Daily SG: 12 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 Debate - Gerald Giam: Sylvia Lim: Increase size of cohort entering local universities Countdown to Elections - The Temasek Review: PAP to amend constitution to increase the number of NCMPs in Parliament Housing Singaporeans - TOC: HDB: Homelessness due to policies? BTS better than BTO? 31,000 flats unsold, but nobody knows? - Trapper’s Swamp: Homelessness is a policy issue Singaporeans are fed, up with progress! - TOC: Why not apply ‘town council logic’ to worker wages? Twilight in Paradise. To Live and Die in SG - Singaporean Skeptic: PAP hides the failure of their retirement policies by passing the buck to you. Strangers in a Strange Land - Military Life: The Tale of the (Local) Talent [Thanks Panzer] - Petition Online: Employ Singaporeans First! [Thanks Gilbert] Sin City - Singapore Dino: Al Jazeera holds debate on Singapore’s Casinos - Global Issues: Singapore: As Casino Opens, Watch for Its Social Impact Begins - Al Jazeera English: Singapore’s big bet [Times GMT: 12 Mar-0300hrs(+8); 13 Mar-0530,1730; 14 Mar-1130; 15 Mar-1630; 16 Mar-1430; 17 Mar-0830; 18 Mar-0630] [Thanks Gerald] Woman No Enough - Singapore Life and Times: Grievous Hurt - Carpe Diem: Enough with the affairs Lee vs Chee - Sgpolitics.net: Sgpolitics.net salutes Tak Boleh Tahan protesters Daily Discourse - The Enquirer: Be careful what you wish for [Thanks Seelan] - Zach’s Thought Blot: How Small Countries Can Take Advantage of Globalisation - Yu-Kym’s Blog: Singapore government supports animal testing. Do you? - My Little Corner: LTE? First Resolve the 3G problem Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Reuters: UPDATE 2-Thai Shin Corp: Temasek has no plans to sell Shin - Reuters: Australia on top of the world for expat kids: survey - Reuters: Scientists find “mother” of all skin cells - BBC: The internet billionaire rich list - NYT Automobiles: Porsche’s Stealth Debut - Guardian Gallery: Crufts 2010: The world’s biggest dog show - Guardian Gallery: Walking the Great Himalayan Trail - Denver Post: The Game: World Cup Faces [large pictures] Bhavani Prakash from Eco WALK the Talk sent this to share a footage of an elusive local bird and promote the awareness of local biodiversity. Thanks Bhavani! Daily ChioBu: Natsumi Kamata Natsumi Kamata (鎌田 奈津美 born 19 Aug 1988) is a gravure idol from Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. She began modeling in 2006. The following year, she won the 2007 Sunday Weekly Young Grand Prix. Since then she has appeared in numerous TV dramas and several stage performances. Pictures from YS Web feature after the break. [PNSFW] Daily SG: 11 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 Debate - The Temasek Review: Appropriateness and integrity in the use of government statistics - Times They Are A-Changin’: Large foreign workforce a buffer? - Gerald Giam: Sylvia Lim: R&D spending needs to be accounted for - Gerald Giam: Low Thia Khiang: Access to good mentors key to helping entrepreneurs succeed - Trapper’s Swamp: There’s a time and place for everything Housing Singaporeans - Lianain Films: Homelessness Is Not A Dirty Word - Yours Truly Singapore: Mah’s story is also Singapore’s story Singaporeans are fed, up with progress! - The Void Deck: Town Councils increases S&CC – Give us some value! [Thanks Pek] ERPains, Trains & Automobiles - New Asia Republic: Public transport for 6.5 million - Brad’s Blog: LTA Trying To Scam Singaporeans’ Money? GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - Singaporean Skeptic: PAP Minister dodges the question by pretending to answer a different question - The Temasek Review: Prudential – AIA deal: A deal of epic proportions Healthcare & Healthcare Providers - Singapore Alternatives: Sorry no enough Minister Khaw Woman No Enough - Sam’s Thoughts: Jack Neo is not Tiger Woods - Trapper’s Swamp: Who Jack Neo jumps is none of our business [Thanks Terence] - You just can’t miss it!: Singapore’s Most Popular/Notorious Film Director at the Moment is also My Fellow Church Member Religion - Irreligious: What makes a fundamentalist? [Thanks Terence] Daily Discourse - The Asia File: What Singapore could learn from Rupert Murdoch [Thanks Ben] - Blowin’ In The Wind: Singapore Press Holdings and Abu Dhabi Media Company - The Kent Ridge Common: YourSingapore: One of the Worst? - TOC: Summoning hither the dolphins - Sam’s Thoughts: Eugene Loh’s obsession with cross-dressing… on television! - Musings From the Lion City: Obedient Wives - Seelan Palay’s Blog: Dr Chee Soon Juan: We must believe (Video) Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Bloomberg: Singapore’s Economy May Expand 6.5% This Year, MAS Survey Shows - The Jakarta Post: Batam hopeful about tourist overflow from Singapore casino - ZDNet: S’pore govt calls halt to iPhone app service - Reuters: U.S. calls Myanmar election laws “a mockery” - Business Insider: South Korea Bucks Crowded Trade In Asian Sons And Now Prefers Daughters - Reuters For The Record: Social media: Some principles and guidelines - Forbes: Bill Gates No Longer World’s Richest Man - Guardian Gallery: Football: Manchester United v AC Milan Daily Tech: 11 Mar 2010 It’s the IT Show week. What are you planning to buy? News - Bootstrike: IT Show Pricelist - TechGoondu: YOG launches virtual world to reach out to youths - Mashable: Facebook to Launch Location Features Next Month - TechCrunch: Twitter Turns On Geolocation On Its Website - TechieLobang: Symantec launches latest Norton 360 V4.0 - APC: Microsoft: “No Windows Phone 7 upgrade for Windows Mobile 6.x devices” - Cnet: Google Maps to add bike maps, directions - Joystiq: Ubisoft DRM authentification server is down, Assassin’s Creed 2 unplayable - i-digITall.com: Samsung is going to conquer the world - TechGoondu: MeeGo steering group easing platform concerns? - The Register: Apple yanks Wi-Fi detectors from iTunes Reviews | Guides - LesterChan.net: Nokia N900 Blogger Preview - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Review: X-Mini Happy Daily SG: 10 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 Debate - New Asia Republic: The question of productivity - New Asia Republic: How GST adds value - Singapore Dino: PAP MP asks Khaw Boon Wan for “secret to looking young” during Parliament debate - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Who voted this Ong Ah Heng into Parliament? Harry Lee and the Dissident of Singaland - ambiguity: Gopalan Nair: Why So Serious? - Because you’ve got all eyes on you no matter where you are: Gopalan Nair’s dirty little trick - journalism.sg: Online hoax about Lee Kuan Yew’s health receives wide condemnation Housing Singaporeans - Trapper’s Swamp: Wrong answers from the wrong questions [1][2] - Yawning Bread: Breeding a subsidy mentality in housing - Chee Wai’s Random Musing: Our dear MBT does not understand the idea behind market forces? Countdown to Elections - Bernard Aw’s Blog: Election for 8-year-olds Singaporeans are fed, up with progress! - Trapper’s Swamp: S&C charges raised, still no transparency - The Temasek Review: 2 PAP Town Councils raise their S&C charges as PAP ministers look forward to another pay hike Healthcare & Healthcare Providers - Sgpolitics.net: Should treatment of chronic and terminal illnesses in Singapore enjoy better subsidies? - Mathia Lee: Don’t ignore pain, get treated early GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - The Temasek Review: PAP Minister: “Not realistic” for GIC to avoid losses Woman No Enough - The Kent Ridge Common: A PBM – but human, all too human. - Mr Wang Says So: The Sorry Story of Jack Neo - Musings From the Lion City: Singapore’s Tiger Woods Daily Discourse - guanyinmiao’s musings: True Singaporeans Will Always Be There, Everywhere - Singapore Social and Political Thoughts: Who were the culprits in the hit and run case? - SilentAssassin’s Archive: Victims and Menaces - Wild Shores of Singapore: Sea level rise in Singapore: what effects? Life, the universe and everything - Brad’s Blog: Small Time ‘my paper’ Critic Jill Alphonso Bashes Cameron and Avatar - TOC: Survey on IT knowledge among Singaporeans - The Long and Winding Road: A hidden secret that one of the bridges at the mouth of the river once held - Tantalizine: History of the Shirt Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - The Hindu: Insights into India-Singapore relations - NYT Tech: An Explosion of Mobile Patent Lawsuits - BBC: Shanghai prepares for Expo 2010 - Business Insider: How To Build The Ultimate Stock Screener - AP: Toyota faced with 2 more cases of runaway Priuses - NYT Automobiles: Geneva Auto Show: Last Looks - EW.com: ‘American Idol’ semifinals (Top 8 women): Who’s going home on Thursday? - LA Times: Oscar winners’ next projects - Guardian Gallery: You are cordially invited to the Oscars after-parties Daily SG: 9 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 Debate - Singapore Alternatives: Budget Debate 2010 - Myths of HDB and 460K for poor over 60 years? - The Temasek Review: 10 most unforgettable quotes from PAP MPs during the recent parliamentary “debate” - Brad’s Blog: Productivity! Productivity! Productivity! - Feed Me To The Fish: Daft & Dafter - Yours Truly Singapore: Economic growth benefits all citizens - Insane Polygons: Motivational Posters for the Elite 7 Harry Lee and the Dissident of Singaland - Sam’s Thoughts: Gopalan Nair: Lee Kuan Yew suffers massive heart attack (a hoax) - Icarus Flew Too High: The Gopalan Coup - TOC: Gopalan Nair’s despicable hoax - The Kent Ridge Common: The Real Rabbit out of Gopalan’s Hat - Sgpolitics: Sgpolitics.net condemns Gopalan Nair’s actions in the strongest possible terms - The Sun Shines on Singapore: Out Goes Gopolan’s Credibility (Not a Hoax) - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: A step backward for free speech - under a Pipala Tree: Bullshit Post - I’m getting personal: Gopalan Nair deserves a smack on his head!!!! Housing Singaporeans - Hear Ye! Hear Ye!: Random thoughts on public housing - My Little Corner: Summary of HDB changes for Budget 2010 Countdown to Elections - Yawning Bread: Foreign funding a necessary antidote in authoritarian states Religion - Laïcité: Belief is not a Choice Daily Discourse - Rachel Zeng: Singaporean women are useless because they are less ‘obedient’? - Seelan Palay’s Blog: My thoughts on Singaporean men wanting brides from China & Vietnam Life, the universe and everything - Barnyard Chorus: International Women’s Day - Lianain Films: The Maestro’s Daughters - Hear Ye! Hear Ye!: Poor Jack Neo Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - The Star: ‘Build bridge to replace Causeway’ - Asia Pacific Voices: China-ASEAN rail link development on track - NYT Room for Debate: Educated and Fearing the Future in China - AP: White House