Too Free So I Blog

My 1st Mobile Blog

2008-06-17T15:51:00.001+08:00

Learn something new today, mobile blogging. This a view from my office.

Good weather

2008-06-17T15:11:00.000+08:00

The Spirit of the Marathon

2007-11-30T09:50:00.000+08:00

Is Your Gas Tank On The Left Or Right?

2007-11-13T10:10:00.000+08:00

When I had a replacement car for my accident weeks ago, I drove into the gas station parking on the wrong side of the pump, this happen to me when I brought my car few years back. In fact, it happens to many drivers, especially when they are new to the car. So hoe do one know which side is our gas tank? One of the ways is to actually wind down your windows and stick your head out to check, but that can be dangerous on the road.

And this is what I found.

When you look at your gas gauge on your dashboard, you will see a small icon of a gas pump right below the gauge. The handle of the gas pump will either be on the left or right side of the pump. When your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left, and when your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right.

Interesting right?

Blog Rating

2007-11-12T14:29:00.000+08:00

I submitted my blog for rating, and got this.

Timber Flooring? Think Again...

2007-10-27T15:26:00.000+08:00

The subject on destruction of rain forest is an old story that most would have heard of long ago, most reports would mentioned the seriousness of the issue and the impact it will have on our earth, but not many say anything on the other byproduct from the forest harvesting, slavery.

This blog touches not only these two issues, it also include facts on the importance of preserving the rainforest, benefits the rainforest provides for the human race and others, these is a whole lot of enriching reads.

Some of the facts we should know about the rainforest,

The Amazon Rainforest has been described as the "Lungs of our Planet" because it provides the essential environmental world service of continuously recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.

More than half of the world's estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical rainforests. One-fifth of the world's fresh water is in the Amazon Basin.

At least 80% of the developed world's diet originated in the tropical rainforest. Its bountiful gifts to the world include fruits like avocados, coconuts, figs, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bananas, guavas, pineapples, mangos and tomatoes; vegetables including corn, potatoes, rice, winter squash and yams; spices like black pepper, cayenne, chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, sugar cane, tumeric, coffee and vanilla and nuts including Brazil nuts and cashews.

Currently, 121 prescription drugs currently sold worldwide come from plant-derived sources. And while 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, less than 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists.

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has identified 3000 plants that are active against cancer cells. 70% of these plants are found in the rainforest. Twenty-five percent of the active ingredients in today's cancer-fighting drugs come from organisms found only in the rainforest.

The blog also include these links on child slavery in Burma for harvesting teak, and slavery in Brazil here and here on cherry wood harvesting.

New Kids On The BLOG

2007-10-26T10:13:00.000+08:00

I have decided what I want to do to my blog. I wanted to split up the personal entries from the other articles. For the time being, I have created one other BLOG to house my personal entries, and I’m going to take some time to organize the site and make it more children and family friendly. Oh, and I decided to use blogger over wordpress.

The fact that on presentation, workpress does offer more choice of templates and seems less complicated to use, but that’s also where the problem lies, the simplicity of the blogging tool is achieve by exercising more control on the usable widgets, there are no place I could insert some interesting HTML widgets that I used here. By the way, I am only referring to the free blogging services, I believe the paid service would offer more but I am not prepare for that yet.

One more thing, I am also cutting down the frequency of my entry partially due to my work commitment. And I hope that through blogging, I will continue to improve the content and context of my entries.

Revamping My Blog

2007-10-22T11:15:00.000+08:00

I have not been posting for the last few days, I was feeling terrible, and lost. I realize that my blog is not very focus, and needed some sorting out. So I decided to revamp this blog. I will be creating another blog to house my personal collection and leave this one to serve general posts. But due to the fact that my project is in moving into a new stage where my scope covers, it is going to take a while to complete the transfer, I only hope my time management skill would start working.

Call From Supreme Court Of Singapore

2007-10-18T18:53:00.000+08:00

I got this email today about some people been disturbed by a voice recorded message, spoken in mandarin, claiming that they're calling from the Supreme Court of Singapore.

This is a FRAUD and the police have already started investigating.

Advisory

It has come to the attention of the Supreme Court that members of the
public have received calls from individuals falsely claiming to be staff of
the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has lodged a police report on these
calls. The matter is currently under investigation by the police.

Members of the public who do not have pending cases in the Supreme Court
are advised to exercise caution when they receive telephone calls from
individuals identifying themselves as staff of the Supreme Court, directing
them to attend court or requesting for transfer of monies. Members of the
public should also note that any request for payment of monies to third
parties in respect of court proceedings should be made only if supported by
an official court order. Staff of the Supreme Court do not request for
payment of monies verbally over the telephone.

In case of doubt, members of the public should always verify the source of
the call with the Supreme Court at (1800) 338 1034.

A CHILDREN’s Garden In Botanic

2007-10-18T17:44:00.001+08:00

I was very tired yesterday. I did not get enough sleep the night before, and what welcomes at my work site me was intense task to be rushed. I intended to write about my Sunday trip to Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden with my kids, but my memory had failed me, that was why I am only writing it today. I learn about the garden only about a week back, and since my wife have a weekend assignment (road show), the trip would keep them occupied for the weekend and also give them a break before they settle down for their preparation of year-end examination.

As I was not familiar with this area, I parked at the car park near the Singapore Botanic Garden visitor center. Following the maps and the road signs, we walk about 20 minute to the garden within the park vicinity.

The greenery is something children cannot appreciate, while I enjoy my slow walk toward the garden, my kids would hassle me about the long walk and keep asking me, “我们到了吗?” So along the way I would talk to them about the plants, and took photos for them to kill their boredom.

The place is quite well planned for the children visitors. There is a controlled entrance which is guarded, the guard is meant to ensure that children in the garden are accompanied by adult since the entry is free. There are children’s toilets and drinking points, and the canteen is right outside the garden with little chairs and tables.

The garden is separated into many stations like water-play area, cave, suspension bridge, tree house, maze, etc. With its size and the variety of play area, it could easily keep the children busy for at least half a day, especially the water-play area. As I did not prepare extra clothing for the children, plus the weather was very sunny, we left the place after only 2 hours. Now, things got tough for me and the children, they were too exhausted to take the walk back to my car but there are not alternative, so the daddy (that’s me) has to lure, encourage, push and pull them along.

This is a picture of my youngest daughter learning how to drink from the water point on her own.

On the way back, we pass by the big pond where we had an encounter with the black swan.

When we reach the visitor center at last, we took a rest before we goes off. And we manage to spot and snap a picture of a squirrel hanging around our rest area.

An Angler's Dream

2007-10-16T11:44:00.001+08:00

A fishing trip with a good surprise, it is like any angler's dream. I only hope the shark is not endangered species.

Fisherman lands record 844-pound shark

DESTIN, Fla. - Six friends went to a fishing tournament looking to catch some grouper. They caught an 844-pound shark instead.
The fight by Adlee Bruner and friends to pull the 11-foot mako shark onto the boat from the Gulf of Mexico took more than an hour on Saturday. But when they made it back to land, it was a record for the decades-old Destin Fishing Rodeo.
"It was tense," Bruner, 47, said about the fight to land the shark, which has a mouthful of huge, fearsome teeth. "I've fished for 40 years. I've never see one that big."
Bruner and his fishing buddies were on a 52-foot charter boat with Capt. Robert Hill, about 70 miles southwest of this beach city in the Florida Panhandle.
The fishermen first noticed the big mako because it kept eating grouper and scamp they had hooked.
"It was like 'Jaws,'" Hill said.
Hill hooked a two-foot amberine on as bait and tossed it out. The shark eventually hit it.
After the long fight, the shark was gaffed and eventually gave up after its tail was roped. But even then, the men could not get the big shark in the boat. They tied it to the stern with three ropes and made the four-hour trip back to land.
The shark was hoisted at the rodeo before a big crowd. It tipped the scale at 844.4 pounds.
After it was gutted, the mako still weighed 638 pounds, breaking the tournament's previous shark division record by 338 pounds.

Global Warming On Blog Action Day

2007-10-15T17:42:00.000+08:00

When the sun shines onto earth, some of the heat pass through the earth’s atmosphere and is absorbed into the earth, warming the surface of the earth. When the heat is radiated out from the earth’s surface to the atmosphere, the greenhouse gases absorbed and trapped most of the heat, keeping the atmosphere warm and sustain life. This is called The Greenhouse Effect.

The process is in balance until modern lifestyle intensifies the warming effect by releasing additional greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, hydro-chlorofluorocarbons are released from car, air-con, refrigeration, aerosol, factories and others. The result is Global Warming.

These are some site/article on going green,

The Green Guide

5 Tips for "Going Green" in Mind, Body, and Spirit ...

Tips for going green at home

Going Green – NBC

Going Green Blog

Crab Story

2007-10-11T13:44:00.000+08:00

How many ways of cooking a crab do you know? For most restaurants or coffee shops I know, it is normally about three to five ways. So it is going to be impossible to find one place that can cook your crab in say 10 ways, right? WRONG!!!

When I had my dinner here on Tuesday night, it was not so crowded, and I choose a smaller table right in front of the store, it so happen to be right in front of this light box which displays all the type of crabs they are offering. I came here quite often and never really realize they actually offer 16 types of crab dishes. If you are a crab lover, it is going to be tough on your pocket.

So far, I have only tried the Chilli, Black Pepper and Tang Hoon crab since it is the most common type of crab you can order anywhere without looking into the menu. But I will come back for more, some of them(the crabs) just look irresistible.

Member Of The Myanmar Opposition Died While interrogation By Junta

2007-10-10T21:48:00.001+08:00

This is inhuman, after all the killing the tragic continues. How can anybody tolerate this nonsense? Check out this lastest news

Myanmar dissident dies under questioning

YANGON, Myanmar - A leader of Myanmar's recent mass protests was arrested Wednesday, and a member of the opposition party has died during interrogation by security forces, an exile group said.

The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners also said security officers had been threatening dissidents' relatives and neighbors in order to get information on the whereabouts of those involved in last month's pro-democracy protests that were brutally suppressed by the military regime.

