Temporal Paralysis

The next-generation Atom core processor, the Atom 330, will feature a dual-core processor. For slightly more power input, next-generation net-tops can produce more computing power, but I highly suspect that prices will range in the S$1000. The MSI Wind PC, the best overall net-top currently, is retailing at ~S$800, hence my prediction.

Although the news snippets it reported are already quite old, nonetheless, this Ars Technica article reminds us Singaporean peons that blogging in our geography, political climate and social evolution comes with arrests if you openly challenge the Government’s actions.

But looking at the comments from the said article, it arises within me, the debate of whether it was necessary for Singapore as a society in general, to accept liberalization of ideals for itself¹.

I myself, do not call myself a liberal. Certain ideals (like homosexuality and abortion etc.) are clearly off-limits as a political point-of-view. I do not have a ready source for this, but there are at least a majority of Singaporeans who, as the government ascribe, "are conservative." While half-naked cabarets, relaxing of the "anti-homosexual law" (which is ironic, because Singapore has always be Legalist in practice) and the setting up of integrated resorts, superficially marked the "acceptance of the liberal mind-set by the Government," it doesn’t address the average Singaporeans’ concerns of both regarding how they go about in their daily life, and the way they wanted the country to be run.

There’s a prevalence that Singaporeans, to a large extent, wants to enjoy the fruits of economic development and the burgeoning cultural space that only now they enjoy. I call it, "they wants to have the cake, and eats it too!" (Pardon the Golem text.) This Holy Grail of social and personal development is far less achievable, in my opinion.

Sure, Singaporeans can complain that there isn’t much openness, or the environment is too stifling or too commercialised to enjoy any arts scene here. Unfortunately, here’s where I believed they must open up to reality.

Singapore has no hinterland. Singapore has no other capital other than 4.2 million Singaporeans, plus approximately 1.5 million foreign talents. Singapore, is very economically dependent to the tides of change around the world.

Singapore, in my mind, mirrors to that of the Imperium of the Warhammer 40,000.

In my mind, there is no need for more opening up of avenues for Singapore, simply because its very existence leaves little room for errors². To challenge is to deny her the success of economic development. To question without authority, is to accept the doom of the nation. Unfortunately, those hallmarks are the very reasons why more enlightened Singaporeans chose to leave this country, whose personal philosophies are in direct conflict with that of the survivalist Singapore.

Footnotes

1. My idea of a liberal Internet is an oxymoron — I adhere to the belief of a free and open Internet, where access and content creation are core tenets in an open communication between two parties —, because most of the content I find on the Internet, especially the ad-hoc, informal web sites, are liberal-leaning. It doesn’t mean I endorse their viewpoints; I am respecting the fact that they are given the right to have, and publish, their viewpoints without prejudice or harm.

2. Debatable, because of the performance of her sovereign wealth fund corporations’ investments in troubled Western bloc banks and companies, as well as the political arm-wrangling in Indonesia and Thailand.

"Morality" in my anime. I’ve read the original MSNBC article beforehand,  so it does grabbed headlines. However, listing the article under the "Sexual Health" does connote a meaning that anime is often a means of escapism for desires not meant to be publicly emblazoned or admitted (especially in "morally right America").

I think Patrick Macias had a gripe with MSNBC for taking his quote entirely out of context. But that’s not my point here.

My point is, is that anime is still, by and large, a collective medium (like video games, films and music) that fits into all sorts of genre. What makes anime (and manga) unique from the rest of the other "Western-based media", is that elements of eroticism, whether unintentional or not, is prevalent throughout the age ranges. It’s not like we want to stir up sexual desires within our children’s hearts (face it, even with all the "promise rings" fad I heard from Disney’s latest generation of teen sensations, I can guarantee you that they’ll pop the cherry even before they can even reach 18).

It takes parental education to mould the child into acceptable people (note: acceptable, because it’s entirely up to the parents who decides if the child becomes a conservative, a liberal, a hikkikomori, a college jock or whatever).

I think I’ll go down to The Cathay’s E2Max booth some time in the future. Seems that this Linebarrels of Iron anime from Gonzo are going to be shown there. Looks like I’ll need the following items to document my experience there:

• A digital camera
• Notepad (to write on)
• Some cash (unless I can freeload from others)

A lot of people complained about the lack of legal avenues of watching anime, seeing from the last arguments circulating on the Internet during the Odex saga a year back. So, it’s worth to check out the ones that are already available for Singaporean otakus to enjoy their anime fix.

