The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. More and More like Fiction to Me.

"The four riders on white, red, black, and pale horses symbolizing pestilence, war, famine, and death, respectively."  Rev. 6:2–8.

In the book of Revelations in the Bible, the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalype namely 

a) pestilience
b) war
c) famine
d) death

would signal the end of time. As we enter bravely into the 3rd millennium after the birth of Jesus Christ (AD 2020), the 4 Horsemen look more and more like 4 fictional characters from the latest Pikachu or Cosplay movie.

War
With the multipolar world, the world has mitigated the threat of war. Yes, there are numerous countries with nuclear capability, however, that scenario in itself is a no-win game. If we go down that path, it is Mutually Assured Destruction. The probability of this happening is quite low, I would assume.

Wars are still fought on regional and sectoral levels. However, the art of diplomacy has replaced the threat war. The winner takes all the riches as in the Game of Thrones or in the past is no longer relevant nowadays. Wars are namely fought mainly for independence of the unique peoples and not to gain riches of the enemy as in the past.

Famine
The world is facing an obesity and diseases related to obesity are much more than compared to famine. Thanks to the efforts of many courageous NGOs and the United Nations, there are  more people dying from obesity and high blood pressure than from starvation. That is a fact now.

Pestilence  
The advancement of medicine and the swiftness of the frontline doctors and scientists in finding cures, for diseases such as the SARS, bird 'flu and others gives me confidence that another pandemic on the scale of the Black Death in Europe and parts of Asia is highly unlikely to occur.

Thanks to almost 200 years of genuine advances in medicine and science, most of these diseases caused by virues and bacteria are well under control.  

SUBNOTE : Today is 27th March 2020. The world is in the throes of a Global Pandemic called Covid 19. I admit I was too optimistic in saying that Pestilence is well under control. So, given time perhaps by the end of the year, we will have the vaccine. By that time, the world as we know it will have changed totally in the way people meet, entertain and communicate. 

So I am wrong on this count ! 

Death
Everyone succumbs to death. However, as the world is becoming more automated and the convergence of human and bioengineering. DNA and Genome sequencing are will become very mainstream as a result, we will have super or Alpha humans who will be living  much longer and healthier lives. People who are born today in developed societies with the advancement of medicine, proper nutrition and exercise, can expect to live well past 100 years of age.

Japan is one such rapidly aging society. 


The 4 Horsemen ? Well, its time they rode off into the sunset just all those comic characters whose time and relevance have gone. 

They wont be missed.  Really. 

14th March 2020 Addendum - Pestilience 

I was wrong on this count ; we are now in the midst of a global Pandemic called the Covid 19. While the mortality rate of this as a percentage of the infected remains low (about 2 - 3 %), the rate of transmission and the scale of escalation of this Coronavirus is unprecendeted in modern times. 

At the time of writing, there are over 140,000 cases and mortality globally of 3.2% of the infected. There are close to 80,000 who have recovered fully and this is indeed an encouraging sign. 

The only thing to fear is fear itself and we must keep calm, wash our hands often, don't touch our faces, practice common sense and social distancing  to keep our mental spirits up and wait for a vaccine which will surely come sooner rather than later.

Israel's Government Migal Galilee Research Institute is about to begin production of a coronavirus vaccine for the COVID 19, although the general population will only get one probably in 6 months earliest.

So, we had better learn to live with the risk of infection and stay as healthy and strong both physically and mentally possible.

Carpe Diem !! 

Sorry Just doesn't cut it. The divisions of 'class' is again being brought up on social media

I am taking a selfie and the bird gives me the bird. Crap !

The recent apology by the Whampoa condominium resident to the security officer has struck a raw nerve amongst many Singaporeans.He has struck a chord about the (perceived) differences about the difference in living in public and private housing estates. 

What I am writing reflects many Singaporeans' feelings about the issue. I think "sorry" just doesnt' cut it.This guy is beyond stupid. A moron of the highest order. 

He has in this few short minutes of a viral video, highlighted and made it painfully aware with his insensitive words and actions about "this is not HDB" and with the unspoken inferences which the ruling Government had tried so hard to do in the last few decades. 
Try to reduce the inequality of living in public housing, which in my opinion (especially for the new HDB flats), like BTO and the like are of very high quality. 

Maintenance by the housing Residents Committees are also of very high standard of responsiveness and upkeep. 

Living in HDB is as good as if not better (in some instances) than private housing. Let me name a few from my viewpoint where HDB is 'better' and I mean it sincerely.  

1. Good connectivity to public transport, and MRT lines. Most HDB housing estates are within a few minutes walk from either the feeder bus or from the main MRT or LRT lines. 

     Compare that with Balestier where this loser lives, he has the temerity and stupidity to  infer that condominium is 'better'. The nearest MRT is either at Novena or Race Course and you would Mr. Private Resident with the supersized ego and half witten brain probably need to walk 20 minutes to the MRT.Of course there is Grab and your car. 

