Tipping Points

This video suggests that even as the world heats up, it would thaw the permafrost, and that would lead to a tipping point.


So the world is trying to get to "net zero" when we add zero carbon into the atmosphere, so we do not add to the warming of the earth anymore.

SimplyGo and the Singapore Way.

 

So on Jan 9, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that the legacy "EZ-Link" card  that many Singaporeans have been using will be phased out. 

From 1st June 2024, only the new SimplyGo card can be used for Public Transport.

Taiwan's 2024 Election

 So Lai of the DPP won the presidency.

But Parliament is hung. No party has a majority to be able to form the govt. However, the KMT and the TPP could form a coalition govt and leave the DPP as an opposition. President Lai would then be hindered and obstructed, and be unable to make or execute policies.

What if... Malaysia and Singapore goes to war?

[Edited/Amended in Jan 2024.

Yes, it is incongruous that I "refresh" this post just as Johor and Singpaore are looking forward to more cooperation and working towards passport-free travel between Johor and Singapore. But yes, I am hopeful for a "common market" for Johor and Singapore. This post is just a reaction to the video from a few years back.]

There is this speculative video on YouTube:

The video assumes that for whatever reason, and in whatever scenario, diplomacy has broken down, and war has been declared. This is an attempt to argue against the assumptions. 

1) Singapore is not worth conquering. 

Most invasions/occupations are for tangible benefits - land, oil, natural resources, etc. Singapore has limited land. Malaysia has LOTS of land (compared to SG). They don't need SG's land. SG has NO NATURAL RESOURCES. No gold. No oil. We even have to import SAND! But, you might say, SG is richer than MY! So wouldn't MY want to take those riches? 

But... the source of SG's wealth CANNOT be taken. It is intangible. 

US strategy vis-a-vis China

The video above is a podcast with John Mearsheimer, the guest, explaining why China would not invade Taiwan.

In the first 2 minutes or so, John has to explain to Lex (the host) what "amphibious operations are difficult" mean. Lex is incredulous, as he asked (0:32) "So geography still has a role to play in the 21st century?"

Yes, Lex. Geography is still important,

PE2023 results - President Tharman

 

The anti-climatic result of Presidential Election 2023 was a resounding mandate for Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

ChatGPT answers: "Which is better? Malaysia's Roti Canai, or Singapore's Roti Prata?"

So I read the newsfeed that said Roti Canai is ranked #1 while Prata is ranked #12. So I asked ChatGPT which is better. This was the answer generated:

The preference between Malaysia's Roti Canai and Singapore's Roti Prata is subjective and can vary from person to person. Both dishes are delicious and have their unique characteristics, but there are some differences between the two:

Roti Canai (Malaysia): Roti Canai is a popular Malaysian flatbread that is known for its flaky and crispy texture. It is made from a dough that typically includes flour, water, and ghee (clarified butter).
It is often served with a variety of curries, including chicken curry, dhal (lentil curry), or fish curry.
Roti Canai is usually thin and crispy on the outside while soft on the inside. It can be folded or layered before serving.

Roti Prata (Singapore): Roti Prata, also known as Roti Prata in Singapore, is similar to Roti Canai in many ways. It is made from a similar dough of flour, water, and ghee or oil.
It is typically thinner than Roti Canai and is often cooked with more oil or ghee on a flat griddle, resulting in a slightly different texture.
Roti Prata is often served with various accompaniments, such as curry, sugar, condensed milk, or even ice cream.