"The security forces have become more severe in raiding houses of, and searching for, anyone whom they suspect to have been involved in the protests," it said.
The Myanmar exile group, made up of former political prisoners, said authorities had recently informed the family of Win Shwe, 42, that he had died during interrogation in the central Myanmar region of Sagaing. He and five colleagues were arrested on Sept. 26.

The body of Win Shwe, a member of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, was cremated at the detention center, the group said. The report could not be independently verified, although in the past the group has provided detailed, accurate information on political prisoners in the country.

White House foreign affairs spokesman Gordon Johndroe condemned Win Shwe's death and warned that the United States would impose new sanctions against Myanmar, also known as Burma, if it continued its crackdown on dissidents.

"The United States strongly condemns the atrocities committed by the junta and calls for a full investigation into the death of Win Shwe during his detention in Burma," Johndroe said. "The junta must stop the brutal treatment of its people and peacefully transition to democracy or face new sanctions from the United States."
First lady Laura Bush, who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights in Myanamar, also warned the U.S. was considering sanctions unless the government loosens its grip on the populace.

"The crackdown has been brutal," she said in an interview with USA Today published Tuesday.

The National League for Democracy won a landslide election victory in 1989, but the parliament was never allowed to convene by the military junta.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said that at least seven people have been arrested in the past two days in Yangon, even as the junta and the NLD appeared to be taking cautious steps toward talks.

Hla Myo Naung, a leader of the '88 Generation Students, was arrested in Yangon while seeking treatment for a serious eye problem at a clinic, the exile group said. Hla Myo Naung, 39, had been on the regime's "wanted list" but had evaded arrest for two months. A young woman who belongs to the '88 Generation and had been with him was also arrested.

The '88 Generation organized marches in August over a fuel price increases that quickly ballooned into mass demonstrations calling for democracy when widely respected Buddhist monks began taking the lead.

Petition to PM Lee From Burmese

2007-10-09T20:55:00.000+08:00

I have just read an article on the CNA. The report mentioned that a group of Myanmar nationals went to the Istana this morning to hand in a petition to our Prime Minister Lee. The man collected nearly six hundred signatures from Myanmar community in Singapore.

The content of the letter as disclosed by CNA urged our PM to take stern action against the Myanmar crackdown. It also calls for the involvement of the international community and the release of all political prisoners. The petition also states that the people of Myanmar are depending on external support to help stop the violence.

As compare to this one which happen less than a day ago, the above article comes in a very interesting timing.

Singapore In World Cup Qualifier

2007-10-09T17:24:00.000+08:00

It is only the first game, but the win is a good start. The lions have trash Palestine 4-0. Singapore will face Palestine again in the next game in Singapore on the 28th of Oct.

Schedule of the match can be found at FIFA site.

Burma Situation Improving, I Hope.

2007-10-09T16:29:00.001+08:00

Deputy Labor Minister Aung Kyi had been appointed as Liaison Minister to coordinate contacts with Aung San Suu Kyi

The appointment was recommendeded by U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari during his visit to Myanmar earlier, as printed in The New Light of Myanmar newspaper. The junta had accepted the idea "in respect of Gambari's recommendation and in view of smooth relations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi."

However, the new official's duties were not detailed, and the announcement did not say when he might meet with the 62-year-old Suu Kyi.

It appeared that Aung Kyi would coordinate Suu Kyi's contacts with both the regime and the U.N., which is seeking to end the political deadlock between democracy advocates and a military that has ruled since 1962.

Check this.

Motorcycle Got 4 Wheel

2007-10-08T17:38:00.000+08:00

Yamaha will be introducing the Tesseract at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Tesseract is a hybrid 4 wheeler, powered by both a V-Twin gasoline engine and an electric motor. The suspension is what they call a “dual-scythe” which leans while cornering, just like a motorcycle. It also has a dual arm lock to keep the Tesseract upright when stopped, just like the lock on a Piaggio MP3.

How Hot Can Your iPod Get?

2007-10-08T16:52:00.001+08:00

iPod Nano can burn a hole in your pocket, I mean it, check it out here and here.

Danny Williams, of Douglasville in Georgia, found his one and a half year old iPod Nano caught fire in his pants.

"I am still kind of freaked out that after only a year and a half my iPod caught fire in my pocket," Williams said.

"So I look down and I see flames coming up to my chest. If the US Transportation Security Administration had come by and seen me smoking, they could have thought I was a terrorist."

The Nano range uses lithium ion batteries which was the subject of overheating problems in mobile phones, digital cameras and laptops.

Family Day

2007-10-08T12:40:00.001+08:00

My wife’s company had their family day last weekend at the SAFRA Resort. So our family was there for the whole of Saturday afternoon and evening.

We started with a swim with the kids in the pool. It reminds me of the life saving trainings in my poly days, it was tough. We trained twice, a total of eight hours a week, swimming close to a hundred laps every session. But sadly, swimming one lap now feels like a marathon.

After the swim, the kids join in the tele-match, magic show followed by barbeque dinner. My elder daughter was enjoying chocolate fondue so much she didn’t feel the chocolate flowing out from her month.

The Psychological Effect Of Sanction

2007-10-07T23:57:00.000+08:00

Our government did not believe in tightening sanctions on Burma which might be counter-productive, we can see in this report a few days back, and the interesting issue, they may be on the right track. But I am still not agreeing to their statements in the press for not supporting tightening sanction on Burma. The fact is the junta is responding to the threat from the world. In reality, the effect of sanction has worked before it starts, you can see by the way junta reacted.

Myanmar trumpets release of protesters ahead of UN meet

Sun Oct 7, 5:49 AM ET
YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar's state press on Sunday trumpeted the release of monks and demonstrators ahead of a UN Security Council meeting to discuss how to handle the junta following its crackdown on street protests.
Security Council members -- under pressure to condemn the military regime after 13 people were killed in its drive to end the escalating pro-democracy rallies -- were to meet on Monday to debate a draft statement on Myanmar.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said Sunday that more than half of the 2,171 people arrested after the biggest anti-government protests in nearly two decades has been released, repeating figures given late Saturday on state TV.
The government paper specified that nearly 400 of 533 Buddhist monks detained had been "sent back to their respective monasteries."

The New Light of Myanmar did not mention the UN Security Council, but analysts have said that the regime is trying to make a few token gestures to ward off a harsh Council statement, or possible sanctions.

It is like when I am trying to talk sense to the children, if I simply talk, the words do not get in their head, if I use cane on them, they become rebellious, and my words would get in from the left ear and got out from the right. One of their most attentive moments happens to be when the cane is right beside me or in my hands. I do not need to actually cane them for them to listen to me. This happens to work well psychologically, although I rarely use this method too often in order to avoid thinning its effectiveness.

Meanwhile, ASEAN countries continue to sit on the fence, apparently sandwich by many factors not within their control and issues they did not want to jeopardize. Check this.

Botak Jones In Woodlands TOMORROW !!!

2007-10-07T21:42:00.000+08:00

Remember in my last post where I talk about the branch in Woodlands? It is here at last, ready to serve with effect from tomorrow 8th of October. Check this.

World Effort Has Made A Difference For Myanmar

2007-10-06T23:39:00.000+08:00

Myanmar's military regime tries to cool international pressure

YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar's junta Saturday tried to cool growing UN pressure over its deadly crackdown on peaceful protests, offering talks with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and relaxing its blockage of the Internet.

But analysts warned that the rare gestures offered by the regime appeared to be token efforts to stave off tougher UN action demanded by the United States and other Western countries.

Faced with the biggest protests against military rule in nearly two decades, Myanmar's government launched a bloody crackdown in late September that left at least 13 dead and more than 2,000 locked up.

Across Asia, activists on Saturday took to the streets in cities from Sydney to Bangkok, kicking off a global day of protest against Myanmar's bloody crackdown on dissent.

Hundreds rallied outside Sydney's iconic Opera House, while in Melbourne 1,000 people marched, some carrying red banners that read "no more bloodshed."

In London, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent a message of support to the people of Myanmar, saying the world was not forgetting them.

"We have not forgotten their courage and dignity, taking to the streets in the face of a brutal regime. We have not forgotten the guns and batons, the arrests and murders which met them," Brown said.

Meanwhile, UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who visited Myanmar to express global outrage at the junta's actions, warned the UN Security Council Friday that the nation's turmoil could have "serious international repercussions."

As Gambari was briefing the Council in New York, state television in Myanmar broadcast images of the detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time in at least four years.

The regime also restored some Internet access and announced that it had freed hundreds of detained Buddhist monks who led the protests.

The military, which has ruled this country also known as Burma for 45 years, rarely makes any concessions, but analysts warned the gestures were a bid to ward off tougher international action.

"The regime is trying to cool down international pressure. The junta hopes to defuse pressure as the UN Security Council is likely to take some action against Burma following Gambari's briefing," Thailand-based Myanmar analyst Win Min said.

Junta leader Than Shwe has made a heavily conditioned offer to hold talks with Aung San Suu Kyi, insisting that the Nobel peace prize winner drop her support for sanctions and tell supporters to stop confronting the government.

"It's a mixed signal. It showed Than Shwe at least recognised internal and international calls for dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi," Win Min said.

"But at the same time, the conditions set by the regime were not realistic at all. It looks like the regime really doesn't want to talk to her."

Aung San Suu Kyi, 62, has spent most of the past 18 years under house arrest but she remains an international symbol of non-violent struggle against tyranny.

The United States has led global calls for her release and warned Friday that it may push for UN sanctions if the ruling junta kept up a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

After Gambari's briefing, the United States, Britain and France circulated a draft of a non-binding statement condemning Myanmar's government.

"The Security Council condemns the violent repression by the government of Myanmar of peaceful demonstrations, including the use of force against religious figures and institutions," the text said.

Gambari told reporters that there was a consensus among members of the Security Council that the status quo in Myanmar "is unacceptable and unsustainable and probably unrealistic."

He also said Aung San Suu Kyi appeared to be in good spirits when he met her.

"But now I think she wants this to be used as an opportunity to really engage in dialogue with the authorities so that together they can move the country forward," he told CNN.

In Yangon, residents declined to comment on the UN draft statement condemning the junta's actions.

