A trip to Innaloo (Part 1)

A little piece of history for this place that I visited today.

" Innaloo is a suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, and it is located 9 km from Perth's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.
Innaloo is a more established residential suburb that is also home to the Westfield Innaloo and Westfield Innaloo Megacentre shopping centres, and is adjacent to Perth's largest cinema complex, the 18-cinema Greater Union Megaplex Innaloo

Innaloo was originally named "Njookenbooroo", a local Noongar Aboriginal name for a nearby swamp. This name was too difficult to pronounce or spell, and in 1927, the local progress association asked welfare worker and anthropologist Daisy Bates to compile a list of words and names. The name of an Aboriginal woman from Dongara was chosen for the area.[2] It is much beloved of comedians making fun of place names, along with the suburb of Upper Swan. However, all attempts at changing the name from Innaloo have so far failed."

Weather forecasts had promised rain over Perth but by 2pm the skies were clear. Hence we headed over to Innaloo. In fact, I had no plans to visit Innaloo today. It was an impromptu decision because I was kind of bored staying at home. Thus when my friend came over to my place, I came up with this suggestion. Why? Simply because I couldnt think of a better place to take pictures.

Greater Union Cinema Pictures -








The TimeZone inside the cineplex -

Of Michael Jackson and his new fans

After not having posted anything in a considerably long while, I began to think about things to write.

Well, by now, most people would have known that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson had passed away while rehearsing for his sell-out(?) worldwide tours that were due to start pretty soon.

It is sad that another icon of the past era has left us, reminding everyone of the morbid truth - that life is uncertain and death is most certain. Being a cynic, I was un-fazed, though somewhat disgusted, by the attention (or rather hypocrisy) showered by netizens at the star's demise.

Many people began to spam+offer their condolences on various online forums and boards after the star's tragic passing was reported- how many were truly heartfelt, we would never know. I do know however, that MJ's popularity seemed to have revived with self-proclaimed fans immediately protesting for the innocence and dispelling previous rumours, criticisms of their idol (on previous allegations of MJ's pedophilic tendencies, drug use, etc).

Its even sadder when news are coming out after MJ's passing. When he could no longer defend himself against all allegations and people around him trying to cash out on his death.

I do agree however, that MJ had a really sad childhood. Showbiz gave MJ life and took it away from him.

I think its really sad to be misunderstood. I somewhat feel a little like MJ. Though in my case, people dont want to try to understand me since there's really nothing much in it for them. Then again I dont really want to be understood. Indeed I am weird.

Pictures of the Area around UWA (Part 2)

Yes, horse carriages are allowed on the roads too, right out from fairy tales. This would be perfect for die hard romantics.

Some pictures of the area around UWA (Part 1)

Parrots! Yes you can find many types of birds here. Something which we will only be able to see in the bird park. And yes, sometimes they get close enough for you to touch too ;)

Dr William Tan wants ST to apologize for publishing untruth

Just to what extent will our state papers go to, to propagandize our world class government? I think many of us feel more than appalled... simply disgusted at publishing untruths..... to mislead Singaporeans. Is there even media freedom or are we fed with the things our dear leaders want us to read?

ST apologizes to Dr William Tan for LYING and PUBLICIZING his non-existent illness

From The Newsroom Team

On 10 May 2009, the Sunday Times published an article claiming that well-known paraplegic Dr William Tan had myelogenous leukaemia (AML), the same illness that killed DBS Group Holdings chief Richard Stanley last month:

“The Sunday Times understands that Dr Tan, who was diagnosed with the blood cancer last month, has been discharged from the National University Hospital. He was not contactable yesterday.” (read report here)

One would have thought that the Sunday Times must have concrete proof of Dr Tan’s illness before publishing it since it was unable to contact him in person to corroborate the claim.

However, it turned out that Dr Tan did not have AML.

An angry Dr Tan wrote in to the Straits Times today lambasting it for the inaccuracy and demanding a public apology:

“The Sunday Times reported me as having acute myelogenous leukaemia or AML (’Paraplegic adventurer battling leukaemia’). I do not have AML….. I am requesting a public apology as the irresponsible reporting has raised concerns and confusion among friends, loved ones and family.” (read letter here)

The Straits Times duly did so: “We apologise to Dr Tan and his family for the error.”

In the first place, Dr Tan’s illness is a confidential matter and should not be publicized on a national paper at all no matter how newsworthy it is.

The Sunday Times has breached the confidentiality of Dr Tan and has grossly misrepresentated the facts without substantiating them.

In fact, this is only one of the many instances which the state media has been caught lying and it is allowed to get away with impunity in most cases.

Let us quote a few recent examples:

1. On 2 March 2009, the Straits Times reported that NTU student David Widjaja had committed suicide by plunging to his death after stabbing his NTU professor. Subsequent testimonies given by David’s friends and tutors revealed many glaring inconsistencies. A coroner’s inquiry will be convened later in the month to further investigate the matter.

2. On 5 March 2009, the Straits Times and a host of other papers claimed that SAF medical officer Dr Allan Ooi committed suicide due to depression, relationship problems and indulgence in computer games. It turned out that his main grouse was against his employer for not allowing him to break off his bond.

3. The Straits Times boasted that ISD gave the “crucial lead” which enabled the Malaysian Special Branch to capture Mas Selamat Kasteri. According to Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Hishammudin Hussein, this lead was given by the Indonesian authorities as part of a collaboration between Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

A virtual monopoly in the market has caused the state media to become complacent and slack, leading to fast deteriorating journalistic standards.

Unlike the Sunday Times, we will never publish such a story without solid documentary evidence to back us up not withstanding the fact that a personal and private matter of an individual should never be revealed to the public.

The state media has reached a new low in terms of professionalism, integrity and credibility. “Journalist” is too honorific a term to describe the gang of shenanigans prancing the hallways of SPH. A more apt title for more will be “state ***porters”.

http://wayangparty.com/?p=9191

Random Rant

im tired of people.

perfunctory relationships.

im sick of calling passerbys "friends". im utterly disgusted by our superficiality.

im not interesting enough to hang out with the crowd. "interesting" not in the literal context. dont believe what they say. people lie. all the time.

i dont really need their presence, neither do they need mine (lol). why am i a convenient friend. why am i expendable

i havent lost faith, not since i started out empty.

you know when there's a time when you cant simply move on.

MSK re-caught, DPM Wong gets congratulated

Capture of MSK: DPM gets congrats SMSes


No doubt we are happy that MSK has been RE-CAUGHT by the Malaysian Authorities.
But the million dollar question is how can he be re-caught if he never did escape in the first place?

Im sure the Malaysian authorities got plenty of help from Singapore authorities, with information on MSK's height (160 to 162 then 163, 165cm), photoshopped photos, maybe he's limping, maybe he limps only when he runs, well we dont know and EITHER HE IS IN SINGAPORE OR ESCAPED ELSEWHERE - this is really brilliant. Either he's here or he's not. Singaporeans are to be blamed for their complacency anyway.

Why are we not surprised that Singaporean leaders are never apologetic over mistakes and play up the hypes/claims for every little thing they do. In other countries, the punishment for costly mistakes will be more than a light tap on the back of the hand.