let lemons be angry

Things around me that make me feel i'm living in the Woman Warrior, among strange people with a strange culture.

Article A: a newspaper ad
"I am Gifted Too" Learning Program
your child will develop the following:
+strong beliefs
+amazing confidence
+whole-brain note making
+superb memory skills

"I applied the skills I learnt and topped the level with A1 (87%) in History. I also got straight A1s. I never knew I could do so well." -- boy (with nondescript name)

Article B: SMU brochure
"We're hot...and Cool!"

People, honestly. If you're selling education, at least sound credible. I should read the newspapers and mail more, for they really are entertaining. Then there is the US elections result breakdown, with impressive and informative charts showing that Bush's supporters are mostly white, married, of the older age groups, and from the less metropolitan, less modernized states. It had never occurred to me before that America had a heartland, always thinking of the heartlanders as the aunties shopping at NTUC in their own Points and Malls. But now i realise its heartland is as heartlandish as Singapore's is, if not even less exposed to the world beyond their own heritage. It is the story of Antony winning the plebeian mob with his "Friends, Romans, countrymen" speech, it is (thanks to SEAsian history) the story of the PAP winning the elections in those politically crazy nation-building days. Winning the people at the grassroots level, showing that you as a leader identify with the common man--of course that's what will sway the listening flock more than promises of beneficial reforms will. Do they really know what policies will work for them?

GP was, well, incomplete. But i told God it's all in His hands and so there's no looking back.