Rachel Chia - Thai school gets transvestite bathrooms

No longer do Thai teen boys who prefer dressing up as the opposite sex face the dilemma of choosing between the "male" and "female" restrooms in school.

The reason? There is now a "transvestite toilet".

A survey in The Kampang School in northeastern Thailand showed that more than 200 of the school's 2,600 students felt that they were transgender. Henceforth, the school came up with a unisex restroom with a human figure split in half part man in blue and part woman in red emblazoned across the toilet's door with the words "Transvestite Toilet".

The creativity of having a transvestite toilet portrays the country's tolerance of its very visible transgender community. The term describes not only transvestites, but also cross-dressers, transsexuals, and those born with the physical characteristics of both sexes.

The toilet received many positive comments from transgender students and there are plans for even more of such developements.


Personal Views:

"Transvestite Toilets" are an excellent way that the Thais can show their acceptance of a transgender society. Not only will these people finally feel like they are not outcasts, but they will also be highly pleased with the efforts that their country is putting in to make them feel at home. People all around the world will also be able to understand that despite the many types of people in this world - everyone is still human and deserves a chance to be treated normally and respected as an individual. Such an activity also encourages everyone to be more open-minded about today's society and how people and things are constantly evolving. Most of all, with such toilets, students in schools will also feel more comfortable as they do not have to worry about receiving weird looks or getting uncomfortable gestures from the other students.

Rachel Chia - Japan makes robot girlfriend for lonely men

A country known for its creative and quirky inventions, Japan has recently introduced a 15-inch tall robotic girlfriend that kisses on command. It is to go on sale in September for around $175 and is targeted at lonely adult men.

The robotic girlfriend, named "EMA", uses her infrared sensors and battery power to pucker up for nearby humans, entering what designers call her 'Love Mode'.

A spokesperson for the maker, Sega Toys, says that EMA will break the steoreotype of robots being strong, tough and battle-ready as 'She's very lovable and though she's not a human, she can act like a real girlfriend."

EMA, which stands for Eternal Maiden Actualization, also hands out business cards, sings and dances. Sega hopes to sell 10,000 within its first year in the market.


Personal Views:

Firstly, such news certainly allows us to know how much technology has advanced and how creative designers in the world currently are.

I feel that although EMA will be a big hit when it is first released into the market, it will not be able to completely take over the place of actual females as girlfriends. Still, Sega is bound to make a bundle as not only men might buy this gadget, but females as well, as it acts as an interactive figure and provides simple entertainment such as singing and dancing.

The release of a robot girlfriend might also mean the start of bigger, more developed robot productions in the near future and these might possess more abilities and skills of humans. Perhap then, the complete replacement of humans as lovers might be seen as possible.

Leong Pei Qi - I-Pod

I-Pod was originally a product from American but China get the hand of the i-Pod technology and futher expand it. Now in China, i-Pod is different from the American's but is more high tech with more abilities,the sale of i-Pod increase rapidly as it attracted mostly teenagers with its colour and special designs.e.g,cigarette,handphone and even spotcar. Its a hot hit and very popular in China. This lead to American
unable to carry on this project as people will choose to buy the fashionable and popular i-Pod with lots of abilities from China than buying it from American even though its the original.

Comment: China had been copying a lot from other countries and futher inventing them into something better. Its not that it was bad but i think they can work with the original company to make the product a much better items for all people to use and enjoy.Even though now i think that the i-Pod that china make are really very attractive, even i will choose to buy their's than buying the original.Therefore, i really think that the company of all countries can choose to work together, but then it will lead to no personal product from different countries which make that item more valuable.

Leongpeiqi-Increase of fuel price in China

China's fuel price had increase and had created the citizens unhappiness and anger.Recently, the price of fuel has been increased and is in the state of increasing. In China, the sudden rise in fuel coat had annoyed mostly the drivers and companies. They though that the rise in fuel price is after the Beijing Olympic. Some of the drivers(mostly owned large cars) are frustrated about the price as it was higher than normal, but it seem it did not affect much on a small majority of drivers, who owned a small car and need not travel long distances. Having the fuel to increase before the Beijing olympic prove that the country was ready and confident to deal with the problems produce from the citizens.

Comment: The rise of price for the fuel really make the whole world going instant as mostly all the technology and vehicles run by fuel. With many country to futher develope, the amount of fuel will increase continuously.Examples, country likeSingapore,China and American. To my own personal view, i think that the world had to much vehicles and harmful factories, even if they are our trasport system and other useful things that bring convience to our daily lifes.But,having too much vehicles means more polluted gas is release into the atmosphere that turns out into what we all know, Global Warming. It damage our world, the nature and soon it will be us. Despite cars, people can choose to use bicycles instead, but still these did not solve the problem as another problem will appear. The world is our home, but we somehow damage it without knowing. The amount of fuel used now and in the past was a lot different, which also this show what we humans have been doing to the nature.

