Presidential Elections.

Well, what else can I talk about?

Okay, fine, I just passed the 53kg mark a few days back, but that's not as momentous as the 50kg milestone a while ago. Hopefully it's mostly muscle in the correct places where i need them (my legs, for example. 2.4... >_<").. and hopefully my weight gain peters out at about 55+kg. Hehe.

Anyways. I was quite surprised that Dr Tony Tan won. (I predicted, in order: Tan Kin Lian, Tan Jee Say, Dr. Tony Tan, Dr. Tan Cheng Bock.) I would have voted for Dr. Tan Cheng Bock because he seems more... human, somehow. I mean, at least from whatever little bit of information I could garner from the newspapers, Dr. Tan at least seems to give aid for the needy. Take his medical practice, for example. His family has said that he downplayed free treatment given to those who couldn't afford it/ would rather have something more necessary to spend on... and they only realised it when people came up to thank him during the 9 days of campaigning. Oh, and his Chinese standard is... marginally better than Dr. Tony Tan.

Speaking of 9 days of campaigning, Mr Tan Kin Lian has professed that that was too short a time for voters to get to know him. Well, all of the candidates were given the same amount of time, and if he doesn't treasure it... well, it's his fault, no? And how much time does he need to convince voters to vote for him? Another few weeks? Months? Years...? I guess he should just be happy, be a gentleman and support the new President.  (I'm not going to say who it is until the overseas votes are in, although Dr. Tan is still probably going to be President, anyways. I'm not exactly biased against him, but let's wait till he does something in his new position.). You know, just like how Hillary Clinton threw her weight behind Obama when she lost before the elections in the US back then. I'm not implying any good benefits given to her because of that, and it's not like Singapore can do the same (our President doesn't head Parliament) but it's a good example of havng good sportsmanship. Instead of sulking after you lost something, you know.

Anyway. The two Dr. Tans were quite evenly tied and the winner (I really don't like to phrase it as such, it makes it seem that the presidential candidates were vying for only the $4 million salary. Then again, perhaps so.) only scraped past by about 0.34% of the total votes cast. The Straits Times likes to call it a 'razor thin margin' and the translation from 0.34% to a magic 4-digit number (can't remember, don't bother to remember) is so blaring on the headlines. Apparently Singapore Pools banned betting on that number for 4-D early in the morning because it was so popular. Sigh. When will people learn to save their money and not spend it on such meaningless bets? (Then again, getting them to do so is the same as getting me to give up collecting cards and knives and my other paraphernalia.)

And the grousers are complaining that even though one-third of "mindless Singaporeans" voted for him, two thirds of the country are, well, feeling very sad now. Heh. If Dr Tan Cheng Bock won, they'd be harping on the fact that an overwhelming one-third voted for him (if the razor-thin margin was reversed) even though the older-generation mindlessly voted for the endorsed candidate. Just one of life's little ironies to think about.