While having dinner at a foodcourt, I couldn't help but be struck by the stark difference between the locals and the foreign workers, or foreign talent if you like.

At the table in front of me, the whole famiy of four suffers from myopia. At another table of the 5 beer drinkers, attracted doubtless by the attractive beer lady from China, 3 wore glasses.

In sharp contrast, at tables occupied by our foreign talent not a single one wore glasses.

Apart from our accent what easily distinguishes us from others, even when we are overseas, is that most Sporeans are myopic. It's distressing to see even little kids similarly afflicted.

In other countries an optician shop is a rarity but here it's ubiquitous. The inescapable conclusion is that it's a lucrative business.

Theories abound as to the cause of the widespread myopia here but nothing definitive has so far emerged.

Perhaps the time has come for the authorities to offer a substantial reward to anyone in the world who can find the cause of this affliction.

US$1 million dollars and a gold medal should be sufficient inducement?

Dear Reach Administration,

                                         I find that our bloggers, netizens and contributors in this feedback plateform have posted their comments/views in the names of Anonymous in far too great numbers.

                                         My personal belief is that if we want our Ministers and policy makers to take us seriously, we need to write with responsibility and give passionate, constructive feedback without fear or favour.

                                         I am quite certain that if we give our views/comments in anonymity, these people will not read your views/comments; they have no time for you. So the end result is that we are wasting our time and effort.

WARMEST REGARDS

LTA's capacity to amaze and shock seems boundless, and motorists continue to seethe with anger and frustration.

That its actions can have a great impact on society shouldn't be underestimated.

As motorists stay back in office late these days to avoid paying the evening ERP, the first casualty is family life.

 Many questioned the need for evening ERP when the idea was first mooted

Unlike morning ERP where it can be argued that people need to get to their office on time, there isn't any convincing reason for evening ERP.

There may be congestion on the CTE but motorists are smart enough to know how to avoid it without LTA's assistance.

As fishermen know all too well, if you want a bigger catch you've to cast your net wider. Perhaps, mindful of this LTA lost no time in extending evening ERP to 10.30 PM. With this masterstroke, the majority of motorists were netted.

For who in his right mind will continue to work or hang around in the office well past 10.30? Even those with the stamina will inevitably suffer a burnout.

If somehow more motorists are masochistic enough to stay back till very late, is it far-fetched to suggest that LTA might extend evening ERP to midnight?

I think the ICA at Tuas and Woodland is getting worse. Look at the car queue incoming and out going at these 2 Sg checkpoint. The authority seems to be don't care and take their own sweet time. Is these a meaning to discourage Sg citizen to go Malaysia?

However, our neighbour immigration is so efficent and fast. Their immigration is doing the same task as our immigration office. (sit in the small cubicle air-con room and check passport). Why our ICA is so slow? As usual, the excuse is always " for our security" so they have to be very slow...

There is no body to control the long queue of vehicle when there is a big jam all the way stretch to almost JB immigration? Why the ICA cannot send more manpower during weekends and holiday to control the crowd and queue to make it orderly so as to maintain the order.  

I think this is another bad image potray to foreigner who visited Sg and Malaysia.

It's easy for ministers, cosseted in their leather armchairs, to pontificate about morality and legality over the controversial issue of the sale of human organs.

Minister Khaw is at pains to point out (Sunday Times, June 29) that we must not break the law, and that the sale of organs is immoral.

But laws are made by humans, and given the will, can be changed. They're not gospel truths to which we chain ourselves forever.

When people are dying from kidney failure, it's imperative we try to save them at all cost.

Granted the sale of organs is fraught with difficulties, but not insurmountable surely. Singapore can be a pioneer in this, and perhaps chalk up another first?

Prof Lee Wei Ling, director of National Neuroscience Institute, supports organ selling and do doctors.

As usual MPs merely echo the government's stand ,which is pathetic really.

Let's show compassion to those slowly disintegrating from organ failure. We are talking about life and death here if you've somehow missed the point, Minister Khaw and MPs.

ST today has a story on Reach, prompting me to browse here and give my feedback.

Frankly, I'm sceptical my feedback will do any good, believing it will merely vanish through the infamous black hole.

I'll hang around in the meantime, and see whether it's a WOT (waste of time) or a smart move by govt to ensure that's not barking up the wrong tree with its policies. 

It's easy for the govt,with its smart civil servants, to come out with convincing reasons to impose all sorts of levies and taxes.

However, they can't be left on the statue books forever as with the passage of time circumstances change and any good govt would make it a point to review them.

Take the tax on water in our monthly utilities bill for instance. At the time, govt argued that in view of the then water crisis, a tax to discourage water wastage was imperative.

Now after all these years there has never been any review of this tax.

Are we still facing a water crisis? Are our reservoirs depleted?

Far from it. In fact, we now have the expertise to transform drainage water into pristine drinkable water.

