Contentious Journalism & the Internet Contentious Journalism & the Internet : towards democratic discourse in Malaysia & Singapore by Cherian George published by Singapore University Press. The Internet has been used to democratise public discourse in Malaysia and Singapore, two countries in the zone between liberal democracies and authoritarian states. Websites that have emerged on the margins of the political system engage in a contentious style of journalism challenging the consensus that prevails over and through mainstream media. Cherian George a well-known Singaporean public intellectual and journalist before he embarked on an academic career, provides detailed case studies of online alternative media sites in Singapore and Malaysia, and examines arguments that explain their development in terms of technology and of differing norms of journalism and democracy. This nuanced work draws on social movement studies and media studies to challenge current understandings of the relationship between media and the Internet. The book´s lively style will make it relevant for anyone interested in politics and media in Malaysia and Singapore. 
Shaping Singaporeīs Future
Shaping Singaporeīs Future : Thinking Schools, Learning Nation by Jason Tan & Ng Pak Tee. The vision of Thinking Schools, Learning Nation (TSLN) was launched in 1997 by the Singapore Ministry of Education in an effort to develop a total learning environment in the country and to revolutionise teaching and learning in all schools. The various chapters in this book examine different aspect of TSLN, such as ability-driven education, innovation and enterprise, and national education. They also discuss issues concerning school-stakeholder partnerships, teacher education, and teachersī lives amid a period of rapid education reform.
Shaping Singaporeīs Future book specifications: Region: Singapore; Format: Paperback, 166 pages; Published: 2005, Singapore, 1st Edition; ISBN: 981067550X; SB#: 037195.
Veerappan love for books
When Veerappan (sandalwood smuggler before turning to murder and kidnapping as a career) was killed in a police ambush on 18 Oct 2004, a pile of books was found by his side along with some cash. At that time, he was reading books on black magic and medicinal plants. During an earlier search operation when Veerappan narrowly escaped, quite a number of books were found in his hideout.
According to some of his followers and from the books seized. The late Veerappan do read and was interest on topics of black magic and herbal medicine, which included chanting mantras and performing rituals, it could be conjectured that the brigand practised both simultaneously.
 The Veerappan Legacy: Development works in over 150 villages spread across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in India were stalled for years thanks to the legacy of Veerappan, the notorious forest brigand and poacher, who was shot dead by law man at Dharmapuri, India, after a 30 years manhunt. Veerappans ideology was to indulge in extortion and the tactics was to rapidly shift his hideout in the jungles. Veerappan came into prominence only after he killed Chidambaram, honest forest officer who sought to end sandalwood smuggling, in July 1987. The law has been on hot on his trail. Veerappan never stays in one place very long. He continually walks through the forest, using a pair of bathroom slippers to stay ahead of police. It helps that he travels with a gang of men, all as ruthless as their leader, all equipped with bathroom slippers. Veerappan, the man with a huge moustache had killed over 125 people ever since. A lot of industries including mining and quarrying and tourism were hit hard following the brigandīs reign of terror in the area. Mining activity in the Kolegal area were forced to quit in 1992, when the Karnataka government banned it, saying that civilian movements in the forest would complicate ongoing operations against Veerappan. There are reports saying that investment in agro-based industries, floriculture and horticulture were shelved for fear of Veerappan. The flow of tourists was also affected. Now that Veerappan is gone, many new businessmen were showing interest in the these regions.
Some local people believed that Veerappab had adopt magical tricks to control nature like "binding the mouth of wild beasts" so that he could trespass the animal track without causing any problem. I guess a fugitive does not have much to do in their free time except to read and learn to survive.
|