obtained a letter of eligibility to list on the SGX. CLT will have an initial portfolio of six properties located in Singapore and valued at S$730m (US$513m). The REIT will be managed by ARA-CWT Trust Management, a joint venture owned 60% by ARA and 40% by CWT. The two are currently speaking to banks ahead of appointing underwriters.

From ifrasia, "Cache Logistics Trust Talking To Banks Ahead Of SGX Listing". (08/02/10)

CWT, the global supply chain logistics solutions provider, says it is planning a sale and leaseback agreement of CWT Commodity Hub and CWT Cold Hub in connection with the listing of Cahe Logistics Trust (CLT).

Both logistics facilities, with a total value of $443 million, are part of CWT’s primary assets and close to PSA Terminals, major ports and central business district.

CWT says $65 million will be settled in the form of CLT units and the balance in cash. Given the current net book value of the properties, the disposal is expected to result in a one-off gain of $157.7 million.

The sales proceeds will be used to expand CWT’s logistics business and for early settlement of outstanding borrowings.

The setting up of CLT will be the first of its kind in Asia to capitalise on the positive outlook of the global logistics sector and the synergistic business models of CLT and CWT.

“CLT is also expected to leverage on the rights of first refusal granted by CWT and the strengths of CWT to pursue yield accretive acquisitions to achieve long term, regular and predictable distributable income for unitholders,” says CWT in an SGX statement.

The proposed trust holds an investment mandate that targets logistics properties in the Asia Pacific region, with an initial portfolio of six high quality logistics properties in Singapore, including CWT Commodity Hub and CWT Cold Hub.

“The creation of CLT to invest in yield-accretive logistics properties in Asia is a historic milestone and enables CWT to own a capital-efficient asset-owning vehicle to complement our core logistics business operations as well as enhance the Group’s ability to expand its business regionally and globally,” said Loi Pok Yen, Group CEO of CWT. “In addition, the sale and leaseback will enable the Group to participate in CLT through its holdings of CLT units and derive a stable income stream from CLT's distributions.”

From The Edge, "CWT plans sale and leaseback of 2 properties to prepare for Cache Logistics Trust listing". (01/02/10)

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Update on 01/04/10: Cache Logistics Trust expects to raise S$417.2m from its IPO. It's priced at $0;88 & the trading date is to be on 12/04/10.

Cache Logistics Trust expects to raise some S$417 million from its initial public offering.

The IPO, launched on Thursday, is the first logistics real estate investment trust to be listed in more than two years.

CLT is a joint real estate investment unit of CWT and ARA Asset Management.

It's offering more than 470 million units at 88 cents each.

The IPO is priced at the higher end of the 84 cents to 88 cents indicative range but Mr John Lim, chief executive officer of ARA Asset Management said that he remains confident that it will still attract "overwhelming demand."

There are currently six properties in CLT's portfolio.

They are located near Changi Airport, PSA Corp's terminals and Jurong Port.

With a total gross floor area of 3.9 million square feet, the properties include ramp-up warehouses - a multi-storey feature that CLT's chief executive officer Daniel Cerf believes will maximise plot ratio and boost its resilience as a logistics REIT.

Earlier this year, CWT sold two properties in Singapore to CLT for S$445 million, with the REIT funding the purchase through a combination of shares and cash.

CLT plans to use its IPO proceeds to fund new properties and working income.

The units are expected to start trading on the Singapore Exchange mainboard on April 12.

Macquarie Capital, Standard Chartered and DBS Bank are underwriters and joint global co-ordinators of the IPO.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Cache Logistics Trust expects to raise S$417.2m from its IPO".

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Update on 12/04: one of the top 20 Volume stocks & closed (quite) impressively at 95.5 cents. Compare that with its IPO price of 88 cents.

OCBC sued

The confusing case of the year...and it's barely begun!

A WOMAN, whose 93-year-old adoptive mother has sued OCBC Bank for freezing her bank accounts, yesterday conceded that the bank was justified in being suspicious when the two women went to open a joint account nearly two years ago.

The bank refused their application, doubting the elderly woman's mental competence to manage her financial affairs.

But Ms Amy Hsu Ann Mei, 44, said that the bank in its prudence should have found out more about their mother-daughter relationship.

'If they are suspicious of me, they should find out who I am... the number of years I spent with my mum, how long my mum and I lived together, the number of years she raised me,' said Ms Hsu, under cross-examination by the bank's lawyer.

Adopted by Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu at a young age, Ms Hsu is the only child of the retired teacher.

As Madam Hwang's health deteriorated last year, Ms Hsu was ordered by the court to be her mother's legal representative to continue the suit against OCBC for freezing her accounts containing $8.9 million.