Damn it! I’ve been waiting for a complete collection of Eureka SeveN for ages! It’s like I’m waiting for the cheese to age! On the flip side, I’ve asked for a pre-order of Aria: The Animation. Support original, folks.

According to my significant other, if I were to enjoy Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, I need to watch Gunbuster and Diebuster, in chronological order respectively. He claimed that both series are precursors to TTGL.

That said, these Parallel Works (except Episode 7, which is WTF?!) are very, very fun to watch. Reminded me of watching Batman Gotham Knight during the last Toy Convention.

Don’t you always wonder how come is it that EA Games churn out every possible game out there? C&C franchise, FIFA franchise, The Sims franchise etc. They’ve become the Microsoft of the computer/video games industry. Westwood, Maxis and other publishers have always succumbed to the lure of money.

And then, they dropped this bomb.

Well done, Electronic Arts. I’m so going to *** your *** up and down, because already because of your actions, I’m gonna get that cracked version of C&C: Red Alert 3 that you promised to "relax the install limit count."

You don’t get it: having DRM, is, broken by design.

There’s a lot of development in Singapore right now: the F1 Grand Prix race is going to happen on the 28th September, lots of festivals being planned (Singapore Biennial), and for those who missed the previous electronics exhibition, there’s the Sitex on the 27^th – 30^th November.

On the ACG front: The Games Convention Asia on Sept 18^th – 20^th, Kaleidoscope 2008 on the 1st & 2nd November, the Anime Festival Asia 2008 on the 22^nd & 23^rd of November, and the EOY 2008 on the 13^th December.

A lot of anticipation and excitement for an otaku in Singapore. To be honest, there’s nothing else like it this year. I mean, there’s now lots of options for fans to go legit and acquire their own anime. The status of otakudom in Singapore has never became this fantastic since Naruto became a hot staple in my polytechnic days.

Therefore it’s supposed to be a good time to be a Singaporean. We’ve won ourselves medals in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games; in short, we’ve become the most sought after national brand in the international markets.

Then, why is it that I feel very unhappy staying here?

Maybe one can start looking at the articles being submitted in Singapore Daily, a portal of a collection of articles and posts culled from various Singaporean bloggers, news sites and online commentaries.

There are plenty of reasons I can find unhappiness, and then there are plenty of reasons to be happy. The confluence of the yin-yang attitudes that’s abound here makes me feel like it’s a constant struggle for survival.

People will find some pointers and say, "See? Singapore is GOOD!", "Aiyah, why migrate? Got clean water or not?" or "Simi lan jiao, you big **** is it? Stay here, lah. Dun go be hero yourself, if you dunwanna come back dead from wild-wild <insert unnamed country here>." I think it’s more of a fear of the unknown, knowing that in Singapore society, failure is severely look down upon. It’s not really surprising, though: the government perpetuates that ideology.

The greatest gripe I have with Singapore, is their local newspapers’ coverage of foreign countries. That, and the country’s increased similarities and mutual ties, with Israel. Both points tend to paint the whole world "as a big bad place," where they are ultimately alone in this sea of evil. The siege mentality ensues.

It is this uncaring, xenophobic and incredulous approach to relations with the world (Google out for "Serangoon Gardens" — a perfect example of a NIMBY), that it became a clash of beliefs and aspirations between myself and Singapore, both its society and its leaders.

To Singaporean readers, perhaps a cynical heart in you would say, "Go back, lah. Malaysia, Indonesia, whatever. You think Singapore has no place for you, then migrate, lah. Sai!" It is of no wonder that Singapore, as a society, can never progressed in grace. The selfish kiasu-ism prevails, and even after God-know-how-many courtesy campaigns have been raised, the average Singaporean still spits somewhere.

Perhaps it’s a tall order to change the mindsets of Singaporeans. The 40 years of repetitive propaganda, the preception of "the ends justify the means" ideology, and the resultant affluence from that pursuit of ideology (also known as "the 5 C’s") solidified their arrogance towards anyone and everyone.

(Increasingly, I’ve been reading up on the Warhammer & Warhammer 40,000 universe, so it explains my dystopic view of Singapore.)

Unless people can convince me that this country is a caring society (I’ve seen cases of elderly neglect exemplified in some of the ambulance cases I’ve seen over my NS period), there will be no mistake where my allegiance lie.