The Moley Prophet

I was just reading an article about Hybrid vehicles in the US. Seems like the Prius is selling well in the US as it becomes a social statement of energy and environment. Sales in Singapore were however, terrible. Compared to the Americans, we do not waste our time and money trying to show that we are green. The Americans bought Prius instead of all other better looking hybrid vehicles because the other vehicles look the same and would not be able to show that its green statement. Perhaps the Federal government should look into providing all hybrid vehicles with a different kind of license plate to show that its "Green".

While Toyota is selling well with its Prius, other manufacturers did terribly in the US as mentioned. And now, most are switching to the alternative green source, the diesel engine. The mention of diesel engine in Singapore sparks off thoughts of thick black smoke and polluted air. However, diesel is actually cleaner than the gasoline (petrol) that we use. It gives more mileage, and the Euro IV diesel engines are much cleaner than gasoline engines. So why are dealers in Singapore not promoting this alternative? It is because the horrible government placed absurd road taxes on diesel powered cars. Only commercial vehicles like vans and lorries are discounted off this category of absurdly priced road tax, which means that Taxis are included. The move by the Police force to add diesel trucks like the Toyota Hilux is a statement that the government knows of this alternative to cleaner energy, but is unwilling to try it.

I find it weird that the government is providing incentives to a category of "Green" vehicles and imposing taxes on another. They are not making a clear statement on their stand here.

In less than a month, I would be leaving this tiny island, in pursuit of a much better education system. Over the past year, I have been locked in constant arguments with my younger brother over which is a better education system. Over a dinner few weeks ago, my mom's friend was commenting that Mathematics and Sciences is the only subject that you would be able to score a perfect score as they are all based on facts. For lingual subjects like English and Chinese, even a PhD holder would not be able to score a perfect score as they are based on subjective opinions.

Asians are selfish creatures. They would not want to see someone else surpass them, especially when they are in a mentoring position. Even if the essay has no mistakes, has great content, great structure, the markers would try to fault on the score by taking a few points off. There's no logic in that. Even the perfectionist would not be able to satisfy them. I'm not saying they are all off logic idiots. There's probably a small percentage who hold a different mentality. I had a Chinese teacher in Secondary school who was so impressed with some "O" level papers he marked which came from other schools that he gave them full marks straight as he knew that the second marker would try to fault them.

Americans are different. I can't say they aren't selfish. However, they definitely work smart. They don't waste their time finding faults in other people. Which means there are chances for perfect score everywhere. They do not waste time pinning people down, restricting them on their paths to success.

And come on. If you think that the Singapore system is the way to produce smart people, think again. Where do the world's richest people come from? A majority from the US. The Singapore system could only build a foundation for the academically stronger people. Not for those who aspire to be successful in life. Being persistent in believing in this system would only produce more work horses, which is probably what this government wants. People who could not express themselves freely, but just work and work.

If Celest and Andrea reads this entry, I'm sure they would start calling me chauvinistic again. That does not deter me from writing the facts. HA! Everyone knows that a large percentage of women make horrible drivers. I wasn't able to condemn them with facts some time ago as I couldn't drive alone on the main road without some one telling me to turn left or right. And finally few weeks ago, I got my highly anticipated freedom to drive on the main road.

Women: The road hoggers. The blur drivers. The reckless drivers. Once I saw this Auntie so blur, she knocked into the stationary car in front. Just because it's green light, she started moving off. And the guy in front was dreaming - talking on the phone, didn't realize the light had changed, and she knocked into him. She nailed him down on the fact that he was using the phone, created a big scene in the middle of the road.

Then there are the blur and slow girls who, erm, can't drive if I'm to suggest? These are the ultimate road hoggers who takes the first lane but doesn't overtake other cars, instead, slows down the traffic. Jerry had an experience of this road hogger braking to a stop on the first lane just to sabotage him.

Then the reckless drivers who do not have an idea where they are going. They swing here and there and end up slowing down traffic. Sure, I go from the second to the first lane, and then to the third.  But I was following the rules, for overtaking, and the cars on the left were simply hogging the traffic. That was when Celest was screaming in the car, hmm, should have left her back there. Oh yea, she was screaming that John's =) driving makes her feel more secure.

Next, the mothers! Gosh, I had my mother sitting beside me on Thursday night. Urgh. Everything also cannot. Cannot take the route I think is best. Must move like an Accent. They are so like Private Instructors, and worse than TPs. Right, Ryan?