tweeting spreads president’s message - Reuters: Fear of ageing drives men’s cosmetic sales - BBC: Do working mums make healthy children? - NYT: Sleep: Study Finds Many Are Too Tired for Sex - Guardian gallery: Oscars 2010: the winners in pictures - Guardian gallery: Oscars 2010: The 20 best-dressed stars - Plog Photo Blog: The 82nd Annual Academy Awards (large pictures) Daily SG: 8 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 - TOC: Budget debate statistics: Uniquely Singapore? - The Temasek Review: A disaster in the making: PAP’s “instant tree” mentality - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: The TRUTH about Productivity.. - Ian On The Red Dot: Productivity & Wages – Which Is The Cause & The Effect - Sgpolitics.net: Productivity: Senior Minister, is it that simple? - Gerald Giam: Low Thia Khiang: It should not be all about economic benefit - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Productivity and related issues - Trapper’s Swamp: Low Thia Kiang vs Josephine Teo - guanyinmiao’s musings: Growth For All - Military Life: The SAF is Productive Because there are no foreigners in the SAF [Thanks Panzer] - Musings From the Lion City: Why It Will Stay Just Talk - SilentAssassin’s Archive: Foreign Worker ERP - Singapore Dino: Has PM Lee gone into hiding? - Singapore Recalcitrant: The Somnelent Deputy Prime Minister Housing Singaporeans - Gerald Giam: Low Thia Khiang urges Govt to “seriously look” into housing options for homeless - Bernard Aw’s Blog: PRs just moved to a lower indifference curve - Singapore Social and Political Thoughts: Mr Mah, you are more than 4 years late! - TOC: Malay homelessness – who was the quicker finger-pointer? - Singapore Life and Times: Slow and steady Strangers in a Strange Land - The Kent Ridge Common: Rethinking our population ‘problem’ - Growing your tree of prosperity: Some solutions to population growth and foreign workers. [Thanks Wai Chung] Countdown to Elections - kay poh chee: Bangla sweepers are now replaced by Singaporeans according to.. [Thank Jon] GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - Readings From A Political Duo-ble: Who is making the investment decisions for Singapore’s GIC and Temasek? - FT.com: Singapore fund braced for SFr5.5bn UBS loss Sorry Rony Recants - Used Brains For Sale: Ending the War Healthcare & Healthcare Providers - Singapore Life and Times: Bumped out Daily Discourse - Blowin’ In The Wind: Singaporeans richer than Americans? - TOC: The language divide - Sgpolitics.net: Law enforcement nightmare at Geylang Life, the universe and everything - Open Contours: At the Ringside of the Global Village - Moving Higher In Souped-up Heuristically Agon Moment: Singapore 2010 Odyssey - Otterman speaks: Photos from this morning’s OCBC Cycle Singapore [flickr] - Daring Fireball: This Apple-HTC Patent Thing [via Balderdash] Infoblogoramus - SGEntrepreneurs: Events For The Week – 6-13 Mar Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Reuters Global News Journal: Balancing powers in the Malacca Strait - The Star: More grads join jobless queue - Guardian Gallery: Paris fashion week turns heads Weekly Roundup: Week 10 “For a nation priding itself on knowledge, science and technology, to have productivity fall over 10 years is horrifying.” onedimensionalman “If I get to vote in the next election than I will go ahead and just be daft.” Insane Polygons “Today, I hardly touch local newspapers anymore.” theinkhorn ““Govt does not decide characteristics of Singapore’s markets: SM Goh”.. Well, who is looking into it, if not the government?” Twasher “The fact that we worry of productivity is symptomatic of how society in general is suffering a systematic dehumanisation and degradation of human dignity. It should send a chill down ones spine that human resource has become a means to a productive end.” zachisaiahchia This week’s roundup and recommended reads after the break. Budget 2010 - The one dimensional island: The penitent season [Recommended] - Yahoo! SEA: What do Singaporeans think of this year’s Budget? - Lianain Films: So How Much Did you Pay Your Agent? - The Temasek Review: How PAP screws up Singapore’s labor productivity with its “open door” policy to foreign workers - The Grand Moofti Speaks: Singapore’s economy: the path not yet taken - WSJ: ‘The Singapore Way’ [Thanks Gerald] - Gerald Giam: Low productivity not our workers’ fault: WP’s Low - Sgpolitics.net: PAP and Opposition MPs raise concerns over foreign worker levy - Sgpolitics.net: PAP MPs echo NSP’s concerns on impact of productivity drive on SMEs - Majulah!: Response to “Young PAP on Budget 2010″ - New Asia Republic: ICPAS Pre-Budget Roundtable 2010 [Thanks Donaldson] - The Jakarta Post: Jakarta shuns Singapore new migrant levy increase - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Productivity and Cheap Foreign Labor.. - Gerald Giam: Growth must improve welfare of Singaporeans: Sylvia Lim [Recommended] - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Sylvia Lim : Economic Growth Must Benefit Singaporeans.. - The Temasek Review: U.S Labor Dept: Singapore has steepest productivity decline and lowest increase in hourly wages in 2007 – 2008 [Recommended] - Times They Are A-Changin’: How does that work? - Singapore Dino: These PAP MPs don’t deserve to be in Parliament - The Temasek Review: The root cause of Singapore’s economic woes: A political system meant to perpetuate the hegemony of the PAP forever - The Temasek Review: DBS economist: Singapore may lose nearly 100,000 jobs by mid 2010 - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Increasing productivity in Singapore - New Asia Republic: A positive approach towards taxation - Zach’s Thought Blot: On Productivity - TOC: Budget should be more inclusive, change workplace culture to boost productivity, NMP says - The Temasek Review: Sylvia Lim: the pace and scale of the influx of foreigners in the last few years was wrong - The Kent Ridge Common: Why NMP Calvin Cheng has got it all wrong - The Void Deck: Budget 2010 – S’pore for S’poreans [Thanks Dennis] - Singapore Recalcitrant: The Consummate Joker - Trapper’s Swamp: Who elected these clowns? - The Temasek Review: Reform Party’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam replies to YPAP activists - Feed Me To The Fish: What’s the Meaning of Affordability, Subsidy and Productivity in Singapore? - The Temasek Review: Ng Kok Lim rebuts Halimah Yacob’s assertion that Singapore workers can afford more - ALVINOLOGY: Quoteworthy – Prof Koo Tsai Kee, MP, Tanjong Pagar GRC Countdown to Elections - TOC: A minister must fall in the process of change, says NSP sec-gen - Insane Polygons: Dare To Be Daft - Only “objective” and “factual” political films please, we’re Singaporeans: The coming around of Chee Soon Juan and SDP? - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: MSM becomes friendlier to Chee.. - The Temasek Review: Dr Chee Soon Juan challenges Lee Kuan Yew to write off his debts - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Different functions of Government - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Singapore Needs Better Leadership… - Mindblogging Stuff: New Singapore national pledge - Gerald Giam: Sylvia Lim asks for transparency in electoral boundaries report Strangers in a Strange Land - ambiguity: Disgraceful [Recommended] - Growing your tree of prosperity: Singlehood versus marrying a foreigner. Which is the bigger threat if you are single and looking for someone? [Thanks Wai Chung] - The Star: Population target in doubt - TOC: Not all foreign workers are counted? - The Temasek Review: The Iceman Cometh: The Role of Foreigners in Singapore - Ian On The Red Dot: Jordan Beats Singapore 2-1 - Singaporean Skeptic: Comparing Singapore to the UAE. Housing Singaporeans - Singapore Alternatives: No clarity yet but more questions on HDB Survery - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Enslaving a person for life - The Temasek Review: When will Singapore’s public housing bubble burst? - Yours Truly Singapore: Housing in S’pore still affordable - The Temasek Review: ST fails to mention that author of its article on HDB flats being affordable sits on HDB board ERPains, Trains & Automobiles - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: COE Revenue to rise by 50%.. - Singapore Recalcitrant: Everyday Rob People Sorry Rony Recants - Singaporean Skeptic: What is wrong with the whole Pastor Rony Tan affair. My belated 2 cents. - Kennethism: “He said nothing wrong, you know.” [Thanks Kenneth] - Angry Doctor: Take our rights… please! - TOC: Let’s fight free speech with free speech [Recommended] We are against Capital Punishment - TOC: Practices surrounding the death penalty for drugs troubling - la nausée: What Do Singapore Courts Think of the Misuse of Drugs Act? - TOC: Crime and punishment - TOC: No convincing reason to believe that the MDP works - TOC: A moratorium is not an insult to national sovereignty - Covered in His Blood: Anti-Death Penalty in Spore [Thanks Paul] - TOC: Interview with Rev. Dr. Edward Job on Death Penalty GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - Macro: (BN) Singapore, Abu Dhabi Face $10 Billion Loss on UBS, Citigroup - BusinessWeek: Temasek-Owned Stocks Fall After Thai Thaksin Ruling (Update1) - Bloomberg: Singapore, Abu Dhabi Face Losses on UBS, Citigroup (Update2) - Bloomberg: Glencore Exercising ‘in the Money’ Coal Option May Signal IPO [Thanks Gerald] - WSJ: Prudential Taps Temasek To Help Fund AIA Acquisition - Sources - TOC: How is allowing Medisave to be used overseas connected with GIC losing S$7.3 billion? - Blowin’ In The Wind: Unnamed Asian fund billions for Prudential’s AIG bid - Reuters: UPDATE 1-GIC converts UBS notes, faces $5 bln paper loss [Thanks Gerald] Sin City - Facebook Group: Huat your head ah! - Times They Are A-Changin’: Who crossed the line first? - SilentAssassin’s Archive: Casino-related social ills Re education - The Gigamole Diaries: What has the 3rd medical school got to do with GSK and the H1N1 pandemic? - That Burning Republic-State Doesn’t Sway Placidity: The Portrait of the Singaporean Student Lee vs Chee - Chee Siok Chin’s Blog: Again [Thanks Seelan] - Singabloodypore: Ruling will go down as one that ignored common sense: Tian Jing Religion - Irreligious: Inquiry into City Harvest Church’s new building — and other issues Daily Discourse - Blowin’ In The Wind: Singapore income gap, prison population high: Book - Singapore Dino: Spare us the fake disappointment: S’pore govt is such good friends with Burmese junta - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: The S League don’t know what League Cup - Barnyard Chorus: In which I’m pissed off, so welcome This Apocalypse. - The Rot Within: The coming demise of wet markets - Blowin’ In The Wind: Prison