i don't think Georgia gov underestimate russian military i think Georgia miscaculate the response from Russia.

But i think this is just a temporary cease fire i believe this war could spread further into other states.

there are always singaporean in various city u just have to look deeper.

Russia on Thursday tested an inter-continental missile, heightening tensions with the West as France said the European Union could impose sanctions on Moscow over the Georgia conflict.

Russia also sought international support at a summit with China and Central Asian nations.

The missile test in northern Russia came barely a week after the United States completed an accord with Poland on basing an anti-missile shield in central Europe and as Russia accuses.

i think we are at a cross road. It may not be the soviet type of cold war but a regional level conflict could easily emerge.

first the bear resume patrolling the sky

2nd claiming Georgia  

3rd testing missile  

I think at the end of the day the next big conflict is still about oil resources.

U can't use old reference and critics what was said in the past using current information.  

go sue the govt.

choosing hilary will be one of suicidal and that is why she was not even shortlisted for VP.

In any case Why would Hilary be contended to be someone else 2nd. Think!

interesting events this week for the race to the white house.

Obama, biden vs McCain, Palin.

Palin, who becomes the first woman to serve on a GOP presidential ticket and the first Alaskan to appear on a national ticket, echoed McCain's appeal to battle the status quo in Washington

but i think Obama will win this election.

my wife came with a varity of accents when she speak english a bit of wales, british, and american.  So one day I told her to make up her mind and stick to one. If she speak with a brit with her American colleague I reminded her not to sound too condescending.  Must have caught on during the pacific journey an alter state of ego.

Originally posted by VODKA KE0601:

 

Thanks for the info, that's very interesting to know.

Do they use those harpoons on colombians drug runners or vessels with Illegal aliens?

if that happen u will read it in the news paper.

Most of the formal soviet states are coming to terms between modern statehood vs ethnic ties which tag along historical conflict so these states are essentially conflict zone. Georgia has seem its fare share of conflict and coup. It may not be a bad reason to instill statehood by including them into Nato. and let EU nations provide social and govmental restructuring to morden statehood.

Unfortunately Bush is so into this evangelical notion of armagaddon  that he sees the threats from the sand and Hopping to kept Putin near him as “Friends” but he forgot that Once a KGB always a KGB. And they are the power behind Moscow.  

i did read an article about highlighting example of a rerun of 1938. well we shall see what happen to the nearby states. Maybe Shevardnadze if he is not too old can appease both side

Originally posted by Rock^Star:

Wah lau eh....lionnoisy...take my hat off u lah. Buay tahan u lah....twist and turn and u NEVER say anything negative about Singapore. NEVER.....not in your entire....erm posts in Sgforums even when truth stares u right in the face.

 

She said:

 

自己是个北京人, 又是中国人。 我希望能在自己的本土， 自己的地盘上， 能够取得一枚奖牌。

 

Singaporeans also call themselves Zhong Guo Ren huh? WOW I never knew that...looks like I must come out of my tortoise shell.

spend money to slap ourselved.

Originally posted by oxford mushroom:

Would Singaporeans prefer another 45 years without an Olympic medal with our local players or greater sporting successes with FT? It's the same issue with the import of foreign scientists, doctors, musicians and fund managers.

would u want the same argument 45 yrs from now about using foreigner to get medals?

Originally posted by jetta:

My hubster spent 3 years in Sg and understands some Singlish but... he uses some in the wrong context.  He loves to spiak Singlish at home though and his favourite expression is "haiyah!". He loves it so much it slips out alot when he's at work. His ang mo co-workers have no idea what he's saying.

how about AH La mak.

Originally posted by Chin Eng:

again, I don't disagree with you.... but reality is, if you are a parent, say middle class, have a relatively talented child, will you be more concern with him doing good in his school, PSLE, O Level, A Level, or would you ask him to chase his dream and send him to some remote place to be trained?

fact is, reality sucks.

IMO, all the sports that we excel in, swimming, sailing, bowling, is because 阿爸 and 阿妈 got money, can afford to play and engage private tutor.

I think even if LKY himself sponsor, most parents also don't want to do it.

the issue is really policy maker never look at the system of bringing up children.

Look at the past 20 yrs in our system of bring up our young? streaming, what have we produce?  The fact is we are all the by product of a system that produce "medicore"

Originally posted by eagle:

1) Complain complain complain, in the end stop at there and nothing else

2) Must be kiasu to the point that in exams, lose to friends by 1 mark also can be extremely agitated.

 

there is a different between rising questions raising awareness. Ideas are generated. 

2) in olympics you loose by 1 point is a medals different.

Originally posted by sgdiehard:

are you a chinese? If you ask your father, "你的祖国是那里？" what would he say?

Dont tell me americans are immigrant by origin. there are also first generation americans, like Singapore. Just that they have strict racist law to prevent racism, and they believe americans are truely equal, whether you are born locally or new immigrant. or is it they are more gracious in accommodating the new comers?

do you think Singapore don't want to send the true blue athleletes huh? show the result first lah.

don't mistake ethnic ties to nationalities. If you mixed the 2 you have arguements; countries goes to war for that reason.

