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31 July 2012:

"A free press can be good or bad. Without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad." -Albert Camus

If anyone read today's Straits Times, one would have realised pages A16 and A17 were two full-page advertisements on subscribing to Straits Times. Normally, such a large-scale would have cost a few thousand dollars or more for an advertiser. The fact that they are willing to use so much space to advertise for their own newspaper shows one thing: their readership is declining.

How may that be so, actually? The Straits Times is Singapore's longest English daily broadsheet. Most, if not all, Singapore families would have already subscribed to it. The only possible new market would be new citizens, but with news about policies tightening, this would mean that the number of new citizens are decreasing in recent months.

Hence, if you claim that A16 and A17 is used to attract new citizens, I would then ask: would Straits Times really spend so much money on them? Frankly speaking, most new citizens are from China. They are definitely more proficient in Mandarin than English. While I do not deny some may deliberately subscribe to only Straits Times to force themselves to improve their English, I still believe that the majority of Chinese new citizens would rather subscribe Lianhe Zaobao.

The same thing can be said for new citizens coming from India.

It seems like the answer is 'no', to the question of whether Straits Times would spend a few thousand dollars or more to attract a decreasing number of new citizens. Then what may cause a decline in readership?

The most plausible answer would be that Singaporeans are cancelling their subscriptions to Straits Times. Well, why would Singaporeans cancel their subscriptions to Straits Times? Is it because they subscribe in turn to Straits Times online?

Evidently not, because if that were the case Straits Times would not bother to spend so much on print advertisement. I suppose the money earned from online subscriptions would be around the same as print subscriptions, and they would not require such advertisements.

I believe that it is because more Singaporeans (mainly below the age of 35) are realising how biased Straits Times is in terms of local reporting. These people are more open to online information, and I think they would rather get world news from reputable sources such as New York Times or BBC. (I personally like BBC.)

As for local news, I suppose having a daily read of Today newspaper is enough. If not, a search online may reveal even more perspectives or details of said local news item. As such, a Straits Times subscription is unnecessary.

Next would come the logical step of cancelling the subscription. And next would be a decline in readership. Next, still, would be Straits Times publishing full-page advertisements to try and attract people back.

If you look at the advertisement on A16 to A17, there is something about getting Otto massage products if you subscribe. Has Straits Times ever been so generous to subscribers? Apparently not, from what I can remember.

Previously, locals could only read Straits Times. The internet was not very developed and prevalent, and they were of the general impression that Straits Times was unbiased in reporting. Nowadays with organisations such as Reporters Without Borders and the Press Freedom Index being measured every year, the truth is out.

Singapore ranks 135 out of 179 countries. (Surprisingly, the lowest country is not North Korea; it is second-lowest.) Doesn't Singapore try to achieve number one in everything it does? Apparently, this is one item where Singapore does terribly bad in.

Back in 2000, then PM Goh CT claimed that it is okay to sacrifice press freedom for economic growth. Well, it's been twelve years and I'm sure our Singapore economy has been doing alright, if not better. When, if I may ask, is the time to release the iron grip on press freedom?

(By the way, our neighbour up north, Malaysia, ranks more than ten places above us.) The report mentioned about how some countries were surprisingly low on the list even though they had achieved considerable economic growth. Isn't it obvious enough it is about Singapore?

Back to the thing of Straits Times publishing advertisements. Why not everyone continue to observe for another month, how many of such advertisements, no matter big or small, continue to appear? If the quantity and size (of advertisements) increase, I suppose you may form your own conclusion in the context of all above as to how exactly is the readership trend going.

On a side note: the editors of Today and Straits Times are brothers. Both newspapers are supposed to be competitors to each other, although Today is free and earns through advertising. What say you? It is no wonder that many anti-establishment people accuse the government of practising nepotism instead of meritocracy all over government or government-related institutions.

I certainly hope that the Fernandez brothers are really so talented that they both become editors to compete against each other. I have heard stories about how both of them, being political correspondents previously, were groomed by members of the ruling party to toe the line when they oversee Singapore's English dailies. I certainly hope that is not the case, lah.

TTFN.


28 July 2012:

The second game to fascinate me so much since Tiny Tower.

By the way, Tiny Tower has released an update recently. Go download it if you haven't! This time, you can save VIPs in the lobby so you don't have to waste it!


This game is called Wizard Academy. It's produced by Basalt Games, and it's the only game produced by them (at least in the App Store). I'm not sure if it's available on other platforms, but it's surely on iOS.