population across the globe - Sze Zeng: What do I think about homosexuality? - Wild Shores of Singapore: Flaring up at Pulau Bukom - TOC: Press Muse – Love thyself, ignore thy neighbour - Mathia Lee: Is education overrated? - The Temple Of Thoughts 3: The Singaporean Attitude (And what can be done) - Mathia Lee: Genetic Sex Change : Real or hype? - Sex sells, so does Politics: After the Romanian, now a Saudi Arabian attack - Mindblogging Stuff: Such Ignorance - The Sun Shines on Singapore: Out Goes the AG - Yaevlejunce Pilgrimage: How Singaporeans discuss national issues Life, the universe and everything - sixdegrees.asia: My Sister’s Pineapple Tarts [Thanks Gwee] - Michael Geist: New ACTA Leak: U.S., Korea, Singapore, Denmark Do Not Support Transparency - Jacob 69er: SDP 30th anniversary commemorative magazine packs a punch with style and substance [Thanks Seelan] - Singapore Life and Times: Toss of Fortune - Anonymous_X: Sinking of Singapore is “Irredeemable” [Thanks Anthony] - Notes from Serangoon Road: On Community - Singapore Fountain Pen: Asia 360 - 15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival (1/3) [Thanks major] - The Long and Winding Road: Smokey’s and a Red House: Memories of Victoria Street from Bras Basah to Middle Road - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Sony BRAVIA Full HD 3D TV coming to Singapore this summer - Small steps for Social PR: Gadget3 to close – End of consumer tech era at CR Media - Balderdash: MFA FAIL - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Rip out your F1 button and throw it away - Anonymous_X: A forbidden love story of a 23-year-old guy & his 42-year-old girlfriend: Singapore is no Cougar Town [Thanks wacky_artz] - Singapore Fountain Pen: Asia 360 - 15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival (3/3) [Thanks Major] - Balderdash: Rules from the NEA on scattering someone’s ashes at sea in Singapore - New Asia Republic: Being a Republic - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Amazing Rube Goldberg machines by OK Go - Tribolum.com: If You Want Something Done Right Infoblogaramous - Moving Higher In Souped-up Heuristically Agon Moment: Noise Singapore 2010 at Raffles City Square - The Star: The Chinese love for properties - WSJ: After Temasek, More Singapore Bonds Likely - SGEntrepreneurs: Events For The Week – 27 Feb-6 Mar - Research by the people, for the people: WeSearch! Seminar 2010 – “Social Action Across Divides” - pinkdot.sg: Love, Kinship and Families take centre stage at Pink Dot 2010 - Moving Higher In Souped-up Heuristically Agon Moment: Calling all Facilitators, Social Innovators, and Designers! Daily SG: 5 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 - TOC: Budget should be more inclusive, change workplace culture to boost productivity, NMP says - The Temasek Review: Sylvia Lim: the pace and scale of the influx of foreigners in the last few years was wrong - The Kent Ridge Common: Why NMP Calvin Cheng has got it all wrong - The Void Deck: Budget 2010 – S’pore for S’poreans [Thanks Dennis] - Singapore Recalcitrant: The Consummate Joker - Trapper’s Swamp: Who elected these clowns? - The Temasek Review: Reform Party’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam replies to YPAP activists - Feed Me To The Fish: What’s the Meaning of Affordability, Subsidy and Productivity in Singapore? - The Temasek Review: Ng Kok Lim rebuts Halimah Yacob’s assertion that Singapore workers can afford more - ALVINOLOGY: Quoteworthy – Prof Koo Tsai Kee, MP, Tanjong Pagar GRC Countdown to Elections - Gerald Giam: Sylvia Lim asks for transparency in electoral boundaries report We are against Capital Punishment - TOC: Interview with Rev. Dr. Edward Job on Death Penalty Strangers in a Strange Land - Ian On The Red Dot: Jordan Beats Singapore 2-1 - Singaporean Skeptic: Comparing Singapore to the UAE. GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - TOC: How is allowing Medisave to be used overseas connected with GIC losing S$7.3 billion? - Blowin’ In The Wind: Unnamed Asian fund billions for Prudential’s AIG bid - Reuters: UPDATE 1-GIC converts UBS notes, faces $5 bln paper loss [Thanks Gerald] Sin City - SilentAssassin’s Archive: Casino-related social ills Re education - That Burning Republic-State Doesn’t Sway Placidity: The Portrait of the Singaporean Student Daily Discourse - ambiguity: Such Ignorance - The Sun Shines on Singapore: Out Goes the AG - Yaevlejunce Pilgrimage: How Singaporeans discuss national issues Life, the universe and everything - Balderdash: Rules from the NEA on scattering someone’s ashes at sea in Singapore - New Asia Republic: Being a Republic - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Amazing Rube Goldberg machines by OK Go - Tribolum.com: If You Want Something Done Right Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Bloomberg: HIV Discoverer Criticizes Singapore for Lack of Free Treatment - Bloomberg: Singapore Plans Greenwich-Style Hedge-Fund Area at Nepal Hill - HBS: FDI and Local Entrepreneurship in Four Asian Economies - Entrepreneurship in Asia and Foreign Direct Investment - AP: Thailand offers tourists free insurance - NYT Business: Why, Exactly, Are Big Banks Bad? - BBC: BMW hopes new 5-series will revitalise the brand - Guardian Gallery: Gay marriage around the world - Guardian Gallery: Paris fashion week: A daring first day Daily ChioBu: Ai Takabe Ai Takabe (高部あい born 16 Aug 1988) is a popular actress in Japan. She began modeling in 2004, and was quickly recruited into the Bishoujo Club 31 (girl pop group). In 2005, Ai won 1st prize at the Miss WPB Grand Prix. She began acting in 2006 and became a popular TV actress. Pictures from her photobook Sky, Wind and You after the break. Daily SG: 4 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Productivity and Cheap Foreign Labor.. - Gerald Giam: Growth must improve welfare of Singaporeans: Sylvia Lim - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Sylvia Lim : Economic Growth Must Benefit Singaporeans.. - The Temasek Review: U.S Labor Dept: Singapore has steepest productivity decline and lowest increase in hourly wages in 2007 – 2008 - Times They Are A-Changin’: How does that work? - Singapore Dino: These PAP MPs don’t deserve to be in Parliament - The Temasek Review: The root cause of Singapore’s economic woes: A political system meant to perpetuate the hegemony of the PAP forever - The Temasek Review: DBS economist: Singapore may lose nearly 100,000 jobs by mid 2010 - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Increasing productivity in Singapore - New Asia Republic: A positive approach towards taxation - Zach’s Thought Blot: On Productivity We are against Capital Punishment - Covered in His Blood: Anti-Death Penalty in Spore [Thanks Paul] GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - WSJ: Prudential Taps Temasek To Help Fund AIA Acquisition - Sources Sin City - Times They Are A-Changin’: Who crossed the line first? Lee vs Chee - Singabloodypore: Ruling will go down as one that ignored common sense: Tian Jing Daily Discourse - The Temple Of Thoughts 3: The Singaporean Attitude (And what can be done) - Mathia Lee: Genetic Sex Change : Real or hype? - Sex sells, so does Politics: After the Romanian, now a Saudi Arabian attack - Balderdash: MFA FAIL - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Rip out your F1 button and throw it away - Anonymous_X: A forbidden love story of a 23-year-old guy & his 42-year-old girlfriend: Singapore is no Cougar Town [Thanks wacky_artz] - Singapore Fountain Pen: Asia 360 - 15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival (3/3) [Thanks Major] Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - The Daily Beast: The iPhone Becomes a Bully - Reuters: Nobel winners push for Myanmar regime to face court - NYT Your Money: Preparing for the Inevitable Bursting Bubble - NYT Room for Debate: College Degrees Without Going to Class - Reuters: FDA panel to target menthol cigarettes - Reuters Environment Forum: Top 5 greenest cities in the world - Guardian Gallery: How nude! Spencer Tunick’s flesh photography Daily SG: 3 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 - Gerald Giam: Low productivity not our workers’ fault: WP’s Low - Sgpolitics.net: PAP and Opposition MPs raise concerns over foreign worker levy - Sgpolitics.net: PAP MPs echo NSP’s concerns on impact of productivity drive on SMEs - Majulah!: Response to “Young PAP on Budget 2010″ - New Asia Republic: ICPAS Pre-Budget Roundtable 2010 [Thanks Donaldson] - The Jakarta Post: Jakarta shuns Singapore new migrant levy increase Countdown to Elections - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Singapore Needs Better Leadership… - Mindblogging Stuff: New Singapore national pledge We are against Capital Punishment - TOC: No convincing reason to believe that the MDP works - TOC: A moratorium is not an insult to national sovereignty Sorry Rony Recants - Angry Doctor: Take our rights… please! - TOC: Let’s fight free speech with free speech Strangers in a Strange Land - TOC: Not all foreign workers are counted? - The Temasek Review: The Iceman Cometh: The Role of Foreigners in Singapore Housing Singaporeans - The Temasek Review: ST fails to mention that author of its article on HDB flats being affordable sits on HDB board GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - Macro: (BN) Singapore, Abu Dhabi Face $10 Billion Loss on UBS, Citigroup - BusinessWeek: Temasek-Owned Stocks Fall After Thai Thaksin Ruling (Update1) - Bloomberg: Singapore, Abu Dhabi Face Losses on UBS, Citigroup (Update2) - Bloomberg: Glencore Exercising ‘in the Money’ Coal Option May Signal IPO [Thanks Gerald] Lee vs Chee - Chee Siok Chin’s Blog: Again [Thanks Seelan] Daily Discourse - TOC: Press Muse – Love thyself, ignore thy neighbour - Mathia Lee: Is education overrated? Life, the universe and everything - The Long and Winding Road: Smokey’s and a Red House: Memories of Victoria Street from Bras Basah to Middle Road - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Sony BRAVIA Full HD 3D TV coming to Singapore this summer - Small steps for Social PR: Gadget3 to close – End of consumer tech era at CR Media Infoblogaramous - Moving Higher In Souped-up Heuristically Agon Moment: Calling all Facilitators, Social Innovators, and Designers! Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - MoneyWeek: Singapore: a cheap play on Asian growth - Reuters: Mid to late 20s best age to have a first baby: poll - Reuters Small Business: E-mail is Making You Stupid - Reuters UK Football: Wealthy fans plan Man Utd bid, owners won’t sell - NYT: Writing a Résumé That Shouts ‘Hire Me’ - Crack Two: 45 Creative Resumes to Seize Attention - NYT Wheels: Geneva Auto Show Coverage - Guardian: Ancient and modern: the timeless architecture of IM Pei - Guardian Gallery: Geneva Motor Show Daily Tech: 3 Mar 2010 You know you are becoming a threat when your opponent starts digging thru their patent filing and find stuff they can sue you out of business. Apple just sued HTC for infringing on 20 patents “related to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture and hardware.” On other patent news, Facebook was granted patent on the News Feed. News - Gizmodo: Apple Sues HTC For Infringing On 20 iPhone Patents - RWW: Facebook Granted Patent on the News Feed - FoxTwo’s Ramblings: Facebook Finally Disable App Notifications! - Cnet: Reports: 5,000 ‘overtly sexual’ iPhone apps purged - SGEntrepreneurs: iCell Enters E-Reader Market With KeyReader - Playstation.Blog: Latest info on PlayStation Network Status - Engadget: Qualcomm’s 7×30 offers stellar 3D and multimedia performance, coming this year - TechGoondu: Samsung 3D TVs go on sale this month - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Sony BRAVIA Full HD 3D TV coming to Singapore this summer - Engadget: Confirmed: iPhone OS 3.2 has support for video calling, file downloads, and SMS - Empty Vessel: Sony joins the prosumer bandwagon - TechGoondu: Commentary: The anti-virus market - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: One more reason on why you shouldn’t create your website entirely on flash - TechieLobang: Is Your Home Ready for OpenNet Nationwide Fibre Network? - TechGoondu: Whither Linux drivers? Reviews | Guides - TechieLobang: Nokia N900 Bloggers’ Preview - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: First Look: BlackBerry Storm 2 - RamblingLibrarian: My (outside US) Kindle experience - JustinLee.sg: LG W2486L Review - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Nokia N97 V2 firmware is now available in Singapore Daily SG: 2 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 - Lianain Films: So How Much Did you Pay Your Agent? - The Temasek Review: How PAP screws up Singapore’s labor productivity with its “open door” policy to foreign workers - The Grand Moofti Speaks: Singapore’s economy: the path not yet taken - WSJ: ‘The Singapore Way’ [Thanks Gerald] Countdown to Elections - Only “objective” and “factual” political films please, we’re Singaporeans: The coming around of Chee Soon Juan and SDP? - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: MSM becomes friendlier to Chee.. - The Temasek Review: Dr Chee Soon Juan challenges Lee Kuan Yew to write off his debts - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Different functions of Government We are against Capital Punishment - la nausée: What Do Singapore Courts Think of the Misuse of Drugs Act? - TOC: Crime and punishment Housing Singaporeans - Yours Truly Singapore: Housing in S’pore still affordable Daily Discourse - Barnyard Chorus: In which I’m pissed off, so welcome This Apocalypse. - The Rot Within: The coming demise of wet markets - Blowin’ In The Wind: Prison population across the globe - Sze Zeng: What do I think about homosexuality? - Wild Shores of Singapore: Flaring up at Pulau Bukom Life, the universe and everything - Jacob 69er: SDP 30th anniversary commemorative magazine packs a punch with style and substance [Thanks Seelan] - Singapore Life and Times: Toss of Fortune - Anonymous_X: Sinking of Singapore is “Irredeemable” [Thanks Anthony] - Notes from Serangoon Road: On Community - Singapore Fountain Pen: Asia 360 - 15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival (1/3) [Thanks major] Infoblogaramous - pinkdot.sg: Love, Kinship and Families take centre stage at Pink Dot 2010 Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Reuters: Death penalty opponents see executions on the wane - Reuters: FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Thailand - Bloomberg: Obama Trip May Alter U.S. Misperception of Asean, Ministers Say - ars technica: Internet overtakes print in news consumption among Americans - Reuters Front Row Washington: Does it matter if the president smokes? - The Australian: 5200 strip off for photographer Spencer Tunick at the Sydney Opera House - NYT Wheels: Geneva Auto Show: Before the Rush - NYT Fashion & Styles: Milan Goes in All Directions - Guardian: Milan fashion week: An elegant ending - Money Mumbo Jumbo: 30 Bizarre Examples of Defacing Money Daily SG: 1 Mar 2010 Budget 2010 - The one dimensional island: The penitent season - Yahoo! SEA: What do Singaporeans think of this year’s Budget? Countdown to Elections - TOC: A minister must fall in the process of change, says NSP sec-gen - Insane Polygons: Dare To Be Daft Strangers in a Strange Land - ambiguity: Disgraceful - Growing your tree of prosperity: Singlehood versus marrying a foreigner. Which is the bigger threat if you are single and looking for someone? [Thanks Wai Chung] - The Star: Population target in doubt Housing Singaporeans - Singapore Alternatives: No clarity yet but more questions on HDB Survery - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Enslaving a person for life - The Temasek Review: When will Singapore’s public housing bubble burst? ERPains, Trains & Automobiles - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: COE Revenue to rise by 50%.. - Singapore Recalcitrant: Everyday Rob People Sorry Rony Recants - Singaporean Skeptic: What is wrong with the whole Pastor Rony Tan affair. My belated 2 cents. - Kennethism: “He said nothing wrong, you know.” [Thanks Kenneth] We are against Capital Punishment - TOC: Practices surrounding the death penalty for drugs troubling Sin City - Facebook Group: Huat your head ah! Re education - The Gigamole Diaries: What has the 3rd medical school got to do with GSK and the H1N1 pandemic? Religion - Irreligious: Inquiry into City Harvest Church’s new building — and other issues Daily Discourse - Blowin’ In The Wind: Singapore income gap, prison population high: Book - Singapore Dino: Spare us the fake disappointment: S’pore govt is such good friends with Burmese junta - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: The S League don’t know what League Cup Life, the universe and everything - sixdegrees.asia: My Sister’s Pineapple Tarts [Thanks Gwee] - Michael Geist: New ACTA Leak: U.S., Korea, Singapore, Denmark Do Not Support Transparency Infoblogaramous - Moving Higher In Souped-up Heuristically Agon Moment: Noise Singapore 2010 at Raffles City Square - The Star: The Chinese love for properties - WSJ: After Temasek, More Singapore Bonds Likely - SGEntrepreneurs: Events For The Week – 27 Feb-6 Mar - Research by the people, for the people: WeSearch! Seminar 2010 – “Social Action Across Divides” Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - The Jakarta Post: S’pore `dominates frequency’ along border - Asia Pacific Voices: Thai court seizes S$1.96 billion of Thaksin family assets - NYT: Kia’s Economic Stimulus Package - Business Insider: Take A Sneak Peek At The Groundbreaking Mercedes S400 HYBRID - MarketWatch: 2011 Hyundai Sonata - NYT: Updates on the Earthquake in Chile - Boston.com: Earthquake in Chile [Large Pics] Weekly Roundup: Week 09 “..we have to understand that identities exist before policies; no amount of coercion or social engineering can remodel that, but only subvert and suppress it..” Howard Lee “Globally, property prices have sunk, in part due to the greatest recession since the great depression and in part due to shrinking lines of credit. This property price paralysis is happening everywhere else in the world.. Except Singapore.” Percevale “..the concept of childlike faith (if it is even scriptural) should not apply to man.” Terence “Perhaps it is time to question whether excessive government intervention in the economy is the true killer of productivity growth..” Ng E-Jay This week’s roundup and recommended reads after the break. Budget 2010 - TOC: Dissecting Budget 2010 - My Little Corner: Direct Benefits for Households in Budget 2010 - The Sun Shines on Singapore: Election Budget? - Loves all, trust a few, do wrong to none: Singapore Budget 2010 - Asia Military World: Singapore increasing their military budget - Bloomberg: Singapore to Spend S$5.5 Billion to Spur Productivity [Thansk Gerald] - TOC: Budget does little to address main issues faced by S’poreans - Sgpolitics: Just how progressive is Budget 2010? - The Temasek Review: $7 billion dollar plan to make Singaporeans work “smarter” - The Temasek Review: Why the hike in Foreign Worker Levy will benefit the govt more than ordinary workers - Yaw Shin Leong: Thoughts on Budget Speech 2010 - Singapore Alternatives: NSP’s response to Budget 2010 - Singabloodypore: Singapore’s Budget 2010 exposed - Blowin’ In The Wind: Defence spending 25%, education 21% - Recruit Ong: Preserving the status quo - My Little Corner: Daily SG: 26 Feb 2010 Budget 2010 - Sgpolitics.net: What is missing from the productivity debate - TOC: Raising foreign worker levy will not solve problems, say critics - TOC: A complacent budget - The Kent Ridge Common: Critical Response to Budget 2010 - The Temasek Review: Uniquely Singapore: PAP ministers raising their own pay by a hefty 8.8% ahead of the next election - Seelan Palay’s Blog: MIT prof confirms what Chee has been saying all these years - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Simplify taxation - mrbrown: Ministers got early angpow? Countdown to Elections - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: U-Turn or Election Sweetening….? - The Temasek Review: Why Singapore’s future in the next ten years is a bleak one - Transitioning.org: Ten Reasons Why PAP May Lose Some More Seats In The Next Election We are against Capital Punishment - ambiguity: MDP And Its Uncanny Resemblance To Religion - la nausée: The Mandatory Death Penalty and Democracy - TOC: The legal canon of death Sorry Rony Recants - The Temasek Review: Clarification to misleading remarks Pastor Rony Tan made on Buddhism - Kennethism: Christian Post’s report of the Rony Tan ex-gay service in March 2009 [Thanks Kenneth] Sin City - The Temasek Review: Marina Bay IR have recruited 1,500 “Singaporeans and PRs” as card dealers - Macau Daily Times: Sands uncertain about Singapore’s performance Re education - Balderdash: International Skip School Day planned - Musings From the Lion City: Wrong Audience - Singapore in General: A Creative Future? [Thanks Soojenn] Housig Singaporeans - Who Moved My Singapore Cheese: Housing woes for a PR Daily Discourse - Readings From A Political Duo-ble: Foreign Corruption and Money Laundering – A comparision of US & Singapore - Wild Shores of Singapore: Dredging near Kusu Island continues until Aug 10 - EcoWalkthetalk: Can Electric Vehicles change the world? Part 1/3 A Third Comeback [1][2][3] Life, the universe and everything - The Long and Winding Road: The far side of the hill - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Renting and owning a property - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: How to skip the trailers on an original DVD? Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Reuters: Something fishy? Eco-guide lists seafood to avoid - Business Insider: Here’s The Real Reason Korea Is Winning So Many Olympic Medals - DailyFinance: Is the All-ETF Portfolio a Good Idea? What Investors Should Know - Guardian: When animals turn on their trainers - Reuters: Job insecurity linked to risk of poor health - LA Times: No radiation danger from airport body scanners Daily ChioBu: Rina Chinen Daily ChioBu: Rina Chinen Rina Chinen (知念里奈 born 9 Feb 1981) is a singer, model and TV actress. The native Okinawan was trained in dance and song at the Okinawa Actors School, whose graduates include J-pop queen Namie Amuro. Debuting in 1996 with the Single “Do-Do for Me”, Rina’s career transitioned through bouncy pop songs and ballads to rock and then R&B. Her last album “Breath” was released in 2001. In 2002 Rina appeared in the Japanese TV Drama California Dreaming (夢のカリフォルニア Yume no California). This was followed by Central Ikegami Police (こちら本池上署 Kochira Hon Ikegami Sho) which ran successfully for five seasons. In 2007, she appeared in the Tokyo Production of Les Miserables. Pictures after the break. [NSFW] Rina Chinen Interview on her role in Dance of the Vampire [JP] Daily SG: 25 Feb 2009 Budget 2010 - Sgpolitics: Opposition parties and alternative media respond to Budget 2010 - The Temasek Review: Majority Of Singaporeans Disappointed With 2010 Singapore Budget - Blowin’ In The Wind: Economic growth and government salaries - Tong Seng’s Blog: Dialogue on Budget 2010 - P116: Creating high value jobs: Malaysia budget vs S’pore budget - e27: Singapore Budget 2010 – What’s In It For Startups and Investors? - Cooler Insights: Free Ideas to Boost Productivity? - Singaporean Says Political Cartoon: Feasible Budget 2010 Sorry Rony Recants - Kennethism: The churches are silent, Ctd [Thanks Kenneth] - Irreligious: City Harvesters, it’s time to question - The Temasek Review: Pastor Rony Tan and the great homosexuality debate We are against Capital Punishment - TOC: A call to suspend all executions - TOC: The long drop and the hangman’s ritual Sin City - The Kent Ridge Commen: Rise of self-exclusion applications: Is it enough? - Chemical Generation Singapore: Sands on the Way - Reuters: UPDATE 2-Sands boost coming with Singapore casino opening [Thanks Gerald] Strangers in a Strange Land - TOC: Foreigners give back to Singapore society Welfare is a dirty word in Stingypore - The Secret Political Blog: Trying to help a homeless Part III GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - NYT: Hedge Fund Moves on Stuyvesant Town [Thanks Gerald] Re education - The boy who knew too much: A creative future Daily Discourse - Blowin’ In The Wind: Singapore media and Alexa rankings - utopia8787: speech at 21 Feb 2010 Life, the universe and everything - JustinLee.sg: Fight Obesity – Jamie Oliver’s TED Prize Wish [Thanks DK] - The Lycan Times: Anti-Social Media – Facebook Friend Lists Infoblogaramous - utopia8787: weekly Sunday Speech - Singapore Budget 2010 Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - NYT: South Koreans Struggle With Race [via Singaporean Skeptic ] - Reuters: Virus experiment reminds that flu surprises await - BBC: Why bankers are still making millions - Dealbook NYT: Details Out on Bank C.D.O.’s That Sank A.I.G. - NYT: Fashion Week 2010 featured collections - Bits NYT: Tech Talk Podcast: The Future of Cellphones Daily SG: 24 Feb 2010 Budget 2010 - TOC: Budget does little to address main issues faced by S’poreans - Sgpolitics: Just how progressive is Budget 2010? - The Temasek Review: $7 billion dollar plan to make Singaporeans work “smarter” - The Temasek Review: Why the hike in Foreign Worker Levy will benefit the govt more than ordinary workers - Yaw Shin Leong: Thoughts on Budget Speech 2010 - Singapore Alternatives: NSP’s response to Budget 2010 - Singabloodypore: Singapore’s Budget 2010 exposed - Blowin’ In The Wind: Defence spending 25%, education 21% - Recruit Ong: Preserving the status quo - My Little Corner: New CPI Basket for 2010 - My sketchbook: After budget day - Bloomberg: Singapore Withdraws Red Carpet for Foreigners With Eye on Vote [Thanks Gerald] - WSJ: Singapore Moves to Curtail Immigration [Thanks Gerald] Sorry Rony Recants - TOC: The Rony Tan in each of us - Tan Tarn How: Comments to media on allegedly racist Facebook and Rony Tan cases Part [1] [2] - Kennethism: Tan Tarn How: The churches are silent [Thanks Kenneth] - Kennethism: Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong of Cornerstone Community Church agrees with Rony Tan that gays are paedophiles and zoophiles [Thanks Kenneth] - The Sketch Times: To Err is Human, To Say Sorry is Divine Countdown to Election - Singapore Alternatives: A call for Clarity from Mah Bow Tan and HDB Housing Singaporeans - Tantalizine: What SGD490,000 Buys You Elsewhere Re education - The Asia File: Singapore government dodges Malay education issue again [Thanks Ben] Pink Issues - Mathia Lee: Straight/LGBT: how do you pick your label? Daily Discourse - The Temasek Review: S-League Insight: FAS fails to learn from past mistakes - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Economy : Where we are headed.. - Yours Truly Singapore: Tailoring political systems to fit - Rachel Zeng: Is fulfilling the role of our gender a necessity? - Small steps for Social PR: Daily average SPH newspapers circulation for August 2006, August 2007, August 2008 and August 2009 Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Bloomberg: Singapore’s Consumer Prices Rose on Transportation, Healthcare - NYT: Asia’s Boom Conceals Some Darker Prospects - Sydney Morning Herald: Outdated political thuggery embarrasses Malaysia [via Seelan Palay] - Reuters: How will the judges rule on Thaksin’s billions? - Slate: Basically, It’s Over [via Diary of A Singaporean Mind] - NYT: Q & A: Clinical Trials for Cancer - Education-Portal: 20 of the Best Search Engines for Students - Reuters: Her Facebook status changed to “single?” Ur dumped - Guardian: Winter Olympics: day 11 Daily SG: 23 Feb 2010 Budget 2010 - TOC: Dissecting Budget 2010 - My Little Corner: Direct Benefits for Households in Budget 2010 - The Sun Shines on Singapore: Election Budget? - Loves all, trust a few, do wrong to none: Singapore Budget 2010 - Asia Military World: Singapore increasing their military budget - Bloomberg: Singapore to Spend S$5.5 Billion to Spur Productivity [Thansk Gerald] Housing Singaporeans - SilentAssassin’s Archive: Property ERP - TOC: HDB: 95 per cent happy with their flats – Really, or just half the story? Welfare is a dirty word in Stingypore - TOC: Many helping hands – How can hands best help? - The Secret Political Blog: Trying to help a homeless Part II Countdown to Election - The Temasek Review: PAP Model : Starting Ahead and Finishing Last Productive Singapore: Cheaper, Better, Faster - guanyinmiao’s musings: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Is A Finishing Line Ever In Sight? Strangers in a Strange Land - The Temasek Review: The PAP’s “one-night stand” immigration policy and its disastrous repercussions on Singaporeans GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - Blowin’ In The Wind: GIC’s UBS losses could amount to 3.9% of GDP Healthcare & Healthcare Providers - Mathia Lee: Cord blood banks: Scam, Science, or matter of faith? The Gospel of Harry - The Temasek Review: Which Lee is the Prime Minister of Singapore? - Yours Truly Singapore: My job is really as a long-range radar Pink Issues - Matha Lee: How can we have a good LGBT-Faith group dialogue : Your views please? Daily Discourse - catherinelim.sg: Is Singapore A Humorless Society? - Chill Out: The Possibility of Failure - The Asia File: Singapore casino crimes may be a taste of things to come [Thanks Ben] - The Kent Ridge Common: Should foreign workers be allowed free entry? Life, the universe and everything - The Long and Winding Road: Beautiful buildings and a tale of buried treasure under a bridge: Memories of Stamford Road - Brad’s Blog: Voice of the MRT on Accents and Singlish - Wild Shores of Singapore: Crocodile at Sungei Buloh! Infoblogaramous - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Dee Kay Dot As Gee Giveaway: $40 OverEasy Voucher Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - NST: Improving ties with Singapore through visits - Rolling Stone: Wall Street’s Bailout Hustle [via Temasek Hedge ] - Reuters: FACTBOX-Thai ex-PM Thaksin’s assets seizure case - Reuters: African gene trawl may provide secrets to long life - AP: Hong Kong rejoices over Berlin film prize - Reuters: How to decline Facebook friends without offence - BBC: A History of the World in 100 objects Daily SG: 22 Feb 2009 Countdown to Elections - On Nation and State: Do you know how your MP votes? - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Dr. Lim Hock Siew’s Dream & Our Dream.. - The Temasek Review: Chorus of Change for Singaporean: Survival Guide to Sustainable Nationhood - The Temasek Review: Pitching the case for genuine democracy in Singapore Sorry Rony Recants - The Magic Within: Going Beyond Faith and Harmony - The Kent Ridge Common: New police reports lodged against Pastor Rony - The Lycan Times: Rony Tan (II) - Kennethism: Pastor Rony Tan: “I’ve said nothing wrong, you know.” [Thanks Kenneth] - Gwee Li Sui Facebook: Christian to Christian: Collective Repentance [Thanks Gwee] Productive Singapore: Cheaper, Better, Faster - TOC: Recession over: Really? Time to increase fees? - My Little Corner: Reducing Foreign Workers to Increase Productivity? Welfare is a dirty word in Stingypore - Gerald Giam’s Blog: Comments to Wanbao about Singapore’s social welfare system - The Secret Political Blog: Trying to help a homeless - Part I Housing Singaporeans - Chemical Generation Singapore: Stamping Down Rising Private Property Prices GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - ST Forum: Raising the stakes risky Singaporeans are fed, up with progress! - The Temasek Review: Standard Chartered economist predicts GST will be raised to 10 per cent by 2012 Singapore Coloring - TOC: It is involvement that creates identity Healthcare & Healthcare Providers - The Sun Shines on Singapore: A Booster Jab for Medisave Religion - ambiguity: Why Is Inconsistency Consistent With Religion? Daily Discourse - I’m getting personal: Witnessing democracy in action at EU - Transitioning: World’s Richest and Best Paid [Thanks lary] Life, the universe and everything - ReviewGuru: Universals Studios Singapore: Sentosa - Review [Thanks DK] - Stevie Wonders: Accident in Sembawang [Thanks DK] - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: If