Olympic girl seen but not heard...

A little girl and her song captivated millions of viewers during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. But what they saw was not what they heard. Games organizers confirm that Lin Miaoke, who performed "Ode to the Motherland" as China's flag was paraded Friday into Beijing's National Stadium, was not singing at all. Lin was lip-syncing to the sound of another girl, 7-year-old Yang Peiyi, who was heard but not seen, apparently because she was deemed not cute enough.

"The reason was for the national interest," said Chen Qigang, the ceremony's musical director, in a state radio interview. "The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression. ... Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects.

The decision was made at the highest levels, Chen said. Few who watched the Olympic ceremony realized the deception. "Tiny singer wins heart of nation," read the headline in Tuesday's China Daily newspaper. But as word has gotten out on the Internet, some Chinese bloggers are outraged.

"If you're not good-looking, no matter how well you sing, you'll not be onstage. Do you know you're twisting a whole generation?" read one.

Another said, "If foreigners found out, they'd think we can't even find a girl who is good at both."

As for Yang Peiyi, she's been quoted as saying she was honored to have had a role in the opening ceremony, even though few realized just how big her part really was. [End of report]

When I watched the Opening Ceremony and saw the little girl singing, I already knew that she was lip-syncing, because she didnt managed to keep singing at the same time when the voice was heard during certain parts of the performance. However, I didnt thought that she wasn't lip-syncing her own voice. I always hate it when people lip-syncing, even if it is their own voice because it makes them look foolish. Im not going to talk about that. I just want to give my opinion regarding this news. There is no doubt that the girl who was performing during the night, Lin Miaoke (above photo) was cute looking and the organising committee had done well to choose her to perform, but only if she had been the one singing the song. Unfortunately, that wasnt the case. The original singer was described as having a chubby face and uneven teeth. I think that she should still be selected to perform the song because she is the one singing it, whether she is attractive enough or not to do it on the big stage. You are not organising a beauty pageant for the kids, so why deny her the opportunity to perform the song which she rightly deserved.

I thought that they were taking advantage of her because she should be the one who is getting all the praise and credits for singing the song very well instead of the other girl, who was only lip-syncing. I mean anymore can do that but it was the voice that stood out during the night and it was the voice that many people thought was great. I've seen how the real singer looks like, and I thought she is not bad looking. I think if she was the one who had perform the song during the night, she would still be getting the same response. Im sure everyone wouldn't mind her looks, if she has the talent, then she deserved to be on the stage. If the organising committee was afraid that to take the risk, then they should go and find another 'attractive' kid to their liking, and one who can sing well too. I just thought what they did was wrong and the fake singer could have possibly stole away the one chance to shine on the big stage. And speaking of fake, I heard that some of the fireworks you saw during the Opening Ceremony was computer-generated because of safety concerns. Nevertheless, I thought the entire event was spectacular, I just dont like it when some of them are not real.

I feel bad for Yang Peiyi, the original singer because she didnt get what she rightfully deserved. They did not only deceived her but the whole nation of China as well and the entire world who was watching it. I understand the need to project a good image of the country to the entire world, but to have a fake singer singing the song wont get you any points. I dont blame the fake singer though, because she is still a kid and she knows nothing about it, so I put the blame on the organising committee. Fake singer aside, the entire Opening Ceremony was great as I said earlier.

*The report was taken from CNN.

Warrant issued as ex-Thai leader Thaksin flees to UK...

Thailand's Supreme Court issued arrest warrants Monday for deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife after they skipped a court appearance and fled to the United Kingdom, court officials said. The couple was to appear in court Monday in a corruption case. Instead, Thaksin released a three-page handwritten statement saying he opted to go to England because he did not expect fair treatment in Thai courts, the Thai News Agency said.

Thaksin could not immediately be reached for comment. Thaksin and his wife, Pojaman Shinawatra, were scheduled to testify in a Supreme Court case about the unlawful purchase of real estate. The real-estate scandal case is one of several corruption claims that Thaksin and his family face in court. Their lawyer had said the pair would "definitely appear" in court Monday to fight the corruption charges, the News Agency (TNA) said. But the couple did not return to Bangkok on Sunday night from a trip to the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. In the real-estate case, Pojaman is accused of using her husband's political influence to buy undeveloped land from a government agency for about a third of its estimated value. The former prime minister has consistently denied that he or his family was involved in any wrongdoing. Last month, Pojaman was found guilty of evading millions of dollars in taxes and sentenced to three years in prison, state media reported. She was released pending appeal on bail of five million baht ($149,000).