"I don't want to talk about politics. Poor people like me are just trying to survive. Now commodity prices are high, but my salary is still low," said a security guard in his 40s who works at a downtown building.

Myanmar's neighbour China has previously sheltered the generals from action at the United Nations.

China's ambassador to the world body, Wang Guangyam, has warned that pressure for greater democratisation "would only lead to confrontation."

Sinful Enjoyment

2007-10-05T17:32:00.000+08:00

My wife and I went for a walk at IMM few days back. We were feeling hungry when we happen to pass by this “Tea Room” selling Hong Kong food, which have a display menu showing something interesting, the price is reasonable too. The place looks quite popular as there were only few empty seats left. We decide our pick and my wife quickly take up a seat while I went on to queue ordered a ginger steamed egg, oyster beef with egg and HK crispy chicken with mushroom.

I collected my drinks and steam egg from the counter, then make my way to my table and wait for the main dishes to arrive. The steam egg was very smooth and soft, I can smell the fragrance of ginger as I put it in my month. Interestingly, this delicious dessert does not appear in the menu.

I took the beef rice while my wife had the chicken rice. Not only the rice was done in a different way but they also use different ingredients from what we have in our local food court. For example, the chicken rice was covered with molten cheese, and my wife described the rice as sinful. I didn’t understand the description till I tried the rice, it taste good in my month but at the same time, I started feeling very sinful as the molten cheese make its way through my throat.

The dishes also come with a soup as a set, which have included tremella(白木耳), red date(红枣), and papaya(木瓜). Well, whatever, it is really an enjoyment! I’ll be back, 湾仔香港奶茶店!

Bird flu mutated to infect people more easily.

2007-10-05T15:21:00.000+08:00

Bird Flu Virus Mutating Into Human-Unfriendly Form

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The H5N1 bird flu virus has mutated to infect people more easily, although it still has not transformed into a pandemic strain, researchers said on Thursday.

The changes are worrying, said Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"We have identified a specific change that could make bird flu grow in the upper respiratory tract of humans," said Kawaoka, who led the study.

"The viruses that are circulating in Africa and Europe are the ones closest to becoming a human virus," Kawaoka said.

Birds usually have a body temperature of 41 degrees celsius, and humans are 37 degrees celsius usually. The human nose and throat, where flu viruses usually enter, is usually around 33 degrees celsius.
"So usually the bird flu doesn't grow well in the nose or throat of humans," Kawaoka said. This particular mutation allows H5N1 to live well in the cooler temperatures of the human upper respiratory tract.

For Your Eyes Only

2007-10-05T11:27:00.000+08:00

Singapore’s First ever eye care festival is on, from 11 October to 14 October 2007, which is this coming Thursday onwards. There will be free eye screening, free health talk by Singapore’s leading optometrists, opticians and ophthalmologists, and free goodie bags will be given out too.

The health talks include topic on contact lens, eye allergies, glaucoma, myopia and others. The festival is held at the Linkbridge Atrium, level 2 of Marina Square. For people who concern much on the windows of your soul, this is a good time to gain good knowledge and do something for yourself and your family.

Free Burma

2007-10-04T08:32:00.000+08:00

FREE BURMA

iPhone Killer Launched

2007-10-03T21:55:00.000+08:00

"We think it'll be the best phone... this year. It will kill the Apple iPhone," Verizon Wireless chief marketing officer Mike Lanman said in an interview with Reuters.

Check These Links,

Hands-on with the LG Voyager touch screen TV phone

Verizon takes on iPhone with LG Voyager

LG Voyager "will kill the Apple iPhone"

International Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October

2007-10-02T17:32:00.000+08:00

International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words „Free Burma!“.

Burma: Thousands dead in the massacre of the monks dumped in the jungle

2007-10-02T15:51:00.000+08:00

This is really sad. Is this a price too high to pay for freedom?

Burma: Thousands dead in the massacre of the monks dumped in the jungle
Last updated at 01:24am on 1st October 2007

Thousands of protesters are dead and the bodies of hundreds of executed monks have been dumped in the jungle, a former intelligence officer for Burma's ruling junta has revealed.
The most senior official to defect so far, Hla Win, said: 'Many more people have been killed in recent days than you've heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand.'
Mr Win, who spoke out as a Swedish diplomat predicted that the revolt has failed, said he fled when he was ordered to take part in a massacre of holy men. He has now reached the border with Thailand.
Reports from other exiles along the frontier confirmed that hundreds of monks had simply ' disappeared' as 20,000 troops swarmed around Rangoon yesterday to prevent further demonstrations by religious groups and civilians.
Word reaching dissidents hiding out on the border suggested that as well as executions, some 2,000 monks are being held in the notorious Insein Prison or in university rooms which have been turned into cells.
There were reports that many were savagely beaten at a sports ground on the outskirts of Rangoon, where they were heard crying for help.
Others who had failed to escape disguised as civilians were locked in their bloodstained temples.
There, troops abandoned religious beliefs, propped their rifles against statues of Buddha and began cooking meals on stoves set up in shrines.
In stark contrast, the streets of Rangoon and Mandalay - centres of the attempted saffron revolution last week - were virtually deserted yesterday.
A Swedish diplomat who visited Burma during the protests said last night that in her opinion the revolution has failed.
Liselotte Agerlid, who is now in Thailand, said that the Burmese people now face possibly decades of repression. 'The Burma revolt is over,' she added.
'The military regime won and a new generation has been violently repressed and violently denied democracy. The people in the street were young people, monks and civilians who were not participating during the 1988 revolt.
'Now the military has cracked down the revolt, and the result may very well be that the regime will enjoy another 20 years of silence, ruling by fear.'
Mrs Agerlid said Rangoon is heavily guarded by soldiers.
'There are extremely high numbers of soldiers in Rangoon's streets,' she added. 'Anyone can see it is absolutely impossible for any demonstration to gather, or for anyone to do anything.
'People are scared and the general assessment is that the fight is over. We were informed from one of the largest embassies in Burma that 40 monks in the Insein prison were beaten to death today and subsequently burned.'
The diplomat also said that three monasteries were raided yesterday afternoon and are now totally abandoned. At his border hideout last night, 42-year-old Mr Win said he hopes to cross into Thailand and seek asylum at the Norwegian Embassy.
The 42-year-old chief of military intelligence in Rangoon's northern region, added: 'I decided to desert when I was ordered to raid two monasteries and force several hundred monks onto trucks.
'They were to be killed and their bodies dumped deep inside the jungle. I refused to participate in this.'
With his teenage son, he made his escape from Rangoon, leaving behind his wife and two other sons.
He had no fears for their safety because his brother is a powerful general who, he believes, will defend the family.
Mr Win's defection will raise a faint hope among tens of thousands of Burmese who have fled to villages along the Thai border.
They will feel others in the army may follow him and turn on their ageing leaders, Senior General Than Shwe and his deputy, Vice Senior General Maung Aye.
UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari is still trying to set up a meeting with General Shwe.

Envoy Stays On, The World Waits.

2007-10-01T17:27:00.000+08:00

News from Myanmar News.Net,

UN envoy staying on in Burma
Sunday 30th September, 2007

The UN envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is staying on to talk to the country's supreme leader about the repression of pro-democracy protests.

Mr Gambari has already met detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and will hold more talks with the country's military Government in the wake of it’s the brutal put-down of democracy supporters.

Mr Gambari met with the country's acting Prime Minister and Information Minister on Saturday but was denied a meeting with the Burma's real powerbroker, General Than Shwe.

He was permitted to see Ms Suu Kyi and held a one-hour meeting with her in the main city, Rangoon, where she has spent much of the last 18 years under house arrest.

Mr Gambari then cancelled a planned flight to Singapore and returned to the junta's isolated administrative capital, Naypyidaw.

Meanwhile, journalists say the death toll appears to be much higher than the Burmese Government is revealing.

It is thought at least 200 people died in the ten days of violence although it could still be higher.

In Europe, there have been peaceful rallies in support of pro-democracy protesters in Burma.

In London and Madrid, several thousand people marched to call for international pressure to ease the crisis.

Several hundred Burmese exiles, including monks were involved in the marches, many of them carrying banners, flags and portraits of Ms Suu Kyi.

In Italy, Pope Benedict said he hoped there would be a peaceful solution to the crisis.

Have FUN At The FAIR

2007-09-29T15:42:00.000+08:00

I have been quite busy lately, and I was neglecting my children. I can feel it by their responsiveness when I talk to them. But I didn’t know what to do, it is men’s weakness, we are made to be less sensitive and reactive to such situation. Luckily my wife have the solution (she’s the patch to my weakness), she suggested a walk at the fun fair.

I can still remember the joy I have when my dad brought me to one, when I was much younger. That’s always one rule to follow, we are not allow to play any “dee kam” (game). His explanation was pretty simple, the game is the first step to the gambling world, so it is to prevent us from cultivating the risk taking habit in our life.

Now that I am a father, I too avoided most of the game unless with close guidance. But these days, the focuses of the fun fair are mostly on necessities and foods. This is the first time I actually tried the fried ice-cream (炸雪糕), price is on the high side in my opinion, but nevertheless, I got two for the two elder girls. The taste is rather interesting, the girls enjoy it anyway.

One store I wish to mentioned, I previously tried this one store selling Teochew meat puff (潮州香饼). As far as I know, it is the only one in singapore, maybe JB and Batam too. I like particularly the one with oyster, definitely worth chewing on.

Then, there were the fun rides, and my wife lures them into take up a new challenge, the Viking (海盗船). My two elder girls enjoy the ride but the youngest one was too afraid and has to drop out half way. But I am delighted that they have the ride, because I had my first Viking ride after the age of twenty. The evening has at least eased the tension I have build up in the pass few days, and I slept well that night.

One Life, One Apology

2007-09-29T11:51:00.000+08:00

Myanmar Apologizes For Journalist's Death: Kyodo
By REUTERS
Published: September 28, 2007

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan strongly protested to Myanmar over the killing of a Japanese video journalist during an anti-government rally, and Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win offered apologies, Kyodo news agency said on Saturday.

Fifty-year-old Kenji Nagai was fatally wounded in Yangon on Thursday, and pictures smuggled out of the country showed him clutching a camera as he lay dying.

