Saturday, April 29, 2006
I thought Singapore would have changed since I was last here in 1998, but I guess my own situation has changed more significantly. Back then, as a student I could only afford to stay in a 6 bunk bed dormitory in a crappy old building downtown. Two Norwegian girls staying the same dorm had money stolen from them, but the best thing about the dormitory was the Indonesian owner.
One afternoon I came in, I noticed that the Indonesian owner was sitting with a beautiful girl on his lap. Asking an American long term resident about this (he was living in the dorm while working temporarily on some project in Singapore), he told me the Indonesian owner had recently been to Indonesia to pick up his third bride. What a lucky man.
Anyway, this time around we stayed at the Changi Village Hotel, which is located conveniently close to the airport. While the hotel has mixed reviews online, it is a great hotel for a layover on the way to another location. We are now off to Cambodia.
One afternoon I came in, I noticed that the Indonesian owner was sitting with a beautiful girl on his lap. Asking an American long term resident about this (he was living in the dorm while working temporarily on some project in Singapore), he told me the Indonesian owner had recently been to Indonesia to pick up his third bride. What a lucky man.
Anyway, this time around we stayed at the Changi Village Hotel, which is located conveniently close to the airport. While the hotel has mixed reviews online, it is a great hotel for a layover on the way to another location. We are now off to Cambodia.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
I recently finished reading John M. Barry's "The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History". This, I am mainly recording for my own reference, as in ten years I will likely have forgot the entire content of the book.
To be quite honest, I was completely ignorant of the influenza. However, just reading part of the Amazon review is sufficient to shock any ignorant soul: "The influenza pandemic of 1918, the worst pandemic in history, killed more people than died in World War I and more than the tens of millions who have died, to date, in the AIDS pandemic".
In Philadelphia, where I studied for one year, 4,597 people died in one week alone. Barry's book tells the amazing story about the pandemic, which is a troubling read these days due to the bird flue and all the potentially lethal diseases that seem to threaten us. However, Barry also gives a lesson in the history of medicine, and it is interesting to read how America was far behind Europe in medical sciences until the late 1800s. Today, the situation is quite the opposite, and only a few European universities are able to compete with the top schools in the United States. Anyway, that is a digression. If you want another reason to be concerned about today's state of affairs, I recommend you read this book. It will make you jump each time you hear someone sneezing on the train.
To be quite honest, I was completely ignorant of the influenza. However, just reading part of the Amazon review is sufficient to shock any ignorant soul: "The influenza pandemic of 1918, the worst pandemic in history, killed more people than died in World War I and more than the tens of millions who have died, to date, in the AIDS pandemic".
In Philadelphia, where I studied for one year, 4,597 people died in one week alone. Barry's book tells the amazing story about the pandemic, which is a troubling read these days due to the bird flue and all the potentially lethal diseases that seem to threaten us. However, Barry also gives a lesson in the history of medicine, and it is interesting to read how America was far behind Europe in medical sciences until the late 1800s. Today, the situation is quite the opposite, and only a few European universities are able to compete with the top schools in the United States. Anyway, that is a digression. If you want another reason to be concerned about today's state of affairs, I recommend you read this book. It will make you jump each time you hear someone sneezing on the train.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Hamas - Test Your Knowledge
While I commented on Norwegian anti-semitism in my January 13 blog, The Socialist Left Party of Norway has really started showing its true face with the recent election of Hamas. While Hamas is widely recognized as being a terrorist organization, the far-left and anti-semite Socialist Left Party of Norway wants to support Hamas economically while boycotting Israel. It is incredible that a political party with such views can remain in government.
The crazy socialists argue that we need to respect the choice of the Palestinian people, which by itself is fine. However, through a completely incomprehensible thought process, the socialists also argue that Norway somehow has an obligation to continue supporting the Hamas government as a show of respect. This is obviously wrong, especially at a time when there is an immediate need for additional help in Sudan. Norway is under no obligation to squander its resources by funding a "country" that is run by a racist terrorist organization. Similarly, if the Taliban were to regain power in Afghanistan, I would expect the Norwegian government to immediately cease its assistance to the Afghan government. I am sure that most Afghans know that electing a Taliban regime would have an adverse on foreign aid, and the Palestinian people probably should have given that some more thought prior to electing a terrorist government.
Notwithstanding Hamas' terrorist operations, with Norway's long history of anti-semitism, it is outrageous that the country can support an organization which 1988 charter states that:
"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. The Palestinian people know better than to consent to having their future, rights and fate toyed with."
Article 7: ... the Islamic Resistance Movement aspires to the realization of Allah's promise, no matter how long that should take. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him salvation, has said: "The Day of judgment will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharqad tree would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews."
Read more about Hamas' Anti-Semitism
Anyway, so far it seems like the Socialist Party's anti-Semite campaign has had little effect. However, this does not make the Socialist Party's policies any less embarrassing.
While I commented on Norwegian anti-semitism in my January 13 blog, The Socialist Left Party of Norway has really started showing its true face with the recent election of Hamas. While Hamas is widely recognized as being a terrorist organization, the far-left and anti-semite Socialist Left Party of Norway wants to support Hamas economically while boycotting Israel. It is incredible that a political party with such views can remain in government.
The crazy socialists argue that we need to respect the choice of the Palestinian people, which by itself is fine. However, through a completely incomprehensible thought process, the socialists also argue that Norway somehow has an obligation to continue supporting the Hamas government as a show of respect. This is obviously wrong, especially at a time when there is an immediate need for additional help in Sudan. Norway is under no obligation to squander its resources by funding a "country" that is run by a racist terrorist organization. Similarly, if the Taliban were to regain power in Afghanistan, I would expect the Norwegian government to immediately cease its assistance to the Afghan government. I am sure that most Afghans know that electing a Taliban regime would have an adverse on foreign aid, and the Palestinian people probably should have given that some more thought prior to electing a terrorist government.
Notwithstanding Hamas' terrorist operations, with Norway's long history of anti-semitism, it is outrageous that the country can support an organization which 1988 charter states that:
"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. The Palestinian people know better than to consent to having their future, rights and fate toyed with."
Article 7: ... the Islamic Resistance Movement aspires to the realization of Allah's promise, no matter how long that should take. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him salvation, has said: "The Day of judgment will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharqad tree would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews."
Read more about Hamas' Anti-Semitism
Anyway, so far it seems like the Socialist Party's anti-Semite campaign has had little effect. However, this does not make the Socialist Party's policies any less embarrassing.
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