Pojaman, her step-brother and her secretary were convicted on charges alleging that they intentionally avoided paying taxes worth 546 million baht ($16.4 million) in a 1997 transfer of shares in the family's telecommunications business. Thaksin, who served two terms as prime minister, was deposed in a bloodless military coup in September 2006. The billionaire leader -- a telecommunications tycoon who owns the Manchester City Football Club of the English Premier League -- is accused of abusing the country's system of checks and balances and bending government policy to benefit his family business. He lived abroad until his allies, the People Power Party, won nearly half the seats in the lower house in December's parliamentary elections.

In his statement, Thaksin said he returned home only to find the political atmosphere did not permit him to prove his innocence because of "intervention in the judicial system." [End of report]

Im a big fan of Thaksin and I can understand why he decided not to go back to Thailand to attend the hearing in the court. First of all, I have always believe that Thaksin is a good guy and he was doing a good job as the Prime Minister. I dont think that he has been involved in any wrongdoings before and I was very disappointed to see him forced out of the government especially when he is being accused of doing things that Im sure he is not guilty of. That is why there is absolutely no use if he had decided to go back to Thailand to face the charges, because he would still be found guilty of those corruption charges, irregardless of what the truth is. I was also disappointed when I heard that his wife was found guilty of evading millions of dollars in taxes. I dont know whether it is actually true or not but I really doubt that is the case. I mean her husband is the Prime Minister of the country and a billionaire as well, Im sure she can afford to pay her taxes. I believe it is all a plot to ensure that Thaksin doesnt get back into power again, I know that he has said he has no intention whatsoever to do that, so I think it is probably just for a good measure.

Thaksin's enemies was successful in putting him out of power but even with the new elected government, some of the people are still unhappy. In elections that brought an end to military rule in December last year, a new outfit called the People Power Party emerged, made up of former members of Thaksin's by-then disbanded Thai Rak Thai party. It was led by veteran politician Samak Sundaravej and they scored a comfortable win in the polls, further infuriating the middle class and elite. Just months after Samak formed his coalition government in February, Thakin's old foes in the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy were back on the streets. They want Samak to resign despite his mandate from the electorate as they claim he is running the country on behalf of Thaksin. Come on, who are you trying to joke? The party was voted by the Thai people and it had nothing to do with Thaksin. So why blame him and Samak for the result? That completely doesnt make any sense at all. Just because there are some links with Thaksin's party in the past, it doesnt mean they are running for him. What it does is that it only shows how much Thaksin's opponents despise him and how low they are willing to go to blame Thaksin for the country's current predicament, even when he is gone.

Since the arrest warrants has been issued, I think we will see him going back to Thailand soon. He has no other choice. I dont think the reason he decided not to go back to the country was because he knows he is guilty, but I think its because he knows that he will be fairly treated once he is back. Whatever the outcome is, I will continue to support him because I know he is a good man and that he has not done any wrongdoings during his time as the Prime Minister.

*The report was taken from CNN.

Thailand tags 10 video games violent after murder...

Thai health officials have listed 10 popular video games as dangerously violent following the reported confession of a teenager who claimed his murder of a taxi driver was inspired by playing "Grand Theft Auto."

"Violent video games have been a problem for a long time," Public Health Ministry spokesman Praj Boonyarowong said Friday. "Some parents don't know what their children are playing and are just happy they are not out of their sight. But these games can have very damaging psychological effect on children, especially games which depict violence so casually."

Furor over the killing compelled a local software distributor, New Era Interactive Media Co. Ltd, to announce it was halting sales and distribution of the game, which is a worldwide best-seller now in its fourth edition despite controversies over its depiction of violent street life. Players progress in the game by successfully carrying out simulated criminal activities. Police Capt. Veerarit Pipattanasak said Friday that Palawat Chinno, 19, was arrested Sunday at the wheel of a taxi whose 54-year-old driver was dead of stab wounds in the back seat. Palawat was charged with murder, robbery and possession of a weapon and could face the death penalty if convicted, Veerarit said.

The police officer said an initial investigation showed that Palawat is an obsessive player of "Grand Theft Auto," but that the motive for the killing was still not certain. The suspect allegedly claimed that playing the game convinced him that robbing a taxi driver was not difficult but he didn't intend to kill anyone. "Grand Theft Auto" has been blamed for contributing to violent crime in the U.S. and elsewhere. But defenders of such games point to the relatively few incidents reported, compared with the millions who play. This past week, authorities in the U.S. state of Georgia said three teenagers were inspired by "Grand Theft Auto" when they destroyed three cars with Molotov cocktails in a tranquil north Atlanta suburb. One suspect admitted learning how to make the homemade firebombs from the game.