From Straits Times, "OCBC 'did its duty'". (27/01/10)

Also from the same article above, more ABOUT THE CASE:

Yesterday was Day 2 of the hearing into the lawsuit that Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu, 93, has brought against OCBC Bank for freezing her accounts containing $8.9 million.

The legal dispute arose after Madam Hwang and her daughter Amy Hsu went to the bank to open a joint account but were turned down.

OCBC's stand is that it was acting as prudent bankers and safeguarding Madam Hwang's interests as it had concerns about her mental capacity to handle her accounts.

Madam Hwang, alleging that OCBC has breached its contract by refusing to comply with her instructions, is seeking unspecified damages.

She contends that by locking up her funds, OCBC has deprived her of opportunities to invest in property.

Since filing the suit, she has applied to court for various sums to be paid out as expenses. The balance has been moved to a court account pending the outcome of the case.

As Madam Hwang's health deteriorated last year, Ms Hsu was ordered by the court to continue the suit on her behalf.

Ms Hsu continues on the stand today.

From Straits Times, "OCBC 'did its duty'". (27/01/10)

THE judge hearing the suit brought by a 93-year-old woman against OCBC on Thursday expressed scepticism over why the elderly woman needed monthly expenses of $18,000, including payments for her adopted daughter and her husband.

It was Ms Amy Hsu Ann Mei's third day on the stand in the suit that Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu has brought against OCBC for freezing her accounts containing $8.9 million.

OCBC's lawyer, Mr Adrian Wong, was trying to establish that Ms Hsu was unduly influencing her mother. Between March and August 2008, Madam Hwang changed her will three times.

One will was made in May, when the person authorised to act on her behalf was changed from her nephew, senior lawyer Michael Hwang, to Ms Hsu.

Mr Wong brought up the fact that before the trial, Madam Hwang had applied for $18,000 to be paid out a month for living expenses.

This included $3,600 for Ms Hsu as her caregiver, $2,000 for a 'driver', who was Ms Hsu's husband, and Ms Hsu's phone bills and club memberships.

From Straits Times, "$18,000 expenses questioned". (28/01/10)

Long before the lawsuit between Madam Nellie Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu and OCBC Bank reached the courtroom, bank representatives initiated a sit-down to "address" her concerns and to "move forward", OCBC's lawyer Adrian Wong disclosed on Friday.

In return, it received "a slap in the face", two months after it froze the elderly woman's accounts in May 2008.

"We were accused of raising new issues and evasive tactics," charged Mr Wong to Mdm Hwang's only child, Madam Amy Hsu Ann Mei, 44, as she took the witness stand for the fourth straight day.

Mdm Hsu conceded that the bank's overtures were amicable but, at that time, she did not want her mother to be subjected to a grilling by bankers.

Mr Wong shot back: "The dispute was sufficiently serious, and lawyers from both sides would be attending ... so why didn't you agree to come?"

In response, Mdm Hsu - who maintained that she was only acting on her mother's wishes and had remained "passive" throughout the episode - said the intention might have been "miscommunicated".

On day five of the hearing, which involves Mdm Hwang's $8.9-million fortune, Mr Wong said the bank was told that Mdm Hsu had the power of attorney only after mother and daughter tried to close their accounts.

So, why did she not inform the bank of her authority, asked the lawyer? Mdm Hsu only replied: "I didn't know (I had to)."

The bank, the lawyer maintained, was trying to be prudent because of the suspicion that Mdm Hwang was being influenced.

OCBC then received a letter on June 10 from Mdm Hwang, "stating that the matter would be referred to a higher authority", said Mr Wong. The letter was not baseless, replied Mdm Hsu, since her mother "was entitled to express her view towards a service provider".

To which Mr Wong remarked: "Let me just say that if your mother was in control, I'm surprised she didn't carry out (the legal action against OCBC)."

Instead, all the correspondence initiating the legal action - although in Mdm Hwang's name - was signed by the daughter.

The problems between Mdm Hwang and the bank began when the pair tried to open a joint bank account, but were rejected. Bank officers became suspicious when Mdm Hsu gave the instructions, not Mdm Hwang.

During the court proceedings, OCBC lawyers have continually stated that Mdm Hwang, who has mild dementia, did not have the mental capacity to make any decisions on her finances.

Although Mdm Hsu maintained that she is "filial", it was also revealed in court on Thursday that Mdm Hwang's savings was used to pay for Mdm Hsu's mobile phone charges, Tanglin Club membership, National University of Singapore Society membership as well as salary for her and her husband.

The hearing continues on Monday.

From Channel NewsAsia, "OCBC wanted to meet: Lawyer". (30/01/10)

As the trial went into its eighth day, details emerged on Wednesday of the 94-year-old woman who is suing OCBC for not letting her close her bank account.

A former teacher, Mdm Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu, was born in Mei Xian county, Guandong province, China. Her father was one of the founders of the Bank of China (BOC), and she had three siblings.