you think PDF files are safe, think again Infoblogaramous - SGEntrepreneurs: Events For The Week – 20-27 Feb Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - The Star: Blurring state and party lines [Thanks Seelan] - Reuters: Mughal jeweled arts mesmerize in Asia exhibit - NYT: Global Crisis Leads I.M.F. Experts to Rethink Long-Held Ideas - Guardian: Yes we can: Labour election campaign to adapt Barack Obama’s blueprint - NYT: Coded to Obey Law, Lights Become Marlboro Gold - The Daily Beast: Four Exes on Tiger - Guardian: Mobile World Congress 2010 photo wrap-up Thanks Yy Lee Weekly Roundup: Week 08 “Strong communities aren’t built on strong prisons.” Choo Zheng Xi “..Singaporeans would try and get rid of that which they do not understand. Instead of seeing the need for civil discussions, intellectual debates and exchange of ideas..” Alvin Phoon “Space Constraints? ..What of the dilution of our culture, of second class citizenship, of sports medals won but lost forever, of the implied superiority of foreign talents, of a lost sense of entitlement, of pink ICs doled out freely, of the insulting depiction of the new hard-working migrant pitted against now-lazy Singaporeans with their thick hides un-spurred?” Liau Chuan Yi and Norvin Chan “..while Singapore achieved self-rule only in 1959, the history of Singapore stretches back to the time of its founding in 1819. That’s 191 years of contiguous history which is close to two hundred years already. Yet we are still not a nation?” trulysingapore This week’s roundup and recommended reads after the break. Sorry Rony Recants - The Art Of Dumbspeak: A Word About Intolerant Christian Views [Recommended] - TOC: Take a stand for moderation, liberty, and genuine understanding - Chemical Generation Singapore: Crime and Appropriate Punishment - TOC: Aftermath of the Rony Tan incident: it has only just begun [Recommended] - The Kent Ridge Common: A sensible move, finally - Sgpolitics.net: What the Religious Harmony Debate has missed out thus far - face/palming: beyond the bashing [Thanks A. Noni-Mity] - Singapore Life and Times: Flogging a dead horse - Kennethism: Pastor Rony Tan of Lighthouse Evangelism needs to apologise to gays and lesbians too [Thanks Kenneth] - The Temasek Review: Aftermath of Rony Tan fiasco: ISD shouldn’t be policing racial and inter-faith relations - Sze Zeng: Singaporeans have a low view of Internal Security Department? - dhamma musings: The Pastor Tan Fallout - guanyinmiao’s musings: Is There Room For Intellectual Discourse Over Religions? - TOC: Bigotry of one – faith of another - Mathia Lee: Sex. Religion. Politics - ambiguity: Refuting Rony’s Regrets Road to Election - utopia8787: speech at 15 Feb 2010 [Pics @Temasek Review] - Chee Wai’s Random Musing: Making Pluralism work in Singapore - Singapore Alternatives: The Role of Opposition - Putting Spurs into PAP’s thick hides - The Temasek Review: Beyond the PAP: Thinking aloud - Sylvia Lim’s Blog: why the vote is not `daft’ - The Temasek Review: Is the opposition giving the new media a miss? - TOC: On the beat to the hustings? - The Temasek Review: Electoral rolls updated again to include more new citizens in the register - Seelan Palay’s Blog: Who will the new citizens of Singapore vote for? - The Temasek Review: Altered electoral boundaries for GRCs and SMCs released The Year of the Tiger - The Secret Political Blog: De-constructing PM Lee Chinese New Year Message 2010 - Singapore Dino: PM Lee should increase his government’s productivity first before lecturing Singaporeans - TOC: The “hongbao” dilemma: No place for divorcees during Chinese New Year? - ALVINOLOGY: This CNY, Mr Mah Bow Tan is here to spread wealth - sixdegrees.asia: Better Than Ang Pows [Thanks Gwee] [Recommended] - Anonymous_X: Singapore River Hongbao 2010: Photos Galore [Thanks wacky_artz] - Insane Polygins: Funny Guy Welfare is a dirty word in Stingypore - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: The Economist : Welfare in Singapore The Stingy Nanny - Gerald Giam’s Blog: The Economist calls Singapore a ’stingy nanny’ - The Economist: Welfare in Singapore - The stingy nanny [via Diary of A Singaporean Mind] - TOC: More poor people helped with less money? Strangers in a Strange Land - Chee Wai’s Random Musing: Looking foward to the day this becomes non-news in Singapore. - The Temasek Review: William Jansen: Quality of life in Singapore is hard to beat - The Temasek Review: Even CNA is questioning the percentage of Singaporeans employed by Resorts World Sentosa Housing Singaporeans - TOC: Homeless people are “defective”, needs “rehabilitation”? The Economic Strategies Committee Report - Sgpolitics.net: Economic Strategies Committee: Real Change or Just Words? [Recommended] - The Temasek Review: What is PAP’s long term economic vision? - ST Forum: Beware of ‘too big to fail’ situation [Thanks Gerald] Cheaper, Better, Faster - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Dampening the volatility in our economy.. - guanyinmiao’s musings: Do “Productivity” Courses Necessarily Heighten Employability? Singaporeans are fed, up with progress! - TOC: Singapore ranked 70 in Quality of Life Index GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - Blowin’ In The Wind: GIC pick Travelport IPO shelved for poor demand - The Temasek Review: Chief Strategist behind Shin Corp debacle now head of Temasek’s Seatown Holdings - The Temasek Review: Temasek Holdings – Transparency a Perception ? Healthcare & Healthcare Providers - nofearSingapore: Singaporeans’ Medisave Money for Malaysian hospitals Re edcuation - Kelvin Teo Writes: Increased focus on recruiting matured applicants into civil service in a move away from a scholarship focus? We are against capital punishment - magnezium: Do you support the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking? The Gospel of Harry - Yours Truly Singapore: Singapore is a nation in the making Religion - Reflections and Ruminations: Are there terms when we love? [Thanks lary] Daily Discourse - Readings From A Political Duo-ble: Questioning Singapore’s foray into military robotics - The Temasek Review: Interview with Kenneth Lin, 15 year old Singaporean who started a petition against Lee Kuan Yew - SilentAssassin’s Archive: Hitting and Running - Alamak: The State of Broadband in Singapore - TOC: Cultural Revolutions, Wilting Flowers - The Grand Moofti Speaks: The Lion City: quietly opening the door for Chinese Triads? - Seelan Palay’s Blog: Free Burma Campaign Singapore statement on the 2010 Burma elections - Proto Magazine: Biopolis: The Science Factory [via Balderdash] - Wild Shores of Singapore: Will there be dolphins at Resorts World Sentosa? Part 2 [Thanks DK] - Webs@Work: An Offshore Journalism Haven? - The F Word Jolene Tan blog: Race to the bottom - Chee Wai’s Random Musing: Of hyperboles and reactions to them Life, the universe and everything - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Who is Tai Sui (太岁)? - Small steps for Social PR: Viewers’ Choice 2009 prediction - Empty Vessel: The Age of Too Much Info - The Long and Winding Road: From driving around beautiful circles to driving under monstrous gantries. - Zach’s Thought Blot: On Technology – Technology and Personality - The Long and Winding Road: Schools, churches and a candlelight procession: Memories of Queen Street - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Did you google for “Facebook login”? Infoblogaramous - Cat Welfare Society: Singapore’s first Tiger Show [Facebook] - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Blog a trend and win a PC Daily SG: 19 Feb 2010 Road to Election - TOC: On the beat to the hustings? - The Temasek Review: Electoral rolls updated again to include more new citizens in the register - Seelan Palay’s Blog: Who will the new citizens of Singapore vote for? - The Temasek Review: Altered electoral boundaries for GRCs and SMCs released Sorry Rony Recants - TOC: Bigotry of one – faith of another - Mathia Lee: Sex. Religion. Politics - ambiguity: Refuting Rony’s Regrets The Economic Strategies Committee Report - ST Forum: Beware of ‘too big to fail’ situation [Thanks Gerald] Singaporeans are fed, up with progress! - TOC: Singapore ranked 70 in Quality of Life Index Strangers in a Strange Land - The Temasek Review: Even CNA is questioning the percentage of Singaporeans employed by Resorts World Sentosa Welfare is a dirty word in Stingypore - TOC: More poor people helped with less money? GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - The Temasek Review: Temasek Holdings – Transparency a Perception ? Daily Discourse - The F Word Jolene Tan blog: Race to the bottom - Chee Wai’s Random Musing: Of hyperboles and reactions to them Life, the universe and everything - Zach’s Thought Blot: On Technology – Technology and Personality - The Long and Winding Road: Schools, churches and a candlelight procession: Memories of Queen Street - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Did you google for “Facebook login”? Infoblogaramous - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Blog a trend and win a PC Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - BBC: Why does the West love the Dalai Lama? - NYT: Toyota Owners Complain, This Time About the RAV4 - Reuters: FACTBOX-The golf career of Tiger Woods - The Daily Beast: How the iPad Could Kill Newspapers The Singapore Daily was recently interviewed by Aaron Koh, the author of Small steps for Social PR. Aaron is a social media marketer who advises on building brand awareness in social media and the digital space. He began his career as a journalist with PC World SG, HardwareMag and CNET ASIA. He is currently a contributing senior journalist at the Financial Service Technology based in Australia and a social media consultant for vr-zone.com. Blogger interview with Singaporedaily.net Social PR chats with the team at Singaporedaily.net to find out more about their blog. Who are you? Ie what is your blog name and your real name. Why did you come up with the blog title? The Singapore Daily is a site that highlights articles on current affairs published by local bloggers. What are you? In ten (or so) words, you would describe your blog as: … to better understand and make informed decisions about current affairs Why do we need you? Why is your blog different? What makes it stand out from the crowd? Why is it special? We are one of the few local sites that can help publicise alternative opinions and viewpoints on local current affairs. If you chose the red pill, give us a visit. Editorial Deadline? Ie when should PRs NOT call? Contact us any time through our email. Features list? Do you have one, and if so, where can we get it, and can PRs still pitch to you ideas that aren’t on the list? We are not running any ads on the site at the moment. But