Advertisement—a form of communication used to promote and sell products.
Advertisements communicate a message about how product benefits the consumer. The main purpose is to persuade potential consumers to purchase or to consume more of a particular brand of product or service. It was developed with rise of mass production in late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these advertisements generate increased purchase and are usually colourful and catchy to the eye. There are many mediums used to deliver advertising messages. Advertisements play an important role in promoting an agency’s or company’s products.
However, some of these companies compromise on their honesty and integrity. We do not know how much they tell us about the product and usually, how much they hide from us is the most important to us. They hide certain information and change some harmful effects to something which is likeable in consumers’ eyes. If I was the creative director of the company, I would not compromise on honesty and integrity. There are many other ways to promote a product without compromising on honesty and integrity, especially products like tobacco. Tobacco has been portrayed by many companies as something that has ultimate benefits to mind, which is not true. Therefore, we can just use patterns and designs on the tobacco to attract people of different ages.
[I really don’t know what to write, since we aren’t supposed to use any points in the passages.]
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Swine Flu measures
Influenza A (H1N1) virus is the most common cause of influenza in humans. In June 2009, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that flu due to a new strain of swine-origin H1N1 was responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic. This strain was commonly called “swine flu” by the public media. On the 11th June 2009, WHO raises Pandemic Level to Phase 6. H1N1 is very widespread.
It has been said by many that this stain of virus is very similar to a case in 1918, The Spanish Flu. The Spanish Flu was an unusually severe and deadly strain of avian influenza. That stain of influenza killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide for a year in 1918 and 1919. It is considered one of the most deadly pandemics in human history. It was caused by the H1N1 type of influenza virus, which is why everyone fears this current strain.
The first few affected countries have implemented the containment strategy. However, it did not seem to have worked. Some of these countries have set up and isolated buildings to isolate affected victims and those they have come into contact with.
Singapore has been affected by H1N1. In Singapore, the increasing numbers of infections shows that more people are infected from travelling overseas. These numbers signify that there are signs of local transmissions. Initial government measures include giving a 7-day leave of absence, and given home-quarantine after a visit to affected countries. Anyone who leaves house during home quarantine would receive a 10000 fine or 6 months in jail. Anyone whom had any flu symptoms would have to quarantine themselves for a week. Some schools which had confirmed cases closed down. MOE guidelines also states that no mass gatherings to be held.
However, with all these measures in place, I still do not believe that the virus can be stopped or contained in any countries. These measures cannot stop the spread of H1N1 but can only slow down the spread. The virus can travel in the air, invisible to our human eyes and there is no way that we can see the way it travels across the sea, air and land. Therefore, I feel that the measures are about useless to contain spread of H1N1.
It has been said by many that this stain of virus is very similar to a case in 1918, The Spanish Flu. The Spanish Flu was an unusually severe and deadly strain of avian influenza. That stain of influenza killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide for a year in 1918 and 1919. It is considered one of the most deadly pandemics in human history. It was caused by the H1N1 type of influenza virus, which is why everyone fears this current strain.
The first few affected countries have implemented the containment strategy. However, it did not seem to have worked. Some of these countries have set up and isolated buildings to isolate affected victims and those they have come into contact with.
Singapore has been affected by H1N1. In Singapore, the increasing numbers of infections shows that more people are infected from travelling overseas. These numbers signify that there are signs of local transmissions. Initial government measures include giving a 7-day leave of absence, and given home-quarantine after a visit to affected countries. Anyone who leaves house during home quarantine would receive a 10000 fine or 6 months in jail. Anyone whom had any flu symptoms would have to quarantine themselves for a week. Some schools which had confirmed cases closed down. MOE guidelines also states that no mass gatherings to be held.
