Today’s library, tomorrow’s ‘googlary’

From library to googlary, I think that this process is impossible. For that Google cannot be a library, although it is so popular and useful. Besides, in my opinion, the relation between library and googlary is just a part of the relation between the traditional tools and modern technology. We must say that Google help modern people a lot and supply a lot of convenience. We can find the information from it without go to the library to look up the books. Its advantages cannot be ignored. However, I think that Google is different from the library and just like all the other traditional things we have, the library still cannot be replaced and it still has the advantages.

The impression of the library is usually a big and quiet room with numbers of rows of shelves full of books. People must walk between the shelves to find out what they need. In library, people cannot get what they want at once. They have to spend efforts on the process. The impression of Google is just that we type in the words about what we want and press the ‘enter’, then a lot of information comes out. In my opinion, from the process and the result, library and Google are totally different. When we type in the key word, a lot of information comes out. However the information is not all useful. Usually, some articles we do not want may also appear on the screen just because the key words are in the article. Therefore, after typing in the words in Google, we still need choose the useful information from so many the useless. However, in library, the books are not arranged in such a messy way. We may find the books with the same theme together, but not because they have the same words.

Besides, I think that in library, we get books. However, in Google, we get information, but not books. Although books provide information, they are still different. People will choose to use Google when they face some problems and want to get some in formation about that. However, nobody may want to read a whole book on the computer for pleasure or investigating. Thus, library can serve people a place to read the books. Google cannot achieve this, even though it made all the digitalized books. There may still be no one want to read. For reading on the computer is unhealthy and that we cannot find the atmosphere and pleasure from reading the real books. In another way, from Google, we can only get the information about one subject during the process of finding, but in the library, we may get some other surprising books during the finding. As a result, Google can only give people service when people are busy and concentrate on some subject. For those free people who enjoy reading, library is obviously more suitable.

Moreover, I think that library is not just a place of books for reader. It is also a symbol for the knowledge. Library is sublime, just like the disciplines in the library. No matter how many digitalized books Google can serve, it cannot become the symbol, but a webpage. For the culture of library is already formed in people’s brains, just like the book cannot be made without paper.

Therefore, I think that today, we have library. Tomorrow, we may have googlary, but we will still have library. The library will not be replaced. We should do so if we think that knowledge and books are still valuable.

A gift of a programme

As the PRC scholar, I do not know about the gifted education programme (GEP) very much. From the context, I think that GEP is just a kind of elites system. Students from GEP may be thought about the best students in Singapore. In my opinion, GEP does not cause many problems to the society and education of Singapore. Besides, GEP is good to the meritocratic system in Singapore. Singapore needs elites and the goal of GEP is to supply the elites to society. The mainly issue about GEP is if GEP will provide too many snobs to Singapore. Besides, Singaporeans may concern that if that the GEP students are really the nerds with talents and hardworking now.

About the first problem, I think that there may always be some snobs from GEP. We do not want the elitism. However, it cannot be avoided. When the GEP develop students with talents, the elitism may occur. Thus, we cannot stop the GEP just because of elitism. Moreover, the snobs are not only from GEP. For example, Hwa Chong Institution and Raffles Institution are both top schools. Students from those schools may feel proud. If the feeling of proud is too strong, the feeling of elitism is formed. The students are all different. The levels will not disappear, thus the elitism cannot disappear easily. What we can do is just to reduce to students affected by the elitism. Actually, I think that the good students need to be humble to face the new knowledge. As a result, when GEP breed elites, it must develop the students in different aspects, not only about studies. Therefore, the GEP students may be humble and like the normal students. The snobs are just minority.

In another way, I do not find that the students around me care much about the GEP. I do not know who are from GEP. This may reflect that GEP may help develop the students, but GEP does not separate the students. This may stop the elitism as much as possible. For the elites are in the normal students thus they may not feel they are very special.

In my opinion, the second problem is much more serious than the elitism. Singapore in the global time needs elites. However, if GEP can breed elites effectively? I think this deserves us to consider. As we know, the studies in a large part depend on the students’ attitude. After the students become the member of GEP, we are not sure if they can always keep working hard and get good results. Some students’ studies may become worse. I have some friends in China. They are the typical students who are the kind that I mention above. In sec 1, they study very well and they are the top students. However, in sec 2 and sec 3, they are not the top students any more, although their results are also okay. Therefore, I think that this may also happen to the GEP students. Now, some students are not hardworking as before. Their attitide is not very good either. The result of breeding ineffectively is even worse than breeding snobs.