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura made the protest when he met his Myanmar counterpart at U.N. headquarters in New York on Friday.

The death of Nagai "was extremely regrettable and we will lodge a stern protest," Japanese officials quoted Komura as telling Nyan Win, Kyodo said.

Nyan Win told Komura he was indeed sorry for the death, telling Japanese officials: "Demonstrations are beginning to calm down, and we would also like to exercise restraint," Kyodo said.

Japanese Foreign Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.

Nagai was the first foreign victim of the protests that began as sporadic marches against fuel price hikes but have swelled over the past month into mass demonstrations against 45 years of military rule in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma.

Blood Or Freedom?

2007-09-29T10:45:00.000+08:00

The world has responded, so did junta. Breaking the links is a shocking news to the online community, it’s like switching off the lighting in a dark alley. Internet connection has proofed to be a fast and effective tool for providing information but everything has its weakness.

Wear red, sign a petition or apply to hold peaceful protest, along with the leader of many nations that have stood up against the squelching operation but the other end of the line remain silence.

Following the lost of links, a more intensified crackdown may be inevitable. Like what Lucky Tan have mentioned in his Blog, the people in Myanmar will have to stand united and get their freedom and rights back from the bullies, with their bare. For now, we could only pray for the best of our ASEAN brothers and sisters, and hope that the history do not repeats itself anymore.

Access to Web appears cut in Myanmar

2007-09-28T17:57:00.001+08:00

Yahoo News,

YANGON, Myanmar - Soldiers in Myanmar pounded down on dissenters Friday by swiftly breaking up street gatherings of die-hard activists, occupying key Buddhist monasteries and cutting public Internet access. The moves raised concerns that a crackdown on civilians that has killed at least 10 people this week was set to intensify.

By sealing Buddhist monasteries, the government seemed intent on clearing the streets of monks, who have spearheaded the demonstrations and are revered by most of their Myanmar countrymen. This could embolden troops to crack down harder on remaining protesters.

Efforts to squelch the demonstrations appeared to be working Friday. Daily protests drawing tens of thousands of people had grown into the stiffest challenge to the ruling military junta in two decades, a crisis that began Aug. 19 with rallies against a fuel price hike, then escalated dramatically when monks joined in.

Soldiers and riot police moved quickly to disperse a crowd of 300 that started marching in the country's largest city, Yangon, sealing the neighborhood and ordering them to disperse. Elsewhere, they fired warning shots to scatter a group of 200.

Bob Davis, Australia's ambassador to Myanmar, said he had heard unconfirmed reports that "several multiples of the 10 acknowledged by the authorities" may have been killed by troops in Yangon. Scores have been arrested, carted away in trucks at night or pummeled with batons in recent days, witnesses and diplomats said, with the junta ignoring all international appeals for restraint.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed "revulsion" and told the junta "to exercise utmost restraint and seek a political solution." Demonstrations against the junta were seen in Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and elsewhere.

But by Myanmar standards, the crackdown has so far been muted, in part because the regime knows that killing monks could trigger a maelstrom of fury.

Southeast Asian envoys were told by Myanmar authorities Friday that a no-go zone had been declared around five key Buddhist monasteries, one diplomat said, raising fears of a repeat of 1988, when troops gunned down thousands of peaceful demonstrators and imprisoned the survivors.

Gates were locked and key intersections near monasteries in Yangon and Mandalay were sealed off with barbed wire, and there was no sign of monks in the streets.

"We were told security forces had the monks under control" and will now turn their attention to civilian protesters, the Asian diplomat said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

The government's apparent decision to cut public Internet access — which has played a crucial role in getting news and images of the pro-democracy protests to the outside world — also raised concerns.

The World Is Responding ... ... At Last

2007-09-28T13:31:00.000+08:00

The situation has taken a great turn since the first warning shot was fire. I couldn’t help but feel heartrending about the loss of life in the crackdown. It started as a peaceful protest, and now the junta has advance its operation to a point of not return. Now they are firing automatic weapon at the people, with 9 deaths including a Japanese journalists, the international community is responding more vigorously. But the crisis have not ended, will the people of Myanmar be free ultimately is still a question.

Kenji Nagai of APF tries to take photographs as he lies injured after police and military officials fired upon and then charged at protesters in Yangon's city centre September 27, 2007. Kenji, 52, a Japanese photographer, was shot by soldiers as they fired to disperse the crowd. Kenji later died. (Stringer/Reuters)

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee. India is walking a diplomatic tightrope, juggling energy and strategic concerns with a commitment to democracy as military-ruled neighbour Myanmar cracks down on pro-democracy protesters, analysts say.(AFP/File/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and envoy Christopher Hill speaks to journalists after returning from six-party talks aimed at disarming North Korea's nuclear weapons program, at a hotel in Beijing,Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. The United States called on Myanmar's military leaders Thursday to open a dialogue with peaceful protesters in the reclusive Asian nation and urged China to do what it can to prevent further bloodshed. 'It seems that people are sending a very clear message to the regime there that they need to begin a process of genuine dialogue and above all refrain from any use of force,' Hill told reporters earlier on Thursday, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Canada's Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier seen here during the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Sydney, on 05 September. In a statement, released by Bernier's office, Canada's government has condemned Myanmar authorities for using "deadly force" to suppress mass protests led by Buddhist monks against the military regime.(AFP/HO/File)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, 2nd from left, and Rama Yade, left, the junior minister for human rights, face Burmese exiled opposition leader Sein Win, 2nd from right , and British-born actress Jane Birkin, right, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007. Sarkozy met with opponents of the Southeast Asian nation's regime after France and Britain pushed for more international sanctions against Myanmar, saying the world must unite to punish the southeast Asian country for its crackdown against anti-government protesters. (AP Photo/Eric Feferberg, Pool)

Demonstrators gather to protest outside the Myanmar Embassy in central London. The United States demanded that Myanmar's military rulers end an "outrageous" and deadly crackdown on anti-government protestors and called for more global pressure on the junta.(AFP/Shaun Curry )

A monk calls for support during a protest against Myanmar's military rulers in front of the Myanmar embassy in Paris The United States demanded that Myanmar's military rulers end an "outrageous" and deadly crackdown on anti-government protestors and called for more global

Buddhist monks from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka chant during a demonstration outside the Myanmar embassy in Colombo. The United States demanded that Myanmar's military rulers end an "outrageous" and deadly crackdown on anti-government protestors and called for more global pressure on the junta.(AFP/Sanka Vidanagama )

A protester holds a sign during a demonstration in Taipei September 28, 2007 against the violence in Myanmar. At least nine people were killed in Myanmar on Thursday as soldiers and police cleared the streets of central Yangon by giving protesters 10 minutes to leave or be shot, tightening a two-day crackdown on the largest uprising in 20 years. REUTERS/Nicky Loh (TAIWAN)

Myanmar Forces In New Crackdown, 9 Killed.

2007-09-27T23:02:00.000+08:00

I can’t believe the situation have develop so fast and so far, Myanmar - Security forces actually fired automatic weapon at their people, hurting and killing them. One reporter is also dead. Read this.

YANGON, Myanmar - Security forces fired automatic weapons into thousands of pro-democracy protesters for a second day Thursday, and the military government said nine people were killed and 11 wounded.

Tens of thousands defied the ruling military junta's crackdown with a 10th straight day of demonstrations. Security forces also raided several monasteries overnight, beating monks and arresting more than 100, according to a monk at one monastery.
The protests were the stiffest challenge to the generals in two decades, a crisis that began Aug. 19 with protests over a fuel price hike and has drawn increasing international pressure on the isolated regime.

Ye Htut, a government spokesman, said the riot police clashed with anti-government protesters in the country's largest city Yangon, killing nine and injuring 11 people. Thirty-one government troops were also injured, he said.

Among the dead was Kenji Nagai, 50, a journalist covering the protests in Yangon for Japanese video news agency APF News. He was confirmed dead after his father and company representative identified him in a photo, a Japanese Embassy official in Myanmar told The Associated Press by telephone.

Nagai, who had been covering the protests since Tuesday, was one of several people found dead Thursday, according to Japanese Foreign Ministry officials, citing Myanmar officials.

All Wheel Drive BICYCLE

2007-09-26T18:26:00.000+08:00

This thing look interesting to me, I have never heard of AWD bike before. But, I hope my brother will see this, this is his hobby.

The CHRISTINI AWD is equipped with standard mountain biking components. Pedaling, shifting and braking are just like on a traditional bike.

A handlebar-mounted switch controls the AWD "shift on the fly" clutch. When the clutch is engaged, the rear spiral gear interlocks with the rear hub and power is transferred via internal shafts to the forward spiral gear set, which drives the CHRISTINI freehub.

Due to a slight gearing differential, the front wheel is not actively powered on smooth level ground. However, the moment the rear wheel slips, power is instantaneously transferred to the front wheel. Similarly, the moment that the front wheel decelerates, as in hitting a rock or starting to wash out in a corner, power and traction are transferred to the front wheel.

The effect is awesome. Instead of stalling when the rear wheel slips - the front wheel hooks up and you keep climbing. Instead of glancing off a slippery root - the CHRISTINI AWD tracks right over it. Instead of washing out the front end in an off-camber corner - the front wheel literally chews it's way through the turn. The CHRISTINI AWD is simply the best climbing mountain bike on the market.
The CHRISTINI AWD has the capability to take you places other bikes won't or can't follow... and the durability to get you back.

In over 4 years of testing, the AWD components have required far less routine maintenance than the primary drive train (which is comprised of top quality sprockets, high-end shifters and standard hubs). The best corrosion and wear resistant materials are utilized and we have "designed in" extremely simple service procedures. For instance; should the sealed bearings ever need to be replaced, the entire internal drive system can be disassembled for complete overhaul in less than 10 minutes.

Police Fire Warning Shots In Myanmar

2007-09-26T14:34:00.000+08:00

Breaking news today from here and here.

