Observations - 26th July 2011

"We do not know what we want and yet we are responsible for what we are - that is the fact." - Jean-Paul Sartre

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"If the government people show concern, you say they act concerned. If they don't show concern, you would call them out of touch and elitist."

"If you have a vision, that means you are a dreamer. I am not a dreamer" - Goh Keng Swee


It's actually "just deserts" and not "just desserts". Oops.

"Eisegesis" is a good word to describe apologetics and literature

I am very happy the word akimbo exists (meaning having hand on hip and elbow bent outward). Dandle is almost as fun.


In China my Vietnamese companion (living in Singapore) said Joo Chiat had a lot of Vietnamese food and Vietnamese prostitutes, and a lot of Vietnamese ladyboys. I was surprised as the nation isn't famous for them.

"People reminiscing about the Tanjong Pagar train obviously have not or seldom take the train."

"Seeking Donations for Community Cat with Eye Infection & Cataract". We treat cats better than people


"The essence of any utopianism is: Conjure an ideal that makes an impossible demand on reality, then announce that, until the demand is met in full, your ideal can't be fairly evaluated. Attribute any incidental successes to the halfway meeting of the demand, any failure to the halfway still to go."
Keywords: chalk up all progress, defend utopia, attribute all, ascribe all, libertarianism, libertarian, incomplete, all progress, how to defend utopianism, ideology, all incremental

Harry Potter is about doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend. (This is attributed to Stephen King but I cannot find any independent verification, and 99% of the hits are from or about Twitter or Tumblr)

"Cynicism" is a cynical way to dismiss someone you disagree when you can't say how he's wrong

People rave about Colonial Architecture, but so far the only example not inferior to what's in the Mother Country I've found is Victoria Terminus in Bombay (but India was special and it's a UNESCO World Heritage site after all). This is not surprising given that colonies would not be allowed to outshine the mother country. The raves also underscore that usually the new country has not produced anything comparable since Independence.

"I’m sorry, but I’m going to say it. If you save Ashley on a serious playthrough, you’re a fucking ass. You let a good person die so you could fuck a mediocre bitch.
… damn, I’m really getting serious about this. It’s just a videogame… I need to get outside."

"my ancestors took Malay cuisine, the tastiest in the region, and added the one and only missing element. pork"


"Just realised I keep some friends on FB purely so I can feel better about myself after looking at their "I'm super chio lorx" pictures."

"The Takameru Enhancement Mask has a layer of phyto-rich formula to induce breast enhancement." - Sounds like a recipe for breast cancer

女人和孩子的钱最好赚 - Chinese Wisdom!


If men objectify prostitutes, prostitutes objectify their customers.

Theory I heard about the lesbian pay gap: lesbians are more aggressive in negotiating salaries (this would explain why women are paid less also)


RT @TanniieTann: I love how people are overreacting at #BlameTheMuslims being a TT without knowing WHY. It was started by @Strange_Sanum, a fellow MUSLIM
(On the Oslo incident)

RT @contrabandkarma: Singapore: Where public transport companies can brazenly ask to raise fares even as their service standards plummet.

RT @longadin: Dear Tuck Yew... we would pay more for lousier service if nationalised? Wait, Ministers are technically nationalised too.

RT @thecoolhunter: Those who criticize our generation forget who raised it.

RT @johannhari101: When people tell me to "respect" religion, they're asking me to lie to them - I don't respect it. I have too much real respect to patronize