S.H.E 《安静了》

Avenue Q

I managed to catch the very last performance of the muppet musical "Avenue Q" at the Esplanade last night. It was hilarious and I practically laughed from start till end. Everything about it was so wrong and yet so true. The topics touched on are what we do every day but deem too taboo to talk about just because of our supposedly self-defined high morals. The songs were truthfully crude (with catchy tunes) and the scenes were obscenely raw (in a funny sort of way).

Time to change our immigration policy?

In light of the discussions in the newspapers recently on Singapore becoming overcrowded, economic downturn with job losses, and crimes committed by foreigners, I think it is about time Singapore reviews her selection criteria of her immigration policy. IMHO, the selection criteria should base on three aspects:

1. Lack of minds - Singaporeans are known for our good minds on books and work processes but we do have a problem in finding a many number of creative and inspirational minds. We have no choice but to import and we always have use for people who can see things from different perspectives.
2. Lack of skills - So far, Singaporeans have been outstanding in manufacturing, engineering, financial, medical, and education but are still relatively weak in creative and performing arts, designing, advertising, etc. Even in fields we are strong in, we still have a long way to go in matching the developed countries and can use more external help.
3. Lack of businesses - If a certain business or industry requires resources that Singaporeans cannot provide, it will not be here. So if we want that business to gain a foothold here fast, then we really need to import wholesale, employers and employees alike.

Therefore, with such clarifications, we have no excuse to import workers for jobs which employers keep saying Singaporeans shun because the jobs are too menial or dirty. I am sure Singaporeans will take up any job as long as the price is right. Pay them enough for their efforts and their costs of raising a family here. When both the workers and jobs are valued highly, I am confident people will take pride in what they do and service quality will improve.

Sure, I can hear you screaming, two sentences earlier, "What about the cost? Higher salaries to workers means higher charges we consumers have to pay!" I say in the long run we will gain, because consumers will then appreciate anyone servicing them more and not treat them as though they own them. And even if consumers feel that by paying more means they can demand even more, is it worse than now?

And the bottom-line is, wouldn't it be more generous, more charitable, more patriotic to pay for the job of a fellow countryman, even if it costs more? Thus it's time. It's time to change. Put a cap to the number of foreign workers we import.

五月天 《你不是真正的快樂》

What a truthfully sad song! Yes, we smile and laugh all the time but who can say he or she is truly happy...

人 群中 哭著 你只想變成透明的顏色
你再也不會夢 或痛 或心動了
你已經決定了 你已經決定了

你 靜靜 忍著 緊緊把昨天在拳心握著
而回憶越是甜 就是 越傷人了
越是在 手心留下 密密麻麻 深深淺淺 的刀割

你不是真正的快樂 你的笑只是你穿的保護色
你決定不恨了 也決定不愛了
把你的靈魂關在永遠鎖上的軀殼

這 世界 笑了 於是妳合群的一起笑了
當生存是規則 不是 你的選擇
於是妳 含著眼淚 飄飄盪盪 跌跌撞撞 的走著

你不是真正的快樂 你的笑只是你穿的保護色
你決定不恨了 也決定不愛了
把你的靈魂關在永遠鎖上的軀殼

你不是真正的快樂 你的傷從不肯完全的癒合
我站在你左側 卻像隔著銀河
難道就真的抱著遺憾一直到老了 然後才後悔著

你值得真正的快樂 你應該脫下你穿的保護色
為什麼失去了 還要被懲罰呢
能不能就讓 悲傷全部 結束在此刻 重新開始活著