With the relentless rise in the pricies of almost everything, now is the opportune time for govt to review this water conservation tax.

ON 260608, AT AROUND 2105HRS I WAS TRAVELLING AT 80KM/HR ON THE EXTREME RIGHT LANE, ALONG AYE TOWARDS CITY, AFTER ALEXANDRA RD EXIT.  MY 9-MONTH PREGNANT WIFE, SISTER-IN-LAW & HER 2-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND 2-MONTH OLD SON WERE IN MY CAR.

SUDDENDLY A BLUE COMFORT TAXI, SHA4719J SPED PAST MY LEFT LANE AND IMMEDIATELY CUT INTO MY LANE AHEAD OF ME, WITHOUT ANY WARNING.  I STEPPED ON MY BRAKES AND FLASHED MY HEADLIGHTS TO SIGNAL THAT I WAS BEHIND HIM.

HE IMMEDIATELY STEPPED ON HIS BRAKES CAUSING ME TO DO THE SAME.  THEN AGAIN I FLASHED MY HEADLIGHTS AND THIS TIME HE APPLIED HEAVY BRAKING CAUSING ME TO APPLY MY EMERGENCY BRAKES.  THIS STARTLED THE SLEEPING CHILDREN FROM THEIR SLEEP AND THE 2 WOMEN WERE FRIGHTENED AND AFRAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO RAM INTO THE REAR OF THE TAXI.

THE TAXI THEN SWITCHED TO THE LEFT LANE AND PULLED ALONGSIDE M.  WITH OUR WINDOWS DOWN, HE ASKED ME WHY I FLASHED AT HIM AND I TOLD HIM THAT HE JAMMED BRAKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY AND THAT I HAD CHILDREN AND A PREGNANT LADY IN MY CAR.  HE HURLED ABUSIVE WORDS AT ME, TOLD ME THAT HE DID NOT CARE WHO I COMPLAIN TO AND EVEN CHALLENGED ME TO FOLLOW HIM TO BUKIT MERAH TO MEET HIM.

FEARING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND REALISING THEY WERE IN SHOCK, I NOTED HIS LICENCE PLATE AND WENT ON MY WAY.

I EMAILED TO TRAFFIC POLICE, NTUC COMFORT AND LTA WITH REGARDS TO THIS INCIDENT WITHIN THE NEXT 4HRS BUT ITS BEEN MORE THAN 1-WORKING DAY AND I HAVE NO REPLIES FROM ANY AUTHORITIES YET.

THIS TYPE OF RECKLESS AND DANGEROUS DRIVING HAS ENDANGERED ME, MY PASSENGERS AND THE PASSENGER IN THE TAXI PLACING OUR SAFETY AND LIVES AT RISK.  DRIVERS WITH THIS TYPE OF TEMPERAMENT AND “DRIVING SKILLS” IS LIKE A KILLER ON THE LOOSE.  THIS DRIVER, LEFT “UNMANAGED”, WILL POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO SOMEONE, OR EVEN DEATH.

THIS INCIDENT HAS ME QUESTIONING COMFORT CABBIES’ “CODE OF CONDUCT” AND “SERVICE PLEDGE”, AS PUBLISHED IN THEIR WEBSITE.  THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD HANDLE THIS MATTER IN A MANNER TO SERVE AS A STRONG WARNING TO OTHER ERRANT DRIVERS.  SUCH DISREGARD TO TRAFFIC RULES AND THE SAFETY OF COMMUTERS AND OTHER ROAD USERS HAS MALIGNED THE SERVICE STANDARDS OF NTUC COMFORT AND MUST BE HEAVILY CONDEMNED.

The living stardand level is getting higher in Singapore. I can see many people struggling for money. Taxes increase, price will also increase. Salary? I hardly see it increasing but more to decreasing.

Government has push Singapore living standard too fast or too high? I started to see wider gaps between the "rich" class people & the "poor" class people. There is no such things as "middle" class people anymore. There are no worry for the "rich" class people in Singapore but have they really consider on the "poor" class people in Singapore? There are lots of people struggling to live.

Some example. People always focus on educations which i agree it is very important. Let's say your family has financial problems and because of this problem student have to work part-time to help out the household. Student work part-time, they might have problem focusing their studies. Not enough of money to continue your education? Loan comes in to help you but think again really helping? In some way, yes i agree its helping. But some diploma graduated students having hard time pay their loan. While that happens, they still have to struggle their live in-order to follow Singapore living standard. By the time when they are more stable in their finance, I believe they are in late 30s. I'm not saying all the people will be like this but most of them. After that they will be struggling on marriage. Next, Singapore babies are getting lesser. Not because they do not want to give birth to more baby but they are worry that they could not afford. That is why there are more old people. Aging problem will increase if the cost of living continues to rise and more problem will come. Health problem has been going up if you notice. Time is rushing people, do you think so? So how do people and when do people really get to enjoy their life?

