The death sentence, wars and religious violence

Every so often when another poor drug runner kid goes to the gallows, the Internet will be abuzz with calls to drop the death sentence. What are we looking at when we call for an abortion of the death sentence? State sanctioned killing, depriving the life of another human being (against his/her will), cruel and unusual punishment in such civil times, punishment is ineffective in deterring the crime and there are more effect ways of deterring the said crime.

Personally, I totally agree with the last 2 points as I believe there are enough evidences to support the ineffectiveness of the death penalty. The death penalty is just a lazy way of sweeping issues under the carpet with a need to think creatively a better solution, which is out there. Sometimes, there are effective solutions, to some extend like legalising drugs, but the policies makers are just too scared to make to them. 

Another reason why I think the death penalty can be wrongly used is that the definition of crime is arbituary. Different countries will define crimes different. In one country, its okay to wear bikini, but in other you may be going to the gallows for it. So we should understant that a criminal here, is not a necessary the same criminal elsewhere. As such, the death penalty becomes an arbituary killing mechanism to keep people within a social order.

However, as for some of the other reasons, I am dubious as to whether the supporters really know what they are asking for. Don’t get me wrong, I totally support the ending of the death penalty, I am saying that there is some fundamentals that we need to examine when we say we support sometime like that.

In Singapore, at least, I noticed that many of the examples why the death penalty ought to be abolish is given in a showcase of drug runners who are either ignorant or forced by their own circumstance to do so and got caught. Bambi is the showcase here. 

What about the others who were executed? Mass murderers, child rapist and killers, serial killers, gang members. How many of them are also showcased together as a reason not to have the death penalty? Surely this will make the appeal much weaker to the public, Bambi have to be the mascot and not the big bad wolf.

Why is that so?

Simply speaker, the public tend not to forgive people who have kill others knowingly and out of malice. I suspect that some of the supporters too may not be able to forgive them. 

Another function of the death sentence is really to serve as an age-old revenge mechanism for agrieved members of the victim(s). In our currently time, direct revenge killing is not possible as such the state is sought after to take over the function. At the end of the day, its still revenge, regardless who revenges and many people still believe in an eye for an eye, a life for a life.

So my question to the supporters is this, you have just witness a mass murderer who have just raped your mother and sisters and also kill and dismembered your entire family (parents, siblings et al). He (I am not being sexists, just easier to use one gender) is now injured and cannot move and you have gun in your hands, what would you do? Do give out your answers too readily for political correctness, you really really need to think about “not killing” hard. If its hard, think back when you are watching a movie and the bad guy gets maimed and killed by the hero, were you happy or aghast? Did you support what the hero did?

Do you then really think you really support the ending of the death penalty?

As a supporter, do you support war efforts? If invaders, example the Japanese, came in and starter killing your friends and family and raping women and bombing your house, would you support any war effort to rid of the invaders?

So people may say that this is different and irrelevant to the death penalty. I beg to differ.

The death penalty is a structured means of killing someone for a crime that have committed against the state’s defined laws. War killing is also a structured means (planned bombing and shooting) of killing someone for what in your view is a crime committed against your country and family. In both cass, someone will be killed. In war, however you can kill as many people as possible without too much paperwork and sometimes with very little remorse. This is also taking away lives of others without their consent, althought they expect to be kills sometimes. Violence is violence, killing is killing, I don’t see this as different.

I don’t believe that one can support ending of death penalty, but yet support war effort. This is just picking and choosing the types of killing that suits you

Finally, we cannot talk about violence and killing without looking into the fundamental of our believe system, i.e. religious believes.

The death penalty is probably a better punishment than what is described in many religious books if you don’t believe in their gods or their believe system.

I don’t understand how can one support the idea that its wrong to take one’s life away but yet is supportive of all the violent acts meted upon the non-believers after they have died or sometimes when they are alive in their religious books.

Many religious books talks about sanctioned killings and acts of violence against non-believers and those who went against their god’s laws. So isn’t the death penalty also a form of sanctioned killing against the non-believers of the law of the country? Do you then as a support condemn those acts of killings and violence described in your scriptures, albeit them happening long ago and may or may not be facts. How can you reconcil your belief that the death penalty is wrong and should be stopped, if you accept the acts violence and killings in your religious text?

After all most religous text is about your god’s law and those who break its laws are condemned to torture, death and violences.  If your god cannot spare non-believers of the “death sentence”, how can you expect a government to spare the non-believers of its laws the death sentence?

Silly followers and silly monk mistakes

You know, throughout the whole Ming Yi saga, Buddhists and non-Buddhists have continuously pointed fingers at the man and accusing him of everything including bringing horrendous damage to Buddhism.

