This is exactly what I saw when I headed out last night for the List Festival Party (note to self: there’s a reason why you don’t go out on school nights*). A whole row of men in metal or plastic cuffs, being watched by police and police dogs. I had no idea what it was about, but turns out it could be over football.
* I am so tired I’m convinced I’m still asleep and this is all part of a dream.
Fffffff-uuuuuuuuuuuu-ccccc-kkkkkkkkkk-iiiiiiiii-nnn-gggggggg hell…
I can only cling to an unrealistic hope that Alan Shadrake won’t be used as an example of what happens when foreigners ‘interfere’ in internal affairs. He may be defiant and continues to speak out, but unless he has some serious health issues, I expect the judiciary to show him no leniency.
Everyone knows that living comfortably in Singapore comes at a price. I’m glad that there are activists beyond the now-tragic figure of Chee Soon Juan willing to take some hits to highlight this. Not that I think it will make a whit of difference to foreign investors. We live under too benign a regime to cause any real political embarrassment.
(Previously.)
It’s probably a mistake to transfer my love of Band of Brothers to The Pacific, because they’re not the same thing.
I haven’t had a chance to see this yet, since it was on Sky Movies and I refuse to buy a cable subscription because it usually means loads more channels of crap. But I’m sure this makes HBO happier since I’ll buy the DVD instead.
It must be true that the intelligence / comprehension level of the great unwashed averages out at around primary three. Of course a government made up of people with different opinions will have strains and stresses*. I didn’t realise this needed explanation.
Politicians (i.e. the Labour MP quoted in this piece) make me so annoyed with their very obvious pandering to the lowest common denominator.
I have a real problem with this expectation (perceived wisdom?) that the government should supply council housing and also take care of everyone. It’s one thing to provide a safety net in emergencies, that I support, but why should a government be the doting parent? It seems as though the majority of Brits have no idea how spoiled they are.
* A less immature take in The Economist.
Thanks to @joethepublicist who sent me a copy of Zeitoun. I was burning with rage when I finished reading the experiences of the Zeitoun family, and how the authorities were actually completely ineffective when it came to getting things back in order.
How can the land of the free, home of the brave treat people — criminal opportunists or upstanding, helpful citizens — this way? No one should be treated this way. It doesn’t make criminals repent, it only makes them more determined to not get caught next time.
There’s not much more to say about this book, other than it is well worth reading.
Banks and lending. Ahem. (Tenuously related.) Have you seen those RBS and NatWest Customer Charter ads? As Neil says (and I paraphrase liberally), we own those mofos — not only is the customer always right, so is the boss, because we’re both.
Every True Singaporean™ should be interested in this post about crowdsourcing healthy, tasty meals. I would totally ask my neighbours, except 1) our next door neighbour seems to spend all day smoking pot; 2) his next door neighbour’s flat was raided by the police and hasn’t been seen since; and 3) his next door neighbour seems to be on a liquid diet.