How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?

Some people believe that when one is able to achieve the power of Extra Sensory Perception, one has to use it in a charitable way to benefit others instead of oneself. To benefit oneself, the power will be lost. If this is to be believed, then any real psychic able to predict lottery numbers would probably strike once and then lose his ability to do it again. If the amount is big, then he would probably opt to keep it a secret. To claim that he could do it would invite people clamouring for his forecasts and be ridiculed when unable to do so again. Why not keep it a secret and try again for himself?

I believe those who advertise that they are able to forecast the lucky numbers are scams preying on the gullibility and greed of punters and by giving out numbers at random, chances are good that some might strike and convince others that they are good at it.

Paul, the Psychic Octopus, managed to predict 6 World Cup matches correctly: Germany won 5 times and finally lost to Spain. Being an octopus, his correct predictions meant nothing to him (how could he enjoy the fame like we do?) but would have given vital tips to those who placed bets based on them. But then again, he predicted which side would win and not the correct scores which are vital to winning in football bets.

Link

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for this post. I had been wanting to write one on Paul Octopus too because it is fascinating to see how a creature can wield so much influence over humans! Also, I have a surfeit of Paul as my younger boy is absolutely fascinated with him and talks incessantly about his previous predictions!

Your perspective is certainly a very good one as it considers many aspects which I did not think of. Thank you for this post. Have a lovely weekend.

God bless you and yours always.

KoSong Cafe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KoSong Cafe said...

Last night, I watched tv news about this Malaysian Indian now in Singapore, using his parakeet to forecast the World Cup results with 100% accuracy so far. We are used to this method of fortune telling years ago. 'Khuah miah, butut khuah miah' an Indian man used to call out, carrying a parakeet in a cage. Wonder if it is the same man or his son or disciple!

I am personally fascinated with knowing how much I could sense without actually knowing. Examples over the years abound eg. something unusual happens and the 4-digit relating to it came out exactly in one of the 3 NFOs. Sometimes, without knowing the results, a car appears and I took special notice of it and its numbers was one of the winning ones.

While blogging, I used unusual words which I found later in a well known site and the coincidence was uncanny. People would have thought that I copied instead but sometimes I knew better, whether the dateline shows before or after.

So far, what I wished for seems to turned out right: from the PR candidates that I openly support in my blogsite just before 308, the declining support for racist parties like Umno, MCA and MIC, and now for final victory in the next general elections. If the playing field is fair, I dare say PR would win. But the consequences of losing by BN is so great that anything could happen.

Anyway Paula, thanks for your comments and good wishes. All the best to you and family too.

Anonymous said...

Incorrect. Psychics do win the lottery and you DO see the headlines. Maybe you should read more? http://pinterest.com/anthonstmaarten/psychics-do-win-the-lottery/