However, with all these measures in place, I still do not believe that the virus can be stopped or contained in any countries. These measures cannot stop the spread of H1N1 but can only slow down the spread. The virus can travel in the air, invisible to our human eyes and there is no way that we can see the way it travels across the sea, air and land. Therefore, I feel that the measures are about useless to contain spread of H1N1.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Advanced Medical Directive Act Blog
The Advanced Medical Directive (AMD) is a legal document whereby you sign to inform your doctor that you do not want any extraordinary life-sustaining treatment to be used to prolong your life in the event of becoming terminally ill and unconscious. “Terminally ill” is defined as an incurable condition caused by injury or disease where there is no reasonable prospect of a temporary of permanent recovery where death would be imminent regardless of use of extraordinary life-sustaining treatment, which refers to any medical procedure or measure, and would serve one sole purpose: postponing the moment of death of the patient.
Euthanasia is different from the Advanced Medical Directive. Euthanasia, also known as mercy killing, is the deliberate ending of life of a person suffering an illness by unnatural mean while Advanced Medical Directive are instructions to your doctor not to prolong your life with extraordinary life-sustaining treatment where there is no hope for recover from an imminent death. Under section 17 of the AMD Act explicitly states that it is against euthanasia and nothing in the Act shall condone, authorize or approve abetment or suicide, mercy killing or euthanasia.
Making an AMD is a voluntary decision. New advances in medical knowledge and technology create new choices for both patients and health care providers. Some of these raise new ethical and legal issues. One issue is that even though modern medical technology can prolong life in terminal illness it can only be used to delay the dying process. In such situations, further medical intervention is ineffective. The terminally ill person, who are unable to express their wishes at that time, may want to be spared from further suffering and be allowed to die naturally.
Euthanasia is different from the Advanced Medical Directive. Euthanasia, also known as mercy killing, is the deliberate ending of life of a person suffering an illness by unnatural mean while Advanced Medical Directive are instructions to your doctor not to prolong your life with extraordinary life-sustaining treatment where there is no hope for recover from an imminent death. Under section 17 of the AMD Act explicitly states that it is against euthanasia and nothing in the Act shall condone, authorize or approve abetment or suicide, mercy killing or euthanasia.
Making an AMD is a voluntary decision. New advances in medical knowledge and technology create new choices for both patients and health care providers. Some of these raise new ethical and legal issues. One issue is that even though modern medical technology can prolong life in terminal illness it can only be used to delay the dying process. In such situations, further medical intervention is ineffective. The terminally ill person, who are unable to express their wishes at that time, may want to be spared from further suffering and be allowed to die naturally.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
National Service problem
National Service. The two words that many male youths and teenagers hate the most because it will mean the loss of their freedom. National Service is a very nice term for the compulsory conscription in Singapore for all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents upon age of 18. They have to serve a two-year period as Full Time National Servicemen in either the SAF or the SPF or the SCDF. In the event of the breakout of war in Singapore, these National Servicemen will form the bulk of the defending forces under the SAF. On annual basis, National Servicemen will go through high key or low key training until they reach the age of 40 or 50 depending on rank. These National Servicemen contribute directly to the security and defense of Singapore.
People have been forced to cancel their attachments and music studies in Harvard to attend NS. Some of these, such as music scholarships at Harvard, are one-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity. However, they are not able to carry on and continue their studies and development of their talents and they have been forced to stop just to attend NS, a waste of time in many people’s eyes. A classic example would be pianist Melvyn Tan. A suggestion to deal with this problem is to allow them to finish their studies first, not just some, but all those who receive golden opportunities, although they must sign a law-binding contract to drive them to come back after their studies for National Service.
Furthermore, there are some reservists who were denied jobs due to their National Service commitments. There are even more Singaporeans who are dissatisfied with foreigners who do not have to serve National Service but they get to enjoy the fruits of Singapore’s economic success. These foreigners can use the Singaporean’s time serving National Service to increase their own educational standards and getting better jobs at an earlier time.