    Man, he needs to take a big dose of humility and rub it in his face. Work for a month as a security guard and find out how some (a small minority(  of these pig headed residents treat them. 

    Walk in the Security Uncle's shoes for a month. You will realise how privileged you are (or not) 

2. Access to most amenities like polyclinics, food centres, playgrounds, and parks are just 'downstairs'. This is one big plus for elderly folk with mobility issues 

3. Public Swimming pools are nearby and only cost $1 ; no need to pay condo maintenance fees easily in excess of $500 and above per unit.

4. Gyms are at the town centres and again at very low costs.

    Several things which private estates have  which may be deemed as 'better' than HDB they are deemed 'private' are :

1. Security guards

2. Lap or feature pools

3. Gyms with state of the art equipment

4. Covered car parks (most new ones have those)

5. Ratio of units access by lifts are smaller compared with HDB, generally speaking.

Hence, by his inference that 'this is not HDB' he is inferring in your face, that he is of a higher standing than most other people. And the presumption that $1.5 Million he paid is a lot of money.

Sorry, you moron. 

YOU MAY HAVE MONEY, BUT YOU SURE DO NOT HAVE ANY CLASS OR STANDING IN MY EYES.

Why oh why is the G allowing the free flow of people into our country without the proper economics means testing and  allowing these people to undermine the social fabric of our society.

There is also the inference that the ordinary citizens are losing out to these highly paid 'experts' who come and behave poorly, give a very negative impression of their entire country as a whole and leave a bad taste in the mouth.

Something must be done to address this. Else there will be a price to pay. 

I am truly disappointed. 

Sheppard - Great Song

Entitlement

The recent fracas about the foreign resident who threw vulgarities at the elderly security guard at the condominium again throws up the same issues about the effects of globalization and the migration of talent to our shores. Lets recap :

1. Since the early 2000s, Singapore has opened up its talent search to bring in FT or 'foreign talents' to help restructure her economy and take advantage of sectors such as IT, digital banking, cybersecurity, wealth management and cryptocurrencies to name a few.

2. Many foreign people have come here to work, either on expatriate packages and in the last 10 years, on local packages. There are mutual bilateral country agreements such as CECA Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement to facilitate ease of movement for foreign professionals (in this case India) to come to work in Singapore in fields such as banking, nursing and others. Singapore on the other hand, will be able to export her goods into India with much reduced tariffs. 

As a result, there seems to be an imbalance of foreign nationals coming here seeking employment in hospitals, banks, asset management firms, IT and others since Singapore's general standard and quality of life is far higher than many of its Asian neighbours,such as India for example.

3. Since it is relatively easy for foreign investors to incorporate companies here, they invariably will assign their fellow countrymen and women to come and assist in managing the startup and growth of these companies. 

4. Additionally, many banks, advertising, trading platforms etc have also come in and brought in their expertise to help facilitate their business growth and development. 

5. Many local Singaporeans feel overlooked and shunned from these opportunities. They   may have been retrenched from their bricks and mortar jobs  (eg HR, Sales and Operations of for example multinational electronics and semiconductor companies and feel that the opportunities have passed them by. I personally know of several friends from primary school and elsewhere who have become private hire drivers,security guards and property agents.My friends are mainly in their late 40s to mid 50s with good health, many with perhaps post secondary education. 

They appear to be the most vulnerable to the wave of new migrants coming to our shores and taking over the jobs in the 'gig' economy. 

One aspect many of these foreign talents have overlooked when coming to Singapore is that the culture here is very different from where they once lived for 20,30,40 or more years. As a result the archaic rules of the working world may work in India (for example) but it will not be the same in Singapore. Add to that, the behaviors of some of these expatriates are indeed very callous and there has been a spike in the arrests and incarcerations of numerous Westerners as well as those from India and China, for crimes such as molest, fighting and acting like they were the rulers in the old imperial times.

Times, they are a changing (Bob Dylan), and the foreign people need to be mindful that they are guests in their host country. Treat the hosts with dignity, even if the host may be serving you in a junior capacity. Where is the grace to your fellow human being ? 

That is called basic manners, which seems to be lost (maybe never learned) with some of these (a small fraction I am sure) so called entitled professionals. Shame. 

When unsure of local norms and customs, tread carefully

For the Singaporeans, it is a sore point to lose one's job and one's self esteem goes with it. The disruption of our economy is going to continue unabated and we really need to move and upskill ourselves. We really have no choice. To pine for the good old days of brick and mortar jobs is natural but they aint ever coming back. 

For people in their 40s, and 50s, we are still young old. If we relearn and upskill ourselves, we can and be relevant in this new economy. There are many short courses in digital marketing, python programming, coding and numerous others for us to take advantage.

To sit back, and be a keyboard warrior and whinge for every wronged uncle being bullied by a foreigner is not going to change a thing. 

