Elections are coming!

Make no mistake about it. The slew of measures which followed the PM's national day rally speech were appeasement measures enacted with the General Elections in mind. After a series of high profile blunders, the government has finally started to address the long-standing concerns of many Singaporeans. Affordability of housing, transportation, immigration. Major issues, the opposition party could have exploited, to damage the government's majority, come election time. On paper, the changes look promising. This underlines clearly, the importance of having an opposition party. Its mere presence was enough, in this case, to keep the government on its toes.

Grand Prize.

I won the Grand Prize at the school teachers' day dinner last night. A return ticket to Kunming in Lijiang China. Valid from September to 31st December 2010. Very nice. Except I am already going, with the school in early December. Feels like someone is playing a trick on me.

Smart Animals

Animals are smarter than we think they are. This morning, I was awoken by a jarring metallic noise coming from the balcony. I was surprised to see that that the source of the noise was an angry mynah bird, perched on the bamboo pole we use for drying out clothes. He or she had flown in to confront my cat, Miu Miu who spends his mornings over at the kitchen window starring out at the mynah's nest on the air-conditioner box just out of reach. The two were locked in a long stare until the mynah swooped down on him, and Miu Miu ever timid, already intimidated by the strange alien noise, retreated and ran behind me. Mynah 1 Miu Miu 0.

Perspective.

The opening ceremony of the inaugural YOG was impressive, a real spectacle; the lighthouse finale was especially impressive. Our national leaders must surely be pleased with the showcase of our city skyline to TV audiences all around the world.

To put things in perspective however, in Pakistan, millions of people are reeling from the worst floods in the country's history, triggered by monsoon rains and a new antibiotic resistant super-bug has surfaced in Europe, sparking fears of a new global pandemic.

Are we really supposed to be celebrating?

So much to learn.

With each additional workshop/course on photography that I attend, I discover how little I know, and realize there is so much more for me to learn and I can ill afford to rest on my laurels.

Change of mind.

This has been such an exhausting week. I have not been so sleep deprived since days in the army. But seeing how high and happy the students were made me think it was all worth it.