The Run

5.00 a.m, my clock read, as I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed. Well, I hadn't done much exercise in a while, so on the bright side this could freshen me up. Taking a quick bite before reaching Cashew CC, I saw mixed emotions from the crowd clad in yellow and black. Some were roaringly ready and eager to start running, while some just struggled to stay awake in the darkness of the early morning. Briefings and the all too usual temperature taking exercises took place shortly after, and then the wait for the buses began. Well, to be honest, I was pretty excited about this run, because it was a good chance to warm up my body before my CCA starts this week. So the wait for the bus was quite boring.

Alas, the bus had finally arrived. I looked up and removed my head phones, tagging along with the people in black as they boarded the bus in neat rows. I sat with my classmates in the same group as me during the bus trip as we were waiting to be dropped off. We eventually were, but however this was when the conflict occured. After 20 minutes or so, our team decided to call the student in charge, and to our surprise, we were to board the bus and head to King Albert Park! But this was where things changed for the better. Ecxited as we were, we were soon asked to run if we wished. My group hopped off, and then began a long run(5-6km?).

As I could remember, I was the last 'survivor' of the group, with the rest trailing off as time progressed. Well, the overall planning was not optimum, but I'm sure many had fun.

On overall, the event was kinda cool.

Online Assignment: My Take on Casinoes

The casino being built in Singapore is supposed to be a money-maker and job creator. However, many people have spoken against it. Talk to a parent or adult and get their view on the casino. Listen to the NPR and YouTube offerings and choose one that substantiates your viewpoint and include a quote from it as well. Your blog entry has to be at least 200 words and you must either support the casino or condemn its construction and ultimately the hardships it will cause in Singapore.
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As a young kid, and as someone with not much life experience to understand who would carelessly spend most of their time indulging in the highly-addictive gambling.
Money-maker, job creator... Yes, but out of the thousands who might come to try their luck in Singapore's casinoes, how many actually get jobs, and how many make money? Yes, probably you would've made some winnings, but can you refrain? A human being's constant and vicious yearning for more will never allow to one to step out of the casino and be happy with the money their eyes gaze upon; at least not until the term 'addiction' kicks in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chbjc-XDKLw, many have seen this before.
"One more try. This will be my last."
How many can actually bring themselves to be a man of their word and actually mean what they say?

We've seen the various posters, advertisements, and campaigns which the National Council on Problem Gambling have put up, and that is really an alarm for Singaporeans that the number of addicts are on the rise.
Singapore's population is 4.68 million, and is estimated that 58.6% have gambled before. It is also estimated that 2 out of every 100 will get addicted to gambling, which equals to:
At least 55200 people are adicted to gambling in Singapore.
I'm not very sure that's a figure to be proud of. Therefore I don't think highly of this casino idea. Yeah, sure, tourism and publicity, wait till you see the addiction figures.
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Anyway, this is my father's take on the current casino situation.

Under the economic microscopic lens , the IR will certainly generate extensive economic returns in the form of tourist spending and job creations. One of the Singapore growth elements is targeted at the shaping and sizing up our service industry and diversifying from the manufacturing industry as region countries in the likes of China and India have and will remain competitive in the latter industry . The development of the IR will well complement this strategy which strives on tourism revenue which is a main sector of our service industry.. Casting aside the economic tsunami we are currently facing , the decision is timely as the gaming industry in Asia Pacific is still at the growth phase as gaming restrictions in countries like China and Indonesia have limited competitions to gaming on-board cruise-liners.

All gains and no pain will surely construe a too picture perfect scenario. As with any development of the gaming industry and in this case the establishment of a casino would no doubt draw its fair share of social ills. The easily accessible gaming premises would further encourage addictive gambling amongst locals who would have previously went on cruises or nearby countries to try their luck. Doesn’t take much analysis to notice that already the sprouting of country-wide Singapore Pools outlets are enticing and drawing increased local participation year on year (discounting late last year and into the first half of the year due to the impact of economic recession). The ills that a compulsive gambler brings to his family and society can be devastating. That aside, other vices in the form of illegal money lending activities and prostitution that often tagged along with casino establishments cannot be discounted.
To garner the gains and rein in the ills would require prudent implementation of policing measures which believe our government is actively developing.
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Thank You, bye.