The family moved to Hong Kong when Mdm Hwang was six years old. After obtaining her university education, she went to Australia to teach Chinese in an English school.

She met her husband, who also worked in BOC, through mutual friends. When he was posted to Singapore, Mdm Hwang accompanied him and became a Chinese teacher at Chung Cheng High School.

In the 1960s, she adopted Ms Amy Hsu Ann Mei and retired from work to look after her when the girl turned four.

These details were narrated by Mdm Hwang to senior consultant psychiatrist Francis Ngui on Jan 15, 2009 when she was ordered by the court to take a psychiatric assessment.

Taking the stand on Wednesday, Dr Ngui told the court that Mdm Hwang, who has been suffering from dementia since 2000, was an "emotionally feisty elderly lady with a witty personality".

She told Dr Ngui that she was very annoyed that OCBC had locked up her money unreasonably. Mdm Hwang said she wanted to use the money to travel and buy property. She also wanted Ms Hsu to look after her money if her memory worsened.

She spoke clearly and had a knack for deflecting questions when she could not come up with the answers, said Dr Ngui.

For instance, when she was unable to name the Prime Minister and the President, Mdm Hwang said: "I can recognise his face. His name is 'President', that's good enough."

When Dr Ngui visited Mdm Hwang's house last August for a second assessment, the elderly woman was frail and her short-term memory was "significantly impaired".

Based on his interview with Mdm Hwang in January 2009, Dr Ngui told the court that she "had an independent mind of her own" and was "adamant" about closing her OCBC account.

He added that "the presence of dementia is not synonymous with being mentally incompetent to make financial decisions" and it must be severe enough to affect her judgement for her to be deemed incompetent.

Mdm Hwang wanted to close her OCBC account in May 2008 after the bank refused to let her open a joint account with Ms Hsu. The bank refused both requests because it was doubtful of Mdm Hwang's mental capacity to give instructions.

The trial continues.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Psychiatrist report on woman suing OCBC: 'Emotionally feisty elderly lady'". (04/02/10)

In her complaint letter about court-appointed psychiatrist Francis Ngui, she described herself as an "outspoken" person who is helping her ill mother to carry on the lawsuit against OCBC over its refusal to close the older woman's account.

But seemingly worn down by the trial - now into its ninth day - Ms Amy Hsu Ann Mei broke down outside the courtroom on Thursday.

Dr Ngui, a senior consultant psychiatrist appointed to determine Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu's mental capacity, had said that Ms Hsu hindered his work by being uncooperative.

Halfway through the hearing, Ms Hsu, 44, left the courtroom and cried uncontrollably for almost five minutes. Her husband and a woman tried to comfort her.

Questioned by OCBC's lawyer Adrian Wong, Dr Ngui related on Thursday that Ms Hsu had called him a day after his interview with Mdm Hwang on 15 January 2009, to complain about his having asked her mother how she wanted to manage her finances.

She also wanted to postpone a second interview to be conducted on video in Mdm Hwang's house in February.

When Dr Ngui wrote to Ms Hsu's lawyer to inform that he was unable to complete the interviews, Ms Hsu then sent Dr Ngui a complaint letter.

In it, she said she was only trying to speak up on her mother's behalf to ensure that the interview would be conducted properly. Her mother would never be comfortable with a stranger in her house and is upset with having to record the interview, wrote Ms Hsu.

But Dr Ngui told the court that Mdm Hwang had kept quiet when Ms Hsu agreed to his suggestion then of the video interview.

Asked by Mr Wong what he thought about Ms Hsu's character - based on her letter - Dr Ngui said: "It sounds like she is a very meticulous person, very careful and she covers every base".

He also said that Ms Hsu is "reactive emotionally" and gets upset about events, "especially those concerning her mother" and that "she is close to her mother and she feels for her mother's plight during this difficult time with the banks".

From Channel NewsAsia, "Daughter of woman suing OCBC sends complaint letter to psychiatrist". (05/02/10)

of racist jokes & online pseudonyms

To state the obvious, there's no such thing as being completely anonymous. No, not even me using the nick 'anonymous_x', I've got to admit. There are always ways to trace the online persona to his/her real-life identity.

Why bother, though? You may ask.

Just for the thrill of hunting & identifying, I guess. There are some of us who are truly having a lot of spare time to kill.

The latest case has 3 teenagers being investigated over "racially insensitive remarks" on Facebook. I wish them a very good luck. The investigation will be thorough & mentally taxing & these not-so-young youngsters might be swearing off the Internet on the end of their ordeal (whether proven guilty or not is another issue).

LIKE it or not, no number of online pseudonyms nor privacy controls can grant you true anonymity in the vast public space that is the Internet. And you can bet that what you say online can and will be used against you if the situation calls for it.

