Gee, I'm eligible to vote. Wonder if I should. Or is it too late to register now?

Oh yeah, don't you hate it when you get impersonal birthday cards from insurance agents or people who send one just for the sake of doing it or because they had to?

Guess he could at least check my gender first before addressing me as "Mr Yang Shi Wei" right? Grrr....

Having read Jiaching's post on his stopover at Singapore, I couldn't help but nod at what he had to say. I've met quite a few people who have this contempt for Singapore and Singaporeans in general. I think it's this jealous neighbour syndrome most of us have. Let's admit it, the country does do everything better than ours. All the mindless bickerings that were exchanged reminds me of the person whom, jealous of the achievements of his neighbour -- the husband who got a higher salary, the children who did better in school trys to pick on them whenever the opportunity arises. That particular person is more concerned with making himself look good in the eyes of others. In an attempt to do so, he builds an impressive house with a koi pond and splendid architecture, buys several luxury cars without much effort to brush up on his character and mindset.

Make no mistake, I'm not trying to sing praises of Singapore but merely expressing what I think of it and also of our country. Neither am I an advocate for migrating to Singapore. What I have for living in that country is mostly one of ambivalence. I like that the country is thriving and constantly finding ways to improve itself. Most of the reasons for why one dislikes Singapore would run along the lines of stressful, competitive or kiasu. Things like that are double edged swords. They're good for you but too much it is just detrimental. Then again, too much of anything is bad for you. So it all boils down to how one stomachs them really. You know what, this (being go- getting and all) could be happening anywhere. I brought up Singapore just because it has a more significant impact on my life that's all.

I worry sometimes how our country fares in terms of economic growth and sustainability in the face of other up and rising countries. I haven't checked what the figures are for our country but I'm not optimistic. Leaders are not doing what they ought to and are they really leading us to where we want or are they just more concerned with fattening up their assets before they retire? The brain drain is largely felt. The people are frustrated. The younger ones are restless and concerned. The rich continues getting richer. The influential ones or those with the contacts continue to do what they want and get away with it blah blah blah...

I understand that things in general go in circles. It may be China and India's turn to shine now as the fastest growing nations ( though they still have lots to catch up on on the whole) just like how they did gazillion years ago. So will our country ever resume that glory of being the busiest trade center it was? Or are we just gonna live under the illusion of "rich" and "vast" resources that our country has and trying to make others and also ourselves into believing that we are one big happy family when people out there just turn their backs on each other in reality?

I, like many other young countrymen of mine am harbouring thoughts of settling down in other "better" countries. A year ago, I'd be saying a definite "NO" if you asked me whether I'll return. But now I'd say God opens doors for you, He might even challenge me to stay on in the place I so wanted to leave.

Enough of the somberness (if there's such a word). I think I have to sleep soon too. But just before I do so,

Still remember when blue and purple roses were the vogue flowers to give then?

Well, check this out.