RA's Classes 2010

How does eliminating time zones help citizens who live in the remote area of Russia?

Interesting. I agree with Shi Hao. But also, how do we go about changing a certain region's time zone?

A must-read on gays in society. Relevant to the discussion of discrimination.

It's a dog eat dog world. Be more productive, close down or move out. Tough world. The realities of a competitive global economy.

You must read this. Hollywood mirrors life. Imperialism. We've seen it in the Iraq war. Will we see it again soon. Use your imagination.

A must-read

There are definitely flaws in Dr Mahatir's account, he does not know that it is because of the special privileges, Malaysia has not progressed. Furthermore, ever since when Singapore was with Pakistan. Dr Mahatir has been attacking and finding fault with Singapore over these years and thankfully he has stepped down!!!

Mr RA thought it'd be nice to share this.

We should ask why ASEAN's richest economy does not make such donations. Why do we need a country from outside the region to make such a donation.

i think ASEAN's richest economies do contribute since they have mutually established funds in place like ASEAN Fund, Science and Technology Fund, Cultural Fund...australias donation could be merely due to ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program-Regional Economic Policy Support Facility (AADCP-REPSF). apparently ASEAN has partnership with Australia. The provision of continued support for smaller-scale prototype projects is also currently being implemented in the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program-Regional Partnership Scheme (AADCP-RPS). So the donation could be just due to the dialogues n aggrements...

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.

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

Classic divide in US society between conservatives and liberals. You should note that CNN means to imply that Paladino is saying something offensive. Might not appear that way in Singapore.

A life for a life, this is a common saying when prisoners are hanged. I think that the death penalty will instill fear into other people and deters them from carrying out the crime. There is no point imprisoning them because at the end of the day, more resources are needed to house the convict

It is quite clear that not all the facts and arguments in this debate are relevant to our society. Firstly, Singapore only allows one appeal in the Court of Appeal after conviction and sentencing in the High Court. That means that we would not have problems with cost as in other countries where death row inmates can wait for up to 20 years before they get killed and this can cost a lot of money in paperwork, trials and feeding them. Instead we hang them in less than 3 years for most of the time. Moreover if we had worried about cost, we would have privatised prisons to cut cost and to achieve effciency but we did not. Thus capital punishment is not really about saving cost by killing the criminals instead of jailing them but is about deterring other potential criminals by scaring them and to provide some form of mental compensation to the victims' loved ones and family. Plus we practise hanging in capital punishment here so it is not very expensive and the pain caused is still acceptable. Therefore we are not violating any human rights regarding cruel treatment to other fellow humans but instead we are actually enforcing the human rights of others to be able to live safely in our society. Hence the death penalty should be retained in Singapore. And maybe the hangman can play the game "hangman" with the prisoner until he loses (you know what happens when he loses) so that capital punishment can be more exciting instead of being cruel.

The hangman suggestion is the best thing i've read today:(

A must read

Should European governments be free to decide how people should dress because they don't quite fit into the mould of European social/religious norms. Would it be fair to say to a Muslim: "You are in France, take off your burkha or headscarf and dress like the French?" Think about it. Is that justifiable.

Think about it. What other services can be outsourced to the private sector? Why would the private sector be able to offer services at a lower cost? What would be the possible pitfalls?

Well, the road to fitness is tiring...

Very valuable evidence on the abuse internet which has unsettled racial and religious harmony. Should be committed to memory.