The Sunday arrest of three teenagers, aged 17 to 18, over racially insensitive remarks on Facebook demonstrates just that very fact.

The arrest came on the back of a report lodged by a netizen last Saturday. While investigations are underway, this we know for sure: The concept of online privacy is dubious, and that everyone is ethically responsible for what they do and say.

Netizens can create social- networking groups on an invitation-only basis, restrict access to their blogs, or join a forum under a nickname. But that doesn't mean messages posted can't be traced, as the police have shown.

There's nothing stopping someone who has access to an online message from easily capturing a screen grab of a webpage or taking a digital photograph of it, and then forwarding it to other people.

And we aren't even talking about what hackers can do yet, nor the prospect of Internet service providers giving details of a person's online activity to the authorities.

This latest case also brings to light the callous attitude many young Singaporeans have when expressing themselves online.

Apparently, the three youths had posted what were racial jokes, but which quickly unravelled to become racist.

Such is the quick-fire danger of Internet postings, yet concepts of action and consequence in cyberspace appear to still elude many.

Back in 2005, three young men were charged under the Sedition Act for making inflammatory remarks about Muslims and Malays online. Two got jail sentences, and one was put on probation.

Yet, in 2006, another young man nearly got himself into trouble under the same Act for putting up offensive cartoons of Jesus Christ on his blog. He received a police warning.

Now, we have three more youths who are none the wiser.

Lawyer Bryan Tan, a director at Keystone Law Corporation, said the ease with which people can instantly publish their views on the Internet, as compared to doing so through traditional media, can contribute to the undertone of racism and allow defamatory views to surface.

As a result, worrisome defamatory cases linked to social networking sites have started to appear.

So, kudos to the authorities for not taking these cases lightly. In the long term, more can be done to help the young understand the importance of Internet ethics.

Schools are already teaching students how to use the Internet responsibly.

And, while I applaud netizens who help to moderate online platforms and remain voices of reason, the ultimate solution lies in family upbringing.

Through my interaction with social workers, it's evident that parents play a vital role in inculcating their children with the right values, starting from a very young age.

So parents, familiarise yourself with your kids' Internet activity ? before it's too late.

From Asiaone, "Nothing online is ever private".

WHEN full-time national serviceman Prhabagaran joined a Facebook discussion on the things parents do to frighten their children into behaving, he expected to be amused.

Instead, he was offended to find remarks being made about Indians. He felt some of the comments were racist, and made a police report on Jan 31.

On Wednesday, police said three Chinese youths aged between 17 and 18 had been arrested for sedition and were out on bail while investigations continued.

They are believed to have been involved in the postings on the Facebook discussion site, which drew more than 2,000 members in two weeks.

An avid Facebook user, Mr Prhabagaran told The Straits Times that he found a Jan 29 post by someone calling himself Desmond Tan especially offensive for the things said about Indians. Mr Prhabagaran, who uses the moniker 'Prab Nathan' online, said: 'It started to hit me that what could have started as a joke had become mindless, point-blank racism.'

He and other members - including those with Chinese names - ticked off 'Desmond Tan' and others who had put up offensive posts, but to no avail.

From Straits Times, "Online joke turns nasty".

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Update on 13/02: latest news has the police not going to charge the three teens arrested for racist facebook postings. Because they are immature 18-19 years old. Hmm....let's see if they have learnt their lessons when they're older. Can't be immature forever, can they?

POLICE have taken action against three teens arrested last week in connection with racist remarks that were posted on the social networking site Facebook.

They will not be charged, however.

The sternest punishment was given to the teen who started the Facebook group, which used a derogatory term referring to Indians as its name.

The youth, whose identity is unknown, will be placed on the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports' (MCYS) Guidance Programme.

The two others, Singapore Polytechnic students Sam Soo Siu Weng, 17 and Goh Jun Yi, 18 - who were the administrators of the Facebook group - have been cautioned.

In a statement on Friday night, police said the trio were not charged as they had acted out of immaturity, rather than malice.

From Straits Times, "3 youths won't be charged".

Police said the youth who started the Facebook group that stirred feelings of unhappiness and resentment against other races would be placed on a Guidance Programme.

And the two youths who acted as administrators of the site have been cautioned and will not have any record of criminal conviction.

Similarly, the other youth will not have any record of criminal conviction should he satisfactorily complete the Guidance Programme. But he may be warned after satisfactorily completing the programme.

The police said these actions were taken in consideration that the youths acted out of immaturity rather than malice and in consultation with the Attorney's General Chambers.

The boys have since apologised for their actions and the offensive online page and forum removed.

The police would like to remind the public that it takes a serious view of acts that can threaten the social harmony in Singapore. This includes those who do so hiding behind a shroud of anonymity afforded by the Internet.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Youths involved in Facebook racism incident to be given 2nd chance".