If Jia Wei were to win a individual gold medal. It is singapore national anthems that is playing not chinese.

So this is not about the means of how country justified their identity but at least when they compete internationally they know where is their boundary and identity. But this statement show the confusing aspect of our player.

自己是个北京人, 又是中国人。 我希望能在自己的本土， 自己的地盘上， 能够取得一枚奖牌

So my question to you is which come first being Chinese or Singaporean? since you name yourself as SGDIHARD. I figure u r Singapore first.

To answer your question: why would it be important that i am chinese. infact Singapore is a multi ethnic society. So if you were to defend singapore you would be defending your fellow indians, malay and other minority.  Biologically isn;t the color of your blood Red.

So does it matter if i am chinese? (FYI yes i'm chinese by race.)

Originally posted by littlestream:

hahahaha......funny lah u........lol  but hor, i have this m'sian friend leh.  her hubby also ang moh.  then if we spiak our sg/my engrish, yi liak boh kui leh.  and some more we speak so fast.  kakakaka....

 liak boh kui? did you hand over to your kids or not!!! 

Originally posted by sgdiehard:

Michael Phelps got attention because he made history. Shawn Johnson got the attention because she won gold. where does it say that they got attention just because they are true blue citizens of their country. Don't insult the american, you could be sued for racist in america.

Grow up, and be gracious.

That is because they don;t have to question their identity. I see people talk about motherland being China in this thread. What happen to being Singapore? (American are immigrant by origin.)

All the more for Singapore to send out origin athelics to establish identity.   

so what is their motivation? Shawn Johnson started Gyn at the age of 6 yrs old. Her coach was formal gold medalist from PRC. Her coach and her had 10 yrs of training relationship.

Torries age 41, with daugther called Michael Phelps her son, whats her motivation?

SG is using quick fix solution if sg do not start cultivating for 2016. If these forum still exist we will be arguing the same topics.   

Originally posted by sgdiehard:

The USA team had over 33 foreign born atheletes flying their flags in the beijing olympics. In the track and field events, would your Angola friend says it is ALL african against african? The more well known ones are Bernard Lagat, from Kenya, Lopez Lomong from Sudan and Leo Manzano from Mexica, they are all running for the USA in the 1500 meters event.

Your Angola friends can't tell the difference between a Singaporean Chinese and a HK Chinese, can you tell the difference between a black american and a Jamaican, or a caucasian from UK and Poland? can you tell where they were born?

What really important is that the country offers the opportunity, the sportmans offer their skill. Together they bring excellence to the sport. Whether you like it or not, the team beat South Korea and won silver medal. The honors go to them, and Singapore as a country. If you people feel proud only when locally born win the medal, then you will have to wait long long.

You are right,  are we  learning the right answer from a single outcome? do you know that a single outcome came a long way. Singapore's table tennis association is run by a team of people who are very dedicated table tennis players, their hunt for talents went back to the 80s and it took many previous players like Jin Jun Hong to bring up the interest and standard of the game. It took these players many games overseas to develop the mental strength to play against the best in the world. They did not walk into Singapore, then to Beijing and won the silver.

How much are the other sports associations doing to develop players? Just because you are born in China does not make you a world class table tennis player, or badminton players? do what are you good at, being born in Singapore?

Many Chinese parents know how tough it is for their children to compete academically so when their children are picked for sport for their potential, it is a risk for them to send their kids to do sport, for ultimately there is only 1 gold medalist in every event! You think Singaporean born would be brave enough to take such a move?

Finally, do we have the heart, a kind and gracious heart to embrace those who work and sacrifice for our country? bear in mind, in 48 years, only 1 table tennis team made, many came here but didn't make it....are we waiting for another campaign to educate the local born?

My angola friends is a PRC working in Angola.....yeah she will be able to tell the different.

Yes there are foreign born athelics in the US but more importantly the US recruited foreign born coaches who had won medal and they train american athelics. See the diff.

What really important is that the country offers the opportunity, the sportmans offer their skill. Together they bring excellence to the sport.

I agreed with the statement but let me ask 1 simple question does our foreign born table tennis have the desire and motivation to beat the Chinese or contented with Sliver?  The coaches, players said they had accomplish their goal. (Sound more like a job)  

Athelics goes beyond the mental pressure and the desire to win, and that bring up the sportmanship makes them a medalist. And many many people have fail to win any medal and they return to their live or try again 4 yrs later. Yeah I call that sacrifice for years of training for an eternal glory.  

I would not use the word -- Sacrifice for our Table tennis rather than a contractual relationship. PRC player would be less well off if they were to remain in PRC that is why these folks use their skill to migrate out once they got the chance.   

Here is my final question. DO you think "pyschologically" the table tennis team gave it all or held back it a little.  (no right or wrong answer!)

