Yesterday, as I was on my way to the American embassy in a cab, I passed by Zion street...as in, "The promised land" street.  What a conceit!  This little utopian citystate has the guts to name a normal street Zion, just tells you how far Lee Kuan Yew's (now the Minister Mentor  - how sinister does that sound) God delusion has spread.  No seriously, guess where Zion street ends?  The "Great City Mall." This juxtaposition is too much, the religious concept of the "Promised Land" with the capitalist equivalent, the super-mall.  Moreover, it's called "Great City"... really?  I wonder if some bored classically educated bureaucrat with a ironic sense of humor got a really big kick out of having the road of Zion dead end in a capitalist playground. 

Although that does sum up Singapore, if whoever planned this area was a bit self-aware; it's third way of "Asian values," which seems to manifest, not in virtue and forbearance, but in conspicuous consumption.  I'd guess there are more malls per capita here than in the most consumer-crazed parts of the US.

but that's neither here nor there (sorry, have been a bit bored and have spent my time google our Dear Leader; I like that he loves Machiavelli "Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right.If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless." Lee Kuan Yew, 6.10.1997