we would be happy to help publicise charity or any not-for-profit events that are of public interest. Perfect story? First, what kind of stories does your blog run? Second, what kind of PR-generated or PR-related stories have a chance of getting a run in your blog? We prefer to highlight and link to published articles. We would be happy to help publicise charity or not-for-profit events that are of public interest. Contact? What’s the best way for PR to contact you, email or phone best? Email is the best way to contact us. What kind of stories make a great blog post? We like articles that are current, critical, honest and informative. If your blog was an animal, it would be a …? Not the Merlion. Do you do lunch/dinner/junkets? Why or why not? DK might be interested :) Complete this sentence: You wish that PR would… do more to bring awareness to the less fortunate in our society. What stories will your blog be watching closely this year? The next General Elections. If you were a great novel, you would be… something written by either Dan Simmons, Stephen Donaldson or Umberto Eco. Daily ChioBu: Rina Akiyama Rina Akiyama (秋山莉奈, born 26 Sep 1985) is a Japanese actress and gravure idol. Her most notable appearances are in the Kamen Rider Series, Kamen Rider Agito and Kamen Rider Den-O. She also has a cameo appearance in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater in which she is featured in a poster on one of the levels. In 2007, Rina was named “Japan’s Best Butt” 日本一の美尻だ, which earned her the nickname “Oshirina” オシリーナ, a portmanteau of the words “oshiri” (butt) and “Rina”. Pictures from the photobook Paradise Lost after the break. [PNSFW] Behind the scenes of the photoshoot Daily SG: 18 Feb 2010 Road to Election - Sylvia Lim’s Blog: why the vote is not `daft’ - The Temasek Review: Is the opposition giving the new media a miss? Strangers in a Strange Land - Chee Wai’s Random Musing: Looking foward to the day this becomes non-news in Singapore. - The Temasek Review: William Jansen: Quality of life in Singapore is hard to beat Sorry Rony Recants - guanyinmiao’s musings: Is There Room For Intellectual Discourse Over Religions? The Year of the Tiger - Insane Polygins: Funny Guy We are against capital punishment - magnezium: Do you support the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking? The Economic Strategies Committee Report - The Temasek Review: What is PAP’s long term economic vision? The Gospel of Harry - Yours Truly Singapore: Singapore is a nation in the making Religion - Reflections and Ruminations: Are there terms when we love? [Thanks lary] Daily Discourse - Wild Shores of Singapore: Will there be dolphins at Resorts World Sentosa? Part 2 [Thanks DK] - Webs@Work: An Offshore Journalism Haven? Life, the universe and everything - Empty Vessel: The Age of Too Much Info - The Long and Winding Road: From driving around beautiful circles to driving under monstrous gantries. Infoblogaramous - Cat Welfare Society: Singapore’s first Tiger Show [Facebook] Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Variety: Singapore pushing films - The Star: S’pore Marina Bay Sands to open in late April - Reuters: Morgan Stanley may hand creditors $2.4 billion hotels - Business Insider: Goldman Is About To Be Blacklisted And Possibly Banned In Europe - Asia Pacific Voices: Female activists jailed as UN envoy enters Myanmar - AP: Happiness helps when it comes to the heart - NYT: Woods to Address His Past And His Future on Friday - NYT: World Press Photo Contest - The Best in the World - Guardian: 25 years of the mobile phones - Photos - Rolling Stone: MTV Removes “Music Television” From Iconic Logo Daily Tech: 18 Feb 2010 It’s Mobile World Congress! Lots of new phones being announced while we are busy celebrating Lunar New Year. Perhaps the biggest announcement is the announcement of Windows Phone 7 Series. Looks pretty promising. Hey! There is no more Start button. Besides MWC2010, Google launched Google Buzz which is something like Twitter and Facebook Status. Lots of users complaint about privacy issues which prompted Google to apologise and make it easier for users to edit their privacy settings. Oh, if you are using foursquare with Twitter updates, you might want to think again. Mobile World Congress 2010 - Engadget: Windows Phone 7 Series: everything you ever wanted to know - LesterChan.net: Microsoft Unveils Windows Phone 7 Series - JustinLee.sg: Windows Phone 7 Series Videos - Beta News: Windows Phone 7 Series: The good, the bad and the ugly - Techgoondu: Mobile World Congress 2010 – battle of the OS - Techgoondu: Phone of the show – HTC Legend - Engadget: HTC HD mini launched at MWC - Engadget: HTC Desire: your Nexus One with Sense and Flash has arrived - PC World: Intel and Nokia’s MeeGo Join a Brewing OS War - IntoMobileQualcomm: “There will be a Nokia Symbian phone this year with Snapdragon” - Engadget: Sony Ericsson outs Xperia X10 mini and Xperia X10 mini pro News - Techgoondu: Buzz vs Facebook, and my seduction by Google - Empty Vessel: The Age of Too Much Info - NYTimesAnger Leads to Apology From Google About Buzz - BBC: Google admits Buzz social network testing flaws - Techgoondu: Auto login for Wireless@SG – at last - JustinLee.sg: Color Theory for Designers - Techgoondu: Microsoft vs Google: Fight! - Cnet: Slight dip in Google’s January search market share - Gizmodo: Byteside: “For All Of You Who Are Planning To Buy A 3DTV: For God’s Sake Don’t…” - MacWorld: Macworld Expo 2010 Best of Show winners - Cnet: The dark side of geo: PleaseRobMe.com Reviews | Guides - Empty Vessel: Final thoughts on the Kindle 2 - Tech65: Samsung Wave / Bada Exclusive First Look Daily SG: 17 Feb 2010 Sorry Rony Recants - The Art Of Dumbspeak: A Word About Intolerant Christian Views - TOC: Take a stand for moderation, liberty, and genuine understanding - Chemical Generation Singapore: Crime and Appropriate Punishment - TOC: Aftermath of the Rony Tan incident: it has only just begun - The Kent Ridge Common: A sensible move, finally - Sgpolitics.net: What the Religious Harmony Debate has missed out thus far - face/palming: beyond the bashing [Thanks A. Noni-Mity] - Singapore Life and Times: Flogging a dead horse - Kennethism: Pastor Rony Tan of Lighthouse Evangelism needs to apologise to gays and lesbians too [Thanks Kenneth] - The Temasek Review: Aftermath of Rony Tan fiasco: ISD shouldn’t be policing racial and inter-faith relations - Sze Zeng: Singaporeans have a low view of Internal Security Department? - dhamma musings: The Pastor Tan Fallout The Year of the Tiger - The Secret Political Blog: De-constructing PM Lee Chinese New Year Message 2010 - Singapore Dino: PM Lee should increase his government’s productivity first before lecturing Singaporeans - TOC: The “hongbao” dilemma: No place for divorcees during Chinese New Year? - ALVINOLOGY: This CNY, Mr Mah Bow Tan is here to spread wealth - sixdegrees.asia: Better Than Ang Pows [Thanks Gwee] - Anonymous_X: Singapore River Hongbao 2010: Photos Galore [Thanks wacky_artz] Road to Election - utopia8787: speech at 15 Feb 2010 [Pics @Temasek Review] - Chee Wai’s Random Musing: Making Pluralism work in Singapore - Singapore Alternatives: The Role of Opposition - Putting Spurs into PAP’s thick hides - The Temasek Review: Beyond the PAP: Thinking aloud Welfare is a dirty word in Stingypore - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: The Economist : Welfare in Singapore The Stingy Nanny - Gerald Giam’s Blog: The Economist calls Singapore a ’stingy nanny’ - The Economist: Welfare in Singapore - The stingy nanny [via Diary of A Singaporean Mind] Cheaper, Better, Faster - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Dampening the volatility in our economy.. - guanyinmiao’s musings: Do “Productivity” Courses Necessarily Heighten Employability? Housing Singaporeans - TOC: Homeless people are “defective”, needs “rehabilitation”? The Economic Strategies Committee Report - Sgpolitics.net: Economic Strategies Committee: Real Change or Just Words? GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - Blowin’ In The Wind: GIC pick Travelport IPO shelved for poor demand - The Temasek Review: Chief Strategist behind Shin Corp debacle now head of Temasek’s Seatown Holdings Healthcare & Healthcare Providers - nofearSingapore: Singaporeans’ Medisave Money for Malaysian hospitals Re edcuation - Kelvin Teo Writes: Increased focus on recruiting matured applicants into civil service in a move away from a scholarship focus? Daily Discourse - Readings From A Political Duo-ble: Questioning Singapore’s foray into military robotics - The Temasek Review: Interview with Kenneth Lin, 15 year old Singaporean who started a petition against Lee Kuan Yew - SilentAssassin’s Archive: Hitting and Running - Alamak: The State of Broadband in Singapore - TOC: Cultural Revolutions, Wilting Flowers - The Grand Moofti Speaks: The Lion City: quietly opening the door for Chinese Triads? - Seelan Palay’s Blog: Free Burma Campaign Singapore statement on the 2010 Burma elections - Proto Magazine: Biopolis: The Science Factory [via Balderdash] Life, the universe and everything - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: Who is Tai Sui (太岁)? - Small steps for Social PR: Viewers’ Choice 2009 prediction Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Telegraph: Singapore accused of launching ‘Sand Wars’ - The Age: Singapore accused of stealing beaches - The Jakarta Post: Place your bets - AP: Singapore tries luring foreigners as casino opens - The Star: Big brother to drive away cars - Bangkok Post: The not so beautiful game - FT.com: A ‘stall crawl’ of Singapore - Reuters: Lender’s agent forecloses on Stuyvesant Town - Reuters: Temasek cuts stake in ICICI Bank to 5.9 pct from 8.3 pct - Reuters: Five world markets themes next week - NYT: Year of the Tiger: Potentially Exciting and Turbulent - Reuters: New media can help fight repression: watchdog group - Foreign Affairs: The End of the Beijing Consensus [Thanks CR] Weekly Roundup: Week 07 “Surely the integrity of our journalists and our scholars are much more important than the need to tell one single version of what has always been a contested story.” Anak Kancil “..how would I deal with people who put down other religions without really finding out more about them? Follow Buddha’s teachings of calming the mind and looking at the true nature of things.. Whatever it is, I wish that they are well and happy.” smile “Forget Wee Shu Min. Forget Mrs Goh Chok Tong. Forget Ris Low. Rony Tan is the next person who is going to be cyber-lynched. That’s what disempowered Singaporeans with internet connection do any way. Nothing new.” Sam “..but what does our anger mean to them?” Choo Zheng Xi This week’s roundup and recommended reads after the break. Sorry Rony Recants - The