Although, I don’t know him at all (only met him once), I believe that he is not a bad person at heart, just silly and someone who despite being a monk have not looked beyond material and personal desires. Sometimes when you become popular and no one questions your decisions, it can make you feel a bit godly. Anyone in those position can make such mistakes. Personally, I continue to believe that he has genuine care for the things that he do, maybe some people don’t like him (this is common in the Buddhist circle, I like you, I don’t like you, etc), just maybe he should not be a monk but a business man.

Chia Te Pineapple Tarts and Sun Biscuits – Taipei

Frankly speaking, I have never been a great fan of pineapple tarts (凰梨酥)  and sun biscuits (太阳饼). But a few years ago when I was on a work trip to Taipei, my colleague bought some tarts whose shop is only based in Taichung and I loved it. The tart practically melts in your mouth. However, since I have left my old company, I have been looking for something similar whenever I travel to Taipei for holidays. But so far none have met my taste meter.

So this current trip to Taipei, we decided to ask a taxi driver to recommend the best pineapple tart in Taipei and he recommended Chia Te (家德）. He mentioned that his wife queue for more than 1 hour during festive seasons to buy that tarts and they only produce enough for the day. Also noteworthy was that it won some best pineapple tart awards in Taipei for a few years running. Hearing this, of course, we were determined not to let the opportunity pass us by and decided to pop down the shop early next morning (around 11 am lah).

Hong Kong phone scam using fake TV lucky draw

Anyway, it never really occurred to me that scammers can be that persistent, normally, I would think that they would call you once and try to extract as much money as they can from you within the first encounter. However, this phone scammer uses what we call social engineering to create doubt in your believe that its a scam and trust in the person.

When I initially received the call, it was some lady with very standard China Chinese accent talking to me, I normally did not pay attention to such call and was just listening but doing something else. She introduced her company in Chinese which I could not make up and when I asked for the English name, I couldn’t make it up neither due to her pronounciation. She was talking about introducing her company products to me, which I have no idea what and was waiting for her to tell me… but anyway, I was really listening. Didn’t know how the conversation ended, but it was cordial and she thanked me for taking the time.

The 2nd time, a lady called again and reminded me that we spoke before and talked excitingly about a program in some Asian TV channel which did not make sense to me which channel it was. She keep reminding me that I should watch their inaugural program on TV or something like that. Again, I was not listening, I never really listen to sale people on the phone. The 2nd time ended cordially again and she thanked me and reminded me to watch their program. Oh, I think she gave me some lucky draw number or something like that.

After a long time, I got a call again, today. This time she told me if I had watch the program and I said no and that I had no time. She said that I won a big sum of money (she did say how much, but I never listened) in HKD and its about SGD 110,000. Anyone, would have jumped for joy, but was totally emotionless. For one thing, I know my own damn luck with money and luck draws. Anyway, I asked about her company and how I got into the draw and she asked if I had purchase electronics or gadget in the last five years (who don’t?) and the collected these from the warranty forms.

Then she ask why I was not happy to get this price and asks me how I want to spend the money. She asks if I don’t believe her. I said I will decide when I have it.  By now, my scam radar started up, but had some doubts because until now they had not asked for money from me and had called me a few times. Anyway, she was saying whether I want to collect it myself or should they bank to me, so I said I will collect it. She started to give me the address “Hong Kong….” and I said in that case send it over to me. I was still very emotionless at the point and she asks if its because I don’t believe her and that there are a lot of scam stories going around and she added that I will believe her when I see the money in my bank and I will thank here and bring her out to dinner next time I visit Hong Kong.

So I asked her what I need to give her, so said she need to prove of my identity and my bank account to transfer the money and they will transfer the money in by tomorrow. So I gave her my real name, but I told her that did not have my POSB bank account with me.  She said the numbers on the card would usually do, I like “Uh?” on my account is on my POSB card, the numbers don’t look like it. Anyway, I told her that I will need to call her back when I get the account number and she gave me her name as Xiu Man Xing and number +852 307 83335.

So I came home and did a search about Hong Kong phone scams and came to this page:

http://shimworld.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/hong-kong-scam-alert/

And interesting enough a comment on this page describes EXACTLY what happened to me almost word for word, except that I had not given her my bank account number yet.

Hi Jan, Thanks for your post. I almost got scam the same way and it just happen. Means they have not stop it, even worst if this is another copy cat company.