Therefore, about GEP, I think that what we need to consider should be about the efficiency on breeding elites. Besides, we should consider about the elitism caused by the meritocratic system. Most importantly, I think that we should think about the education of Singapore that if elites are bred effectively.

Casino Debate

About the casino debate in Singapore, in my opinion, having a local casino does not mean the Singaporeans’ morality will degenerate. We must admit that a casino can bring some social impacts to Singapore. However, I think that it is exaggeration to say that all the Singaporeans will go to gamble and there would be no more shopping, working, study and even the normal life, if there is a casino in Singapore.

Singapore is a tiny nation. To develop surrounded by so many countries, it must keep competitive. Singapore’s economy depends on the tourism in some extents and it needs to attract more people to Singapore. However, after so many years, the same scenario may not attract more people. To still keep competitive in tourism, Singapore has to change. Having a casino is actually a good way to reform the tourism in Singapore. A casino can bring some profits to the country. Besides, Singapore can be attractive like Macau.

About some people’s objection, I think that they mainly concern about the social impacts of the casino such as money laundering and the degeneration of Singaporeans’ morality. I think these two aspects of the impact can be dealt with.

Firstly, about the idea that having a casino is just taking a short cut to instant wealth is unreasonable. Having a casino in Singapore is just to help the economy. The basis of Singapore’s development is still the industry. Singapore will not give up developing the industry and education. Besides, Singapore cannot become a city famous for gambling like Las Vegas just because a casino in IR. The decision to build a casino is to help the economy of Singapore but not change Singapore.

Moreover, the idea that all Singaporeans will concentrate on gambling but not working is a little absurd. The reaction of the Singaporeans to gambling is not up to whether there is a casino in Singapore, but their own attitude. If the people indulge in gambling, they will still go for the illegal gambling or go abroad to go to the casino even there is no casino in Singapore. Therefore, there is no direct connection between the degeneration and local casino. Besides, the people may indulge in the dream to become rich in one night. However, the laws restrictions can make them distinguish the dream and the real world. If the students indulge in gambling because of the casino and do not study, we must stop the casino. However, will all the people do that or just the minority? Besides, if we prevent the casino with this reason, why we do not prevent the internet because the people indulge in that?

About somebody’s suspicion, we can find out the casinos’ effects from Macau. Macau is famous for the gambling. Macau’s economy depends on gambling basically. However, Macau is one of the most active economic regions in south-east Asia. The tourism is prosperous in Macau. Besides, the politics in Macau is also very good, unlike the people’s ideas about a mass for the casino. If the casino will take the social impacts like the people think, why the Chinese government clear out all the casinos in Macau or restrict the number of casinos in Macau to prevent the degeneration after the hand-over?

Therefore, from the examples in the life nowadays, we cannot totally say that having a local casino is wrong. Although the casino may take some social problems, the extents of the impacts and if we get the benefits is still not sure. Thus, I think that having a casino in Singapore can be tried.

Integrated Resorts

About issues of the new Integrated Resorts (IR) in Singapore, I agree with PM Lee to a large extent and I think that having Integrated Resorts is suitable in Singapore. I think that IR can help Singapore’s economy and make Singapore have more benefits in the global competition.

Before the project of IR is confirmed, Singapore’s tourism industry was in a serious situation. It faced the intense competition of some other famous cities in south-east Asia, such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, even from Malaysia. Those cities have legalized the casinos. Facing this condition, an IR may help Singapore’s tourism industry.

IR is an integrated project, which contains hotels, restaurants, shopping center, theater, casino and so on. With so many corporations inside, IR can provide many jobs for Singaporeans. Besides, IR can attract more people coming to Singapore. Therefore, Singapore’s tourism industry may be developed and the governments may get more profits. Singapore is a small country and the tourism industry is very important to Singapore and it must always keep competitive. Thus the IR is very important in the long run.

However, there are many criticisms about this project, which is mainly about the casino in IR. People concern that with a legal casino in Singapore, the ethical systems might be broken and the casino can take crisis to the families and societies. With this opinion, they think IR can take bad effects and should be forbidden. However, in my contest, IR does not mean casino but contains casino. It may take some bad effects of the casino, but it does not mean the bad effects are more than the good effects. Besides, the time is leaping forward; we must change with the global situation to always keep competitive but does not be constricted by the traditional ideas. Otherwise, we may fail in the competition with the other countries, IR is good issue for us to consider. IR can help us in many ways. The good effects are more than its shortage. We should not forbid it just because of the casino. Besides, we may try to think of the methods to solve the problems of the casino.

