Saturday was the NDP "National Education" show, for the viewing pleasure of Primary 5 students. Even though I've been to many system runs and 2-3 rehearsals, I always find new things to write about!

The indoctrination and brainwashing is really quite disgusting. And it works - the audience was very enthusiastic about the show, even if they were gullible 11 year olds. On a larger level, from polls conducted, people's responses in the media and postings to forums, it would appear that all the National Propaganda, also known as "National Education" is working, and many people believe and accept the official line in many aspects like Racial Harmony and National Slavery. I do respect that some things need to be said, and the government's perspective provided, but the trouble is that very often, the flip side of the coin is not shown. So much for critical thinking. As I have quipped before, at least Nazi Germany and Saddam Hussein were honest when they created their Ministries of Propaganda. Here we call it the Ministry of Information and the Arts :) In addition, there are overtones of a personality cult - there's a part where videos of Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong talking are played. I can almost imagine the torchlit processions! Of course, all this jingoism might have an effect on me if I wasn't already steeled in my resolve by my current and future situation.

I arrived at about 12:30, and I was offered lunch. I'd already eaten, though, at the Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee (I love Hae Mee!) nearby, so I declined. They were quite generous actually, giving more than they'd had in past weeks. Unfortunately, they compensated by giving less for dinner - the already measly Pizza Hut portions were reduced further, with the slice of Pizza given barely big enough to cover the palm of a hand. Complaints were rife - "I'm never going to Pizza Hut ever again". And one guy was very unlucky - his father'd brought him to Pizza - and at Pizza Hut too - for lunch.

They are very cheapskate. There's a part where the Guard Of Honour fires a "Feux de Joie" (Fire of Joy), and incidentally, the Parade Commander's command includes the French words "Feux de Joie", which means that "Fire of Joy" has been added to the list of words or phrases for which there is no equivalent in Malay, which has, amonmg other words, "Spring" and "President" in it. Actually by right, "Ais Krim", "Coklat" and "Restoran" should be in it too. But I digress. Anyhow, I was wondering previously why the sound of their blanks being discharged was so loud until the NE show, when the sound was issued. But there were no people firing blanks! It turns out the evil people had pre-recorded the sound of rifles discharging!

Xaiver Ng, formerly from RV in my year, was stationed near my point as a marshaller, I believe. Too bad I didn't have the opportunity to go and talk to him.

I notice a lot of the participants and support crew for NDP wear the same pair of shoes, which is presumably given to them for free. Not bad.

More weird Malay commands - "Yang Lai", or something to that effect. Strictly speaking, I didn't hear that during any of the NDP rehearsals, including yesterday's, which is actually a rehearsal in disguise, but during SAF day. All the same, it is amusing, taking its place alongside (but below) "Punji Punji". I think the drill commands being in Malay lets me put some mental distance between myself and the reality of it all.

I saw one of the MDC guy's security pass, and it said that his rank was Lance Corporal. I set to wondering what Zaini's rank was, but his pass has no rank on it, not even "DXO". Maybe the MDC has a different ranking system for NUSAFs. Speaking of him, he was wearing a very odd outfit - a white shirt with a huge rose printed across the front, overlong pants and a gigantic belt. I wonder where he does his shopping.

I was flipping through Pioneer Magazine when I saw Melvin Tay in a BMT feature! Suspicious and shocked, I called Kairen. And as I suspected, he'd had a hand in it, recommending Melvin for this story. The article is terribly sanitised, as one'd expect of a publication of Pioneer's origins. Of course, Melvin denies it. I'd put in a link to the article on CyberPioneer, but it's not up yet, if it ever will be. In the same issue is a lame cartoon drawn by Chan Kairen about simulations. And analysing the output of my favourite Pioneer writer, I found some parts with minor errors and others stylistically irritating, possibly with shades of Chua Lee Hoong's influence! Even he cannot escape the depredations of our bondage! I really should scan these two items in - this is one issue I'm not going to shred!

I wonder if the radiation emitted by Signals Sets is carcinogenic. Poor Andrew Tan.

We had some time before the show started, so we took a catnap on the floor of the gym-turned-medical-post. Yeh. And I realised again why I shouldn't sleep on my back, but should lie prone or in the 3/4 prone (Semi-Supine Lying Position - SSLP) instead - it has a lower chance of disturbing people around me. No matter - I usually sleep on my tummy anyway, and it's more comfortable for me. And I'll lower the chances of obstructive sleep apnea occuring, I believe, together with the lesser nuisance of disturbing people when I slumber - the less serious form of the aforementioned apnea.

One medic from another unit, an ex-RJCian a year my senior, is keeping his mind alive! He called someone up to tell him why superconductors with nil resistance are not a good idea. Yeh.

One MO was playing with the rowing machine in the gym. I believe the last time I tried that I got scolded. Oh well, three bars on your epaulettes gives you a measure of protection.

When the pre-parade segment finally started, Goldman's name was revealed on the LCD screens - Mr Jeffery Tan. He really looks quite striking with his golden spiked hair and yellow trousers (and only yellow trousers).

The 4 MCs pranced around in Chinesesque robes, and donned glasses with giant yellow stars in front of them. And then they unmasked themselves in a dramatic fashion and started bouncing around the field. Weird. I wonder who comes up with these quirky ideas. Anyhow the audience was very excited and started screaming, so 3 of us decided to scream along with them!

The Primary 5 students kept throwing the coasters they found inside the "funpack" onto the ground. The coasters carried some ad for nursing homes, if I recall correctly.