Here’s my story. I got a call also by a lady who sound like from mainland china, her name is 许慢心 she said i have bought some electronic product either from sony or panasonic and was entitled a lucky dip 2000 was selected from singapore, 2000 selected from malaysia and 2000 from Hong Kong. I got 3rd prize together with 3 other people. Total cash price of HKD$650,000.00. The other 2 from HK already got their prize money on the spot when the TV programm was air on CCTV on the 13 of sept 2009, and even the Malaysia winner also got his money, now they are wondering how come after so long i did not claim my prize, so They call me up to check. So I ask her how do you varitfy that the winner is me when u never ask me for my identity number or passport number. She could not give me a very good reply, reply to keep saying that is it I don’t believe her. She say my name is correct and my phone number is correct right so it must be me. She also say that i have a lucky number 37527 which they pick out form the draw. It’s their company 18 year anniversary draw. While talking to me on the phone trying to convince me that she understand that there are lots of scam company out there and it’s only normal that i don’t believe her, she also put me on hold and answered another phone call which a customer call in to order some products from them. Company name is 日晨有限公司, address is 九龙湾道，158-160号，吉心大厦, 5 floor and 6 floor. Phone number: +85230783335. Finally to a point i ask her what she need from me? Is it first i must give her some money first. She ask for my bank account number, full name and birthday. Which i also gave her thinking that it’s no harm. She end to call by telling me that once i receive i will believe and must call her to thank her, even if next time i go HK must go buy her dinner, even ask me have i thought of how to spend this money. She also tell me i have to pay a 15% of my price money for HK goverment tax. So when the prize money is converted to Singapore dollars i should get S$118,900.00, the Tax i need to pay to HK is S$17,835.00. But i only need to pay this tax one week after i have received the money. Sounds ok so far right.

Day 2: The so call manager a male called me to double check my bank account number, name and birth date, Than told me he will go to the bank to remit the money to me right away and ask me to go to the bank one hour later to check and print out an account balance and fax it to them so that they can proceed with the tax form…. As you can guess i wait checking my the ATM every 2 hours but nothing happen.

Day 3: I have already given up hope that this is for real, but still decided to call 许慢心 to tell her i no longer believe her and that she is fake, but when i call, she act shock to hear that i have not gottan my money, she say she thought i already got it and happily spending it. After hearing form me she say she will double check with her manager. By 4pm she call back and told me that the bank has close but they will check and her manager will get back to me the next day.

Day 4: She call me again, this time to tell me that the bank rejected the transfer because I am not a HK citizen so in order to pay the HK tax i got to authorise their company to pay this tax for me. And to do that, i have to make a 4% payment of my prize money S$4756.00 to this accounting firm appointed by HK Goverment. Company name 世华国际联合律师事务所 address: 香港九龙旺角大厦12 floor. Account number : 7860-0362-4888 name of account : Wan Yu Ng Lung. Bank name: Hang Seng Bank limited. When i ask how come the account name is not the company name, and is there any document they can fax me to show me that this amount i remit over is for what purpose, for more information about both the company and what are their english name… she don’t dare to review anymore.

At the end she still call me and say wanna give you money but since u don’t believe can don’t remit this S$4756.00 and give up my price money. I said fine. I don’t want the money.

For readers who read this post by me, please don’t get scam by these people be extra careful, if you wanna check does their company exist you can go to this website by HK goverment to check. http://www.cr.gov.hk/en/home/index.htm than click on the bottom first icon that says ” company informantion check” than follow the instruction and type in the company name and you will know if which ever company really register themself in HK or not. I have also for Jan’s advise and email to Hang Seng Bank about this matter, if i do get a respond from them be sure i will post it here for everyone to read.

Thanks
Almost victim
Dolly Soh

銀座梅林: Ginza Bairin – tonkatsu

Everyone who have been to Japan with me would know that I am crazy about tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet). The truth is, I was never crazy about tonkatsu in Singapore, probably because the quality of the pork and the cook are so bad. But in Japan, you can really get very good pork, especially black pork, cuts at a very good price. I was pleasantly surprised that pork can actually taste so good and can be that juicy.

Okay, I confessed, I have never heard of Ginza Bairin, so I as was curious to find out how their tonkatsu would taste, since according to the brochure its famous for its tonkatsu. So I decided to try their tonkatsu meal at around $13.

So for $13 I don’t really expect a big chunk of meat and indeed it wasn’t. However, the pork was juicy and tasty, although its a bit thin! The cabbage was not a lot, I wished there was more. I asked the waitress if I could top up cabbage and she say yes for 50 cents more. Er.. I am not paying 50 cents more for cheap vegetables. The soup is a pork soup (tonjiru) instead of the regular miso soup and its quite good. All in all for $13, the quality of the meal was good, but I must complain that the cabbage is just too little.

I missed the days in Japan where I can get free refills of tea, rice, soup AND cabbage!

Is smoking THAT harmful? … compared to drinking

CNA recently reported that the health officials are seeking proposals on amendments of the smoking act.