Leong Pei Qi - Chikungunya Case At Farrer Road

The chikungunya virus(mosquito-borne disease) has cropped up in Farra Road after two people in Teachers' Estate off Upper Thomson Road were found carrying the virus.The teachers' Estate cases were the first time that locally-contracted cases of this virus had been reported outside the Little India this year. A 37-years-old expatriate housewife had found carrying this virus,which developed into a fever and sought treatment later on. She was warded and remains in hospital.Investigations showed that it was a case of local transmission as she ans her family did not travelled out of Singapore. A blood screening was conducted among the family members and none tested positive for the virus.Places visited by the housewife had been inspected by National Environment Agency while MOH(Ministry of Health) continue to monitor the situation. 24 cases have been reported so far,including the Farrer Road infection,16 locals.of which 13 were from Little India.

Comments:This news allow Singaporeans to be more careful when they are in these areas from chikungunya. The people living in these places will be more cations and will follow the mosquitos-breeding precations steps. By doing so, the numbers of mosquitos will decrease rapidly as they have no place to lay their eggs. Having the number of mosquitos to drop, i believe that this virus will surely be prevent and stop.Less lifes will be lost and Singapore will be a much cleaner and more a hygienic place to live in.

Leongpeiqi-DAD'S STILL A HERO

A special day-Happy Fathers' Day had been celebrated from fathers to their familes, wanted to show their childrens that even though they have done wrong and made mistake in the past and was put behind the bars, they still want to let their childrens know that they would like to be their heros no matter what. Joseph,a prisoner at kaki Bukit Centre wrote a play with the help of the society for Reading and Literacy. The theme came about after he think about his parents,how he thinks that his father as a hero,to him. So, he wanted to be his childrens' hero, to give them secure, to live up to their expectations.The play give the prisoners something to look forward to and as part of the celebrations-organised by the Centre for Fathering(CFF)- the prisoners will also spend the day playing games with their childrens, a rare treats since they are separated by a glass barrier during visitation sessions.The prisoners are pleased and excited.

Comment: To me, i think this a wonderful event as it given the fathers a chance to do something for their childrens and let their fathering be felt. For this day, the Centre was so kind to let the fathers practice their play and give them the chance to bond with their family members, expecially their children. I'm glad that Singaporeans(Officer and organiers) is so kind even though the law are very strict.Singapore give them a chance to turn over a new leaf and prepare this event for them. This not only let the prisoners a chance to be with her family but also to let them know that Singapore willing to forgive them and let them start a new. Thats what Yellow ribbon is for.

Lynn Tang-The artful dodgers of Bring Your Own Bag Day

Summary: Although ‘Bring Your Own Bag’ (BYOB) Day was initially slated for the first Wednesday of each month, it has been held every Wednesday to make it easier for consumers to remember the date. BYOB Day was started in April last year to address the issue of the excessive use of plastic bags. This programme involves supermarket chains, they encourage shoppers to donate 10 cents for each plastic bag used and the cost of each bag ranges depending on its size. Many customers had responded positively. However, some customers bought fewer items or decided not to shop when they realised that it was BYOB Day. They felt that BYOB Day is unfair, 10 cents is too expensive a donation to make for a thin plastic bag and everything has already increased in price and GST is so high, hence, the provision of plastic bags should be a service. Also, some customers buy small items on Wednesdays and then ask for big plastic bags. But at least, ever since the campaign was launched, usage of plastic bags had dropped by over 12 per cent.

Comments: This programme allow Singaporeans to know that everybody plays an important in saving the earth. Although not everybody accepted this idea but I generally feel that such programmes should be implemented as to save Mother Earth. As Singaporeans, we should protect our home instead of destroying it. People might not get used to bring an extra bag but soon it would be a habit. Though it will be inconvenient to bring your own bag to supermarkets but a little sacrifice from each of everyone is enough to save the earth. At the same time, we should try ways to save the earth, for example, practise the 3Rs, Recycle, Reuse, Reduce. Start form the easiest, save papers.

Lynn Tang- Junta's aid rules delay Myanmar cyclone relief

Summary: New guidelines adopted by Myanmar's ruling generals are further delaying emergency efforts to deliver aid to regions which were disrupted by the cyclone. The rules, issued on Monday, require UN and other aid groups to receive formal permission from Myanmar authorities to travel and to distribute aid. Delays in the issuing of humanitarian visas and official roadblocks across the worst-hit Irrawaddy delta region have already led to criticisms the Myanmar government was obstructing relief. Township Coordination Committees must also be kept informed. As a result, six weeks after Cyclone Nargis hit, more than one million survivors have still not been reached by foreign assistance.

Comments: The Myanmar government has been criticised as being uncooperative and unfeeling towards its citizens. Many weeks have past, yet many victims remain in their undesirable state of living. Due to it various policies and decisions, the citizens suffer instead. I think Myanmar government should reflect on its decision and start accepting suggestions by other countries and organisations to help its citizens. A leader of a country should put the citizens as first priority and make decisions which will benefit the country as a whole. If not, at the rate the citizens are receiving help, the impact of the cyclone will continue to persist in the near future.

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