Originally posted by Chin Eng:

actually I don't disagree with what you are saying.... over the last two post.

each country has it's own way to handle the issue, and whatever problem that has to be figured out, it has to be figured out by themselves.

some countries have lax immigration law, so every tom, dick and harry can go in, and end up having cab drivers who do not know the way,

others invite immigrants based on the immigrants qualifications, +++ other methods.

in the sports scene in Singapore, with or without these imports, unless one is very smart and very atheltic, one is not going to go far. So therein, the environment does truly supports the nurturing of sports people. Whether the environment is caused by the system or the family is quite debatable.

not sure if you are married or have children, but how many parents you know will actively encourage their offspring to pursue a sporting career, especially if these parents do not have the economic means to support such a goal?

 

As said the motivation comes from within, but the states needs to cultivate national identity factors to provide direction and resources for training. Sport training start from Young.If parents does not have the economics means to support a capable young man than it is the states to move in and provide support to grow the sport

If after 40 yrs we find that society does not have that motivation than the state fail in establishing national identity in molding national character.  

.

SG kinda of blend in and scattered until we open out mouth.

 I suspect average about 50 to 100 SG studying, working, living in various cities in N.A.  The popular cities such as NY, SFO, LA,  will have more than 400 to a thousand. Some of these folks spend 30 yrs or more in the states n they are retired.   

Originally posted by Chin Eng:

 ...but that does not hide the fact that the entire Table Tennis team are migrants from China.

Exactly, "UNTIL THEIR USEFULNESS ARE USED UP"! 

... so when their usefulness are no longer there, where do they do? Use their sport skill to migrate out of China lah! They are NOT quitting the sport! They are taking their sport to a place that welcomes them..... nothing wrong with that.

... even in the corporate world among Singaporeans is the same isn't it. You company don't value you, you go to a company that wants your skill.... what's the problem with that?

You have to read about what happen to those injured athelics and unable to compete in China to understand what I am implying.

most countries athelics have other civilian working skills not Chinese, they have to learn living from scratch in their 20s.  

Originally posted by Chin Eng:

 ... so when their usefulness are no longer there, where do they do? Use their sport skill to migrate out of China lah! They are NOT quitting the sport! They are taking their sport to a place that welcomes them..... nothing wrong with that.

... even in the corporate world among Singaporeans is the same isn't it. You company don't value you, you go to a company that wants your skill.... what's the problem with that?

What is wrong with that?

it is a short term goal to win medals at all means

Well let me put it this way:

Now that Table tennis team won a sliver medal does it inspired young Singaporean to participate to follow suit or does it inspired SG govt to continue hire import to gain medals? what lesson are we learning here?  Remember question to ask is are we  learning the right answer from a single outcome.

 but what is left with unsolved fundamental issue of how do we use this opportunity to Inspired young singaporean to go for excellent. To cutivate parent to encourage children to go for excellent. The motivation is internal rather than incentive.     

You can always ask parents and kids

Does it convince young singaporean to be proud of being a Singaporean?

Who are we kidding here!  I wrote to my Chinese friend who is working in Angola about the table tennis player the reply was All Chinese again Chinese.

So ultimately you have to ask yourself these questions now that economically sg is doing well and have the financial resources to spend to hire foreigner but what happen if you don;t  Resources that are free from domestics cultivation vs spending money for a quick fix.

So I guess right now the next minister that take over sport will have to do better in the next olypmics so now they have to scout for more talent oversea? pay more.

Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:

 

 

 

More evidence the China despots will torture the children to glorify themselves....

 

 

 

 

How do you think the real singer (on the right) feels, being condemned like that?

 

 

this is the Sad chapter in humanity. I wonder what happen to the notion of Inner beauty?

anyway I think we need to check the swiss bank account of all IOC committee members

Originally posted by stupidissmart:

No. I say american yong children r probably forced to train for gymnastic too since they r too young to be motivated. I also say tat USA do toruture people and your claims tat autrocious acts r not present in USA is wrong.

R u trying to twist the words out of context ?

Please Lah.......You are what you name for yourself Stupid.

Anybody in the US who is a US citizen can joint the US swimming Team. There is even a Web site....Usually they encourage parents who have children age of 9 or 10 yrs old to joint up, Wether they made it to be Team USA it is up to their individual motivation and hard work that put them in this competitive position. Swimmer only get sponsorship by private companies if they shown potential in international competition and win.  Michael Phleps was already receiving about US$4 million in endorsement before olympics.

This is totally different from PRC when the kids are stream into various sport and attend sport school and all thru their training their living expenses are being paid for. Until their usefullness are USE UP or injured than their financial support ceased.  

IF YOU DON"T BUY it ....

Pls check how many PRC use their sport skill to migrate out from China if they really so passionate to their sport why quit. Result speak for itself. So stop pasting Gold to yourself.

Why would Jia Wei said that she don;t like table tennis anymore she did it because she has no choice.

US Toture for sport? U must be kidding me.