Oh, you're on Today!

Oh, that is moi, got mentioned on Today today for a previous post I made. Thanks to Anonymous, whoever you are, for telling me. :)

Luckily I removed my name last week, haha. Else my boss might see this blog and my complaints. :p

And I hope that's not my entitled 15 minutes of fame!

All abuzz over no poll or no holiday?

Wednesday • August 17, 2005

Chip Off The Blog with Mr Miyagi

BLOGGERS in Singapore never seem to run out of blog fodder. This week opinions and impressions of the Singapore Presidential candidates made up quite a few blog posts, with sites such as Newsintercom (www.newsin tercom.org) even creating a mock-up online polling system, complete with buttons and live results — albeit with only one candidate for readers to "vote" for.

Or as Rafflesian student "Zeke" (www.exzekestence.blogspot.com) puts it: "We're probably the only country with the longest-serving non-elected elected president."

Sarcasm aside, it was difficult to tell if the pervasive sense of disappointment was about not being able to vote for a president or the loss of a public holiday.

Sengkang blogger "Da*Ping" (www.kanchelsk.blogspot.com) was disappointed at the disqualification of would-be candidate Andrew Kuan (www.andrew kuan.com), saying: "i was so excited to hear that got president elections. now walkover again, lor ... no competition, lah ... no holiday, also ... singapore so many 'talents' ... not even one eligible candidate."

"EntityX" (www.ourlifexp.com) wasn't too upset at having to forego a public holiday because "most of us are working five-day weeks anyway", but still, "i was hoping i could experience an election of some sort. Hey, guess i would have to wait for the general elections."

"My Golf Sucks" (www.mygolfsucks. blogspot.com), a self-described dad and golfer in his mid-30s, says: "Perhaps Mr Kuan does have political aspirations. We all have aspirations … me, I want to become the next Tiger Woods. But at least he's put in place a plan to reach his aspirations. He may not be the Cheng Hu's (Hokkien for the Government) choice for a president, but the way his past performance has been lambasted in front of all is perhaps a bit heavyhanded ... Stand up for Singapore? Who'd dare after this?"

"Alvin Lim", 31, (chlim01.blogspot.com) muses over whether Singaporeans are really as happy with the absence of choice as implied by a Channel NewsAsia online report, "Many Singaporeans welcome Presidential Elections Committee's decision".

He says: "Normally, people would be displeased if they're deprived of the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. But I guess this is what makes us Uniquely Singapore. Or maybe it's just the Singapore press."

Late-20-something "Oh" (www.asimpleprop.blogspot.com) ponders: "Aren't elections about letting the people decide for themselves who's eligible and who they want to represent them?"

Then he decides he's had enough of politics and starts complaining about the cable company charging him "$2 a month for the set-top box I already have".

Maybe it's the post-National Day blues that have triggered the grumbling noises bloggers have been making, or maybe, we just need more of a jolt — like what blogger "Sausage" (www.harosingapore.blogspot.com) experienced recently when he went out to watch a movie in the middle of the Hungry Ghosts month.

He writes: "When I walked into a cinema toilet today, I turned a corner and almost peed on the spot because of what greeted me. It was the life-size poster of (the film) The Maid ... Damn it!! I come to the toilet to pee, not get a heart attack!"

Mr Miyagi a.k.a. Benjamin Lee, has been entertaining blog readers for a year at myveryownglob.blogspot.com, and rues the missed chance to vote for Singapore Idol this year.