Arguably the libel capital of the world, where democracy or freedom of speech is ranked very low among developed countries, and political persecution or defamation for contempt of court very high for anyone who dares to publish content critical of the government.
The number of Singaporeans and foreign journalists threatened with a lawsuit in recent years has been on the rise, as authorities often use dated colonial or internal security laws as a pretext for maintaining religious or racial harmony to silence and punish political critics.
An educational mecca for budget-conscious tourists, who are looking for some cheap, cool math books for their kids whose math grades have hardly improved from using locally published textbooks.
Although Singapore is arguably a first-class economy with a third-rate educational publishing industry—which often condones Machiavellian math practices—however, its wallet-friendly math K-12 titles are sought after by homeschoolers in many developed and developing countries.
A “tuition nation” where your grade six exam score more or less determines your future—the fear of failing and not getting into a school of choice reduces your chances of a decent or quality education, because the top or popular schools have “better teachers” and more resources.
Because of its high-stakes exams, Singapore is probably the world’s most stressful country for a child to experience a normal childhood—and she will be at a disadvantage if her parents can’t afford to send her for private tuition.
When God opens doors no one can shut and when He shuts doors no one can open—when people and circumstances appear to be preventing you from your dream, but God wouldn’t allow the doors to close if they were going to keep you from your destiny.
Closed doors look permanent—your health isn’t getting better; your financial situation isn’t improving; the chances of meeting someone look dim; you’re stuck in your job or not getting promoted—but God as your doorkeeper can just walk in and suddenly open them. Are you ready for these suddenlies, as He opens and closes the right doors to protect and propel you to your next level of growth or success?
1. Tax haven for Eduardo Saverin-like fugitives and gambling hub for syndicates.
2. Housing for hard-to-please Asian mistresses or mainland Chinese concubines.
3. Housing for illegitimate children and adopted godchildren or grandchildren.
4. Second residence in case of rioting against minority Chinese in home country.
5. Safety and security because public protests or strikes and guns are banned.
6. Wayward son or daughter attending international school or local polytechnic.
7. Filthy rich Japanese and Arabs seeking kinky sex escorts at five-star hotels.
Singapore is more than a mere tourist destination of choice. Ever wondered the unspoken “why Singapore?” for businessmen and long-term foreign residents?
The awareness that you need to treasure your time on this side of eternity until your last heartbeat, living a purposeful life, and not wasting your life away, complaining that life is not fair, or living dishonestly to acquiring material wealth.
If only more people were to count their blessings, be it beauty, brain, health, or wealth, there would be less comparing with, and complaining about, others—when they can tell friends and foes that “the God who numbers your days is also the One you’d remember in both good and difficult times.”
Short for “Pi fanatic.” A math geek who is aroused at the sight and sound of the irrational number π, and who also claims to be able to smell it as well.
What are the odds that a pinatic is also autistic, or is an idiot savant?