This ol' country of ours is news again with Associated Press' coverage of our little island on Feb 6: Singapore launches love potion perfumes.

The article reveals the government's latest campaign of boosting the dramatically falling birth rates - through local perfumes dubbed as "Romancing Singapore Eau de Parfum".

Associated Press describes the Romancing Singapore Campaign thus: "The yearlong romance campaign is backed by the Ministry of Community Development and Sports and will also sponsor social events such as a tango competition, a couple's marathon and a river race”. All designed to promote family by bringing single people together.

Singapore, a self-confessed "nanny state," is well-known for its "behavior modification campaigns” where it advises citizens on everything from flushing toilets to speaking proper English and waving at a fellow motorists.

Rats! Now the whole world knows that we need help on how to sit-not-squat on toilet bowls.

I digress. These perfumes are apparently "a gift to the nation" by local university students for the Romancing Singapore campaign. How exquisite. How interesting is it that the future generation of Singapore is sincerely supportive of such measures. Does the government really believe that these made-in-Singapore perfumes really work as love potions? It must be part of a conspiracy between social policy planners, the government and the Tourism Board. If this works out, they can package this in pretty boxes and sell them to tourists.

I should start coming up with this Barbie doll 'family of three kids and up' collectors range. Ken and Barbie will be wearing working clothes, and standing beside three kids who are carrying school bags with wheels. They are of course, all wearing Bata school shoes and spectacles.

If ever this collector's dollset (may come with 4-room HDB flat or condo) hits the market, remember that you read it here first. The pack of Family Ez link cards sold separately.

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