The ten games Thailand's Public Health Ministry suggested parents keep their children from playing are: Grand Theft Auto; Manhunt; Scarface; 50 Cent Bulletproof; 300 The Videogame; The Godfather; Killer-7; Resident Evil 4; God of War; and Hitman Blood Money.

The ministry did not say how it selected the games, but they match exactly a list of "top ten most violent" video games issued last December by a public prosecutor in Detroit in the U.S. Thailand's official National Cultural Commission has said it would set up a committee to study violent video games. He said the ministry will also work with the police to check that online gaming sites are licensed and will block Web sites that offer violent games. [End of report]

So the question now is, does violent video games make youths violent? Well, it depends on who you want to believe. Ive done some research related to the topic, and I found different results on whether violent video games does make the youths violent. There was a study in 2005 by The American Psychological Association and according to the report, it was found out that there's a link between video games and violent behavior. It indicates that violent games have short-term effects on those who play them. The research cites many examples of violent behavior caused by video games. Findings over the past 20 years include a tendency of 8th and 9th graders to be more hostile, more argumentative with authority, and more likely to be involved in physical altercations with other students. One study also found evidence of a link between violent games and poor academic performance. And not surprisingly, the research verified that boys spend a lot more time playing violent games than girls. According to the report further, female characters often are portrayed in subordinate roles, which may provide less incentive for girls to play. However, they also found that those girls who do play violent video games are more likely to play aggressively afterward.

In another report by the International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry in May this year, it was found that there is scant scientific evidence that video games are anything but harmless and that they do not lead to real world aggression. Moreover, the research shows that previous work is biased towards the opposite conclusion. The report points out that these violent games are growing more realistic with each passing year and most relish their plots of violence, aggression and gender bias. However, it doesnt necessarily mean that the youths are also getting more aggressive by playing those games and that there are no scientific evidence to support the claims that violent games contribute to aggressive and violent behaviour. The report points out that the research is inconclusive, and that it is possible that certain types of video game could affect emotions, views, behaviour, and attitudes, however, so can books, which can lead to violent behaviour on those already predisposed to violence.

It was very interesting to read both of the reports, but if you ask my opinion on the topic, I would say yes, some video games could affect the behavior and attitudes of the people who are playing them. I do think though that sometimes, it is not about the child being more aggressive after playing the game but because of their feeling of curiosity that they would be interested to try and create what is in the game and bring it into the real world. This can also be very dangerous because with so many violent games out there right now, you never know what will the child do. When it comes to killing somebody in real life, then something needs to be done especially when the killer confessed that he had gotten the idea from a video game. I have never play the game 'Grand Theft Auto' before but I know it is about killing people. This is not the first time that the game has been put into the spotlight. It might be one of the most popular games right now but something definitely needs to be done. Out of those 10 games listed to be kept away from the children, I have 2 of them, which is 'Resident Evil 4' and 'The Hitman'. I would be lying if I say I was not encouraged to act out the character of the games in the real world but I still have my common sense with me to know what is right and what is wrong.

Besides the video games, I think there are other factors that could cause someone to be aggressive such as problems in his own life or watching violent related movies, so I dont think it is fair to say that video games are solely to be blame for the change in the behavior of a child but of course if he did something inspired by the video games, then something is wrong with it. I mean, if you buy a game that is about a war, I dont think it will mean that the child will be a better soldier if he decides to join the army in the future right? I believe the parents has a role to play in ensuring that their kids wont be doing what they see in a video game into the real world. I know a lot of parents, including mine always purchase their kid's favourite game but without knowing the content of the game and whether it is appropriate for the child. That is why you have the 'Age Group' label on the cover of the games to tell their parents whether the game is suitable for their child of a particular age. Even if the game is suitable for their child, they should keep a close watch and see whether there is any change in behavior in them. At the same time, video games developers should try and minimize the level of real life situations that should be included into the games so that whoever is going to play it wont get the impression that what they does in the game can also be done in the real world.

Right now though, there is not much that anyone can do about the problem. I have to agree that more in-depth research needs to be done to prove that violent video games have an affect on youths because until that happen, the blaming game will continue and it will not only affect the game developers but the consumers as well like me. And if I dont get my favourite game because of some kid who have decided to bring the game into the real life and kill somebody, then I wont be happy either. So please remember, whatever you do in the game should only continue to be done in the game itself and not at anywhere else. The only reward you will get for killing or injuring someone in real life is the death sentence or a visit to the prison and by then, it would be Game Over.

*The report was taken from Associated Press.