This game attracts me because it is similar to an activity that I am doing five days a week: going to school! Wait! This is nothing like the boring school you go to!

Instead of being a student in the game, you get to be the principal of Wizard Academy. It's something like a university, since your students go to work once they leave the school.

As the principal, you are in charge of building rooms in the school and recruiting teachers. Your job is to try to let as many students get their dream job as possible. They can only get their dream job if their success rate is 100%.

How do you help them? You could send them on quests, which are something like field trips, or simply build classrooms and labs for them to study.

The students there have 12 subjects such as Arithmancy and Care for Animals. They study these subjects throughout their three years so long as you have the corresponding teacher and a classroom suitable for them.

You are to recruit teachers, which unlock as your level increases. At first, you will only have one or two. But when you reach a high enough level, you can get all 12 teachers. Each specialises in one of twelve subjects, but they do teach three others too. However the teachers get C or D themselves for their non-specialised subjects, so it's better to get specialised teachers.

Classrooms are simple. Year 1s study in Year 1 Classroom, same for year 2 and 3s. All you have to do is ensure that there are enough classrooms, which was why I said you need classrooms suitable for students.

Another interesting thing is the labs. You can build labs, which allow students to self-study and improve themselves. About half of all labs available can be bought with money, the rest require gems as payment.

Moving on to money then ... Each student you take in earns you 400 dollars a month. When you level up, you gain 10000 dollars and 2 gems. Gems are the alternative currency, which in other games is much harder to gain. In Wizard Academy, you can gain it simply by spam-watching trailers and earning. (Hint hint.) You can convert gems into money for 1000 dollars / gem, but not the other way. Also, some buildings that you have earn you XP, which helps you level up.

Speaking of month, the game is so-called time-based. It's not real-time though, if not you'd have to play for three years just for one batch of students! I don't actually keep track of the in-game time, but I suppose 1 month passes in about 5 - 10 minutes? That isn't too long actually, cos you do need to plan what to do every month.

This makes you think quick and strategise and have a plan. Else, you month would be wasted. In actual fact, the academic year for Wizard Academy is slightly different. The final year exam is in the first week of March, and students leave the school the next week. So it's actually two years and three months of studying. I suppose this problem would even out when there are more batches and things are more sorted out.

I simply like this game since it's so relatable. But here are some things I don't like about it too.

The game has no basic tutorial when you start. There's only an assistant that says he'll help you, but disappears. I waited one week, thinking there'll be a tutorial. Then at week 2 he hinted that I should check the help section.

The help section is easy to understand, but I would prefer if they could at least simulate a game for us first and then send us off to build our academy.

On the quests, we sometimes meet monsters. If you choose to fight, the students and monster simply move about and captions indicate 'students attack' or 'monster attack'. There's actually no game-play here, it's more of random luck seeing which side wins. I have tried putting weak students and strong students; there is no change.

Also, I am constantly out of money. Maybe it's because of the way I play, but I really am so poor sometimes, left with only $250 or less. There was once it was really $0. I had to convert gems.

That's about it. The game's pros outweigh the cons, so at the end of the day this really is a nice game, I believe. It's free now, but maybe if it really becomes very popular they might charge.

~

My first and second batch of students just graduated. I felt rather sad because I had not taught them well, and only 1 out of 6 got their dream job. Some even had to be part-timers. Their dream jobs were noble ones, such as sorcerer or grand wizard.

Although it's a virtual world, I do feel a little emotional since I've spent time 'nuturing' these students. I suppose it's how teachers in real life feel as well, yeah.

For my third batch of students, I deliberately took in the lowest tier kind, the uninterested and weak. Let's see how it goes.

Then I realised I wasted 3000 dollars searching for students. The assistant would send in students when you have none.

Now I have nine students. There is no way I can support so many with so little money every time. I can only see what I can do. Hopefully these students have lower aspirations so that I can easily fulfil them and they won't fail their exams.

I saw a repeat student in my fourth batch. She changed her dream job to something of a lower tier. It felt quite realistic and saddening.

This is a nice game. Go play it soon yeah!


TTFN.


27 July 2012:

我覺得是時候爭睹自己的生活了。

人際關係。人際關係好亂呀。朋友這個那個,錯綜複雜。

讀了一些小說。是英語的,是文學的。很深,我讀不懂。

我也讀不懂人生。人生比文學難。高級華文總是喜歡出關於人生的篇章。

我有時也是讀不懂。懵懵懂懂昏過去。人生能這樣嗎?


