peace

The last time i put my thoughts online i couldnt post anymore for a while.
so i shall silent myself now.
hush...

Our ministers are getting more pay. It's an invitation to the best talents to form the best team.

So it's making news. Singapore ministers are getting more pay comparable to some of the highest earners in the private sector in Singapore. What's the rationale? To lure in better talents.
Do they deserve it? Someone said ministers in some other countries doing as well as or even better than Singapore in some areas are not even getting that much money. But MM Lee said to achieve such great achievements in a short time is remarkable and can only be done with the best talents. And some ministers supported the fact that we have to be realistic that many are still attracted to a job due to the monetary returns.
And with reference to best talents, another reader of the local paper wrote in saying that among the top earners, none of them are medical doctors but the medical faculty never runs short of applicants. In fact, the number of applicants into the medical faculty every year far exceeds the number accepted for the interviews. So it cannot be true that all Singaporeans are after the money when it comes to choosing their profession. So what is missing in Singapore politics that are not attracting the talents?
Let's side-track... A local filmmaker's film was banned and this filmmaker may even be charged. His mistake? His movie featured one of Singapore's political detainees. One opposition who tried to organise a forum to discuss the minister's pay rise had his license application rejected... and so the critics are silenced.
Once again, what is missing in Singapore politics that are not attracting the best talents? I'm so not into issues on politics. I don't really care if my voice is not heard but I can't say the same for the 'best talents'.

Today's learning point

I went for a workshop today. About the use of blogs, podcasts, web tools in teaching. I am determined to try all these tools while I am still inspired by the workshop. Will try to use it for my personal matters before embarking on the use of these in class with the students. My students are not even sending me emails how can I convince them to take part in blogs or wikis? I'll start with myself and keep on exploring later on. Maybe I have to give credit to our good trainer Mr Chris Smith for inspiring us (at least I was inspired) to try out new generation of tools. Well if these are actually old, it explains how updated I am with technology. At least I am able to publish this blog.

Today is also a day when I took the public bus service. I had a nice sleep during the journey. That is so relaxing but still left me with a splitting headache. I slept for an hour when I arrived home and was late for tuition. That was unprofessional of me. Luckily there was a good plan B in place (something that happened by chance anyway) so not much time was wasted.

After tuition was the chit chat session with my two good frens, Hamza and Erhan. Omer was not there tonight. He must have come home rather late to come and join. But I had met Omer for lunch in the afternoon already. Topic of discussion: Biodiesel...??? and reminiscing the good old school and childhood days. I will not divulge details of the conversation although nothing said was so personal.

The car alarm also gave a bit of problem tonight but hopefully it's an isolated event. It's OK already now.

OK, I'm off to try out web 2.0. Till next time...

My Sunday...

The phone rang just after my tuition. It was Omer. But Erhan's voice was on the other line.
"Let's meet up!"
"OK. After my gym."
"Right. Call us after gym."
"Sure"
"Bye"
Went on with my work till 2 and off to the gym I went.
After the gym:
Imran: "I'm done. Will be coming over"
Omer: "OK"
"20 minutes"
"OK"
In 15 minutes:
Ring!!! No answer.
Ring!! No answer again.
They must have gotten my message. I'll take a nap...
Five minutes later:
Omer: "Selamun Aleykum!"
"Aleykum Selam."
"Where's Erhan?"
"Still upstairs"
"Oh OK."
"He was talking about marriage he forgot to get ready."
"Ahhhh.... So that's why...."
And Erhan came...
Imran: "Where are we off to?"
"Dunno"
"Dunno"
Imran: "Ice Cream how? It's a hot day. Ice cream would be good"
"OK"
Off to Shop N Save for the Ice cream. Two tubs in all.
Then to MLC:
Omer: "Someone help me with the scanner."
Imran: "Get the people working here to help you"
"They are all busy"
"Let me see"
Ding Dong!
"Hang on sms"
"Yaa... Imran! How can you attend to your sms when you are helping me"
"It's a fren from my previous schol. Hang on yeah"
...
"Haha. He wants to introduce me to a girl"
Omer: "Ohhh. Interesting day today. Everyone's thinking of marriage"
"He wants to arrange a meeting for me. Alamak. I'm not into this kind of things lah"
Hamza: "Hey. Arrange a meeting for me lah"
...
Ice cream time.
...
Off to Ar-raudhah then to Al-amin.
Talk chit chat session at Al-amin.
Topic: Marriage
Reactions:
Imran: Avoid
Erhan: Want but dont want but want...
In other words - Confused. "So let's ask someone else."
Omer: Mr Matchmaker who is still single
...
Maghrib. Time to go home and pray.
...
Regent Heights gate:
Imran: "Hey look it's this guy (The guy who's always asking loads of questions). I'll let you guys talk to him"
Security Guard, young chinese man with white hair: "Yes sir! where are you going to?"
Erhan: "Just dropping off at Tower C"
"Ok. Straight ahead"
"Yeah!"
...
Home:
Talk of marriage, prayed and thought of what to do...
Then we watched Final Cut.
Robin Williams. Nice show but the flow was not very good so the twist has no impact.
...
At the end of the day, Erhan don't seem to be interested in the girl Omer is recommending. That's what he made me think. May be because I'm around so he's not feeling comfortable about agreeing to a meeting with the girl. Haha. This foxy guy. Don't know what's in his head... I won't be surprised if they really arrange a meeting ;)
10.30 pm and I'm off to home.
...
At my car park, I cleared my car. Dust off the mat and wiped my window from the raindrops. Took out the gear knob to screw the top back. And oh.... they forgot their eggs in my car. Over the phone:
"You guys forgot your eggs"
Omer: "Yeah. We realize when you left."
"So how?"
"You take them home and use for home"
"I think so too. OK"
"OK"
"Selamun Aleykum"
"Aleykum Selam"
...
At home:
Fixed my knob, took a shower, prayed and blogged.
Good night!