Anna Belle was missing from the quartet of "talented young ladies" singing the remixed version of the NDP song. I wonder what happened to her.

The outfit the girls from the CHIJs wore for their item was terrible - it was a short dress with a white top, on which drops of paint appeared to be drizzled at random. I think maybe it's a requirement for performance attire to be either disgusting, loud or otherwise shocking - basically it's to be stuff you'll never walk down the street in.

The bagpipers in the Police Bagpipe Band are all female. I wonder if that has anything to do with our prudish and conservative nation not liking the sight of males in skirts, even if they -are- kilts.

I knew the SCDF and Police had a lot Malays, but I didn't realise just how many until Saturday, as I got to see a very big sample size. Especially in the former organisation, it is hard to find non-high ranking non-Malays.

Some of the people in the marching contingents wear Camo. Eck.

The Signing Choir was filing past, and this woman was asking them to close the gap. Very intelligent and sensitive, considering that most of them are deaf.

I believe I saw Winston Hodge in the crowd when the camera was panning past a group of people.

Some of the rest were discussing the star of the show, Jo'an Ow, and her interview on the news. Apparently she's quite bimbotic, using the dreaded phrase "and stuff".

I realise I've not had to actually sing the National Anthem since JC. Hurrah.

Today, Stefanie Sun didn't come down, so they used the backup, Jamie Teo. She modulates her voice randomly and seemingly at will, making her singing very torturous to the ear. At least she doesn't have the slight cheena accent that the other has. The star of the show was also not present, so some girl named Kelly Tuan was the backup.

Tony Tan was the reviewing officer, and beside him was a general. I didn't count the stars, but there were more than 2 so I assume it was the Chief of Defence. He was wearing one of the rarely seen outfits, probably No 5.

The Parade Regimental Sergeant Major is Timothy's favourite RSM - SWO Jeffery Chung from 3rd Division. Haha.

The costumes that the dancers for the 4 songs in each of the 4 national languages wear aren't done tastefully. Besides the preponderance of red and black, the skirts are so short, and slit so high that you can see the shorts worn inside to protect the dancers' modesty. This is in very bad taste, and defeats the point of showing flesh in the first place!

The singers of the 4 songs in the 4 languages, and indeed all of the songs with soloists, all sounded remarkably similar to the tapes - I suspect they were actually lip synching. My suspicions were more or less confirmed when, listening to performers singing the dance remix of the NDP song, I heard all 4 of the "talented young ladies" singing. But at least they have the decency to turn up. Though Vernon Cornelius appears to have difficulty doing the fundance!

Near the end, the star of the show gets into a hot air balloon with some guy singing "We can change the world" whom I called "the bozo in the balloon". Looking at the webpage, I now think that he is Dick Lee :)

When you see fireworks on TV, it looks very impressive as you are shown the helicopter view. However, when you view the display live, you see that the fireworks don't actually reach such a great height, but explode somewhere below the height of the lighting towers. On a related note, the fireworks grow more and more extravagant every year, at least from what I can tell. This year, the final blast of fireworks was so intense that the ground shook. Sadly, we from our position opposite the grandstand missed the bulk of the fireworks display, as the best fireworks were fired from directly above us, and we couldn't go out onto the field, so we had to content ourselves with looking at the LCD screen.

The person who sings the national anthem in an irritating, sultry voice was revealed to be Jacintha Abisheganaden.

After dismissing us, the Medical Officer we were with gave each of the 7 of us a pair of "Green" tickets (those to the grandstand area, I believe) to the NDP Preview. How kind of him!

Unsatisfied by what passed for our dinner, I went to try Burger King's "new" Chicken Whopper Jr. It is very disappointing, very tiny for the price, though the foil wrap to seal in the flavour is a nice touch. I miss the Broiler (which is probably what the Chicken Whopper is actually). And the lower prices that they used to have.

The bus service diversion was so confusing that I ended up walking the length of the Nicol Highway again. Rather invigorating, actually, when one doesn't have a heavy bag by one's side.


Perhaps it's the material, or it's a curse laid on them, but No 4 uniforms tend to make one sweat and stink a lot. Except for Officers, and possibly Specialists, of course.

Apparently Mr Sowden calls Mrs Lim Guat Ching, aka the Commander, the Commander too! No wonder she was so flustered and asked me to take her quotes down because she was being "teased".

"Everytime he sees me he runs away screaming... Is it because I'm too screwed up?" - Geraldine on David

Conversations with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named:
Me: "not in that way, not really
I think I miss her sometimes, but I'm not sure if I miss her as a best friend (and more, besides - we're still more than best friends but less than lovers) or a significant other
or if what I miss is more a relationship itself, not the particular person"

Him: "*sad smile*
you're learning fast.
and the next thing you need to learn is that you never really answer that question - no matter how far you move on."

This is very depressing.


Interesting things you find:

Bahasa Malaysia Christian Praise 7 (located at http://www.pujian.freeservers.com/lagu07.htm which is inaccessible, but still viewable in Google's cache)

And I found a specific part of the Economist's survey of why the Arab countries weren't doing well particularly amusing. The survey, rather, a survey of a survey done by some Arab scholastics, gives 3 reasons as to why the Arab countries aren't faring as well as they should - the lack of freedom, lack of knowledge and the lack of women's emancipation. Apparently lacking one or two of these may not hurt an economy - Singapore is cited as an example of a place where there is little political freedom, but the economy does well.