Cleaning of Alkaff Mosque, Volunteers needed....

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is coming soon, next month to be exact, and in preparation of the month, the Alkaff Mosque will be organising a mass cleaning and hence, they need volunteers to help with the cleaning. The details of the activity is as follow:-

Venue: Alkaff Mosque
Date: 24th August 2008, Sunday
Time: 10am to late afternoon probably

I am interested to become one of the volunteers and Im want to know if anyone else would be interested to join me. It doesnt matter if you know me personally or not, anyone is welcome to join. At the same time, it would be a great opportunity for you to get to know the Blogging God better. Most of you have also probably not contribute anything great before to the society, so why not start now. Registration is free and lunch will be provided. If you are interested, please tell me by next weekend. Thank You.

I'm saddened to hear the deaths of Bernie Mac & an American man...

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

August 10, 2008

I would like to use this opportunity today to express my shock and sympathy regarding the deaths of the actor and comedian, Bernie Mac and an American who was killed in Beijing to be with his family member who is representing the country in the Olympics.

If you can remember, Bernie Mac is an American actor who is popular in shows such as "The Bernie Mac Show" and movies such as "Ocean's Eleven' and "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle". He was 50 when he died and the cause of the death was from "complications due to pneumonia" according to his publicist. I am not a big fan of him but I did follow "The Bernie Mac Show" in the past and I think that his performance in movies such as "Ocean's Eleven" and "Charlie's Angels" were great, even though it was not a big role. He might not be the biggest or the most popular star in the industry but I believe that he always did his best in everything that he was asked to do and that is why I like him. He is a great guy and Im sure he will be missed by fans and performers alike.

I am also shock to hear another tragic news that has happened to an American couple in Beijing. Apparently, they were attacked by a Chinese man yesterday afternoon at a popular tourist spot. The man was killed unfortunately while the wife and the tour guide were injured. The U.S. Olympic Committee has identified the dead man as Todd Bachman, the father-in-law of Olympic Men's Indoor Volleyball Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon. The attacker, identified as a 47-year-old man from the Hangzhou, in eastern China, jumped to his death from the second level of the building. The Bachmans were not wearing apparel that identified them as relatives of members of the U.S. delegation at the time of the attack, USOC said. It's sad to hear such news when the country and the entire world is celebrating the spirits of the Olympic Games. I think the attacker is a true coward to have done something terrible as this.

I am really saddened by both news today and my thoughts and prayers are with both Bernie Mac and the victims of the attack in Beijing. May God bless both of their souls and I hope for a speedy recovery for both Mrs. Bachman and the tour guide.

The Blogging God National Day Message...

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

August 9, 2008

Greetings to all Singaporeans, today the 9th of August, we celebrate our 43 years of independence. I know that this year hasnt been a great year for us as we are facing with some of the challenges that are not only affecting us, but worldwide as well such as the economy slowdown.

You are hearing everything going up these days and it is all affecting our way of life. The oil prices, the food we eat, and the electricity bills are all going up. But you cant really prevent it from happening. What you can do though is try to save up what you can and not to spend so much on unneccesary items. At the same time, we should also remember that the Government is doing all it can to reduce the burden on us and we should appreciate that.

I think as Singaporeans, we should be glad and we are really fortunate that we are living in a country that is relatively safe from any dangers, whether it is manmade or natural. Everyone respect each other and every race and religion is able to practise their faith freely without any restrictions. Nevertheless, we should keep in mind that these things should not be taken for granted. The threat of terrorism for example is real and we should always be vigilant and ready in the face of any threat that we might face. Our history in the past have also shown that racial harmony is very important especially in a secular state like us. We should all be thankful for everything that we are enjoying right now and to continue and maintain the level of peace that we are enjoying, we should work together and never let our guards down.

We should be very pleased that we have a Government that care for us. We have good leaders who have shown that they are able to govern the country well by listening to the needs of its people and implement policies that are neccessary for the benefit of its people. I believe we should continue to work together with our leaders, whether it is with the top management or bottom if we are going to achieve great things in the future. There have also been some great things that we have seen and will going to see this year such as the opening of the Singapore Flyer as well as the upcoming Formula One night race for the first time ever. The Government has managed to take the country into the next level and it has done a great job in making sure that we remain competitive with the countries around the region as we continue to face the challenges of globalisation and Im very proud of them.

In conclusion, I think we have gone a long way to become what we are today and Im glad and proud to call Singapore my home. On this joyous occasion, I wish everyone to be happy and I hope that our country can continue to prosper further. Happy 43rd birthday Singapore and Happy National Day to all Singaporeans.

Edwards admits to extramarital affair...

