PEOPLE WATCHING

Singapore has just introduced a batch of new anti-terrorism measures.

We'll have close circuit television cameras all over the place:

MORE closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed on Singapore's streets and public areas to beef up security against terrorism.
They are 'the eyes and ears on the ground', which will help make Singapore safer, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said yesterday

Armed guards at places of learning:

CLOSED-circuit TV cameras and patrols by security guards. Every school in Singapore will get these enhanced security measures over the next few months.
Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the Government will foot the $4 million bill for the cameras and spend between $15 million and $20 million a year to maintain unarmed security guard patrols.
Speaking at a dialogue on national security with around 400 young Singaporeans at the National Junior College yesterday, Mr Tharman stressed that the measures were necessary, though there was no immediate threat against schools.

And, armed patrols at places of shopping and drinking:

SINGAPORE: Armed officers from the Police Special Operations Command will now patrol commercial, entertainment and residential areas on a random basis.

The patrols will be conducted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The officers will be armed with machine guns, similar to the ones used by troops patrolling Changi Airport.

Given that Singapore is a target of extremists, the measures are somewhat reassuring. Although I can understand Hicky'sMc Dermott's concern about cameras being in lecture halls, I'm not overly worried that these will be used to limit political dissent.

Besides, I have a suspicion that I'm already being watched. So, if everyone else is being watched too, it's not such a big deal.

It seems that Lisa has been selected as an exclusive teacher for one of the local embassies – one that is known for its thorough security checks. We don't know how that happened, but personally I think its because the Mossad had been bugging our house.

SCENE: DINING ROOM MYRICK RESIDENCE
CHRIS: (listening to the the radio) Aarrggh! They should stop calling those people spiritual leaders! Bloody hell! The Dali Lama is a spiritual leader, the Pope is a spiritual leader. These guys are terrorist leaders. They don't call freakin' Hitler the spiritual leader of the Nazis do they?!?

LISA: Yes dear, I agree with you. But they can't hear you at Bush House no matter how loud you scream. Now finish your coffee or you'll be late.

SCENE: WHITE VAN PARKED OUTSIDE:
TALL MALE: This one seem safe.

SHORTER MALE: Indeed, now lets start checking out the caterers.

I'm probably just paranoid. However, I do choose my radio stations for the same reasons that P.J. O' Rourke selects his.