New Towner

This is one of the rare occasion when after 14 years, some of us New Towners got together. As what Kelvin had said (Front row, Right extreme), "Apart from the hair and tummy" most of us stayed the same.

The graduating class of 4/8 and 4/4. Keep it up. Keep it together. Posted by Picasa

Matrix is back.

From the fire in the workshop, my matrix is back. Newer... but still the same ole Matrix with big interior. Still a fuel hog. But my matrix is back.

Reservist.

Just came back from a 5 days low key reservist session.

As usual once in-process, it feels like I am on chain. Cannot go anywhere, do anything without orders. The feeling of lost freedom. The feeling take a sit back stage, as one by one the familar faces turn up. Faces which had went through the gruelling 5 days 4 night defence in the remote area in Simpang, Sembawang with me.

Reservist is a strange thing. There is a love hate relationship. Although I hate to go back, but going back bring about a strong sense of belonging. Being with my brothers-in arms.

Everytime i went back, there will be some real life story that I would experience. It also let me feel that higher the officers are, the more inhumane they get. All they worry about is looking good. An example, this guy called Poh, he had to go to Jarkata for work. However, office only confirm that last week. So he obediently came in and hope to have the in-camp defered. To his dismay, after an interview with the commanding officer, he was only given 1 day off. What is this?!! Work, money, family come first. Training can be done another day. If he lose his work because of this, Mindef is not going to be responsible. They will deny any responsibility and the poor guy will had to handle it himself. There are a thousand and one ways that the employer can find to have him "removed". If not it might affect his apprisal or promotion or bouns. We fight for Singapore not just on the military aspects but also on the economics front. In peace time economny come first. If companies in S'pore cannot accept the disruption of having its employees going on reservist and having productivity loss, then it is the Singaporean that will ultimately lose.

Another brother had came back and shared with us his story. He had to work overseas very frequently and is only in the country approx 10%- 20% of the time. But this the duration is always less than 1/2 a year and does not qualify for deferment. He was charged for failing to turn up for RT and then missing in-camp without permission. All in the name earning a living. The sad thing about his story was also because of his work. Due to his long hours away from home, his spouse had an affair and file for divorce. Problem is compounded with the reservist responsibilty.

Sacrifice made by NSmen is not going to be covered by a $400 progress package. Govt claimed to understand, but I guess they never will.

This in-camp we see a number of promotions and soon to be promoted personnel. From husband to father and father of 1 to father of 2. We still have a number of bachalors whom we are trying to get them promoted.

Going back is really a love hate relationship. Love to meet up with my brothers
but hate to lose my freedom. Love the talk cock session but hate the falling in. Love the drinking session but hate the lack of choice for meals. Love the shooting but hate to clean the rifle. Love the nature hate the mosquitos.

Dunno when is the next one going to be next year?

Voting

Something which I experienced for the 1st time in my life.

I came to the conclusion that voting is not as secret as it can be. Who or whom an elector vote for can be found out given the right resources.

Extracted is the Parlimentary Election Act Section 42 with my comments in RED.

The definition of Secret:
Something kept hidden from others or known only to oneself or to a few.

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ACT

(CHAPTER 218)

Manner of voting
42. —(1) Each voter entitled to vote shall be given one ballot paper and shall have one vote. (1A) Each voter entitled to vote in any group representation constituency shall have one vote and may vote for any one group of candidates in the manner prescribed by this section.
[10/88]
(2) The ballot paper shall be delivered to the voter by the presiding officer or a person acting under his authority. (2A) Immediately before the ballot paper is delivered to the voter —
(a) the paper shall, unless it already bears the complete official mark for the authentication of ballot papers, be affixed, stamped or marked (by writing or otherwise) by the presiding officer in the approved manner with that official mark or the remaining part thereof, or initialled by the presiding officer;
(b) the number, name and description of the voter, as stated in the copy of the register of electors, shall be called out;
(c) the number of the elector shall be marked on the counterfoil; and (The ballot paper has a serial number and the conterfoil has the same serial number. The elector number is marked on the counterfoil. Thus if one got hold of the conterfoil, the ballot paper and the list of elector, one will have the ability to find out who vote for who. These 3 items are held by the Election Office in Prinsep. And only the authorized person can access it.)
(d) a mark shall be placed in the register against the number of the elector to denote that he has received a ballot paper but without showing the particular ballot paper which he has received.
[18/99]
(3) The voter, on receiving the ballot paper, shall forthwith proceed to such place in the station as may be indicated by the presiding officer or by any person acting under that officer"s authority, and shall there secretly mark the paper as near as may be in accordance with the directions given for the guidance of voters under this Act. (3A) The voter shall then fold the paper so as to conceal his vote, and shall put the paper so folded up into the ballot box. (3B) The voter shall vote without undue delay and shall leave the polling station as soon as he has put his ballot paper into the ballot box. (4) The presiding officer or any person authorised by him may ask any voter if the voter understands the method of voting in accordance with this Act and may, if he thinks fit, on the application of any voter, explain to the voter, in the presence of the polling agents of the candidates if present, the method of voting in accordance with this Act; but in so doing he shall carefully abstain from any action which might be construed by the voter as advice or a direction to vote for any particular candidate or group of candidates.
[10/88]
(5) The presiding officer, on the application of a voter who is incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause from voting in the manner prescribed by this Act, shall mark the ballot paper of the voter in the manner directed by the voter, and shall cause the ballot paper to be placed in the ballot box. (6) The presiding officer may at any time while a poll is proceeding take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that no voter delays unduly in any place reserved for the marking of ballot papers. (7) During the taking of the poll, the presiding officer shall cause to be exhibited outside his polling station a notice in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil, substantially in the form set out in the Second Schedule, giving directions for the guidance of voters in voting.

The car push its radiator up my vehicle exhaust

Then it loses some of it teeth. Posted by Picasa

I Got Buang Again.

3 month has not pass since the fateful day when I lost the use of my car. Now on the 2nd of May 2006. I got rear ended by a malaysian car. See the damage? Have to be towed.. in this case literally carry away as the car rear tire is jamed.

I was travelling down a nice and straight expressway when all of the sudden, the car jerk forward and a loud bang. I thought that my tire burst. But that was not the case. The silver wira and us slowly move to the side.

See what happen to it on the next post.

The joy of R.T

Government sponsored exercise Posted by Picasa