It is true that if we, the citizens of Singapore, don’t protect our own country, no one else will. However, must it be truly compulsory? As president George Bush of the United States of America said: No President can easily commit our sons and daughters to war. They are the Nation's finest. Ours is an all-volunteer force, magnificently trained, highly motivated. The troops know why they're there. This was taken from Declaration of War on Iraq by Bush. Troops protecting the nation must be highly motivated, which is not the case when they are forced to go for National Service. If conscripted, they most likely will hate it and easiest to run away or surrender when it comes to a fight because they do not have much motivation. Troops without motivation will not protect their own country to the best of their ability.
Therefore, I think that National Service should be served by people with very high motivations and everyone else, except that the training should not be too vigorous. That way, more people will have a better impression of the National Service and they will join with high motivations.
People have been forced to cancel their attachments and music studies in Harvard to attend NS. Some of these, such as music scholarships at Harvard, are one-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity. However, they are not able to carry on and continue their studies and development of their talents and they have been forced to stop just to attend NS, a waste of time in many people’s eyes. A classic example would be pianist Melvyn Tan. A suggestion to deal with this problem is to allow them to finish their studies first, not just some, but all those who receive golden opportunities, although they must sign a law-binding contract to drive them to come back after their studies for National Service.
Furthermore, there are some reservists who were denied jobs due to their National Service commitments. There are even more Singaporeans who are dissatisfied with foreigners who do not have to serve National Service but they get to enjoy the fruits of Singapore’s economic success. These foreigners can use the Singaporean’s time serving National Service to increase their own educational standards and getting better jobs at an earlier time.
It is true that if we, the citizens of Singapore, don’t protect our own country, no one else will. However, must it be truly compulsory? As president George Bush of the United States of America said: No President can easily commit our sons and daughters to war. They are the Nation's finest. Ours is an all-volunteer force, magnificently trained, highly motivated. The troops know why they're there. This was taken from Declaration of War on Iraq by Bush. Troops protecting the nation must be highly motivated, which is not the case when they are forced to go for National Service. If conscripted, they most likely will hate it and easiest to run away or surrender when it comes to a fight because they do not have much motivation. Troops without motivation will not protect their own country to the best of their ability.
Therefore, I think that National Service should be served by people with very high motivations and everyone else, except that the training should not be too vigorous. That way, more people will have a better impression of the National Service and they will join with high motivations.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Science: a Menace to Civilisation?
Question: In Text A, the author argues passionately for why he considers Science to be a menace to civilisation. In contrast, the author of Text B reasons that it is unfair to simply denounce Science as such. Whose view and arguments do you agree with? You may use relevant information from the texts to justify your answer. However, you should rely largely on your own relevant ideas and experiences.
I believe that Science was not a menace to civilisation in the past. However, it has become more and more of a danger to civilisation in this nuclear age.
In the past, Science was a branch of studies which gave rise to many new innovations and inventions. Tooth extraction in the past made use of many dangerous-looking types of equipment and encompassed many tiring procedures. However, after being “blessed” by the wonderful Science technology, tooth extraction became a much easier process which just requires one machine and one dentist (obviously). Many things which we see around us everyday are all also breakthroughs of Science, such as the laptop, air conditioner, and the lifts and so on. In this way, we can see that Science has indeed improved our lives by making it more comfortable and efficient in getting things done.
In the 90th century, science made almost anything possible. There were better healthcare, better medical faculties and better defence system. It also made people’s death come easier and earlier. Science could kill as easily as saving people.
In the warring ages, there appeared to have a drastic increase in war machines production and advancement of war technology which also encompasses the production of new and more efficient bombs, missiles and tanks. All of this science technology improved the country’s defence system, but it also exposed us to more danger and death from the advanced weapons and their destruction forces, such as the example of
It is totally unfair to say that Science has helped the humans only and not the other species of living organisms. As more research is done in the field of living organisms other than humans, we have come to realise more of their importance and have come to realise that there are not just food sources, the animals can be a human’s best friend as well. Take for example, a sensitive and intelligent dog leading a blind man on the plain streets. This was not possible in the past, when human beings did not know that the dogs could be such a good helper to humans.
