endorsement

what's up for all the endorsements for tony tan these days?

seriously, does that guy even need people/unions to publicly declare their ass-licking for him to "win" the elections?

and what does it even mean for the unions that have endorsed him: does that mean that their members now have to lan-lan vote for him (which is why the ST keeps on citing the number of workers in every union), or they are still able to vote independently? i wonder if they did even hold a meeting within their respective unions to decide on who to endorse, or did the committees just decide on their behalf?

sigh, such is the pragmatism of singaporean politics: you scratch my back and i'll scratch yours later when i gain power.

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so much for a president who is above politics.
so much for a president who must be a unifying figure.
so much for a president who must accept and can only act on the advice of the cabinet.

you want a candidate with all of the above qualities? forget the tans; let me tell you who i feel has all of the above and more: our very own merlion!
above politics? check. one can say that it is apathetic even.
unifying figure? check. who doesn't know what the merlion is?
accept and only act on the advice of the cabinet? check. i mean, vomiting water is its only ability.

and the merlion will definitely cost less than any of the tans. sure, some money must still be put aside for periodic maintenance and polishing of all the fish scales, but i'm sure the total amount will still be peanuts as compared to what nathan is drawing now, and what the tans will draw in office in the future.

indeed, as the chairman of 110 bukit purmei road unit number 05-156 (total members: 3), i endorse the merlion for president as i believe that it will be able to listen to the voice of the people and think singaporeans first, thus being the heart of the nation to inspire confidence for the future. =)

hurry curry

同志们, welcome to curry weekend!

off the hook

oh, just when i was just wondering about this the other day, the verdict actually came out today: no further actions against tin.

pap 1 : transparency 0

now, let's see what will transpire from the ministerial salary review. funny how the public transport fee hike can be decided in a matter of 2 weeks, but the salary review has taken 2 months and counting with no answer in sight.

the unbearable lightness of coe

price of cat A certificate of entitlement: $48,801 (3 Aug 11)
deposit required to file nomination papers at presidential elections: $48,000

wow i'm not even sure which is worse: that it is cheaper to run for the elected presidency than to buy the right to buy a 1.6l car, or the fact that in singapore, anything and everything is for sale, if the price is right.

but wait. in rare occasions, its not only about the money. in singapore, before you can run for president you must even prove to the presidential elections council that you are worthy of doing so, by meeting some really stringent criteria. if you really do meet those requirements, the council will then issue you a certificate of eligibility, thus rendering you "eligible" for the presidential race.

i think in the future, they might do it king arthur style, where only the person who can carry the most babies / smile and wave simultaneously for the longest / make the most insipid of speeches is deserving to be our president.

if i were on the council, i would only award the certificate of eligibility to the great man who invented the certificate of entitlement. who better to lead singapore, than the one who displayed such great foresight to turn a simple vehicle ownership limiting system into a great revenue generator for the government over the years? when the government exhorts us to be more innovative and productive, i always have this person in mind: 100% returns for almost zero outlay, twice a month 24 times a year; even mbs and rws cannot lay claim to such ridiculous profit margins!

cos vs coe. uniquely singapore.

pricetag

fine for illegal modification of exhaust and rear light: $250
fine for beating red light: $200 + 12 demerit points
repair cost for taxi uncle: $700
repair cost for own car: $350 (panel beating) + $540 (headlight)
60k servicing: $907.20

total cost: priceless experience with VICOM/LTA and a better understanding of singapore's motor repair industry. would i want to experience it again? HELL NO.

i kissed a car

sometimes while driving i hear this chinese advert which goes: 当你的车kiss到我的车, 我不会跟你说 "i love you", 可是我会问你 “你是怎么驾车的@＃¥％⋯!!!”

after about 6 years of incident-free driving, i finally kissed someone today. and of all people, i had to kiss a cabbie.

was on my way for the DCM meeting at kranji when i rear-ended the aforementioned taxi at the junction of ite west and teck whye estate. i was executing a right turn when the bugger jam braked at the lights due to some pedestrians crossing the road, and the rest is history.

toyota crown 1 : vw golf gti 0

fortunately the taxi driver was quite nice and suggested that we settle the incident privately. we agreed upon a sum, went to the atm, i passed him the money, we both signed the settlement form, and it was over. however, the same cannot be said for the gti, who as i type, is sitting lonely in a workshop in toh tuck, waiting to have its headlights replaced, panels beaten, and front bumper spray painted and polished.

i still remember the time that i crashed my friend's dad's car just 3 days after obtaining my license. it was much worse then: 3-car pileup along the AYE near normanton. i didn't even have my license card at that time; just a pass slip, which shocked the other 2 drivers. =P this time, when me and the aforementioned cabby exchanged particulars, i was strangely amused to find out that his car plate number was SHB9520B. why? because i am SFQ9519B! what a coincidence.

so anyway, it seems like this is the latest in a series of unfortunate (traffic) events for me, after my exhaust and red light incidents. for the sake of my sanity and my wallet, i certainly hope that this is the last!!! =(