YANGON, Myanmar - Police in riot gear fired warning shots to disperse more than 100 Buddhist monks who defied the military government's ban on public assembly Wednesday by trying to penetrate a barricade blocking Yangon's famed Shwedagon Pagoda. The junta had banned all public gatherings of more than five people and imposed a nighttime curfew following eight days of anti-government marches led by monks in Yangon and other areas of the country, including the largest in nearly two decades.
Firing shots into the air, beating their shields with batons and shouting orders to disperse, the police chased some of the monks and about 200 of their supporters while others tried to stubbornly hold their place near the eastern gate to the vast shrine complex.
Some fell to the ground amid the chaos and at least one monks was seen struck with a baton.

Military Cooperation Between Vietnam And Singapore

2007-09-25T18:34:00.000+08:00

Found this today.

People's Daily Online September 25, 2007

Vietnam, Singapore to enhance military cooperation

Vietnam and Singapore have agreed to promote military cooperation, and exchange more military delegations, local newspaper Vietnam News reported Tuesday.

The two sides reached the agreement during the meeting between Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh and his visiting Singaporean counterpart Teo Chee Hean here Monday.

During the meeting, they also discussed the army construction in each country, anti-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and peace- keeping, and reviewed the bilateral cooperation on socioeconomic development, national defense, security enhancement and language training.

Teo's visit would enhance mutual understading and the friendly cooperation between the armies and peoples of the two countries, Thanh said.

Source: Xinhua

Harvest Moon

2007-09-25T12:19:00.000+08:00

The Mid-Autumn festival falls on the fifteen day of the eighth lunar month, which according to the lunar calendar is also the exact middle of autumn. At this time, the moon's orbit is at its lowest angle to the horizon, making the moon appear brighter and larger than any other time of the year. In the Western tradition, it is also called the Hunter's Moon or Harvest Moon.

But today is also my in-law’s birthday. It is going to be a busy night though. I will have to attend the dinner, and then hopefully I will still have a bit of time to bring my kids for a walk. My wife have brought three lanterns for the kids a week ago, the two elder daughters got the traditional ones that uses candle to light up. I can remember that when I was much younger, this is a good time to play with fire, under the consent of my parent, I never fail to expend each of my lanterns.

According to a widespread folk tale, the Mid-Autumn Festival commemorates an uprising in China against the Mongol rulers of the Yuan Dynasty. As group gatherings were banned, it was impossible to make plans for a rebellion. Noting that the Mongols did not eat mooncakes, the advisor to the Chinese rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang, came up with the idea of timing the rebellion to coincide with the Mid-Autumn Festival. He sought permission to distribute thousands of moon cakes to the Chinese residents in the city to bless the longevity of the Mongol emperor. Inside each cake, however, was inserted a piece of paper with the message: "Kill the Tatars on the 15th day of the Eighth Moon." (八月十五殺韃子) On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), under Zhu. Henceforth, the Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated with moon cakes on a national level.

The most unfortunate alcohol accidents of all times

2007-09-24T15:35:00.000+08:00

Really sad!!!

Most of us have heard a sad story about an accident involving alcohol. In my life I have never encountered an alcohol related accident as tragic and devastating as this one. Just looking at the picture brings tears to my eyes. It's so painful to see some thing precious wasted

SAD Isn't it?

Inborn, Personal And Harmless Behavior But Still A Criminal Offence.

2007-09-24T13:09:00.000+08:00

This is what I read in Sunday’s news, because the majority of Singaporean didn’t understand or accept this fact, gay sex is still a criminal offence. But since it is inborn and it is personal, why would anyone wants to punish them for natural human behavior. I thought our government will fix things if they are not on the right side, even when some Singaporean may not understand or accept it, like our CPF scheme. I am quite confused now. I could not understand why we do not decriminalise an inborn and personal behavior which do not cause harm to others.

The Straits Times, 23 Sep 2007
View Divided, So Law On Gay Sex Stays.

Mr Lee said, many people in Singapore were strongly against the viewpoint espoused by the undergrad and this was something that has to be recognised. He said that the government's view was that it should not push forward on this issue, but follow along as societal views shifted.

"Mt view is that gayness is something which is mostly inborn. Some people are like that, some people are not. How they live their own lives is really for them to decide. It's a personal matter," he said.

Botak Jones Going North

2007-09-22T14:41:00.001+08:00

Went for lunch with my colleague again, but this time there are five of us. Lunch time is obviously a better slot to try the food, not as crowded like the evening. All five of us ordered different set from the menu, the presentation is still good, just as the cooking. Check out the steak, you can’t ask for more.

Anyway, we were told that Botak Jones is preparing to open a new branch in the north, in Woodlands. So people in the north, get ready.

Now You Smell It, Now You Don’t

2007-09-22T13:38:00.000+08:00

Not so long ago, I have learned from somewhere this method of eliminating odor when you are unloading in the toilet. I tried, it works.

In fact, I have tried many ways and at least a dozen products, but none work well and last. I do not know what is the theory behind and how it kills the smell. Some of you might have heard it before, but anyway here is how it works, by lighting up a lighter or burning a candle even an unscented one. You’ll be amazed how simple, fast and cost effective it is.

When we use fragrances, air deodorizer or fresheners, it practically masks the odor which does not last long, and after a while, we sort of got used to the fragrances anyway. Air or carbon filter fan seem it be more useful in removing the smell after the event. The candle is obviously one cheap but effective solution to toilet odor.

Why Frown?

2007-09-21T18:07:00.000+08:00

I read this article “7 in 10 frown on homosexuality, NTU survey finds” yesterday morning in The Strait Times and felt disturbed by it. I am rather uncomfortable with the way the information is presented, the use of words like frown, disgusting and anti-gay seems to impose negatively on the subject. I really admire how positively Mr Wang accepted the facts. But at the same time, I am surprised that in a country like Singapore where more than half attained secondary or higher education, we are not that open after all.

We all know that gay didn’t choose to be one, they are just different in certain ways, and that’s all. You can see from here and here. In a similar scenario, if your friend is colour blind, flat footed or bald, have premarital sex and is divorced, would you frown or find them disgusting? I do not believe that there is anyone who is perfect genetically or mentally. In fact, a lot of time, gay can be better friend than straight. I know because I have these friends too.

中秋佳节

2007-09-21T12:46:00.001+08:00

Mid-Autumn Festival is only less than a week away, my earlier order for two boxes of mooncake have been delivered, there were meant to be a gift for my mother and In-laws.

When I send a box to my mum’s place, she immediately cut out one for us to try. So far I have also tasted some from Goodwood Park and KLT 錦綸泰 in my office, comparing the price of this 大中国月饼 with many others, it is actually cheap and good.

The box is a very simple one unlike the rest which explain the price. At below twenty five dollar per box for the double yolk type, it tasted better than many selling above thirty, or even forty dollar. Anyway, this is one popular shop that is responsible for one of the long lines in chinatown year after year, and they has never disappoint me so far.

Let Your iPod Fly

2007-09-20T18:06:00.000+08:00

There's nothing more than frustrating when your handphone or iPod ran out of power while on a bus or MRT when your are still half to one hour from home, but this problem will become history soon.

And the solution, The Energizer(R) Energi To Go(R).

The charger offers more than 46 hours of music playback on the iPod nano and more than 32 hours of music playback on the iPod with video.

It features a licensed Apple iPod tip and is adjustable so that it's compatible with fourth-and fifth-generation iPods, iPod nano, and iPod mini. The Instant Cell Phone Charger offers phone tip connectors to fit approximately 100 phone models across top manufacturers, and include most Nokia, Motorola, Sprint, LG, and Samsung cellular phones, as well as mini-USB devices such as the Razr, Blackberry, and Palm Treo.

The only question now is when will it land on this little red dot.

My Sexy Toy

2007-09-19T17:55:00.000+08:00

I have just found a new widget, a search widget, the BlogBar. I install this because it is simple, nice and at the same time very functional. Most search widgets would only enable us to do simple search either on the web or in your own blog, BlogBar can do more! In fact, you can customize it to search only your blogs, your links, the web or the blogosphere. The search engine include Google, yahoo, MSN, Askjeeves, Technorati and many others. It is also available in more than eighteen colours and eight languages. It can even be link to Adsense. It really is sexy, I really can't help not to share this.

IBM, And The FREE Symphony!

2007-09-19T13:08:00.000+08:00

At last, after a long wait, IBM has come out with Symphony, a “enterprise-grade”suite that will compete with Microsoft Office, and most importantly, it is free.

The suite consist of three applications namely Documents, Spreadsheet and Presentation, which will function similar to Microsoft’s Words, Excel and PowerPoint. It is capable to run on Windows XP and Vista, some Linux platforms, with “support for Apple Macintosh in the pipe line.” Symphony will support Open Document Format (ODF) and PDF, and Microsoft native file format but be warned that not all Office-created documents will open flawlessly.

IBM is offering Symphony in beta version so the community could suggest improvement for the software, thus allowing the suite to evolve faster. Symphony is presented on the new web site, and it is ready for downloading too.

More details on this news can be found on this sites, Ars Technica, Yahoo and Infoworld

Hey, hey, it's a free world.

The Future Of Singapore MRT

2007-09-18T18:35:00.001+08:00

Singapore has been building our national rail network the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT) from 1983, the digging never stop since then, it really makes me wonder how far it is going. I did a search on Wikipedia and find out the amount of new stations on the way. The whole system is simply amazing, it will cover a total distance of 540 kilometers and is going to end only in 2030. These are certainly good news, especially for contractors and people taking up MRT jobs, at least for the next twenty years.

Gphone, Forget the i.

2007-09-17T18:38:00.000+08:00

There are so much rumors about GPhone on the net. Sounds like a big hit, check it out!

The Gphone is coming; how Google could rewrite the rules

If done right, the Gphone and not the iPhone will be the one to change the face of the wireless industry.

Forget iPhone, Think Google Phone

Google Phone, if you think about it is a reasonable speculation. Google has been aggressive in developing location based services, has amp-ed up its local search and mapping services. In addition, it has also been mobilizing its applications such as GTalk and GMail. YouTube, the video arm of Google, is beginning to embrace the mobile ecosystem.

Five Facts About Google Phone

The story talks about a handful of Boston entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who have seen the phone, but are under NDA and can’t talk about it.

Getting Inside Google”s gPhone

A source familiar with the situation tells BusinessWeek.com that Google may be preparing a new mobile platform, a would-be rival to the Nokia-dominated (NOK) Symbian OS, Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows Mobile, mobile Linux, Palm (PALM), and other operating systems.