Financial assistant, How much can it be help? And how long can you guy wait for the help to come?

What i have just mention are only a small part of problem. Problems can chain up and links together.

To think again for the people who are serving NS. If they having family financial problem. Maybe the only income is from the NSF? Everything bring home only $390. Do you think is enough?

I hope the government can do something about it.

As a starter, I like to tell a short story. Yesterday as I was traveling in the NEL, I saw a mother and a small child. I had a mild surprise when suddenly the child argued loudly with her mother. The mother felt uncomfortable with the child behaviour but then I should say that this is a vibrant family because the members are involved in human skills like negotiations. I would say that learning of life skills in the home is useful.

The government has always recognized the need for the family to be in a harmonious condition.  The family is like the building block of society; it is the many bricks of family that goes on to produce a society or a nation. It is the many happy families that go on to constitute a HAPPY NATION.

What are some of the issues that beset the family: lack of financial planning, bringing up the children, choosing a school for the school, the search for a coach, the exam pressures, unemployment or retrenchment, bereavement, emotional problems, alcoholism or gambling habits, lack of love, care and concern, chronic sickness or emergency and etc.

Bonding within the family strengthens the love and happiness of each family member. Sometimes you have the 3 generation attachments i.e. the grandparents, parents and the children. Each group may have different needs and hence we must not forget that. While the siblings are in the growing up stage, the parents in the competing role at work and provider for the home, the grandparents are the mentors and keeper of conscience for the family. I still support the practice of eating together at the dinner table because it helps to build mutual love and unity and also the table acts a time space to engage in small discussions or even simple problem solving.

The lack of good values can erode the family happiness and quality living because they keep on getting in endless troubles. Disunity or the line of cracks appears as each member can’t accept the success or happiness of the other. The start of infighting is the beginning of destruction for the family. A family that is not united can’t be cushioned against bigger forces operating against it. Some of the enemies of the family unit are bad friends, bad influence and negative thinking.

We may grumble at bad luck or obstacles that may seem insurmountable. I believe that every parent should try to take up parenting courses. I hope the service providers could review their syllabus and bring in some interesting changes while remaining in the quest for being up to date and quality conscious. I hope that there are more family related talks like coping with stress, anger management, self-management, rearing up difficult children and etc. Family violence is also one area that should not be left out. I notice that there is a growing trend of acquiring police protection orders against their spouses at the earliest single sign of argument. This order should only be taken as a last resort i.e. when family mediation or counseling has failed.

As I end, I would say that doing a lot of reflection can save the family. Treat the family as a special institution because it is where you spend a considerable part of your life and if you treasure happiness and peace as important assets.           

Dear Administrator,

                              I believe all Singaporeans feel sad and anxious after reading the  statement from PMO that Mrs Lee is crtically ill, with guarded prognosis for recovery.

                              Let all Singaporeans of all faiths pray for divine help for her recovery.

                              God is our Creator. He is in control. I believe in Him when He says be strong in Him, and in the power of His might.

IN HIS NAME.

  JOIE DE VIVRE OF YOUTH

In celebration of our youths, I present their exuberance in this article: 

Disciplines

In school, a pupil studies many subjects such as English, 2^nd language, mathematics, geography, physics, chemistry and so on. Assessment is on continual basis and hence it is of prime importance that the pupil does his studies regularly. This system works adversely for a pupil who likes to study at the last minute. 

The various subjects form the academic realm of education for the pupils. Parents are often concerned about academic performance because it is the most important basis for promotion to the next higher rung of educational ladder.                                                                

There has been a lot of advancement in the area of pedagogy and teaching aids. There are a lot of on-line aids to enhance understanding of concepts especially in Mathematics and Science. Pupils must balance their time between work and play and practise time management in order to cope up and excel in their studies.

Practical Applications

Subjects like physics, chemistry, design & technology and biology has practical papers beside the theory one. A subject like Principles of Accounts, mathematics and additional mathematics is truly practical in nature. It requires a lot of practice and thinking.  

Then knowledge that is mainly theory in nature also requires a lot of revising or studying. This is also practical in the sense that without practice knowledge cannot be polished or fully understood. Any knowledge has practical application like mathematics is used in everyday life like clocks & watches, GMT time, navigation, weight & measure, precision engineering and so on. The practical aspect of music is choir, recital, instrument playing and dance. Arts have many practical applications like painting, theatre work, photography, calligraphy, dancing, drama, role play and acting.    

The practical aspects of knowledge give rise to innovation, creativity and Research & Development. Youths today are showing greater interest in these fields and are also ready for outdoor activities or overseas attachments.

Values

Our school has the star values and emphasis is made on mastering and practicing them daily. Values are an asset to pupils because they help a person to navigate in life better. The values give one a sense of direction and mission. Values have help to make one resilient and it facilitates to create good relationships with one another. Read the good values in moral stories and understand them better. Make good values as our guiding stars in our lives.