Science is a branch of studies. The study of Science itself cannot be evil or good. It is the results of science discovery that marked out whether it is helpful to society or it will not benefit society. It is the humans who make use of the science technology for good or for evil. If the human use the science technology for good, science would then benefit the majority. If the human who is using the science has evil intentions, then science itself would then become a menace to civilisation. Once you gain the knowledge of the science behind the mechanisms, you may unleash it for good or evil.
Therefore, I believe that Science when used correctly will not be a menace to civilisation, however, it could in another way be a menace to civilisation as well.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Pornography -- to censor or not to censor
Question
In the first passage, pornography is seen to be “morally objectionable … (that) degrades women as mere sex objects” while in the second passage, pornography is said to be a mere expression of sexuality. Explain the nature of pornography and give your reasons to why we should/should not exercise any form of censorship in this area.
Pornography is defined as obscene writings, drawings, photographs, magazines, videos with little or no artistic merit designed only to excite sexual impulses and to stimulate sexual desire. It is considered by public authorities as a violation of accepted standards of sexual morality. Many people have conflicting ideas on the reasons of whether censorship should be exercised. However, currently, censorship has been exercised in the area of pornography. What is considered the accepted standards of sexual morality? What is the nature of pornography? What can we do to prevent pornography from corrupting young people’s minds? As described on Mormon Times, pornography is described as one which is seductive and contains a destructive nature.
Why is the nature of pornography deemed as destructive?
It has the power to enslave and destroy. Enslavement comes with the form that the sexually explicit images have addictive properties. In 2004, Dr Judith A. Reisman explained that emotionally arousing images imprint and alter the brain triggering an instant, involuntary but lasting biochemical memory tail. These neurochemical pathways, once established and activated from hibernation, are difficult and almost impossible to delete and remove. Some of these erotic images may trigger fear, shame, anger or hostility. These fantasies become embedded, commonly confusing and addicting many of those people being exposed to pornography.
Therefore, I strongly believe that we should try to exercise censorship in the area of pornography. Pornography not only endangers the healthy development of young people, but also erodes people's mind, destroying the accepted moral standards of the society.
Women who act in the pornography industry are labelled as “porn stars”. In the New York Times Magazine, the author, Frank Rich, came up with a thesis that states Pornography is a big business with $10 billion to $14 billion in annual sports. This gives others the wrong impression that these women would do pornography all for the sake of getting rich. These also give men the impression that the women who do such stuff are cheap and the men would obviously be more superior to them.
However, in recent years, there has been a significant increase in pornography addiction by many teenagers and others. Censorship should really be exercised in area of pornography as many people would be affected by uncensored pornography. As stated by Dr. Judith A. Reisman, the viewing of such pornography films or videos or photographs will “awaken the hibernating irritated beast” or will “arouse the sleeping lion in the brain”. Some of these people who viewed these pornography films said that they do it to while away their time. However, the time that is being used to watch pornography can be used for more consequential things. Activities such as posting stupid things on blogs, it could also be another way to waste away their free time. Another way to idle away their time would be to do more meaningful activities such as reading, participating in Community Involvement Programme and also to interact more and spending more time with the family.
What can we do to prevent pornography from corrupting young people’s minds?
We can censor pornography as pornography is seductive, destructive and unsuitable for young people. When viewed by the young people, it would be a forever permanent memory that would be entrenched into the brain. Unlike studies and notes memory, it would be very hard to delete.
People have been quarrelling about whether pornography is a violation of accepted moral standards. While some may agree with this, others disagree. I strongly feel that it is wrong to show prejudice to women by viewing them as sex objects. Therefore, I feel there’s a need for pornography to be censored.
In the first passage, pornography is seen to be “morally objectionable … (that) degrades women as mere sex objects” while in the second passage, pornography is said to be a mere expression of sexuality. Explain the nature of pornography and give your reasons to why we should/should not exercise any form of censorship in this area.