Kent Ridge Common: Video of Pastor making rounds - The Temasek Review: ISD called up Lighthouse Evangelism Pastor Rony Tan over his remarks about Buddhism - Chemical Generation Singapore: Sorry No Count, Playground Taunt - be happy: clearing misconceptions - Buddhabook: Pastor Rony Tan Demonized Buddhism - Yamizi: Rony Tan really have his God to thank for!!! - Kwekings: C’mon, don’t tell me you were surprised.. - ambiguity: Religion-less - My Singapore News: The revelation of Pastor Rony Tan - subway secrets: To be fair.. - Sg Truth: Police must act against Pastor Rony Tan - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Beware of Active Religious Chauvinism.. - Gahmen: MHA’s Statement In Response To Media Queries On The Lighthouse Evangelism (LE) Videos And Comments Made By Pastor Rony Tan Of Lighthouse Evangelism, 08 February 2010 - The Temasek Review: Pastor Rony Tan visited Phor Kar See temple today to apologize to head of Buddhist Federation Venerable Kwang Sheng - Random Thoughts Of A Free Thinker: Now that he has apologised.. - Laïcité: Being “sensitive” enough to hide our intolerance - Singapore Kopi Tok: Pastor Rony Tan - Simply Gab: Being sensitive to our over-sensitivity - Sam’s Thoughts: Pastor Rony Tan, religious harmony and capitalism [Recommended] - Singapore Recalcitrant: The insensitive indiscretion of Senior Paster Rony Tan - Just a passerby trying to enjoy his journey: Ignorance ignorance ignorance.. - SilentAssassin’s ArchiveRony and the Troll - The Sun Shines on Singapore: Lighthouse Alight and the Intolerance of Religions - Infinitely me: Brain Storm: Hamonious Singapore And Numbskulls - Facebook group: The Moderates Stance [Thanks smokebreak] - Yeap Chee Seng Weblog: Senior Pastor Rony Tan And Buddhism - In the Panic Room: Rony Tan’s apology, and why it doesn’t really matter - The Kent Ridge Common: Should Pastor Rony be punished? - Gimme Some Truth!: Reactions to Pastor Rory’s Comments - The Lycan Times: Rony Tan - covered in his blood: Rony Tan saga and what it means for Christians - Irreligious: Ignorance is the greatest enemy of Christianity - Sze Zeng: What does ‘Rony’ show us? [Thanks YKWYA] - ambiguity: Souls, Not People - Feed Me To The Fish: Pastor, ChipMonk , Witch Doctor and Bigotry - The Temasek Review: The Rony Tan fiasco and perceived double standards in the application of Sedition Act - TOC: Not your ordinary chit-chat session [Recommended] - Blowin’ In The Wind: Kipling, race and religion - Irreligious: Why so emotional? - The Temasek Review: What the Buddha really said before he passed away - The Kent Ridge Common: NUSBS clears Pastor Rony’s misconceptions Road to Election - TOC: The Straits Times thinks only businessmen are Singaporeans - The Temasek Review: Time for Singapore opposition to come up with a Common Policy Framework - The Temasek Review: Reform Party urges PAP to embrace need for political reform in Singapore - Singapore Alternatives: NSP Press Release on New 13th CEC - TOC: What the 2010 Edelman Trust Barometer really says - Icarus Flew Too High: A Broad Consensus for Democracy in Singapore [Recommended] - Yours Truly Singapore: Mandate assured … as long as PAP remains incorruptible - Singaporean Skeptic: Religious demographics of our politicians (minus the cabinet Ministers) - Seelan Palay’s Blog: SDP’s Chinese New Year Message 2010 - Tan Kin Lian’s Blog: Political Compass - Bryan Ti Facebook: Dearth of Quality Political Discussion (and Leadership) - My Singapore News: My Money My Vote The Economic Strategies Committee Report - TOC: Do upgrading skills and Workfare help low-wage workers? - The Temasek Review: Reform Party calls for dismantling of GLC structure in its response to ESC report - Seelan Palay’s Blog: The SDP’s alternative economic programme Part 2: Getting rich quick - My sketchbook: Making of the Singapore’s economics strategies - My Little Corner: Increasing productivity using technology is not straightforward - The Temasek Review: A Review of recommendations made by the Economic Strategies Committee - The Temasek Review: Reforming Singapore’s political economy: The big miss by the Economic Strategies Committee [Recommended] - Sellan Palay’s Blow: The SDP’s alternative economic programme Part 3: A comprehensive set of measures Housing Singaporeans - TOC: Public housing flats – Singaporeans come first or foreigners? - TOC: SERS flats converted to condo for expats - Singapore Alternatives: HDB Homeless Policy [Recommended] - TOC: HDB replies: Waiting time for rental flat is now reduced - Who Moved My Singapore Cheese: Uproar against rental housing is a joke - Singapore Alternatives: HDB 101 - The Temasek Review: HDB blames Singaporeans for not selecting flats when given the chance - My Singapore News: High demand for HDB flats due to immigrants - TOC: The final nail in the “HDB affordability” coffin? - Yours Truly Singapore: HDB resale prices: Don’t just find a scapegoat - The Temasek Review: Chua Mui Hoong: rising resale flat prices reflect genuine pent-up demand spurred by high levels of immigration - lbkp’s Blog:Enuff! - DE LEVIATHAN @ SG: How To Ensure Affordable Low Cost Housing? - TOC: ST Forum letter on homeless situation and official reply Re education - Kelvin Teo Writes: About time to rethink about our scholar selection mechanisms - Flying Low: Thoughts about teaching Strangers in a Strange Land - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: SM Goh : No U-turn in foreigner policy - TOC: Conflicting signals from Government over foreign manpower policy - Singapore Dino: Gan Kim Yong redefines resident’s question instead of answering it - The Temasek Review: Mark Lee defends himself for employing PRC workers: Difficult to employ locals - The Temasek Review: Increase in job ads, but are they for Singaporeans or foreigners? - Open Contours: Grit and Grime: The Migrant Worker in Singapore Cinema Singaporeans: A Dying Breed - TOC: Many Singaporeans want to migrate – Why? Singaporeans are fed, up with progress! - TOC: The anger of displacement GIC, Temasek State Fund Investments - Tattooed Banker: Another bond offering for Temasek - The Temasek Review: U.S. Prof lambasts Singapore’s “Temasek model” for investing in failing individuals and products - TradecoHoldco: Breaking News: Temasek sets up its own hedge fund Healthcare & Healthcare Providers - The Temasek Review: Malaysian PRs likely the greatest beneficiaries of move to allow use Medisave in 12 Malaysian hospitals and medical centres Singapore Coloring - My Very Own Glob: There’s that R-word again ERPains, Trains & Automobiles - Singapore’s Land Transport: Another taxi location surcharge… and what we can do about it Re education - Singaporean Skeptic: A tale of two prodigies Lee vs Chee - Chee Siok Chin’s Blog: Prisoner 00001/2010 [Thanks Seelan] Daily Discourse - TOC: The Sedition Act needs revision - The Temasek Review: Can we trust our journalists to tell the truth? [Recommended] - Journalism.sg: Ex-NMP Siew Kum Hong upbeat about new media’s role in politics - Laïcité: Learning about the birds and the bees at 21 - TOC: The Reform Party Welcomes the new US ambassador’s comments - Diary of A Singaporean Mind: Apathetic Generation - The Temasek Review: Exposure – The Element of Change for Singapore and Singaporeans - Seelan Palay’s Blog: Let’s Talk with local poet Ng Yi-Sheng - The Grand Moofti Speaks: Freedom of speech and religion – Singapore style - Sam’s thoughts: “Natural” bias - I’m getting personal: It is a marathon - Mathia Lee: Income Inequality In Singapore - Barnyard Chorus: Degrees of information - TOC: Statutory rape law – a paternalistic anachronism - TOC: Making right choices in Singapore: From Adelman to Asian values [Recommended] - The Temasek Review: Only 6.1 per cent of workers attending SPUR got a pay raise after undergoing skills upgrading - The Temasek Review: No updates about YPAP Eric How case from police after three weeks - mrbrown: A supermarket loses trolleys: Why is this even freakin’ news? - My sketchbook: The $100 deterrent Life, the universe and everything - The Long and Winding Road: A fascination with flying machines: some alternative views of the Airshow - My Very Own Glob: Singapore’s Oskar Schindler - Dee Kay Dot As Gee: iPad appears at the Grammy Award - The Long and Winding Road: The roads less travelled.. - Open Contours: The Circus of the Fantastic - Subba’s Serendipitous moments: Google puts Buzz in the Gmail - My Little Corner: Hip Hop Lion Dance! - The Useless Tree: More on Confucianism and Modernity - The Long and Winding Road: 1974, a year of football madness - Singaporean Skeptic: The power of imagination - Asterpix Interactive Video: All Indian Food Now Showing - Vinyarb: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Infoblogaramous - Singaporeans for Democracy: Directions for SFD in 2010 Daily SG: 12 Feb 2010 Here’s wishing everyone a happy and healthy Year of the Tiger. Have a good CNY weekend! Housing Singaporeans - TOC: The final nail in the “HDB affordability” coffin? - Yours Truly Singapore: HDB resale prices: Don’t just find a scapegoat - The Temasek Review: Chua Mui Hoong: rising resale flat prices reflect genuine pent-up demand spurred by high levels of immigration - lbkp’s Blog:Enuff! - DE LEVIATHAN @ SG: How To Ensure Affordable Low Cost Housing? - TOC: ST Forum letter on homeless situation and official reply Sorry Rony Recants - Blowin’ In The Wind: Kipling, race and religion - Irreligious: Why so emotional? - The Temasek Review: What the Buddha really said before he passed away - The Kent Ridge Common: NUSBS clears Pastor Rony’s misconceptions Road to Election - Bryan Ti Facebook: Dearth of Quality Political Discussion (and Leadership) - My Singapore News: My Money My Vote The Economic Strategies Committee Report - Sellan Palay’s Blow: The SDP’s alternative economic programme Part 3: A comprehensive set of measures Daily Discourse - The Temasek Review: No updates about YPAP Eric How case from police after three weeks - mrbrown: A supermarket loses trolleys: Why is this even freakin’ news? - My sketchbook: The $100 deterrent Life, the universe and everything - The Useless Tree: More on Confucianism and Modernity - The Long and Winding Road: 1974, a year of football madness - Singaporean Skeptic: The power of imagination - Asterpix Interactive Video: All Indian Food Selected News Stories [Thanks Gerald Ho] - Reuters: UBS stake may be worth 70 percent less as GIC converts - Viet Nam Net: Nine girls rescued from being sold to Singaporean brothels - NZ Herald News: Singapore envies Kiwi lifestyle - Asia Times Online: Singapore lets the dice roll - Reuters: WHO to decide whether worst over in H1N1 pandemic - BBC: Warning over sexy instant message called ‘Fembot’ - NYT: A Warning on Mixing Herbs and Medicine - Reuters: There really is a formula for love