PM Lee proposed to add an extra day just before polling day. He said,

“I think 24 hours after the last excitement of the election campaign period, the rallies, the door-to-door campaigning, the adrenaline flowing, the clash in the mass media as well as in person, perambulating vans blaring away loud speakers, it’s good to have 24 hours to just calm down, think about it – tomorrow we vote.”

Frankly Sir, your comments raised millions of eyebrows and questions. General Elections are now like parades? Something that is exciting, noisy, adrenaline rushing? And therefore requires an extra day to cool off? Not so simple lah. I would think it's a preempt to ease unapproving ground sentiments who might unceremoniously vote in a freak election result; and also this extra day serves to black out information on opposition parties. I think this sounds more logical rather than trying to paint GE as a festival of spectacles.

“Previously, once in a while, we have had pushing and shoving at election rallies as the crowd gets worked up and doesn’t disperse, but the main thing is to have time for people to think over the issues and to vote in a calm state of mind,” he said.

Calm state of mind? If you recall the 2006 GE, PAP went on an 7 day newspaper onslaught on James Gomez, calling him a liar for misplacing some application form. Instead of debating on policies, MIW decide to play character assassination the entire week. Not the kind of calmness we expected.

“On the Internet, it’s grey and also the policing is not so straight-forward but even then, in principle we should say today is a quiet day. I cannot control several million videos on youtube but your website, what you’re putting up in your own name, I think that should end the day before the cooling-off day,”

And main stream media not subject to this 'quiet' day? Wow... fair and free are indeed rare commodities. ST would gladly mount a one day onslaught of mouth pieces to entice, scare and confuse the electorate. 

There are policies and events that have changed our lives drastically and we have to consider them seriously... the influx of foreigners, depressed wages, CPF Life, Retirement, HDB flats pricing and deficits, Minister Salary, Town Councils Sinking Funds, Temasek Holdings & GIC investment losses, GST 7%, 11 days to dip into reserves, 133rd, Mas Selamat Kastari ...and the list goes on.

These are serious matters of livelyhood. Therefore, it is quite hard to observe 'cooling off' day. :)

Here's a recap on the calmness of GE 2006,

PM Lee on Fixing Opposition

Sylvia Lim delivered a rousing rebuttal to PM Lee’s remarks.

The James Gomez Constroversy

Here are some of the hot samurai girls and their movies I've been watching these days. (UPDATED)

THE LAST PRINCESS
Princess Yuki, the sole member of the royal family to survive when her kingdom is attacked by neighbouring forces. Yuki's only hope is to escape to a nearby allied land with her secret stash of gold so that she can rebuild her forces. It will not be an easy trip, however, as her forces are decimated and she has only her loyal guard - General Rokurota, and a pair of rogue peasants to help her on her way.

Starring:  Masami Nagasawa (Yuki)

DORORO
A hapless thief, Dororo befriends the mysterious Hyakkimaru after he saves her from a demon in a bar fight. Hyakkimaru, as it turns out, had most of his body parts replaced as a baby after his warlord father Daigo Kagemitsu made a deal with 48 demons which involved promising them most of his vital organs and limbs.

Starring: Kou Shibasaki (Dororo)
 

AZUMI
Orphaned in 19th century war-torn Tokugawa Shogun period of Japan, Azumi is found and raised along with other orphans by Ji, the mentor. The Shogun, commission Ji to cultivate assassins to eliminate warlords before they can strike. Burdened with the cruel mission to kill friends and enemies alike, Azumi begins to question her fate.

Starring: Aya Ueto (Azumi)
          



SHINOBI: HEART UNDER BLADE
It's X-Men meets Romeo and Juliet in Ten Shimoyama's ninja action thriller. Gennosuke, from the Koga ninja clan, falls in love with Oboro, from the rival Iga clan. The tribes are already exiled to the mountains, but the evil Shogun is intent on eliminating them. He pits the clans against each other in a duel to the death, where the ninjas wield their supernatural powers. But will inbred hate snuff out forbidden love?

Starring: Yukie Nakama (Oboro)
   

ICHI
Equally gorgeous as she is deadly, Ichi is a wandering "goze"; a homeless blind musician who begs from door to door, wandering village to village. It is customary for such outcasts to group together for safety, blind women in particular, however Ichi was exiled from her troupe after sleeping with a man, an experience she has taken in her stride. On her own now, she's searching high and low for the father-figure who taught her how to wield a sword. Happening upon the town of Bito, she befriends a young street kid and learns of a local festival approaching, the main act of which is a blind swordsman fitting the description of the man for whom she is searching.

Starring: Haruka Ayase (Ichi)
 

BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE
Saya is a young girl who also happens to be a slayer of vampires. While her appearance is of a 16-year old, she has lived as a 400-year old “Halfling”, part human and part vampire. Hired by a special ops group to rid the world of vamps, she is sent to an American military base in Tokyo. While there, she befriends a girl by the name of Alice, and soon finds herself trying to protect her new found BFF. All the while, she senses a very close presence of an old enemy, the mother of all vampires, Onegin. Now, she is not only fighting for herself, she is fighting to protect Alice… and humanity.

Starring: Gianna Jun (Saya)
      

Amount of calories burnt pumping free weights of 10 Kg each for 40 mins, to achieve a hunk like chiseled body.
600 calories.
Purpose: Vanity

Amount of calories burnt putting up make-up in front of a mirror for 20 mins, to achieve supermodel results.
100 calories.
Purpose: Vanity

Amount of calories burnt shopping through high end boutiques for 2-3 hours, to achieve high maintenance status.
300 calories.
Purpose: Vanity

Amount of calories burnt spending S$100 per month membership to walk your ass of a stepper machine for 30 mins, to acheive phat ass.
700 calories.
Purpose: Vanity

Amount of calories burnt moving into the inner seat of a 2 seater in an SBS bus in order to vacate the outer seat for someone else.
0 calories.
Purpose: Inconsideration


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