And this was the exact response I had today while catching up on my daily news reading. It’s like entering the twilight zone of the newpaper world, with weird facts and random mumbo jumbo in publication everywhere.

1. 150 AWARE members seek vote of no confidence in new executive committee

I remembered clearly watching the TV pilot of Gene Roddenberry’s (of Star Trek fame) Planet Earth when I was younger. In that show, men were slaves for breeding and hard labor – and everything else was run by women.

Upon looking back, it is definitely a fantastic idea. Imagine, a man has 3 square meals a day, a (not so comfy) cell to stay in, and all he needs to do is flex his muscles… and screw!! What a dream.

Seeing how the recent AWARE real life drama is being played out, sadly, women are hardly close from ruling the world. Whatever happened to subtle politics?

2. Parliament passes new Bill to manage law and order

Under the new Bill, three types of activities will require permits: Those that demonstrate support for or against views or actions of any person, group of persons or any government; those that publicises a cause or campaign; and those that mark or commemorate any event.

Many sporting and recreational activities will be exempted. This means that 50 per cent of activities that now require permits will no longer be regulated by permit.

Oh wow, 50 percent! How about asking yourself the real question – why does so many sporting and recreational activities need a permit in the first place?

Maybe we can start mass walking, shouting, and holding placards as a cardiovascular sport. That way, we won’t need no stinkin’ permits.

3. Samurai Ergonomics

I don’t get too tired, as I can rest my chest against the desk when I need to.

WTF? Srsly? This made it to the Gizmodo site, and April Fool’s over?

Encountered this while reading a news article on how the Bush administration setbacks global climate issues (Agence France-Presse, 2008-12-14).

A man comes to the White House asking to see Bush. “He doesn’t live here anymore,” he is told. The next two days he comes again asking the same question, and receiving the same answer.

On the fourth day, the exasperated guard shot back: “I’ve already told you, he’s no longer here.”

“I know, I know,” the man replied. “But it’s such a pleasure to hear you say it.”

What a bag of laughs – and this coming from a France ambassador to a major news agency!

And we thought only Singaporeans were kiasu. This from the News Tribune article "Black Friday darker than usual." :

In Columbus, Ohio, Nikki Nicely, 19, jumped onto a man’s back and pounded his shoulders when he tried to take a 40-inch Samsung flat-screen television to which she had laid claim. “That’s my TV!” Nicely, 19, shouted. “That’s my TV!”

A police officer and security guard intervened, but not before Nicely took an elbow in the face. In the end, she was the one with the $798 television, marked down from $1,000. “That’s right,” she yelled as her adversary walked away. “This here is my TV!”

Is it worth getting elbowed in the face for a savings of about 20%? On a darker note, this is the first time a death has happened due to Black Friday – a staff employee of Wal-Mart, Long Island, NY, was trampled by frenzied shoppers.

A Wal-Mart worker on Long Island died after being trampled by customers who broke through the doors early Friday. And fights and injuries occurred around the country at some other stores operated by Wal-Mart, the nation’s leading discount chain and one of the few retailers thriving in the current economy.

We are all just animals, really. In fact, I think we’ve regressed in the evolutionary chain.

Wonder where do all our dumped electronics go? Now you can know the horrible truth, brought to you by one of the best investigative journalism shows – CBS’s 60 Minutes.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Check out the bust on Executive Recycling – greedy corporations at its best again.

So again, think twice about these questions before you buy a new gadget, or before you junk that old one.

• Is the old gadget still serviceable? Do I really need the newest features?
• Is the recycling company practicing correct waste management policies? Which one should I bring to?
• Instead of junking it, is it better if I were to donate it to organizations such as the Salvation Army, or to give it to someone who might need it?

From Channel NewsAsia, “Jail term for 3 S’poreans found guilty of contempt of court“.

Two of them, 19-year-old Muhammad Shafi’ie Syahmi Sariman and 33-year-old Isrizal Mohamed Isa, received seven days’ jail term each, while 47-year-old John Tan Liang Joo was slapped with a 15-day jail term.

WTF? We are a fascist state – total abuse of legal processes by the incumbent rulers.

Relates to previous posting : What constitutes public expression?