1:46:23pm.
At this time today, I was just back from lunch and reluctantly continuing my work at my desk.
But thousands of miles away, at that same time, it was nightmare under broad daylight. 8.9 on the richter scale, that's a hell lot of energy released at Sendai. The impact was even much more powerful than the Great Hanshin earthquake in Kobe in 1995. Watching the numerous videos on TV and online, I think the 10m-high tsunami impact was alot worse than the earthquake itself. The speed at which the waters covered the areas was really shocking and devastating.
I always feel something extra for major incidents at areas where I've been to. A few weeks ago, the sinking incident at Ha Long Bay did send some jitters down my spine, as I recalled sleeping in the cabin of a similar junk boat.
Now, the greatest earthquake on record in Japan's Sendai affected neighbouring Tokyo, which was my first ever gateway to Japan. The failure of the entire JR, subway and shinkansen networks really paint a grim picture. A friend of mine had actually just walked 15km back home from his office in Tokyo!
It's been a long time since predictions and warnings postulate that 'a big one' will hit Tokyo soon. I can't imagine how much more devastating it will be when it happens one day. Japan recovered quickly from Kobe 16 years ago. It shall too, from Sendai.
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A recount by a friend:
It was a sunny day. The weather looked perfect. Much better than the rest of the days and my boss was smiling happily at me & said「いい天気ですね！」(Nice weather right?).
However, things changed at 3+pm. Dark clouds started to come in suddenly(Bad omen?). I felt the building shaking. I thought it was normal as I often get to feel mini earthquakes a few times per week. However, this time round it stretched from secs to minutes and it became stronger. Everything started to shake, my Japanese colleagues looked worried.
It shoke & shoke, suddenly I heard the alarm. It was my first time hearing this alarm and first time the doors were unlocked automatically, the TV on automatically with NEWS. The alarm and automation made me worried because it signaled to me that this time round was going to be a really big 1 which I had not experienced before.
We started hiding under the table. I hid under my desk with a bottle of water & a manju just in case the building collapse and I have food & drink to keep me alive if I were to be trapped. I asked my Japanese colleagues whether was it usually so strong & they said it was their first time experiencing such a big 1. I was like (O.o)
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Anyway,
1. Here's a link to the meteorological agency in Japan that tracks seismic activity live throughout the country. You can really tell that earthquakes happen EVERY DAY in Japan. Click HERE.
2. Here's a link that you have to see: how Channel News Asia's marketing work at times of disasters. Form your own opinions later. Click HERE.
人生是黑白的.
11:54 PM <3
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Congratulations on your new pay rise, President!
The gahmen has just given the President his "Grow and Share" package!
The new President's pay will increase by ALMOST A MILLION, to reach S$4,267,500.
To put that astronomical amount in perspective,
He earns $11,691.20 every day for 365 days a year.
He earns $487.20 every hour for 24 hours a day.
He earns $8 every minute for 60 minutes in an hour.
(He only needs half a day to earn my average YEAR's worth of allowance!)
And this is excluding a S$73,000 entertainment allowance per year.
Now I know I have a new ambition.
人生是黑白的.
12:11 AM <3
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Don't buy the book about Hard Truths.
At least that's how my opinion is formed from the report on the World's Oldest Politician.
In the latest interview with the gahmen-friendly media, he claimed that the comment on Muslims integrating with other communities was "made probably two or three years ago" and that "Ministers and MPs - both Malay and non-Malay - have told him that Singapore Malays have indeed made special efforts to integrate with the other communities, especially since 9/11, and that his call was out of date. "
1. Look, if he actually needed MPs BOTH Malay AND non-Malay to enlighten him, then this guy might really have not been paying attention to the people in the country. If he calls himself an MP, would he be so far apart from the realities of the society? I certainly don't hope so?
2. Saying that the comment was made "2 or 3 years ago" sounds like a desperate excuse, trying to salvage some negativities before the imminent elections.
3. And so since the comments are "out of date", I don't see why an outdated book should be sold?
人生是黑白的.
12:27 AM <3
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