Pornography is defined as obscene writings, drawings, photographs, magazines, videos with little or no artistic merit designed only to excite sexual impulses and to stimulate sexual desire. It is considered by public authorities as a violation of accepted standards of sexual morality. Many people have conflicting ideas on the reasons of whether censorship should be exercised. However, currently, censorship has been exercised in the area of pornography. What is considered the accepted standards of sexual morality? What is the nature of pornography? What can we do to prevent pornography from corrupting young people’s minds? As described on Mormon Times, pornography is described as one which is seductive and contains a destructive nature.
Why is the nature of pornography deemed as destructive?
It has the power to enslave and destroy. Enslavement comes with the form that the sexually explicit images have addictive properties. In 2004, Dr Judith A. Reisman explained that emotionally arousing images imprint and alter the brain triggering an instant, involuntary but lasting biochemical memory tail. These neurochemical pathways, once established and activated from hibernation, are difficult and almost impossible to delete and remove. Some of these erotic images may trigger fear, shame, anger or hostility. These fantasies become embedded, commonly confusing and addicting many of those people being exposed to pornography.
Therefore, I strongly believe that we should try to exercise censorship in the area of pornography. Pornography not only endangers the healthy development of young people, but also erodes people's mind, destroying the accepted moral standards of the society.
Women who act in the pornography industry are labelled as “porn stars”. In the New York Times Magazine, the author, Frank Rich, came up with a thesis that states Pornography is a big business with $10 billion to $14 billion in annual sports. This gives others the wrong impression that these women would do pornography all for the sake of getting rich. These also give men the impression that the women who do such stuff are cheap and the men would obviously be more superior to them.
However, in recent years, there has been a significant increase in pornography addiction by many teenagers and others. Censorship should really be exercised in area of pornography as many people would be affected by uncensored pornography. As stated by Dr. Judith A. Reisman, the viewing of such pornography films or videos or photographs will “awaken the hibernating irritated beast” or will “arouse the sleeping lion in the brain”. Some of these people who viewed these pornography films said that they do it to while away their time. However, the time that is being used to watch pornography can be used for more consequential things. Activities such as posting stupid things on blogs, it could also be another way to waste away their free time. Another way to idle away their time would be to do more meaningful activities such as reading, participating in Community Involvement Programme and also to interact more and spending more time with the family.
What can we do to prevent pornography from corrupting young people’s minds?
We can censor pornography as pornography is seductive, destructive and unsuitable for young people. When viewed by the young people, it would be a forever permanent memory that would be entrenched into the brain. Unlike studies and notes memory, it would be very hard to delete.
People have been quarrelling about whether pornography is a violation of accepted moral standards. While some may agree with this, others disagree. I strongly feel that it is wrong to show prejudice to women by viewing them as sex objects. Therefore, I feel there’s a need for pornography to be censored.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Regulations of political commentary on the Internet in Singapore
Modern technology has allowed people to have the freedom of speech via World Wide Web. The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers, enabling users to share information along multiple channels. Many people all around the world have come to realise that Internet and the World Wide Web are very powerful tools to be used intermittently for announcement and for media purposes. Ever since the increase in use of the Internet, more people have found a way to make use of this tool to distribute their different political ideology. Therefore, to prevent political instability within Singapore which would rock the nation’s foundations, the government has come up with regulations of political commentary on the Internet in Singapore. Many people may disagree with the regulations. However I feel that though they may be harsh, they are very useful as it protects Singaporeans from having an unstable country due to its political instability which will eventually lead to economical instability should it occur.
With new regulations, political podcasts, which are part of political commentaries that make use of the streaming of videos for entertainment or advertising, are now banned during election periods. People may think that this regulation is also partially useless, because the people can still comment on the different politically-linked things before or after the election period. However, the government has also thought of this because they also set up another regulation which states that “during non-election periods, they can continue to post but individual bloggers who step over the line of political harmfulness will be given a warning and subsequently be seriously fined or assigned a jail term.”