26 July 2012:

How's life without Twitter for me?

Have I become unsocial? I don't really think so.

Last night I visited a few people's Twitter. I did not log in - my account should have been deleted by now - so I could only see un-privated accounts.

After viewing for about half an hour, I may say that I am glad I am off Twitter. Twitter has become a place for negative quotes, I feel. Perhaps it's just the accounts I go to, but almost every account is filled with negative stuff from time to time.

Which was what I was doing, actually. Last time when I had Twitter and I felt sad, all sad let loose online, and all my followers would see how 'sad' I am. (Upon reflection, some of the sadness were self-inflicted, so my followers may be face-palming themselves or laughing in contempt.)

What's the use of that? For me, it just makes me even sadder. Especially when I see related tweets like that. I don't know if this 'sad emo tweet' thing is an Americanism or not, but it certainly rose and became popular.

There's the 'swag' posts on Tumblr too. That one, I'm quite sure it's an Americanism. For me, personally, sad tweets and swag posts are purely bullshit. I understand that yeah once in a while you're sad and you tweet a little. It serves as a release of emotions, which is actually good. But if 90% of your tweets are sad and emo: (1) you are neither sad nor emo, you are making things up to gain people's sympathy and possibly followers; (2) you are truly sad or emo, but all these were self-inflicted as you were too sensitive; or (3) you are really miserable in real life and it's been really hard on you.

Of course, most people aren't (3). In fact, those who actually face adversity are the ones who don't whine and whimper, but buck up and face it directly. If you are (2), you're not exactly wrong, but maybe you should seek a counsellor's help if not you might have mental breakdowns in the future. And if you are (1), get a cock (if you don't already have one) and make sure it reaches your arse. In other words, go ____ yourself!

As for the swag posts ... Why am I so certain it's an Americanism? I can't describe my hunch exactly, but because it is so meaningless and it basically is some sort of acting cool, I really think it's so. "Why [     ] when you have swag?" "Swag is only what I need to [     ]."

Why don't these people just shut up or post real motivational stuff. It's not as if swag really does help in any way. Sure, it's fun to do and talk about, but other than that it's nothing but a fad that makes people moronic in some way or another.

I genuinely have no one in mind when typing all this. It's a general observation I see, not any particular person doing these things.

TTFN.

Why create a blog when you can have swag?


25 July 2012:

Be thankful for what you have.

Some people get upset and feel that they are not appreciated by others. However, have these people appreciated themselves?

I am guilty for some of such things. The Yunnan trip I went to in 2010 delivered a strong message about appreciation.

Appreciate the things and people around you. From what I understand Christians give thanks to their God. Even though I do not believe the same way as them, I agree that giving thanks is necessary and essential.

Think of the person you detest most. Find 2 reasons to thank him / her for; they shall not be sarcastic. If you can't think of even one, you're not thinking hard. Either that, or perhaps this person is really too much of an arsehole.

Chances are you'll start realising the subtle good parts of these people whom you are strongly against. Maybe you would start treating them better.

TTFN.


22 July 2012:

PAP does not deserve the 60.1%.

I just had a dinner with some of my parents' friends. One came back from Australia while another remained in Singapore like us.

The issue on politics and the Lee family appeared many times in our conversations. And through these conversations, I learnt of things that were supposed to be secret forever.

Apparently someone didn't take enough precautions and others had big mouths.

I won't be telling exactly what happened, since I do not want to implicate anyone. Although that's rather unlikely, since my blog doesn't have many hits unlike Yawning Bread so it's unlikely that I would be pressured by AGC or some other body to apologise.

Back to where I was, I heard scandalous tales of misconduct by the Lee family. These were actually kept low for many years, and the things mentioned are still going on till today. Of course, Singapore media does not and cannot report on it, but it seems like more people know about this now.

I suppose it is true that our judicial system is bent towards supporting the ruling party and its leaders. It really does seem so, based on the former cases like LKY vs CSJ. So it was a pity that Alan Shadrake was jailed for contempt of court when he challenged our judicial system in his book. In Britain, at least in BBC, the government's news outlet, Singapore was cast in a bad light after the verdict came out.

Another story I heard - actually it's not a story since it's true - was about how someone in power was able to manipulate judicial investigations. Of course, the sensible thing to do then was to blow this matter up for the whole world to scrutinise and for the ruling party to explain seriously. However, sadly, the person can't.

