November 2001

This is so stupid. Some kid posted something as a joke on a local forum. It is one of those web scripts where you enter the company name you want, and it automatically generates a complaint letter. Now the company, Singapore Cable Vision, has threatened to sue the kid unless the kid posts a public apology. Here is the complaint letter.

Here is what I posted on the forum board regarding this incident :

Just curious to know :

1) If someone posts a link to a foreign website that contains information that ruins the reputation of a certain company, can that someone be sued?

2) When Google played that joke where if you put in these words
'More evil than Satan' in its search field, the first link that turns up in the list is Microsoft, can Microsoft sue Google for this prank?

3) Who defines the line between bitching and defamation? A big company who has enough resources to hire an army of lawyers or the individual who in his lifetime might not match that level of resources?

4) When is bitching not bitching but defamation? If someone says, “That burger is fattening! Bad if you are on a diet!” Must that someone be able to back that statement up with a laboratory test result or he gets sued by the burger company for defamation?

I don't study law, has absolute no knowledge in law and as such I am curious to know the answers to the above questions.

BTW, if the international community knows about this, I am sure they will react in the same way as the incident when we banned a certain game.

Caught the Harry Potter movie last night. Took advantage of the cheap movie ticket prices from Monday to Wednesday.

The movie was entertaining, even though I have not read the book yet. The special effects were good, as was the acting. But as it was a movie or book meant for kids, there were a lot of illogical stuff. Entertaining, fun, but not perfect.

I am still waiting for 20 Dec 2001 screening of Lord of the Rings.

Just something I find very true. This Indian young PAP MP spoke out against some of the Government policies.

He said that the Government puts the best of the best from our education system, put them into stable and secured jobs in the civil sector and the GLCs and then we ask ourselves, where are the entrepreneurs?

How true.

Every morning, I take a shuttle bus from the MRT station to the office to work, to save costs. However, it seems like everyone who does not drive has the same idea as me. As such the shuttle bus is always crowded.

There is no queue for it, and therefore when the shuttle bus arrives, everyone makes a beeline for it. It is dangerous and rowdy. What makes it even more entertaining was the fact that it's the ladies who are the ones pushing. Some of them are dressed nicely, with make up, nice dress and high heels. Yet they are the ones who are the ones who shoved and pushed to get up. In some instances where I was trapped between the crowd, I always get ladies who uses their bags to push my back, as if prompting me to get up the bus fast. Usually I will just stand there and do not move, and the lady who uses the handbag like a battling ram will get the hint.

I don't get such treatment from guys. Perhaps the ladies get their training from shopping mall sales?

Did a search on the web to look for a journal/diary system where I can post my rantings and let readers (if I have that is) able to post their comments. The previous one diaryland did not have this feature and it seems people can only respond or keep in touch by posting on the guestbook. Which to me is pathetic.

Then again, if nobody ever reads my rantings, all my trouble in getting a good site is wasted.

My first entry.