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Raymond Andrew

Food for Thought on GM Crops - Project Syndicate - 13 views

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    Looks like GM food is the future. Read up on this topic.
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    GM food might solve problems, but it can complicate them as well. It might have an impact on the Genes...
Raymond Andrew

Is Academic Freedom Worth Its Price? - Project Syndicate - 13 views

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    Do we draw a line with freedom?
Raymond Andrew

From "Les Bleus" to "the Blues" - Project Syndicate - 15 views

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    So is it just about the game or does modern sport transcend beyond the pitch? Think about it.
Raymond Andrew

Yawning Bread - 22 views

shared by Raymond Andrew on 19 Jan 10 - Cached
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    Is race still relevant?
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    It seems like one's race is able to be dictated by simply ticking off an option box, which might have severe repercussions in the future as race is not not dictated only by ancestry, especially in the case of people from mixed parentage, but upbringing, including values, beliefs as well as surroundings. Especially with the advent of globalization, we have already lost most of our traditional culture, now, we can even change our race, the very symbol of our roots. This could possibly lead to people "choosing" their race based on pragmatic reasons, such as the HDB racial quota, or even based on their preferred mother tongue. Traces of this can be seen even now, when there is the Language B option, which takes away any incentive for students to at the very least be literate in their mother tongue. So it is natural to assume that race will eventually lose it's relevancy somewhere in the distant future, where the world is so interlinked that on a conscious level skin colour will no longer make a difference. However, it remains to be seen whether it will affect individuals psychologically, society on a whole, and even the international community.
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    Do we need transparency? Or shall we leave all decisions to the elites? How do modern citizens expect civil servants to conduct themselves? Is this different from the past?
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    A must-read on race and language.
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    A must-read on race and language.
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    Mr Andrew, the link is dead.
Raymond Andrew

Sri Lanka's False Dawn - Project Syndicate - 10 views

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    The leson learnt is that it is foolhardy to think you can opress and marginalise the ethnic aspirations and culture of a sizeable minority, especially one that has economic clout such as the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan govt has a chance to make a lasting peace or blow it and plant the seeds of a new generation of Tigers. A must-read for those interested in racial politics.
Raymond Andrew

The BP Oil Spill's Lessons for Regulation - Project Syndicate - 11 views

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    This is an epic disaster. A fine example. Obama's handling of the issue should also be observed closely.
Raymond Andrew

Responsibly Destroying the World's Peasantry - Project Syndicate - 7 views

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    Not an easy to understand article, but I urge you to take the time to understand this.
Raymond Andrew

Made in China Remade - Project Syndicate - 7 views

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    China is moving up the value chain just as Singapore did in the 90s. This means higher Chinese labour costs and a correction of trade inbalances with the economic superpowers.
Raymond Andrew

Why call it quits after decades of marriage? - CNN.com - 11 views

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    An interesting article on divorce.
Alif Zaini

Mah Bow Tan: We are a "land-locked" city state - 7 views

shared by Alif Zaini on 27 May 10 - Cached
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    Mr RA thought it'd be nice to share this.
Raymond Andrew

Bangkok's elite-poor battle - 8 views

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    So how much dissent is too much? Where do we draw the line?
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    Well I dont wish to be one sided, but the red shirts have crossed the line in their recent protest, they are just destroying their own economy when Thailand is suppose to pick up and perhaps overtake Singapore. However, I also feel that it is a 'tit for a tat' because the Yellow shirts were the ones who started all these.
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    Diigo is so inactive now lol
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    haha who says?? we are just taking a break after MYEs.:)
Tan Shi Hao

Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world - 16 views

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    McGonigal here claims that gaming could solve global issues such as poverty just by having the world population to play 21 billion hours of video games per week.
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    Initially, it just seemed like another excuse for gaming but then after watching the entire video, McGonigal might just be right. Gaming is an unexplored world of possible resources that man can learn to use it for better use. Despite its many benefits, most would ignore them and go on to condemn it for ruining their children's grades. Convincing or not, the video does surface an attractive resource that we hope to take advantage in order to solve the major problems of society. This is not another excuse for gaming, it's the ultimate reason.
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    While i like the optimism of McGonigal, i think that there are better platoforms other than gaming to improve the world, such as sports, martial arts etc. It will also be highly difficult to transfer these gamer's skills into the real world as the real world is a lot more complicated than the cyber world. Let's not forget that online games in general do not take into account unforseen circumstances which are the main reason why big plans fail. Games should be used as a tool for leisure, and nothing more than that. Let the superhero training take place in the real world. Also, she didnt exactly mention how poverty would be solved if the amount of gameplay would increase. I think her example of the ancient civilasation alternating between playing games and eating cannot be applied to the real world, especially when poverty is concern. Sure, you could forget about your $monetary$ challenges when you are engrossed in the cyber world, but once you turn off the computer the problem still has to be solved.
Raymond Andrew