Google spending hundreds of millons on mobile-WSJ

Anian, a Reuters company that tracks industry trends for institutional investors, reported last month that Google had engaged Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp (2498.TW: Quote, Profile, Research) to design a Linux software-based phone for launch in the first quarter of 2008.

Google Pushes Tailored Phones To Win Lucrative Ad Market

A Google spokesman yesterday declined to comment on a Google phone project, but noted: "We are partnering with almost all of the carriers and manufacturers to get Google search and other Google applications onto their devices and networks."

The future for Orange could soon be Google in your pocket

The collaboration between two of the most powerful brands in technology is seen as a potential catalyst for making internet use of mobile phones as natural as on desktop computers and laptops.

Cina Kambing Soup

2007-09-17T13:27:00.000+08:00

Saturday lunch at Adam Food Centre is normally not a comfortable experience. With limited number of tables and quite a few popular stalls around means that it is always crowded during meal time, it is especially difficult to find a table when you have a bigger group of say four people or more. But it is different this month, because this is the month of Ramadan, and our Muslim friends will not be taking lunch since they are fasting. We can see that the place is at least 30% less crowded than other days, but don’t misunderstand me, it still takes some minutes to settle down.

I have tasted the Indian kambing soup at this place before, it is good, but today I am trying the Chinese herbal mutton soup from 亞當羊肉湯. I ordered the $4 soup with rice, and later realized that the portion was actually quite small. The mutton was well cook, and though the smell of herbs was not very strong but it did manage to cover the distinctive smell of mutton which many Chinese didn’t like. It is not an easy task to eliminate the smell, this is a secret the stall owner will never reveal, and that’s also why there are not many Chinese stall selling mutton soup. The one thing you should not forget is to get a small disc of the chili mixed with vinegar, it will really enhance the taste of the mutton. As this is not a food commonly found in hawker centers, I would try it every now and then when I am come across it, even though I know some better ones on this little island.

It is Butter? NO, It's DURIAN!!!

2007-09-15T11:50:00.000+08:00

The last minutes before ending the day’s works, my friend gives me that funny looking face again. My monitor screen show his massage, “Ready to go!” And yes, since our last durian marathon , I did promise to bring him to one more such stall that offer the best durians you can find in Singapore, and for weeks, he’s been harassing me.

The stall used to be located beside one Chinese temple along Balestier Road, now, it is along the pavement right in front of Ruby Plaza. The stall is not very prominent, but with the strong lighting, you should have no difficulty identifing the yellow signboard in the tentage that reads, 亞蘭榴梿.

The helper told us that the stall has been around for more than three decades. And they have been selling this breed of 毛山王durian for years, they named it Butter Durian, one would only understand why after you put it in your mouth. Though selling one of the best durian species you can find in Singapore, surprisingly, it is not the most expensive one around. At $16 a kilogram, most would find it well worth. The fruit come with very small seeds, and the flesh was soft, giving you the “melt in the mouth” feeling. The smell is unforgettable. But there is one thing I hate about these breed of durian, it has spoil my taste bud, it is very difficult to find better or equivalent durian anymore.

If you are a durian lover, you really should try this. And one more thing, the boss were allocated limited numbers each day, the Butter Durian would normally be out of stock quite early. So, be early, or be sorry.

Generous And Spendthrift, Same Or Different?

2007-09-14T14:55:00.000+08:00

I was pursuing a Hong Kong Cantonese series 学警出更 last night with my other half. In the last few episodes, a couple went their own way even when they still love one another very much, with the common excuse many use, differences in character.

I remember quoting an article to my wife when I encounter a similar situation before our marriage. The article descried the contradicting differences in the character of a good boyfriend and a good husband. It says that one generous boyfriend, upon marriage, would be considered a spendthrift husband, a boyfriend with the righteousness character would likely be blame for not caring enough for his family, an easy going boyfriend turn out to be a husband that is not firm or easily influence, etc.

The strong points in ones character sometime turn out to be weak links when he or she plays a different role in life. At the end of the series, the girl finally realizes that she was being selfish. She initially felt in love with him because he was a good man, one that is caring, generous with the righteous mind, one who would go very far, do many things for his friend, but the expectation changed after she became his wife, she expected the guy to turn his focus to her, to only her, which he didn’t, giving her the reason to divorce him. It is ironic that the very reason that brings them together also breaks them apart. Although they finally have the same understanding, the girl met with a mishap and died. Seem like they are just not fated to age together.

At this point my wife said to me, “Luckily, you are not like that, I don’t like this type of guy.” Well, whatever you like, whatever I am like, I am happy that my wife has loved me for who I am.

Bravo! OTTO.

2007-09-13T11:45:00.001+08:00

A respectable teacher, but more than just that, a courageous person to openly disclose his gay status. I am touch and really admire his courage when I read this open letter, but at the same time, I am also worried for his career.

Our society may not be very forgiving at times; in fact, I would have felt uneasy if my children’s teacher belongs to these groups of brothers or sisters, until lately. I get to know this someone which gives me a chance to know, to understand and to accept them as friends, as part of our community. I used to have these classmates, though kept very low profile, was always targeted by some notorious boys who will never give up any chance to create jokes at their expense. Most others would just stand around and watch, afraid of being tag as a gay if we stand on the “wrong” side. I could feel their miseries since I was once a target of bullies due to my size, I didn’t understand them but I felt sorry for them.

Anyway, I do believe that all human are equal, so best wishes to you, Mr Fong.

A Final Episode

2007-09-12T17:03:00.001+08:00

I don’t see my grandmother often, in fact not even a dozen times, and though I wasn’t very close to her, still it is a painful loss. The wake lasted for seven days in Batam. I was there only on sixth day due to my work commitment. It is been years since I last went, I realize only when I saw the age prints on the faces of my aunties and uncles. I couldn’t recognize them all, but they were happy to see me. They just hold my hand and smile and I can feel the closeness of our heart, the bond of our blood.

I could see from far the lantern were red signifying longevity. The Chinese believes that if one hit the age of seventy, or has five generations under them, then one is consider to have enjoyed longevity and the death is not a sad event. The setup was more or less similar what we have in Singapore. Unlike here, there are some restrictions to be followed very strictly, one of which is all forms of gambling activities are not allowed, this included manjong or card games which the authorities in Singapore would not enforce most of the time, so we could only spend the night chatting or sleeping.

After midnight, it was consider the seventh day, everyone have to kneel around coffin to wake the decease up for a shower, change to her new cloths and take her meal, we then burned the paper house, car and money for her to bring along before she move on to her afterlife.

The next day which was the last day, I found out that Band is also in the restriction list. We went through the Buddhism ceremony, before the coffin is transfer to a van, a police petrol car would clear all traffic lights along the way and escort the convoy non stop from the funeral parlour to the crematorium.

I was told that the crematorium uses kerosene and not gas. After a short prayer, the coffin was send into the funnel. The memorial tablet was then brought back and setup in one of the uncle’s house. The ceremony is then considered as ended after we change into our daily clothes. In Buddhism, the living is supposed to let go the sorrow and move on as death is just part of life.

My aunty drove us to the jetty after a short rest, where we book the 5.30pm ferry to Singapore. It was full of people that were there for the “Batam one day tour”, we could see many tour guide holding the little flag, shouting all over the place. Thanks to the human traffic on this last day of the school holiday, our ferry was late for one hour. The sky was almost dark when the ferry left for Singapore, I took some photo with my K810i to kill my boredom along the way.

When the Rasa Sentosa Resort came in view, I know home is near, I am back in Singapore. Each time I attend a funeral, it keep reminds me how importance and precious life is, I must learn to treasure the times I have with my family even more.

Addicted!!! Are You?

2007-09-12T08:39:00.000+08:00

Haven’t been writing anything for the last three days, feels like something is lost in my life, I don’t seems to have any mood to work in the day, I don’t seems to have any mood to do anything else in the evening, I feel tired all day, I feels like I am addicted to BLOGGING! But I couldn’t help it, because I was oversea last weekend and my computer was down the last two days, but at last, my computer is up working from today. Right, I must post something today, exclude this one. I will write about my weekend in Batam.

GIANT's Birds

2007-09-08T10:20:00.000+08:00

While shopping in Bukit Timah giant last weekend, my little girls were having fun running around, chasing after birds in the supermarket. This makes me remember when I was a kid, whenever bird lost their way and land in my house, my siblings would close all the windows, and tried to hunt it down. Birds have always been a fascinating animal to children, due to the fact that they can escape trouble by simply flipping their wings. Anyway, though the children enjoy marketing this time round, I certainly hope that it will not cause any kind of health issue here, I can still remember the impact of bird flu.

Bloggers, time to do something for mother EARTH.

2007-09-07T21:52:00.000+08:00

Blog Action Day is around the corner. The aim of this day is to have everybody talking about our environment. Let us join our hand and blog on this important issue the world is concern about. Contribute your effort to promote this day and spread the news to everyone.

Blog Action Day

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind. In 2007 the issue is the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

We’re looking for bloggers of all nationalities and backgrounds, writing about all topics to join in. Here’s what you have to do:

Publish on October 15th
Publish a post on their blog which relates to an issue of their own choice pertaining to the environment.

For example: A blog about money might write about how to save around the home by using environmentally friendly ideas. Similarly a blog about politics might examine what weight environmental policy holds in the political arena.

Posts do not need to have any specific agenda, they simply need to relate to the larger issue in whatever way suits the blogger and readership. Our aim is not to promote one particular viewpoint, only to push the issue on the table for discussion. So write in whatever way suits your readers and your blog, just relate it back to the environment and make sure it goes up on October 15th.

Other things you can do
You can also participate in Blog Action Day by posting a banner on your site (http://blogactionday.org/promote) or by donating your day’s blog earnings to an environmental charity of your choice.