The PAP has many who are lawyers. The man right at the top (used to be, rather) is a lawyer by training. That's why he was able to sue CSJ successfully twice and JBJ too. They would know of loopholes in Singapore law that they can exploit. The most common and easiest one to use is the lack of solid evidence.

Sadly, in most cases, there really is not much evidence. These people would be willing swear an oath of death, but of course it is no use in court. The people involved can easily use this to throw the case out of the window. Sometimes, yes, it's the people's fault since they do not bother to keep detailed records. However, other times, it was because things were manipulated such that no proper records could be kept or that it was invalid.

No wonder one of my parents' friends chose to run to Australia. Partly, it was for a better life and education for their daughter. But largely, I believe, was because of such a political atmosphere. The ruling party has been doing things that are incorrect. I do not mean making wrong decisions - anyone may make that mistake too. I mean things that are against the law, yet they get away scot-free.

In forums, I see people calling the PAP 'PAPigs'. While I would not use such a term, I understand their angst. Chances are, their friends or even they themselves have experienced such bullying by members of the ruling party. Such behaviour is something like in China.

Yet, according to our pledge, we are supposed to be democratic. My previous history teacher Mr Y told us that actually Singapore is, strictly speaking, a socialist democracy. Sadly, I feel it is more like a capitalist dictatorship. Of course, things are not that gloomy. Singapore's political scene has been changing. I hope that next time Singapore would prosper politically as well.

- news flash - I read this article today in Lianhe Zaobao about the death penalty, homosexuality and megachurhces. I am truly surprised that a conservative newspaper (they're conservative since it's mainly conservative old folks and PRCs that are reading) would run such a controversial commentary. In it, it said that Singapore should be more open to homosexuality to embrace diversity. It even pointed out that Singapore is an exception: one of very few economically developed countries that criminalise homosexuality. Indeed, indeed. (I didn't really read the part about the death penalty, much less the part on megachurches.)

- another news flash - Someone's calling so TTFN.


21 July 2012:

It took a while, but I've finished it.


On 16 May, I blogged about reading four stories from this book. Days ago, I finally finished it. Here's my take on this book:

Part One was boring. Maybe it's me, but the stories in it weren't particularly interesting and engaging. I do acknowledge that Gladwell is a fabulous writer and he beautifully crafts each piece, but I suspect it's the content of the stories that put me off.

Or sometimes, it's because there are too many names and I get confused. And it did take a while for an anal grammar Nazi like me to get used to the American style and spelling used in this book. (I'm glad that most books in Singapore bookstores are published in Britain so it's in British English.)

Part Two was better. I stopped reading this book for a while, which was why this book took me rather long, compared to other books I've read previously. I stopped after finishing Part One, and I was seriously contemplating whether or not to continue reading it. I felt slightly disappointed then, cos I expected Gladwell's works to be stellar, yet I did not feel this way after Part One.

At least Part Two wasn't that bad. I don't really remember the stories now, but I do remember some very valuable messages that Gladwell had came up with after analysing some seemingly unrelated incidents.

Part Three was the best. This was where I went 'aha, that's what I've been waiting for!' It could, again, be coincidence that the stories covered in Part Three was most interesting to me. For all you know, someone might have the opposite opinion of me for the three parts.

I finished Part Three the fastest, and there was no procrastination for it. For the previous two parts, I actually chose to read other things / do other stuff instead of continuing, which was very unlike me for the previous books. I finished Part Three on a weekday night, and I remember feeling rather happy that at least the book didn't exactly disappoint me, and I don't suppose it will to you.

Overall, the book provides great insights from many aspects of life. The best and most ingenious part of the stories is that Gladwell is able to relate seemingly foreign incidents (say teaching and rugby, where USA calls it 'football' ) and come up with very thought-provoking messages.

I would recommend this book, but if you ask me for a score I would probably give 7/10 or even 6.5.

What am I reading now? I've been trying to alternate between English and Chinese books so that I can maintain being bilingual, and the next one I'm reading is:


(I couldn't find the exact cover of the version I'm reading now; this was kope-ed from Wikipedia. Nevertheless, it shouldn't be of much difference.)

