Interesting stuff on ST
As promised, the ST.
1) Qantas and SIA - possible merger?
Gosh... does aviation news gets any more interesting? While it is still concivable that Australia might grant us the Aus-US route, it it beyond comprehension, how an Australian Minister and the boss of Qantas would actually find such an idea agreeable. For a country which have been exceptionally frigid about market protection in its aviation sector, this is certainly one big surprise.
2) 350 opt for 'pay per use' power
Not sure if many people know the history of such meters, which in UK, they call 'pre-paid meters'. This things started in appear in UK, where is it illegal for utilities company to cut power and water to households. This is exceptionally critical when it comes to winter, where is basically freezing. As such, utilities companies came up with 'pre-paid meters', and in the name of allowing users to self-regulate their utility cost, these meters would cut off power and water when the user runs out of money. In this way, the utilities companies do not have to worry about users who can't afford to pay, and as they technically cut themselves off from power and water, the utilities company is not liable. In summary, it was a means, for utilities companies to cut services, when people cannot afford to pay, despite the law stating that such actions was illegal.
3) Elistism on Youthink
I must admit that elitism is something people rarely talk about in Singapore. Not sure why that is so, but I was really quite surprised that people talked about it. Yet, what I found most uncomfortable, was this sense of enforcing 'elite' culture. Robin was talking about how disappointed he was that he was left out the 'elite group' but "did eventually secure a scholarship that allowed me to go overseas. I [he]was part of the elite again" and then he says "Let's turn elitism on its head. We should not let the educated elite be the be-all and end-all of our society. Since we each have a myriad of talents, there is space to create many kinds of elites, and society will be richer for it". What on mars is he trying to say? Was it not him, who is trying to be 'elite', and then saying that 'elite' is just a "state of mind". Eunice Quek even went as far as saying "To the non-elites, accept yourself for who you are and don't wallow in self-pity. Rise above your personal limitations and prove those who look down on you wrong.". I have no idea what their motivation is, but what is clear, is that both are reinforcing an elite-non-elite divide! And for what? That I don't know. But surely, that controversial. Wenzhong's article is however much more balanced and thought through, in saying that "receiving honours at university is a stepping stone to a bright career, but contributing to the lives of others will earn you respect, and that can be achieved, whether you are a doctor or a dispatch rider.". The only thing that I found odd, was that he was so uncommital to the idea that its "mistake to think that all students from elite schools are elitist". Its not "probably", its definetly.
Its not everyday, that reading the ST gets so interesting, but its mainly a sense of discomfort, especially with Youthink. A discomfort to know that people have such weird conceptions of life. If elitism represents a dislocation from reality, then ST is probably a fine example of this 'state of mind'. :)
1) Qantas and SIA - possible merger?
Gosh... does aviation news gets any more interesting? While it is still concivable that Australia might grant us the Aus-US route, it it beyond comprehension, how an Australian Minister and the boss of Qantas would actually find such an idea agreeable. For a country which have been exceptionally frigid about market protection in its aviation sector, this is certainly one big surprise.
2) 350 opt for 'pay per use' power
Not sure if many people know the history of such meters, which in UK, they call 'pre-paid meters'. This things started in appear in UK, where is it illegal for utilities company to cut power and water to households. This is exceptionally critical when it comes to winter, where is basically freezing. As such, utilities companies came up with 'pre-paid meters', and in the name of allowing users to self-regulate their utility cost, these meters would cut off power and water when the user runs out of money. In this way, the utilities companies do not have to worry about users who can't afford to pay, and as they technically cut themselves off from power and water, the utilities company is not liable. In summary, it was a means, for utilities companies to cut services, when people cannot afford to pay, despite the law stating that such actions was illegal.
3) Elistism on Youthink
I must admit that elitism is something people rarely talk about in Singapore. Not sure why that is so, but I was really quite surprised that people talked about it. Yet, what I found most uncomfortable, was this sense of enforcing 'elite' culture. Robin was talking about how disappointed he was that he was left out the 'elite group' but "did eventually secure a scholarship that allowed me to go overseas. I [he]was part of the elite again" and then he says "Let's turn elitism on its head. We should not let the educated elite be the be-all and end-all of our society. Since we each have a myriad of talents, there is space to create many kinds of elites, and society will be richer for it". What on mars is he trying to say? Was it not him, who is trying to be 'elite', and then saying that 'elite' is just a "state of mind". Eunice Quek even went as far as saying "To the non-elites, accept yourself for who you are and don't wallow in self-pity. Rise above your personal limitations and prove those who look down on you wrong.". I have no idea what their motivation is, but what is clear, is that both are reinforcing an elite-non-elite divide! And for what? That I don't know. But surely, that controversial. Wenzhong's article is however much more balanced and thought through, in saying that "receiving honours at university is a stepping stone to a bright career, but contributing to the lives of others will earn you respect, and that can be achieved, whether you are a doctor or a dispatch rider.". The only thing that I found odd, was that he was so uncommital to the idea that its "mistake to think that all students from elite schools are elitist". Its not "probably", its definetly.
Its not everyday, that reading the ST gets so interesting, but its mainly a sense of discomfort, especially with Youthink. A discomfort to know that people have such weird conceptions of life. If elitism represents a dislocation from reality, then ST is probably a fine example of this 'state of mind'. :)
posted by city_walker at 6/20/2005 07:28:00 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home