Comeback Kings - Newcastle 1 Wolves 1

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Ho Chi Minh City Visit 23 - 25 Oct 2019

Famous Words of Ho Chi Minh in 1946 against the oppressive colonisation of first the French and next the Americans 

This is my 4th visit to the southern capital, previously called Saigon. The country of Vietnam since 1975, has been under Communist rule but the last 15 years or so, it has opened up its economy to the capitalists and the economy has been on an uptick since then. 

The young population are hungry, hard working, clever and bi-lingual - this is a big plus, as compared currently to the PRC. Hence there have been many investors coming in and setting up factories, businesses. Tourism is booming, with many visitors from US, Europe, Russia and Asia (China especially) coming for an inexpensive short weekend getaway. 

The greatest pride of the Vietnam people must be their steely determination to drive out the imperialist US forces in the very divisive Vietnam War which lasted from 1956 - 1975. More than 2 million Vietnamese died in the conflict, and US, even with their superior weaponry, firepower, technology, strategy could not overcome one fundamental aspect of the war - the will of the people to be free from imperialism and subjugation from the rule of the white man. 

      The one shameful symbol of the Vietnam War, the UH 1 H Huey Helicopter Gunship

The Vietcong soldiers were very clever in using captured weapons, ammunition and even learnt how to evade the US carpet bombings by digging a network of tunnels running some several kilometers underground and practically unseeen unless one was on top of its entrance. There was even the capture of F5E warplanes by the Vietcong and one brave pilot flew into Saigon (the capital of South Vietnam) and dropped several bombs into the Independence Palace in 1975. This signalled that the end of the war was near and the US presence was waning with each passing year from 1970 onwards.

Last Chopper out of Saigon May 1975 

There were millions of people protesting against the war in US, the returning Veterans were amongst the loudest opponents to the war, and the brave Vietnamese were just doing what came naturally, rising against the yoke of the oppressors. 

The US hence lost the war on 2 fronts - firstly in the minds of the general population who saw no positive upside to it, resulting in over 50,000 young men and women dying for a distant war with no identifiable cause except for the maintenance of balance of power between them (the Communists) and the Free World. 

T -59 Chinese Made Tank which stormed through the gates of Independence Palace on 30 April 1975 signalling America's defeat.  

Secondly, it was very expensive to the taxpayers, the US citizens and with each passing year, people were being made aware (by enbedded camera crews in the jungles of Vietnam alongside the soldiers) of the atrocities being committed by the US forces. There were reports of outright rape, murder, genocide and carpet bombing using Agent Orange which by all accounts was chemical warfare. Many innocent Vietnamese were scarred for life and lost their limbs and their dignity as a result of the terrible side effects of the chemicals. 

The moral outrage about the social injustice on the ordinary Vietnam people was finally enough to make the US powers that be, see that it was a lost cause. 

They pulled out in May 1975, and the US imperial power myth was shattered irrevocably.       

AI is already in our Car Computer System

The E230 2014 Version 

The convergence of Artificial Intelligence together with Biometrics will mean that our movements will be tracked by our handphones, our credit cards, our notebooks, and our vehicles. Facial Recognition software and the cashless society is now being employed in numerous cities all over People's Republic of China. 

Welcome to the brave new world in 2020.

The feature of Park Assist in the Mercedes Benz E Class is already in use, whereby the driver needs only to drive close to the parking lot, and the proximity sensors will detect the area available, do a quick algorithmic calculation and then take control of the driving so that the car is parked perfectly in the lot in either a reverse or parallel parking orientation.

There is also another Predictive Driving software which in my car's 2014 system can gauge the distance from the nearby car, and warn the driver that at the speed he is going, there is a greater chance of a collision or fender bender and hence an audio and visual will pop up to the driver's field of view.

Now in 2019 , 5 years on, there is surely the predictive software coupled with proximity sensors and with an algorithm that if I am travelling too fast and too close to the driver in front of me, the Cruise Control will take over the steering and the braking system so as not to collide with the vehicle in front. 

With the development of 5G, all new cars will be on the same network and can communicate with each other, and extrapolating this a bit further, the car and the entire traffic system can be 'in sync' so as to provide the most efficient a) route to the destination and b) route with least number of traffic disruptions in terms of traffic lights, vehicles doing road works and minor / major accidents.

Yuval Noah Harari pointed out so elegantly in his book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century that nowadays more people are being killed by traffic accidents worldwide than there are being killed by war and terrorism.

Surely the implementation of 5G is for the 'greater good' of saving lives ?   

The personal privacy issue will always be looming in the big picture of Government running our lives but there must be a system of checks and balances so that the legitimate and altruistic use of AI together with biometrics will be in the hands of the 'responsible' and benovalent people with compassion.

Else it will be chaos. 

Technology is neutral. It is the powers that be that owe a debt of responsibility to the proper dispensing and utilisation of the technology be it cloud storage, data analytics and cybersecurity to harness for the 'greater good' of uplifting people's standard of living in the coming years.