However, the people of Singapore have the right to know the truth about the politicians and their ideology. When this regulation is implemented, it leads to Singaporeans to have only one side of the ideology and not the cons. This means that the people can only see how good something is and the view that the governmental officers want the general public to see. However, they do not show the harmful “side-effects” of the regulation, which would be negligible and would not affect political stability if the government doesn’t want us to know.
Also in 2001, the Government instituted new regulations under the PEA governing the internet: the Parliamentary Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations (PER) which states that: candidates and parties are allowed to use the internet for election advertising. Photos and manifestoes, chat rooms, membership recruitment messages, and announcements of meetings on the web or through email are all explicitly permitted under the PER.
Having different ideas and many differing discussions on the net may also lead the citizens of Singapore to come up with biased views of the different political parties, which will affect the election, which will eventually affect the future of the political stability of Singapore. This is why people should not just believe what they see and are told, they have to base their thoughts on a very reliable source before coming up with a conclusion.
Even though the regulations may be a little harsh, it is certainly worth to have it as it does not cause too much political instability. However, it would be good to revise these regulations once in a while to suit the needs of the majority of the public better. Websites such as mrbrown.com and talkingcock.com have been coming up with funny and comical videos to relieve the stress that people are having and it also makes Singaporeans see the better side of these regulations which is aiding the government. Although it may critic the Singapore government and cross the boundary of political harmfulness, it certainly is up and running as it is cooperative. Therefore, in conclusion, I believe that what the government has done is right and these regulations should continue to be respected by countrymen.
PS. Should anyone find this post disturbing or feels that it is against the political regulations in Singapore, please email Mr. Adrian Chan at chanch@hc.edu.sg.
With new regulations, political podcasts, which are part of political commentaries that make use of the streaming of videos for entertainment or advertising, are now banned during election periods. People may think that this regulation is also partially useless, because the people can still comment on the different politically-linked things before or after the election period. However, the government has also thought of this because they also set up another regulation which states that “during non-election periods, they can continue to post but individual bloggers who step over the line of political harmfulness will be given a warning and subsequently be seriously fined or assigned a jail term.”
However, the people of Singapore have the right to know the truth about the politicians and their ideology. When this regulation is implemented, it leads to Singaporeans to have only one side of the ideology and not the cons. This means that the people can only see how good something is and the view that the governmental officers want the general public to see. However, they do not show the harmful “side-effects” of the regulation, which would be negligible and would not affect political stability if the government doesn’t want us to know.
Also in 2001, the Government instituted new regulations under the PEA governing the internet: the Parliamentary Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations (PER) which states that: candidates and parties are allowed to use the internet for election advertising. Photos and manifestoes, chat rooms, membership recruitment messages, and announcements of meetings on the web or through email are all explicitly permitted under the PER.
Having different ideas and many differing discussions on the net may also lead the citizens of Singapore to come up with biased views of the different political parties, which will affect the election, which will eventually affect the future of the political stability of Singapore. This is why people should not just believe what they see and are told, they have to base their thoughts on a very reliable source before coming up with a conclusion.
Even though the regulations may be a little harsh, it is certainly worth to have it as it does not cause too much political instability. However, it would be good to revise these regulations once in a while to suit the needs of the majority of the public better. Websites such as mrbrown.com and talkingcock.com have been coming up with funny and comical videos to relieve the stress that people are having and it also makes Singaporeans see the better side of these regulations which is aiding the government. Although it may critic the Singapore government and cross the boundary of political harmfulness, it certainly is up and running as it is cooperative. Therefore, in conclusion, I believe that what the government has done is right and these regulations should continue to be respected by countrymen.
PS. Should anyone find this post disturbing or feels that it is against the political regulations in Singapore, please email Mr. Adrian Chan at chanch@hc.edu.sg.
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