About the social repercussions of the IR, I think that we can get the solutions. About the issues of concerning the Singaporeans to indulge in casino gambling, I think that we can have several steps to keep Singaporeans from the gambling. Firstly, the government can restrict the number of the Singaporeans in casino so that there would nor be too many Singaporeans gambling in the casino. Secondly, there should be a compulsory and high entrance fee for the Singaporeans. Therefore, Singaporeans have to think about the cost of entering the casino. Besides, if they win the money by gambling, they must give a large part of the money to the country as tax. With these several steps, Singaporeans may compare the cost and risk with the profits of gambling in the casino. Then they may not like entering the casino.

About the issues of the social impacts of the undesirable activities causing by gambling such as money laundering and loan shark, I think that we should have more guards in the casino, even the policeman. About money laundering, I think that the casino should cooperate with the police. Every person must show their ID card or passport to the staffs of the casino before they enter. This may prevent the criminals to enter the casino. Besides, the people in the casino must use the cash to gamble. Credit is not allowed. Then, the people cannot have debt even though they lose money.

Therefore, about the social effects of the IR, I agree with PM Lee to a large extent to have IRs in Singapore. About the social impacts of the casino, we have different methods to deal with the problem. We may see the effects after the IR is used.

National Service – How can this be amended or improved further to alleviate the problem of dodging

National service is an inportant period and mission for the males of Singapore citizens. It is the compulsory conscription in Singapore of all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents upon reaching the age of 18. The national service is important for the millitary of Singapore. National service makes sure the Singapore’s defence. It also provides an idea that Singaporeans should protect their own country. However, national service also faces challenges from the people. It is not surprising that some people avoid the national service. Thus, I think that the national service should be improved or reformed in some ways.

Before, we think about how to improve national service, we should be sure that national service is very important to the nation’s defence, thus it should not be avoided. Besides, we should consider carefully what reasons make people dodge national service. I think that there are two main reasons. Some people dodge national service because they fear the tough life in the army. Some others dodge national service because of their study.

About the first problem, I think that the way to solve this question is very easy. If people fear the tough life in the army. We can change and improve the environment of the troops and thus can serve the soldies a better place to spend in the 2 years. This can make people fear less about the national service. The time is changing, we do not need to pursue the tough place for soldiers to live in. However, the army life still has challenges to the soldiers. They must get different exercise to become a real soldier from a simple man. This process cannot be cancelled. If the people stll cannot stand for these things, this means they still want to dodge the national service. We must give those people punishment. The people who avoided national service may be fined or give up the Singapore nationality. We can let those people fear punishment more than the national service. Therefore, the good environment and punishment for the people who dodge the national service can solve the problem of dodging in some ways.

However, I think that the second problem is harder to solveand much more controversial. The study affects some people’s national service in some ways. When the man become 18 years old, they just graduate from junior college and some people will go for university and even for higher degrees. If they go for their national service, this means there is a pause on the career of their study. They have to go to the university over 2 years after they graduate from junior college. This pause will affect their study. Some students may not like to drop their study for national service. If some students go abroad for university. They would even drop their nationlity because of the punishment of dodging national service. This also causes many local talents abroad and cannot return to Singapore.Actually, this problem is harder to solve and more controversial. In some ways, we may think that national service is too important, so every one have the obligation to have no matter having what reasons. However, in the other hands, we may feel pity about the pause on the study and talents abroad. Thus, we must take a good way to make sure both sides’ interests.

I think that, for students who want to continue their study, we can give them special treat. The national service in the army is too long for them. They cannot afford 2 years’ time. Therfore, we can train them in short time and let them get the sodliers’ skills in the several months’ training. They do not stay in the barracks. To make sure they get the skills of soldiers, we can let them get training in their holidays. In this way, even though they are not in the army, they can stll behave like a soldier and in the special time, they can also protect their country. For those who go abroad, they usually drop their nationality. However, if they return to Singapore and are the citizens of Singapore, they must serve an organisation of the government in Singapore to contribute the nations development. In this way, the have the national service in another ways.

Therefore, we have different ways to solve this problems to different kinds of people with different reasons to dodge national service. Moreover, I think that when government improves and reforms the national service, government must be both strict and reasonable

Free will’s gambling

Because of the debate on the casino in Singapore, the issues are transmitted to the paternalism of the Singapore goverments. It is obviously that this issue is mainly about the freedom and liberty in individuals and the politics with the control of the goverment. People may think that the government is like a nanny or parent looking after the kids, but lack of the freedom. I think that the paternalism is not necessarily undisirable. In some ways, the paternalism of the government is good to a country and its people. Besides, I think that paternalism is not paradoxical with liberty.