Health officials seek public views on proposed amendments to Smoking Act
By Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 August 2009 2157 hrs

SINGAPORE: Underage smokers who get caught lighting up could soon face fines of up to S$500.

This is one of several proposed changes to the Smoking Act, aimed at reversing the rising trend of smoking in young adults aged 18-29 years.

Other proposed amendments include lowering tar and nicotine levels, and prohibiting shisha and other harmful alternative forms of tobacco.

If the proposals go through, retailers will have their tobacco licences revoked the first time they are caught selling cigarettes to underage youths in school uniforms or to those under the age of 12.

Tobacco advertising and promotion is currently banned, and the health authorities now want to prohibit tobacco companies from sponsoring arts-related events from the end of 2010.

The health authorities will be seeking public consultation over the next four weeks on the proposed amendments.

Members of the public can log on to www.hpb.gov.sg or www.moh.gov.sg to provide their feedback on the measures.

- CNA/yb

Okay, no doubt that smoking as been link to cancer and other complications and its driving up medical costs, but really compared to alcohol is smoke really that harmful? We spent so much money and effort on combating smoking and smokers, but how many times have you seen people drive a car into the bus stop injuring them when they are smoking? How many times have we seen kids vomitting or fighting inside/outside bars killing and injuring others and themselves because of smoking? Or how many times have we seen wives or children beaten up because someone smoked too much? Shouldn’t alcohol be even more lethal?

I don’t think that it will be helpful to have additional laws and fines to prevent youths from smoking. If they want to smoke they will find a way to smoke, even if you put a death penalty around it (okay, that’s too much!). Worst still, we will drive smoking youths underground.

I think its more important to understand why youths smoke and the social contexts in which they smoke and work on those. I remember that I start to try out smoking when I was working in Mac after secondary school. The reason I tried it was because a number of friends I looked up to are smoking and being the rebellious me I had to be different. I continue to be a mini-social smoker for some time.

Good thing for me is that I could never get addicted to smoking no matter how hard I tried, I just don’t really like the taste of cigarettes smoke in the mouth.

I think smoking, like drinking, has something to do with our genes. Some people pick up smoking/drinking easily because their genes are predisposed to like smoking/drinking. Others like me, no matter how I tried to smoke and drink just don’t like the taste of neither. The other is, of course, our environment which provided the opportunities for us to pick up those habits.

Youths when they want to rebel, no law can stop them.

銀だこ: Gindaco Takoyaki

When takoyaki (or in local lingo… sotong balls!!) first launched in Singapore years ago, it was a rave. People queue for 30 mins to get their hands onto it. Of course, I too got a taste of it. But it never impressed me. Worst still, as the years goes by whatever left of the competition (2 main ones, I think) are really mediocre and nothing more than soggy flour balls with some stuffings. The tako (octupus) was tiny, the balls are soft and the whole thing is soggy and floury in taste.

But it was my trip to tokyo, when I tried takoyaki that I fell in love with it again. Now, in Singapore takoyaki is eaten as a snack, 4 balls. But in Japan, its eaten as a meal serving minimum 6 balls and 10 balls portions. I discover Gindaco somewhere around Ueno where I used to stay. Of course, you can find this and many other takoyaki stores in Japan.

White House declares June as LGBT Pride Month

I recieved this email in my inbox from my company’s LGBT distribution list and felt like crying in happiness with the American LGBTs.

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

Its okay to go to hell

In my recent research for the origins of paper burning tradition, I came across an interesting note about Hell Money. You know those notes in tens of thousands and millions (a bit like rupiah) denominations and that you burn to offer cash to your ancestors or whoever got their hands on it.

Anyway, the story has it that when the Jesuits were preaching in China last time, they would keep telling the Chinese that they will go to hell if they don’t believe in you-know-who. But as we know it, the Chinese concept of hell is really the underworld. Whenever any dies, they will report to the underworld where they will be judged by the yama king there and its also in the underworld where one goes for rebirth.

My reply to being sexually challenged

Here is the reply I sent to ST Forum on Tan Keng Soon’s letter which we archived in PLURALSG. Don’t know if it ever gets posted though:

I refer to Tan Keng Soon’s letter on ST Forum Online “‘Sexually challenged’ isn’t anoffensive term referring to gays”, dated May 26.

In the letter, Mr. Tan made claims without any evidences from credible scientific research papers and institutions. He called people with same-sex attraction abnormal, but many credible psychological institutions, including those in Singapore, America and England, sees same-sex attraction as part of the human sexuality landscape and do not see it as an abnormality. This is like Mr. Tan saying that the earth is flat without needing to proof it.