Special Updates on Air Asia Qz8501 - AirAsia plane climbed 6,000 ft per minute before stalling AFP Jan 20, 2015
NOT GOOD as it appeared to be pilots' errors at this stage. Or they were 'forced' to climb at 2-3x what their commercial plane can normally climb (1,000 - 2,000 ft per min).
"Bill to curb alcohol sales draws mixed reactions - The Straits Times Jan 20, 2015
Proposed laws to ban drinking in public places, including parks and common areas in Housing Board estates, from 10.30pm to 7am could prove unpopular with young clubbers, but have been welcomed by residents living near entertainment districts."
This piece of legislation definitely will draw mix reactions, just as any other bill, especially when the affected parties are many and quite diverse too.
Lessons for me are:
1. the liberal and self-assured 'responsible drinkers' will be up in arms or felt indignant that their private rights to enjoy alcoholic drinks in public places alone or with friends had been infringed. That they were NOT trusted to behave themselves whenever they drink. This group will feel that they WILL NEVER be vomiting any old how, littering, behaving aggressively to break peace and orders, and will definitely not molest innocent bystanders when intoxicated!;
2. the harassed residents and negatively affected existing businesses will be MOST RELIEVED and grateful that this bill has been tabled as it will FREE them from the never-ending torments, heartaches, angers, frustration and fears about personal and property security, dirty and messy rubbishes left behind by intoxicated drinkers!;
3. the alcohol sellers, after paying good money for their license to sell, will be very much aggrieved as most expect it will drag their sales down considerably. It is their WORST NIGHTMARE really;
4. the defenders or advocates for 'foreign workers (FWs)' are unhappy that the bill seems to be targeting FWs who just need to have their basic rights of enjoying a relaxing time with their mates after a long and hard day work building Singapore's mega infrastructure projects around the country in an open and cheap public place with a few alcoholic drinks! Why should they be denied such a right?;
Maybe there are many more diverse folks being impacted but I will not dwell on them any further.
The CENTRAL question to ask for me is: do we have the data and the analysed information to support the need for such a law? are these incidents of causing social disharmony and breaking EXISTING laws so rampant and blatant and prevalent that we need to have a NEW piece of legislation to deal with it?
IF the existing laws are adequate, is the ENFORCEMENT the weak link then? IF SO, are we expanding the laws for a very weak reason.
Lastly, as noted by the news report, some young drinkers are not happy. Well, they need to sort out if they are the highly unstable drinkers or the matured, though young, drinkers whenever they drink in the public places!
For me, if we REALLY need to curb this problem, we can JUST increase the penalties for drunken behaviours in public. 1st offender, to jail for 1 month and cane X times. 2nd offender, to jail for 6 months and can 2X times. Try this out and see if there will be offenders.
NOT GOOD as it appeared to be pilots' errors at this stage. Or they were 'forced' to climb at 2-3x what their commercial plane can normally climb (1,000 - 2,000 ft per min).
"Bill to curb alcohol sales draws mixed reactions - The Straits Times Jan 20, 2015
Proposed laws to ban drinking in public places, including parks and common areas in Housing Board estates, from 10.30pm to 7am could prove unpopular with young clubbers, but have been welcomed by residents living near entertainment districts."
This piece of legislation definitely will draw mix reactions, just as any other bill, especially when the affected parties are many and quite diverse too.
Lessons for me are:
1. the liberal and self-assured 'responsible drinkers' will be up in arms or felt indignant that their private rights to enjoy alcoholic drinks in public places alone or with friends had been infringed. That they were NOT trusted to behave themselves whenever they drink. This group will feel that they WILL NEVER be vomiting any old how, littering, behaving aggressively to break peace and orders, and will definitely not molest innocent bystanders when intoxicated!;
2. the harassed residents and negatively affected existing businesses will be MOST RELIEVED and grateful that this bill has been tabled as it will FREE them from the never-ending torments, heartaches, angers, frustration and fears about personal and property security, dirty and messy rubbishes left behind by intoxicated drinkers!;
3. the alcohol sellers, after paying good money for their license to sell, will be very much aggrieved as most expect it will drag their sales down considerably. It is their WORST NIGHTMARE really;
4. the defenders or advocates for 'foreign workers (FWs)' are unhappy that the bill seems to be targeting FWs who just need to have their basic rights of enjoying a relaxing time with their mates after a long and hard day work building Singapore's mega infrastructure projects around the country in an open and cheap public place with a few alcoholic drinks! Why should they be denied such a right?;
Maybe there are many more diverse folks being impacted but I will not dwell on them any further.
The CENTRAL question to ask for me is: do we have the data and the analysed information to support the need for such a law? are these incidents of causing social disharmony and breaking EXISTING laws so rampant and blatant and prevalent that we need to have a NEW piece of legislation to deal with it?
IF the existing laws are adequate, is the ENFORCEMENT the weak link then? IF SO, are we expanding the laws for a very weak reason.
Lastly, as noted by the news report, some young drinkers are not happy. Well, they need to sort out if they are the highly unstable drinkers or the matured, though young, drinkers whenever they drink in the public places!
For me, if we REALLY need to curb this problem, we can JUST increase the penalties for drunken behaviours in public. 1st offender, to jail for 1 month and cane X times. 2nd offender, to jail for 6 months and can 2X times. Try this out and see if there will be offenders.
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