About the social contract, every people get their own rights, but different people and organisations may have different interests. When their intersts conflict each other, the social problems may be caused. Therfore, an organisation with power may be used to regulate the conflicts to achieve a balance, than make sure people’s rights. Thus, the government is needed. With this issue, we are sure that the government should control the condition like parents. Sometimes, the government may not achieve some people’s demands because of the majority or the social repercussions. However, this is necessary. Just like the casino peoblems, some people may like to have a casino in Singapore but the government may think about the effects of the casino and contrast between the bebefits and bad effects and then disagree about this decision. To determine the main direction of the nation is the job of the government. When deciding the issues like the casino, the patanarlism is necessary.

Besides, paternalism is not totally opposite the liberty and liberty is also not anarchism. Government’s paternalism actually helps the people make sure their rights and benefits. If the liberty is to let the people have their own plan of life, we can suppose what the society will be like. For example, about the casino, some people says that they want casino and this is their life’s choice. Casino is a place to gamble which can make home broken, and is a kind of social problems. If their demand is achieved, we may find that when they get some freedom, they also lose some rights. They will lose the normal life. They will lose their development. This is not what liberty is supposed to do. Like the pornography, smuggling and drugs, these kind of things should be forbiden. Thus, paternalism should be used at this time. Without the paternalism, we may not be sure the society’s direction. To achieve the hamony of the society, the paternalism is also not entirely undisirable.

Therefore, we know the paternalism’s importance and the free will’s sometimes bad effects in some ways. The free will is just like the gambling in the casino. It may take the benefits sometimes, but it also has large risks. It may take bad effects and the society may be affected. At that tine, the paternalism should be used toward the issues which may drive the nation to the wrong direction. The government also should act like parents in the home to teach and lead the people to the right way and make sure the development

How advertising informs to our benefit

Advertisements are an important part in the process of business nowadays. The purpose of advertising is to serve the basic information and adventages of the merchandise to attract the consumers. A good adventages can get good effects and take large bebefits. According to the passage given, I do not very agree on the views of the author.

The author thinks that advertisements carry the information with the products so that the products can be sold with the information. Actually, this is true. The advertisements can bring the information, but we cannot simply say that this can take us benefits. We must firstly consider the information. Usually, the information ‘s credibility is necessary to be considered. When businessmen use the advertisements to help sell the products, the information taken by the advertisements is usually about the adventages and good effects of the products. The advertisements usually avoid the bad effects and the shortage of the products. The advertisements of medicine and cigarette are good examples. Medicines usually have the side effects. However, in the advertisements, the side effects are not shown to the consumers. Therefore, the consumers cannot get a complete information. About the advertisements of the cigarette, the shortage is more obvious.
Smoking is harmful to the body. However, the businesemen want to sell the products better, so they have to avoid this point or say that smoking is not harmful. The results are that the consumers do not get enough information or are cheated. Therfore, although consumers can get information from the advertisements, the incomplete or false information still can take the results that consumers are disppointed about the products after paying the money. Thus, consumers actually do not get benefits.

Besides, consumers cannot get the information freely. Using advertisements costs more money so that the cost of the products is improved and the price must also be improved. Therefore, when the consumers use the information, they actually cost more to buy the products. The benefits of consumers are lowed.

However, the advertisements’ information can also take the consumers benefits. The advertisements can take additional information to consumers. Advertisements’ additional information can help us judge other products’ shortage. For example, the advertisements of the toothpastes usually use some scientific research to show the adventage of the products. When we get the information, we can know the bad effects of the sugar. This is good to the consumers.

About the point of the price-advertising, in some ways, it can help the consumers because of the lower price, but because of the use of advertisements, the cost actually is improved. Thus the pay of the consumers is improved, but because of the increasing number of consumers, the businesemen still can make sure their profits. Besides, we still cannot sure if the price is reasonable even if the price becomes lower. Therfore, we cannot say this take a lot of benefits.

According to the analysation, I agree with the author to a small extent.

About the impact of the honesty and integrity, I think these are needed to be considered about some products such as cigarette and medicine, because these kinds of products have side effects and can conflict with company’s bottomline. Thus, the honesty and integrity about these kinds of products are more important. Therfore, the company must try to increase the extent of true and complete information. If I designed an advertisements about cigarette, I may mention that the harm of the smoking and emphasis the amount of smoking so that the consumers can be warned about the harmth but also the products can be sold.