Register your blog
We are keeping track of all the blogs that have committed to participating on BlogActionDay.org and it would be very helpful for you to register your blog at http://blogactionday.org/commit

At this time the form is only available in English, but the form fields are as follows:

1 - Blog Title

2 - Blog URL

3 - Approximate RSS Subscriber Number
(This will not be published. It is used to generate an approximate ‘reach’ for Blog Action Day. Simply enter an average, recent feed count from Feedburner or similar service. If you don’t know the audience size, just enter ‘0′. )

4 - Your Email
( You will ONLY receive two emails. The first will be two days prior to Blog Action Day 2007. And a second in August 2008 about next year’s day.)

5 - The final field is to test whether you are a human or spam robot. Simply type in the number written there

Thank you for participating in Blog Action Day 2007! In future years we hope to have the entire site translated in many languages

This article is extracted from here

Hey, Botak! Are You JONES?

2007-09-07T17:41:00.001+08:00

This is one botak that changes the face of western food in coffee shop here, the introduction of restaurant standard dining in coffee shops, at affordable price.

Years back when I was younger, steak in coffee shop would mean two pieces of meat grilled to medium or well done, served with baked beans and coleslaw. And it never filled my stomach enough to last a soccer game.

Then, things are different here, the foods are served in good portion, with side dish and the right sauces. You can complain about your steak not been medium rare, you can eat half your serving and ask the waiter to pack it for you to take away, without getting that funny look, without question from them.

They have been around for a while, with a good reputation on their food and services. It is quite amusing to see a hawker stall with business volume capable of sustaining more than ten staffs. My dad was a hawker, I know how difficult it is to achieve that. Anyway, though they may not be serving the best food around, but I must say that it is more than value for money, and so far, I really enjoy the food.

Farewell Dinner

2007-09-07T11:08:00.001+08:00

Had dinner at River City Restaurant last evening, another colleague is leaving again. The restaurant is located in Excelsior Hotel along Coleman Street, and it come under the umbrella of the Starling Group of Restaurants. Parking and transportation in this location is not an issue at all.

As there were more than fifteen of us, we go for the “Eat all you can” alaka buffet. The food was average, and I have no complain about the service. However, there are a few dishes that are worth the price tag. The restaurant was not very clouded for the evening, making the serving much faster than some Zhi Cha Stall in the hawker centre, and more comfortable too.

A Star Has Fallen

2007-09-06T15:09:00.000+08:00

Italian tenor Pavarotti is dead.

I am his fan, my wife too... so sad...

ROME - Luciano Pavarotti, whose vibrant high C's and ebullient showmanship made him the most beloved and celebrated tenor since Caruso and one of the few opera singers to win crossover fame as a popular superstar, died Thursday. He was 71.

His manager, Terri Robson, told the AP in an e-mailed statement that Pavarotti died at his home in Modena, Italy, at 5 a.m. local time. Pavarotti had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and underwent further treatment in August... ...

This article is extracted from here.

Indian Roti

2007-09-06T13:19:00.001+08:00

I was dragging my feet home last evening, exhausted due to previous late night, then my wife release a bad news to me. Oh, it is not really a bad news, she has promised my girls a satay treat for supper. Well, a promise is a promise, anyway, I hate to disappointment my girls unless necessary.

Satay Club would be a good choice, it is a pity I don’t know where it moved to when Sembawang Shopping Centre is demolished. So the next on my list, only about fifty meters away from the Shopping Centre along Sembawang Road, D’Rubinah Restaurant, it is actually a coffee shop beside Mobil Station. Parking space in this area is limited, but driver have their way around.

I order only 20 sticks of Satay with one Naan, just enough to ease the crave for a family of five. The Satay stall hides at the back of the shop, which is the end of the alley, but the taste is good and the meat is tender as compared to many others. The Naan here is cooked in a Tandoor, and it comes in a few flavors, garlic, cheese, honey, etc. They also sell roti prata too. For taste above average with good variety of Indian and Malay food, this is the place.

Words Of Wisdom

2007-09-05T16:52:00.001+08:00

Quotes from Words Of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda, a Buddhist philosopher.

Present effects are due to karmic causes from the past. However, future effects arise from the causes we make in the present. It is always the present that counts. It is what we do in the present moment that decides our future; our past causes do not govern our future as well. Nichiren Buddhism emphasizes that no matter what kind of karmic causes we have made in the past, through the causes we make in the present we can achieve a brilliant future.

Super Long Weekend

2007-09-04T17:27:00.000+08:00

Last weekend was a super long one, not the long weekend that last for three or five days, but one that exhausted me more than other days. I completed a home project which I wanted to do three years ago, held back due to my busy schedule. I wanted to erect some racks in my storeroom and get my barang barang organized. I could not hold back the project any longer because I am starting to have problem closing the door.

I choose GORM system from IKEA, and went down last Monday to get the parts. In fact, I did the measurement and planned the rack configuration two months back, but IKEA did not have all the parts I needed. There are a few reasons why I like to buy their furniture. First, I get to shop at a big and nice place, a place you could find practically all your finishing needs and ideas. The prices are quite reasonable unless you are into quality of material. It gives me a sense of satisfaction when you look at the finished products. And finally, I get to do some hands on work as a form of exercise which I need.

It took me nearly eight hours to clear my storeroom, tear down the fixed shelving, clearing the debits, alter and assemble the racks. By the time I was ready for a shower before bed, it is already 2.30am. The next morning, I was surprised that we discard the unwanted stuffs and repack the storeroom in only four hours flat. Anyway, it was not time to rest, like I say earlier, it is a “long” weekend. I still need to bring my family out for grocery shopping and then dinner at Ah Mah house.

The Little Princess

2007-09-04T12:59:00.001+08:00

This video clip was taken when she was one, and until today, my wife and I still enjoy watching it. Since young, she has been our most cheerful girl, she's the apple of our family. Then, time flies and ... ...

Today, she has grown up, still as cheerful, still the apple of our family, but a little spicy. She is attending school now and learning tons of new skills. And she would show off to us at home when she is in the right mood. She seems to be much easier to handle than my two older daughters, and sometime I would wonder if it is because of her easy-going character or due to the experience we had learn from her elder sisters. Anyway, the joy and satisfaction you get when your child hit her milestone is something words could not describe. All my three daughters are attending school, is it their achievement, or mine? Whichever way it is, I am proud of them.

Two Wheels Is Better Than Four

2007-09-03T15:28:00.001+08:00

Driving to work this morning is a wonderful experience, the roads were cleared of traffic congestion but it will only last for one week this time. This phenomenon happens every three months, that’s four times a year, during the school holidays. I used to like school holiday when I was young, and today, I like it for a different reason. I can remember barely five years back, I could count the number of cars with my fingers on a Sunday morning drive, but I notice that the traffic these days get congested as early as 9am on Sunday morning. With the number of cars increasing at 3%, and road surface at only 1% every year, I believe I will have to change my traveling habit very soon. Maybe I should get a bicycle soon to practice for my future, where two wheels may be better than four.

猪, 我来了!

2007-09-03T11:18:00.000+08:00

Lunch on Saturday is never an easy decision for me, there are simple too much good food around this vicinity. But since my colleagues have been talking about Bak Kut Teh for the last few days, we somehow did not give much thought about other food. This is one store I have not visit for a while, nothing wrong with the taste but rather the availability of choice we have, Eng Kee Bak Kut Teh (永记肉骨茶). The store is situated at Ang Mo Kio Street 32, Block 341, parking is a breeze in this area.

We practically order every single dish on the manual except the tea, these include the pork rib (肉骨), trotter (猪脚), intestines (粉肠), liver (猪肝), deep-fried breadstick (油条) and Stewed vegetables (菜尾). The trotter is one of the best I have tried so far, the tendons is soft enough to give you the "melt in the mouth" feeling and yet the meat is still tender at the same time, very good balance that very few hawker store could achieve. This time round, I also get to try the intestines, which was out of stock during my last three visits. My only disappointment would be the liver which is not rare enough. I have also notice that the price have went up too.

Do You Believe In Luck Or Power?

2007-09-01T13:46:00.001+08:00

You Are Internal - Realist - Empowered

You feel your life is controlled internally.
If you want something, you make it happen.
You don't wait around for things to go your way.
You value your independence and don't like others to have control.

You are a realist when it comes to luck.
You don't attribute everything to luck, but you do know some things are random.
You don't beat yourself up when bad things happen to you...
But you do your best to try to make your own luck.

You have a good deal of power, but you also know the pecking order.
You realize that working the system does get you further.
You know who to defer to and who to control.
When it comes to the game of life, you play things flawlessly.

The Three Dimension Luck and Power Test

Do you believe in luck? Or luck is just your imagination?

I believe that luck is empowered by ones capability, be it mental or physical. I used to blame bad luck for things I don’t get, could not achieve or for the wrong step I had taken. But looking back in life, I realize they were merely lack of knowledge to resolve an issue or making the right decision.

I don’t blame luck anymore, but I still believe in luck.

Flying Our National Flag

2007-08-31T21:31:00.001+08:00

I took a photo of our Chinook flying our national flag last year.

This year my daughter drew a helicopter instead during her art session in nursery. Our schools seem a little out of touch these days. But the massage is the same,

We are Singapore,
We are Singapore,
We are Singapore,
Singapore…an.

2007 BLOG Day

2007-08-31T15:22:00.000+08:00

Today is 2007 Blog Day. To celebrate this, I have found five new Blogs to recommend to everybody. Here goes:

Love Singapore Food
Blog of Singapore Food.

Singapore Surf Anglerz
A Singapore fishing blog with great potential.

My Wedding Blog
Not a new blog, but interesting for married or going to marry couple.

A Singapore Gooner’s Highs & Lows
Lady Football kaki Diary – Not bad for soccer Lover

Nutrilite For Life
Everything about health issue

Ok, I have done my part, now's your turn.

Have fun and HAPPY BLOG DAY!

Happy Teachers Day

2007-08-31T12:03:00.000+08:00

My daughter is proud to celebrate Teachers’ Day today, and no, she is not a teacher, but due to the fact that she making muffin for her teachers rather than buying for them.

Come to think of it, I celebrated Teachers’ Day as a student for more than ten years, but I only know that it was done to show appreciation to our respectable teachers. Today, almost twenty years after I left school, I found out where and how it got started.

"National Teacher's Day history is quite interesting. Read on to know about history and origin of Happy National Teachers Day.

