Its mid-April and SARS has not loosened it grip of fear and paranoia
amongst people here in Singapore.

An interesting feature in last Sunday?s issue of Sunday Times took issue
with how poorly health care workers were treated by the public. Taxi
drivers are avoiding affected hospitals. Nurses on public buses given a
wide berth by fearful passengers. The list goes on.

The gracious were outraged. One retiree even volunteered to drive the
nurses.

Me? I think it reflects very poorly on the depth (read shallow) of the
journalists putting together this feature.

Sentiments aside, no issues were raised with the hospitals or health care
organizations on additional efforts to prevent the spread of the epidemic
amongst the general population. Why are health care workers still allowed
to take public transport and put others at risk of infection? Why aren?t
health care organizations putting in place containment plans for their
workers once they step outside its physical boundaries?

I mean, what IF a health care worker actually infects a taxi driver? And
driving a cab being his profession, will this not mean that we might face a
situation of a carrier on wheels possibly infecting any number of passengers who comes into contact with the driver?

I took a short cab ride from my office to Raffles Place yesterday and cab driver n me had a short chat about this. His take...."Aiyah! The Minister is so stupid lah! Even a 6 year old will have more common sense. Yes I avoid the hospitals. Yes I might get infected......but have anyone ever thought about our job? Driving taxi is my rice bowl now. I used to be a manager at Isetan you know! No way I'm going to lose my 2nd rice bowl. If I'm sick, who's going to feed my family?"

"Already kena retrenched once and now driving a taxi.....I must be stupid if I'm going to sabo myself"

"Do I want the burden or responsibility of possibly spreading the virus to fares who sit in my cab? Why cant the hospitals play their part and spend a little money in hiring buses or vans that ferry NOBODY else but hospital staff? or house their staff somewhere seperate but nearby Tan Tock Seng or SGH?"


Going back to the office in another cab.... "Mister, look at me. Am I a beast? Do I look like a bad man? I respect the nurses and doctors and I dont hate them. They are brave people. But they ARE working in a risky environment, what. Business so bad now WHO dont want to make extra money??? But make money also cannot risk life and other people lives what! Bladdy MOH..... everything shoot at us small fries instead of tackle the problem.....mutter, mutter"

These cabbies are a bunch of unhappy campers!

More SARS.....I picked up 6 boxes (50 masks/box) of 3-ply face masks at $8 each a week ago for home and the office. I went back to the supplier today and they're all sold out. They do have other stock which are VERY slightly different .......for $200 a box of 50 pieces!!!!!

They're also expecting some 3-plys coming in next week (made in Taiwan) that they'll sell for $20 for a box of 50s. Profiteering.........now THESE people, instead of cab drivers should be shot and hanged.

Just registered Genna for next year's nursery class for 3 year olds. Asked the principal "err....should Genna be trained to sing/dance/speak/read/draw/count/play a musical instrument/ operate a computer.....when nursery opens? We want to make sure our precious daughter is well prepared!"

"Nothing.....just make sure she's TOILET TRAINED!" Miss Tang, the principal replied

I'm confused over the Iraqi war. 3 weeks ago, I was anti-war after seeing all the anti-war demonstrations and protests all over the world. 2 nights ago on TV I now see almost all channels broadcasting images of celebrating, joyous, welcoming and partying Iraqis welcoming Coalition forces into their cities.

??????

And Anand Kofi finally being interviewed for his comments on the war.

??????

I give up.

Back to photography. We had a meeting for the exhibition at Hooters.....

Challenging.....trying to hold a serious meeting while our eyes were looking a various shapes of globes and melons.

BUT....we did....miraculously....come up with some form of a budget.

Sha Ying passed me his book on W Eugene Smith and I reciprocated by lending him Requiem today. Kay Chin dropped by my office for a cup of coffee before an assignment and spoke on his upcoming workshop "An Idea a Day" Interesting concepts and ideas on getting ahead in the 'game' as far as coming up with new ideas and stories before it becomes mainstream. Now THAT"s interesting......how to stay one step ahead of the crowd.

(to be continued)