RAsClasses2010 - MYE Revision Materials - 50 views

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    Vital materials. If you're a member of my wikispace join now. Don't wait till the eve of the exam. Also remember to click on the blue icon and follow Raymond Andrew so you have access to my lists. I will of be uploading materials.
Raymond Andrew

Certain ethnic groups marginalised by government policies, UN expert says | The Online ... - 21 views

  • o address these problems, he recommended the removal of ethnic indicators from identity documentation, greater flexibility in the implementation of ethnic quotas in HDB estates, special education programmes for Malay students to address historical inequalities, and the introduction of legal provisions prohibiting all forms of discrimination in employment.
  • n addition, Singapore should sign up to international instruments, such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which prescribe an “irreducible minimum standard” for human rights protection.
    • Raymond Andrew
       
      I'll bet you didn't know Singapore has not signed this Convention.
  • his has resulted in instances of ethnic marginalisation, such as the entrenchment of minority status through ethnic categorisations, the minority political representation dimension to the group representative constituency system, the academic under-performance of Malay students, and under-representation of minorities in the armed forces, police and intelligence services and judiciary.
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    And here you were thinking that we are a harmonious multiracial country. The international community thinks otherwise. When scrutinised closely, you realise that many policies marginalise minorities. Yet, the majority Chinese continue to mouth the 'truth' that we are harmonoious and all races are treated fairly. Why do need a foreigner to come and reveal these truths? Because we lack moral courage, particularly the mainstream media.
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    Maybe it is more of an "unable" rather than a "lack". If the media are to report such things, I'm sure it will not be beneficial towards them. Besides, the government also have control over the mainstream media and is able to manipulate towards their favor.
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    Well this article clearly exposes that the Chinese in SG are covering up their backside. Its clearly bullshit that they claimed that there is racial harmony in Singapore. Its clearly a facade. When u challenge the govt, they will give excuses, lots of it. There are many instances where the govt is good, however its still the colour of the skin that matters. Thankfully, e situation is not as bad as Malaysia.
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    May I recommend that we write in formal English so this is a useful exercise.
Raymond Andrew

GRCs and gerrymandering - the root causes of problems: Sylvia Lim | The Online Citizen - 8 views

  • , over the years the PAP itself has admitted that the GRC serves its party purposes. In 2006, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong noted that having GRCs helped to recruit PAP candidates since, quote: “Without some assurance of a good chance of winning at least the first election, many  able and successful young Singaporeans may not risk their careers to join politics.” Unquote.
  • Sir, the other twin pillar of the double-whammy is gerrymandering. The entire electoral boundary re-drawing process is completely shrouded in secrecy, chaired by the secretary to the Cabinet. There are no public hearings, no minutes of meetings published. The revised boundaries are released weeks or even days before Nomination Day. The report makes no attempts to explain why certain single seats are retained, and others are dissolved, nor why new GRCs are created or old ones re-shaped. Voters have changed constituencies at successive elections without moving a single step. Adam Road is now Tanjong Pagar, Serangoon Central is Marine Parade. Coincidentally, constituencies which showed strong opposition support are broken up or merged with others. Today, we no longer have Eunos GRC or Cheng San GRC. Sir, a few days ago the Prime Minister appeared in a television interview with  American journalist, Charlie Rose, and spoke of the importance of the moral right to govern. How does abusing the GRC system and gerrymandering square with the moral right to govern?
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    Brilliant comments revealing a few ugly open secrets.
Raymond Andrew

Statistics Singapore - Key Annual Indicators - 12 views

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    You really should explore this site and take down key data.
Raymond Andrew

Atlas of the Human Journey - The Genographic Project - 14 views

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    One of my most favourite topics. Believe it or not we are all family. So why judge a person by their skin colour or facial features?
Raymond Andrew

http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/reference/yos09/yos2009.pdf - 12 views

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    Very useful indeed. You can also use this for econs. The dumbarses will ignore this. The smart guys will use it. That's why the dumbarses end up less educated and work for the smartie pants. So which one are you?
Raymond Andrew

Hawking: 'Avoid aliens' - 8 views

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    Who said meeting aliens could be fun?
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    I read this on Yahoo! News an hour back. Interesting how the existence of aliens is actually a possibility (I mean it has to be right? Hawking's revered mind said so.) Not much of a comment from me but I just have to say thank god for The Beatles.
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    O.o Why 'beam' an English song to make peace with our half brothers? Why should we assume that they even understand the English language? lols ii noe i tink beri far.
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