Daily Archive for June 2nd, 2007

Wi-Fi makes We-Die

Published
by
admin
on June 2, 2007
in ST Forum and Singapore
. 15 views | 3 Comments

From ST Forum, 31st May 2007,

Widespread use of Wi-Fi raises health concerns
IN AIMING to make Singapore a wireless nation, has the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore commissioned any independent study into the health implications that such technology will bring?�

Reports such as the following have me concerned:

# Sir William Stewart, chairman of Britain’s Health Protection Agency, is lobbying the authorities to investigate the health risks of Wi-Fi.

# The Austrian Medical Association is pushing for the government to ban the setting up of Wi-Fi in schools.

# In America, a school in Illinois was sued in 2003 for installing a Wi-Fi system. Parents claimed that the radiation was causing headaches and memory problems.

# Last year, Lakehead University in Ontario refused to set up a campus Wi-Fi system, citing possible health concerns.

As people do not have control over the deployment of Wi-Fi in public and even some private spaces, should we as a nation be so quick to embrace this new technology without first considering potential health setbacks?

Lau Chee Nien

I read this with interest, so I took a dive into the internet and dug up the following (correct me if my source or I am wrong):

-The main group of people complaining about negative impact of Wifi are those who claimed to have this condition known as “EMF sensitivity”, which was not scientifically proven or confirmed yet. Most of those with “EMF sensitivity” complain of mild discomfort (such as itch, feeling of pins and needles) near EMF sources. These discomfort does not equal to negative health impact (such as dieases, cancers, etc). Those with “EMF sensitivity” may very well be having psychological problems rather than any real condition.
-Television screens and computer screens also emits a very large amount of EMF.
-Handphones too, emies a large amount of EMF too.

I certainly await further letters from Lau calling for ban of TVs, Computers, Cell Phones, Radios and many more things over the next few days or weeks. (Just kidding)

Hell, Lau may even start complaining about the harmful EMF from the Sun, and ask the Singapore Government to considering banning it. (Still kidding)

While I certainly do not dismiss entirely the idea of EMF causing some negative health impact, such impacts are certainly minor, and technology should not be made to remain stagnant because of it.

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University Places

Published
by
admin
on June 2, 2007
in Education, Random, ST Forum and Singapore
. 19 views | 1 Comment

I distinctly remember reading the ST forum about a parent complaining that his kiddy with a fantastic grade of A, B and E could not get into any local university, and Singapore government should have foreseen his situation and did properly planning to cater to weaker JC graduates.

I know how godly our government is, but isn’t this parent too much?

The first thought that struck me after I finished reading his highly logically and sensible (urgh, I am trying to be polite ok) letter was whether he or his kid had done any form of planning, or just blindly follow the crowd.

I mean, most people should know that while A level is the most direct way to get into Uni, it is a path with higher risk for weaker students. Those were unable to get into a local Uni with their A level grades will have to either retake the exam, go to a poly, or scamper of to some private of overseas Uni. Certainly the parent who wrote in to ST should have considered these scenarios before forcing/encouraging/recommending/allowing his kid to go into a JC?

What a bad role model that parent is. Blindly taking a risk and then complaining that the government did not do enough to remove that risk.

And then another parent came in.

From ST Forum 31st May 2007,

JOIN Mr See Chee Wee (ST, May 29) and share his sentiments.

My son, who excelled in sports at inter-school level (junior college colours award recipient) was similarly rejected by all three local universities with his B, B (General Paper), D and E grades.

I saw clearly the sheer disappointment in his face after he read the third and final letter of rejection when he returned home for the weekend, exhausted from his basic military training on Pulau Tekong. I could imagine what went through his mind - the apparent lack of consideration given to the effort and time he devoted to athletics. This is despite the liberalisation of the universities and the supposed importance the Government and universities place on a well-rounded education.

Hearing of similar experiences reasserts not only the lip service paid to co-curricular activities in Singapore but also the mercilessly meritocratic nature of the system.

Jayampath De Silva

While I think this kid had done well with his B for GP, I think that a D and E is no go. Using his passion in athletics as a convenient excuse for the kids lower than average academic score doesn’t make sense. I also have my doubts about the writer’s definition of a “well-rounded education”.

A student can be free to pursue whatever he wishes. I spend all my time, energy, attention and soul on only 2 things during my JC years. My girlfriend and programming. None of the above are A Level requirements. However, can I use these as an excuse if I get lousy grades? No. And I didn’t. If I want I would have said that Singapore has its Romancing Singapore programmes and should give more better grades to students who understands love. And Singapore should also give me higher grades because was appeared in Digital Life as a creative and IT-inclined Singaporean, exactly the kind of talent that Singapore wants. I don’t exactly know how much the the guy’s son spent on running around the tracks or fooling around with balls, but I can safely say that no one can beat me in the amount of time I spent on my girlfriend and my programming.

Hell, if your interest lies outside what mainstream education has for you, stay away from mainstream altogether unless you are totally confident and capable or doing so many things at the same time. Otherwise, you will be like the guy above, exhausted and rejected, unwanted by anyone, unable to pursue both mainstream education and his own interest.

On a personal level, I think that everyone should be free to pursue his or her interest, but the sad truth in Singapore is that if you want to stay in the mainstream in Singapore, something have to be given up unless you are really capable of concentrating on two things at once.

–

My guide for my sister, when she was considering going to a JC was this: If you do not qualify for the first 5 JC in Singapore, or you did not get less than 10 points raw score for Olevel, please forget about going to a JC, because you may not be able to hold up against the tough competition and get into a local Uni through the JC route. Poly may be a better choice.

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The Grenade Experience

Published
by
admin
on June 2, 2007
in National Service
. 12 views | 0 Comments

I hands shook as I picked up the green blob from the table. Inside the 300gram blob lies 2200 tiny whiny ball bearings, ready to fly and give anyone a hell lot of pain and agony if anyone is stupid enough to be within its effective range when the ball bearings seek flight.

My palms were sweating so much that a few drips coloured the concrete ground. I was distinctly reminded of dogs hanging their tongues out to sweat, and both my hands looked like dog’s tongues then. Carefully, with ridiculous gentleness that could make nurses weep, I guided the little green blob into the pouch on my Load Bearing Vest.

With 3 others behind me, I walked towards the waiting point. I felt very uneasy, with pictures and images of explosions running through my mind. Will I die? I don’t want to, breakfast in the morning wasn’t exactly what anyone want for a last meal. If I were to die I would want to die somewhere closer to home, with a nice plate of fried carrot cake or roti prata in my stomach, and my girlfriend’s hand in mine.

Looking at the facial expressions of those around me, I could tell that they had similar thoughts as me. My thoughts wandered on and on, probably to the furthest point in the universe. When my thoughts came back to me, it was time. Time to awaken the little green blob.

I entered the bay after reciting a series of chant that just floated out of my mouth unconsciously. My Encik, a short handsome man who commands utmost respect from me, summoned me into the bay. My heart did push-ups as I took the small flight of stairs up into the bay. I got into my position.

…

And before I know it, the whole thing is over. The process of throwing the little blob was short and slipped away from my memory the way the content of a dream slip away the moment a person wake up.

I stepped down from the bay. Birds are chirping happily. The clouds are blue. A huge burden had been lifted from me and I felt lighter.

I began wondering what I’ll be having for lunch.

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