Don't spin, please, unless it's the bicycle wheels that are doing that...

Phrase of the Day: Spin doctors

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/spin-doctor.html

Just what are spin doctors? Does the term originate from "spinning a yarn"? The link above gives a good explanation. Here's an extract:

So, why 'spin'? For the derivation of that we need to go back to yarn. We know that sailors and other storytellers have a reputation for spinning yarns. Given a phrase in the language like 'spin a yarn', we might expect to assume that a yarn was a tall tale and that the tellers spun it out. That's not quite right though.

Until the phrase was coined, yarn was just thread. The phrase was coined as an entity, just meaning 'tell a tale'. That came about in the early 19th century and was first written down in James Hardy Vaux's A new and comprehensive vocabulary of the flash language, in 1812:

"Yarning or spinning a yarn, signifying to relate their various adventures, exploits, and escapes to each other."

So, spin became associated with telling a story. It began to be used in a political and promotional context in the late 1980s; for example, in the Guardian Weekly, January 1978:

"The CIA can be an excellent source [of information], though, like every other, its offerings must be weighed for factuality and spin."

From there it is a small step for the people employed to weave reports of factual events into palatable stories to be called 'spin doctors'.

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I think many people will agree that NParks did not come out looking good after it was recently revealed that it had bought 26 British-made foldable bicycles at $2,200 each, or $57,200 in total. Many netizens swung into action, comparing the chosen brand/model to others on the market at much lower prices.

Here's an extract from a New Paper story (1 July) on the issue...

"The National Parks Board (NParks) has bought 26 bicycles for its officers to use on patrols.

But the purchase has raised some eyebrows.

Some Singaporeans, including netizens, are asking if the chosen bikes - foldable Brompton bicycles costing $2,200 each - are too expensive.

The British-brand bikes - which cost $57,200 altogether - were bought after a tender was issued in January.

The purchase has attracted much attention in online forums, with some netizens comparing the Brompton bikes to the $575 Herman Miller chairs bought by the Ministry of Manpower last year which caused a stir."

Here's one online thread on the issue...

http://forums.sgclub.com/singapore/nparks_2_200_a_410139.html

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In contrast, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) deserves kudos for the way it eschewed spin in its response to a well-meant chiding from a TODAY reader. Mr Stefan Lim had written this letter, published on 16 July...

Promote Gardens by the Bay better

Jul 16, 2012

From Stefan Lim

I am touched by the splendour of the Gardens by the Bay and proud of our Government's decision to build a mega park right in the city. I hope the space will be enjoyed by both Singaporeans and visitors.

I am disturbed, though, by the Singapore Tourism Board's description and marketing of it on yourSingapore.com: "You've been to gardens before, but have you ever stepped into a garden costing more than a billion dollars?

"That's the cost of Singapore's newest icon, a 101 hectare-superpark, where you'll see more than a quarter of a million rare plants in huge domed conservatories ..."

To associate the rationale for visiting an attraction with its cost is to create an impression of a mercenary Singapore. This distorts the promotion of a park filled with nature, built for the enjoyment of young and old.

It may even be condescending to suggest that our visitors, local or foreign, have not visited expensive gardens and therefore should.

The park's appeal lies in its greenery, conservation efforts and Singaporeans' will to have nature right on our doorstep, not in how much we spend to create an expensive infrastructure.

The right intent should be communicated to visitors to create the right impression, not only of our "hardware" but also of how we genuinely want to have a green space for ourselves and our visitors.

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STB's response was published today...

Gardens' website introduction amended

Jul 18, 2012

From Norman Tan Deputy Director, Marketing Activation and Innovation, Singapore Tourism Board

We refer to Mr Stefan Lim's letter "Promote Gardens by the Bay better" (July 16).

The Singapore Tourism Board thanks him for pointing out that the opening description of Gardens by the Bay in our destination website YourSingapore might have unintentionally presented a less favourable impression. We have amended the introduction and description of Gardens by the Bay to focus on the key attributes of this wonderful park.

We thank Mr Lim again for his valuable feedback and continued support of yoursingapore.com

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General news from out of North Korea...

A well-known general has been booted out.
A little-known general has been promoted to take his place.
The known little general has promoted himself, and is now a Marshal.

Stay tuned.