Former presidential candidate John Edwards, who won nationwide praise and sympathy as he campaigned side by side with his cancer-stricken wife, Elizabeth, admitted in shame Friday he had had an affair with a woman who produced videos as he prepared to launch his campaign. Acknowledging a sex scandal he had dismissed as "tabloid trash" only last month, Edwards said he had told his wife and family long ago, but "I had hoped that it would never become public." He denied fathering a daughter, born to the woman with whom he had the affair, and offered to be tested to prove it. A former Edwards campaign staff member professes to be the father.

The former North Carolina senator, who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004, confessed to ABC News that he had lied repeatedly about the affair with Rielle Hunter, then 42. Hunter's daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter, was born on Feb. 27 this year, and no father's name is given on the birth certificate filed in California. In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Elizabeth Edwards confirmed that her husband had confessed the extramarital affair to her in 2006 but that after a "long and painful process" she was now standing by him.

After the story broke Friday, Edwards released a statement that said, "In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake, and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public."

"I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices," he said. "With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006, and today I take full responsibility publicly."

Edwards declared his presidential candidacy in December 2006. His wife campaigned enthusiastically with him and by herself in the months that followed. She announced in March 2007 that her cancer, formerly in remission, had returned and there apparently was no cure. She and her husband said it was important for the campaign to continue. Edwards dropped out midway through this year's primaries after it became apparent he could not keep up with front-runners Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. He recently endorsed Obama and has been mentioned as a possible running mate. Speaking to reporters Friday in Honolulu, Obama praised Edwards as a "great champion of working people" during the campaign and said the couple indicated they would probably not attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver later this month. In her statement Friday, Elizabeth Edwards said it wasn't easy to find out about the extramarital affair in 2006. She called the affair a "terrible mistake" but said the healing process was "oddly made somewhat easier" after her diagnosis of breast cancer in March 2007.

Mrs. Edwards said her family has been through a lot and pleaded for privacy. She also said that she " is proud of the courage John showed by his honesty in the face of shame." In an interview which aired on ABC News' "Nightline" Friday night, Edwards described the affair as being "over for a long time." He declined to give specifics, saying his family was "entitled to every detail" but no one else. The Edwardses have three children — Cate, Jack and Emma Claire. Another son, Wade, died at 16 in a 1996 car accident. [End of report]

When I first heard this news in the morning, I honestly couldnt believe it. I am obviously very disappointed with the news because I had supported John Edwards for the presidency post before I decided to support Obama as I believe he would be a better choice. I continued to support him for the Vice President role after that until I heard this story. I always thought he was telling the truth everytime he said he is not having any affair but of course, I was wrong and I feel betrayed by him. I feel really sorry for his wife though. Shes a strong individual who had to cope with so much. She was still battling with her fight against her breast cancer when she was told about the matter back in 2006. You would think that she would have asked for a divorce but she didnt and decided to let the matter rest and continue to support her husband in his quest to become the president. That is why I think she deserves a lot of credit for having to go through so much obstacle but yet managed to remain strong. The good thing I guess is that Edwards had told her wife much earlier about the affair before it was told publicly now. They wanted to keep the matter private but I dont think that was ever possible especially when you are a high ranking public figure running to be the next president.

I couldn't believe that he still dare to run for the president post when all of this things were happening. Yes, he did well to keep the matter a secret when he was still in the race, but whether he was still running or not, I think the secret will be out sooner or later. I cant imagine what would happen if he was still running for the presidency. The people who have voted for him would have felt betrayed by him as well and it could give the Republican and McCain the win, but thank God Obama is the Democratic nominee. And speaking of Obama, I doubt that this news will have a major effect on his chances of winning the election later. We all know that Edwards has endorsed Obama and Edwards is one of the person in the list to become the Vice President, but that was before Obama knew the true story. Im sure he will be just as disappointed with Edwards and I would like to think that this will mean the end of Edwards chances to be the VP which is sad for me in particular because I always thought he and Obama would be a great team. Nevertheless, fret not Obama supporters, there are still many other great candidate that can be choose from to become Obama's running mate.

Now whether Edwards is the father of the child or not, I dont think it matter much. I think he has learnt a valuable lesson regarding the issue which is about trust. And after today's revelation, I dont think anyone would trust him anymore, whether it is the ordinary American or the people in his party. Like I have said earlier, I am utterly disappointed by his actions but at least he still have the support of his wonderful wife despite his terrible actions and that is something that no one can take away from him and that he should cherish and something that I really admire.

*The report was taken from Associated Press & to read the full report, please go to this link http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/edwards_affair