In 1944, an Arkansas teacher, Mrs. Mattye Whyte Woodridge, corresponded with political and educational leaders for a national day honoring teachers. She also wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day in 1953.

In the late 1970s, the National Education Association (NEA), its Indiana and Kansas state affiliates, and its local affiliate in Dodge City, Kansas, lobbied Congress for the creation of a national day celebrating teachers. Congress declared March 7, 1980 as National Teacher's Day. But it was declared as National Teacher's Day for that year only.

NEA and its affiliates continued to observe Teacher Day on the first Tuesday in March until 1985, when NEA and the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May. The NEA Representative Assembly then voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher's Day. Since then, National Teacher's Day is celebrated on the Tuesday of the first full week of May.

This is all about the National Teachers' Day origin.

This article is extracted from here."

I have some friends who teach, it is not an easy profession, especially in Singapore today. I wish all teachers a Happy Teachers' Day today, but be happy all year round. Happy Teaching!

The Shortest Personality Test

2007-08-30T14:15:00.000+08:00

Your Personality Profile

You are funky, outdoorsy, and down to earth.
While you may not be a total hippie...
You're definitely one of the most free spirited people around.

You are very impulsive - every day is a new adventure.
However, you do put some thought behind all your actions.
Still, you do tend to shock and offend people from time to time!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Durian Marathon

2007-08-29T23:16:00.000+08:00

Our plan last week to invade a durian store this Friday meet a little hurdle, a few of us could not make it. But the crave for the king of fruit is just unbearable, so we decided to bring forward the adventure.

We decide on 717 at Yio Chu Kang Road to have our dinner last night.

It was crazy, I couldn’t believe that five big guys actually have problem finishing just six durians until I foot my bill. The durians weight more than 2 kg each, my goodness! We also take away some durian puffs from 727 to treat our fellow colleagues which did not join us.

And how can I forget my family, I brought two durians back. My youngest girl was so delighted and dragged me to take a photo of her with the durians.

Words Of Wisdom

2007-08-28T17:35:00.000+08:00

Quotes from Words Of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda, a Buddhist philosopher.

One of my favorite poets, the Argentine educator Almafuerte (1854-1917) wrote: "To the weak, difficulty is a closed door. To the strong, however, it is a door waiting to be opened." Difficulties impede the progress of those who are weak. For the strong, however, they are an opportunity to open wide the doors to a bright future. Everything is determined by our attitude, by our resolve. Our heart is what matters most.

Ramen Ramen

2007-08-27T18:09:00.000+08:00

It started raining heavily just before noon, and inspired me to find nice food center to eat without been affected by the weather. After some discussion, we decided on Koufu Food Court. I drove my friends to Toa Payoh Central and park right into the multi-storey car park.

I had no difficulty deciding my pick - Ramen. The presentation was of restaurant standard, priced right and tasted good too. At $4.50, it's worthy choice.

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

2007-08-27T14:38:00.000+08:00

Did the personality quiz, very interesting. I may not be talented, or maybe I did not know that I am, but the rest are quite true.

You Are Big Bird

Talented, smart, and friendly... you're also one of the sanest people around.

You are usually feeling: Happy. From riding a unicycle to writing poetry, you have plenty of hobbies to keep you busy.

You are famous for: Being a friend to everyone. Even the grumpiest person gets along with you.

How you live your life: Joyfully. "Super. Duper. Flooper."

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

LIVE! Seafood In Sembawang

2007-08-27T11:07:00.000+08:00

The pass weekend has been an exhausting one. In fact, I was so busy I did not have time to update my Blog that day.

My dinner on Saturday night is a satisfactory one, ever since Yishun Live Seafood restaurant (义順活海鲜) started this store in S21 along Sembawang Road, they have not disappoint me yet. By the way, if you do not like seafood, there are good varieties of choice here. The food center has an uncle to direct you into their parking lot when the car park is congested, and of course, parking is free. They even do broadcasting to inform the customers to move their car from the road side whenever a Traffic Attendant arrives.

The three must-try dishes I avoid missing here are oyster egg (蠔蛋), crab with cellophane noodles (冬粉螃蟹) and curry fish head (咖喱魚头). I personally feel that their oyster egg is even better that the neighbor’s store specialize in it.

Chinese Fast Food

2007-08-25T13:39:00.000+08:00

Had my lunch at Shunfu Hawker Center today. We walk all the way into the hawker center and stop right in front of this store, Lai Heng Fried Kuay Teow.

We were there just before the crowd arrives. We made our order and the old lady speaks into a microphone like what they do in Burger King. We then proceed to about three tables away from the store. And there comes the surprise, the old lady is standing right behind us hold two plates of fried kuay teow as we were sitting down.

At $3 per plate, it certainly taste much better than many others, the cockles were of good size and they are fresh. All five of us emptied our plates.

But this is not good, I am spoiling myself, after last night's big feast. To make things worse, I still have to accompanying my wife’s friend from Hong Kong to try some nice food tonight. I will have to lighten my diet next week.

TGIF

2007-08-24T23:50:00.000+08:00

It’s Friday, but it is not the end of my week. My weekend start tomorrow at 3pm. But I am getting into the mood, with three of my friends. We are heading to Geylang Road, for steamboat buffet.

We reach the restaurant at about 7pm. The soup is a little flat, meaning MSG is not present, varieties is not comparable to places like Marine South, due to the space constrain, but it is air conditioned. One thing different is the dumpling, its hand made, and it definitely taste good. We took less than two hours to fill our stomach, such a waste, I could eat non stop for three to four hours ten years back. This is an alarm for ageing. Four of us cool ourselves with two bottle of Tsing Tao and chat till about 10pm before we settle the bill and make a move, and our plan for the coming Friday, durian for dinner at 717 or Balestier Road. By the way, the meal cost us $12.80 per head, excluding the beer.

Before we leave, I discover a long lost friend – Tai Seng Herbal Restaurant.

Hungry Ghost Festival - 中元节

2007-08-23T19:11:00.000+08:00

Today my company holds a ceremony to pray for the hungry ghost festival. While my project is half way through, thing don't seems quite right. There are less contractor joining the event, there's less food, and less offering. Though it's only a Chinese festival, it does reflect the economy status of Singapore in its way, at least in the building construction industry. At this golden period of our nation, we are expecting good amount of contribution to the ceremony. I can still remember ten year back, when the project I was handling was three time smaller in contract size, and the money thrown into the fire was three time more than the current one. After all, the player was meant to be for everybody's well being.

Anyway, my focus today is not economy, but food. I will be going for steamboat dinner with my friends tomorrow, I should train my appetite tonight.

My Theme

2007-08-22T17:46:00.000+08:00

When I started this Blog more than a month ago, I did not really know what I wanted to write on. So I simply throw in my latest fishing trip photo and wah la, I am a blogger. From then, I begin to read through more blogs, and realize the amount of new things I need to learn, before my three girls catch up with me.

Now I have decided on my theme, they are “FAMILY, FOOD, FRIEND, FISHING & FEELING”.

FAMILY
It will be a memory of my precious moment with my GIRLS (Wife + 3 Kids). Things we do, food we go after and jokes we make.

FOOD
I like unhealthy food, my wife too. And although my family doctor will not encourage it, I would have to try it before I could blog about it. Right, I’ll sacrifice for my blog.

FRIENDS
This should be everyone and anyone that we know.

FISHING
I like to record all my fishing trips and equipment, so I will be able to know the kind of time and money I have invested in this hobby. Of course, it also helps me to remember the wonderful time and beautiful experience.

FEELING
These will be times when I complain, or share my joys, maybe my thoughts, in one word “my emotion”.

This post should help to keep me on course, I hope. Maybe one day, when I got substantial improvement in my writing skill and acquire sufficient knowledge in web page formatting, I will consider starting start other blog that is more focus. Let’s start BLOGGING…

Firework On 18 Aug 2007

2007-08-20T12:06:00.000+08:00

We set off to Marine Square at 1900hrs to avoid traffic jam in this area. From previous experience, the only word to describe the human and car traffic in this area is PACKED.

We initially intent to view from our usual spot - the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, but this time round, the police have banned all public access. With the gallery covering almost the whole of Marina Walk, the next best place to watch show would be below the bridge. We reach the spot at 2020hrs, there will probably less than 50 other waiting before us. I guess many have actually got tickets to enjoy the show at the gallery, or at the Esplanade. The show started with the performance of remote control kite at 2100hrs which last for 15 minute follow by the firework. I took a video clip of the firework.

On our way back, we drop by Marina Square 7-11 for a drink. And I was approached by a Vietnamese tourist asking for help to catch a cab to their hotel. Apparently, our Call-A-Cab services here is not very user friendly for these group of people, the queue were long and they could not make oversea call for a cab with their mobile phone. Anyway, we managed to get them 2 cabs within 30 minutes and send them back to their hotel, Hope they enjoy their stay in Singapore.

Fishing Trip 11 Aug 2007

2007-08-14T09:59:00.000+08:00

This time round, I join my wife where her company organise a boat trip on Nelayana. Along with 9 other staff and family, we board the boat at the yacht club near West Coast Park. The weather was good, a little breeze and not so sunny. We decided to bring only my elder daughter to be fair. The boatman brought us to the southern side of main land where we could see the skyline of Singapore.

This is my catch of the day, biggest so far for bottom fishing.

And of course, my wife also has a great time fighting this one.

This one was too heavy for my girl to handle, so I have to help her reel it up and hold it for her photo session. In fact, it is the second biggest among the trip.

And these are the effort of twelve anglers, including my family.

Fishing Trip 29 Jul 2007

2007-07-30T09:36:00.000+08:00

Was looking forward to this trip since three weeks ago after booking with the boatman, and at last the day comes. This time round, my second daughter is with us. The catch is fairly good, me and my daughter got three each, while my wife got six.

The fishes were shared among 7 anglers on the boat.

Fishing Trip 23 Jun 2007

2007-07-10T10:40:00.000+08:00

This is my first boat fishing trip with my OC. The fishes were shared by seven anglers at the end of the trip.

Hope I am not too late

2007-07-07T09:21:00.000+08:00

After reading so many, I at last started mine. I will want to leave some trail behind, before it is too late, maybe this will help me remember something when I get too old. Anyway, here I am.