這本書(其實是四冊)是我上個月在大眾書局的closing-down sale購買的。華文書的部份很多都是一些烹飪書,給那些阿姨們吧我想。我拿了九把刀的「后青春期的詩」之後就像走人啦,幸好我看到金庸的名著。

其實,在這之前,我沒讀過金庸的任何作品。我認識金庸,知道他是個非常有名的作家。但是因為他寫武俠小說的緣故,我從來沒去嘗試讀他的書。現在,我開始嘗試,希望不會被悶壞啦。

昨天在巴士上讀了兩頁。故事的開頭有很多描寫的部份,哇,那我非常需要學學啦。古裝的故事有很多服裝、人物、景色的細節,所以才需要一一描寫出來。金庸其實也沒用到華麗辭藻,不過我也能感受得到他想表達的東西。

TTFN.


16 July 2012:

I'm over and done with her.


What’s up with the ‘over and done with’?

I have decided not to think of and about her anymore.

Why? It’s been so long.

Precisely since it’s been so long and I’ve been getting nowhere. To be fair, I have done almost nothing. Other guys give elaborate gifts to their fancies on their birthdays. I did nothing of the sort. I don’t think I even wished her anything, actually.

You’re a heartless person! How can you claim you have feelings for her?

Well, I guess you’ve seen me at my worse. I was really smitten by her last year and years before. This year the feelings started to fade, I don’t know why.

Then why is it only now that you decide to give up?

I don’t know why, either. I simply had a ‘eureka moment’, I guess. It seems lame, yes, but I simply ‘decided’ to give up. And anyway, does it even matter why or not I give up? Before when I ‘did not give up’, I was inactive, so to speak. It was almost as if there was nothing.

I thought you ‘gave up’ on her previously? Are you just having second thoughts from time to time? You fickle-minded person!

Well yes indeed. I did do something like this during Sec 2, but I suppose this is rather final? (You may boo me if I reverse this decision in the future.) I do not remember what happened then, but all I remembered was my telling a few people about it. No, I really do not think that I am being fickle; I’m certainly not in this with a ‘play for fun’ mind-set.

Are you doing this because you actually fancy someone else?

No, there is no one that I fancy currently. Naught eye candies either. I just want to take a break from all this. While I did not actually put in any effort, I suppose it is mental (or psychological) effort that I put in. Well you may dismiss that as a load of bollocks, but that’s really what I experience.

What are you lamenting about? She and you were never in a relationship!

Yes indeed. Well I’m not exactly lamenting, I’m just doing a ‘closure’ kind of thing. I just want things to end.

You’re rather miserable. She probably doesn’t know any of this.

That’s ideal, actually. I wouldn’t want her to know any of this, although ironically this is on public domain where anyone including she can view. About the miserable part … let’s just say I can’t blame anyone for my ‘plight’. To be honest besides some grief I don’t feel any more miserable.

Wouldn’t it be awkward between you and her?

I do hope not. She shouldn’t know about anything at all, so on her side I suppose she would react normally. On my side … I’ll try not to be too awkward.

What would you do if she gets a boyfriend?

If the guy’s tall, dark, handsome, muscular, well-groomed, thoughtful, caring, genteel – in summary, the opposite of me – then I’ll definitely wish her well. If I think that the guy’s a jerk, I’ll probably find some way to warn her about him. Of course, I do hope that I won’t be misunderstood as a jealous rival that has failed.

What if your friends continue to tease you in front of her?

I shall kick them in the bollocks or fanny (that obviously depends on which they possess). Okay just kidding. I’ll tell them and pray they stop. Otherwise maybe I’ll really kick them if all else fails.

What if she asks you about it?

I shall kick myself in the bollocks. Actually I can’t do that. So I’ll probably just nod shyly but clarify that it’s no more.

Why are you answering your own questions online?

I don’t know. Is this part of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

One final question. What if she turns out to fancy your good friend?

I hope you’re not thinking too much, alright.

TTFN.



aboutme.

From Singapore. 20 years of age. Blogs as and when inspiration comes, in British English (and Singlish), Traditional Chinese and (hopefully) Russian. Not a lifestyle blogger, expect posts to be serious, dull or even obscure. I enjoy comedy, in particular British humour.



interests.

[more or less in order] medicine | forensics | theatre | modern world history | typography (including style and grammar) | visual design | Taiji | Chinese language and literature | Mandarin pop (and singing) | Apple products.



typography.

PT Serif for main text and links. Ubuntu Condensed for dates, post titles and sidebar headings. Both fonts from Google Web Fonts.



credits.

singzeon. by Sing Zeon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence. Pictures used here either come from my Instagram (instagram.com/singzeon) or Google image search. For the latter, I do not own those pictures.



quote.

Hard to love. 認真你就輸了。