Tuesday, August 30, 2005

there's something about ..... getai

Never being to one.

Guess I'm not old enough to enjoy seeing ugly singers in mid-drift tops and horrible voices singing ah lian songs.

But then... how can I pass such judgement if I have never being to one?

The part on ugly singers..... from newspaper.

The part on horrible voices.... heard live from my neighbourhood.

There are more getais in Old Matured Estate like Ang Mo Kio and Toa Payoh than in places like Buangkok. Heck.... in Buangkok... you need to put up signage of white elephants to make the place crowded... how to have getai there?

But over in Ang Mo Kio is different. You have a Getai on Ave 5, Ave 1, Ave 3, ave everywhere. Does that mean there are more ....erhem..... in Ang Mo Kio?

CHOY!!!!

Every year, you don't need to know what's the most popular songs from TOP 10 shows on Radio Channels or MTV. Essentially, every July is like the official countdown for the most popular songs from July to July.

I remember last year.... this Song was Blasting from my neighbourhood Getai and I can hear the every enuounciation of every word coming out of the Ah Lian singer.....

"小 微..........."

Nabeh... that song was not only popular from July 2003 to July 2004... it was also the top song the year before. I heard it for 2 consecutive years.


But this year, the most popular song, as chosen by the panel of Getai organisers which from 30% of the votes and SMS votings from Singapore Union of Getai Ah Lian Singers (SUGALS) which form the remaining 70% is .......

"老鼠爱大米......."

Nabeh.

Friday, August 19, 2005

there's something about ..... reckoning

Today is a day of reckoning.

Today I discover a key and important difference between a Black Carrot Cake and White Carrot cake, at least the one at Bishan Junction 8.

After I bought the black carrot cake back to our table, I ask my wife this question...

Me (the reckoner): Do you know what ........between a black carrot....and a white carrot cake?

My wife (the reckonee): Different way of frying?

Though that answer was the second most obvious observation other than the colour, I didn't think anyone could come up with any intelligent answers.

The key difference is that the black carrot cake, they only use 1 egg. The white one... they use 2!!!! Both for the same price!!!!!! Nabeh!!

Of course, that seller probably say... "I got put black sauce for your black carrot cake ok.." But... an extra egg???

I must send my blog to CASE and ask for 30 cents refund.

Today, I finally bought a new LCD TV for my living room. A modest 32 inch LCD TV. I have been waiting for the price to fall and I was actually waiting for SHARP AQUOS 37 Inch TV to fall below 4k. But I realised that is not going to happen anytime soon. So I decided to settle for a 32inch panasonic instead. More affordable lah.

No choice lah.. my SONY TV finally broke down on National Day. After 15 years!!!

I told my maid this TV has served us for 15 years and she exclaimed, "Wah.. when you small boy until now ah" Nabeh. She should learn how to keep quiet.

The worst thing about buying this TV is that I'm still not convinced which is better... plasma or LCD. Even after I have decided LCD is the way to go, I couldn't decide between the different technologies developed by different brands. Nabeh. Why can't a TV be like a TV? Whether you buy a Sony tube TV or a Akira tube TV, both uses the same technology.

I think I'm the only 32 years old guy who watches Project Superstar. That, even after I condemn the show some time ago.

But today was the result for the male and female winner. 2 weeks later, both will go on a faceoff and 1 winner will be determined.



male winner


female winner

While there is nothing much to dispute about the female winner (both were good), the male winner came as a surprise as he is blind. He beat a fellow contestant who looks like Ekin Cheng or Noodle Cheng that sings equally well and equally humble guy. The loser would have been a better "superstar" material.

Try telling that to my mum.

My mum could have been the judge at Project Superstar.

Because long before this Project Superstar was even conceptualised, my mum has been a fan of the male winner when he was buskering outside waterloo temple. My mum would come back home from each visit to the temple and says how fantastic this guy could sing.

Might as well ask my mum to pick the male winner. No need to go thru all these drama.

And might as well ask me to pick the female winner. I will pick the prettiest. No need to go thru all these drama either.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

there's something about ..... National Day

Yawn.

Fell asleep in the first 15 mins of NDP 2005. And caught the snippets from news earlier and one thought came to me.....

If they had used footages from 5 years ago (the last time NDP was held at padang), they would have fooled me. Didn't they have the whole sequence of song and dance about how-singapore-progress-from-1965-till-now thingy every year?

Went out this afternoon... realised everywhere was very quiet. I thought... wah... Singaporean very patriotic... all stay home getting ready to watch NDP on TV. Or.... they are either at Padang, Tampines, Yishun, Jurong East, Marina South for the NDP thingy.

But I was wrong.

They were all at Singapore Expo for the John Little Warehouse Sale. Me inclusive.

Nabeh. Damn crowded.

I dunno what's with Singaporean. We seems to be sucker for any Branded Departmental Store so-called "Warehouse" sale held not in a warehouse but at a far away exhibition hall, selling dated goods at price just 20 to 30% cheaper. While you could actually go to the actual departmental store located more conveniently in town and buy recent goods at 20% discount. So what's the logic?

Logic is KA CHING JIO.

The worst thing is we never seems to learn.

The first-ever Warehouse sale by another affiliated Departmental Store was, "OMFG, this is fantastic!!"

The second Warehouse sale a few months later was,
"This is not too bad"

The third Warehouse sale a few months later was,
"Wah... same old thing.... next time don't come already"

The fourth warehouse sale a few months later was,
"Nabeh... already say don't come, still come, ka ching jio!!"

And how about this.... since kenna sabo by the lousy merchandise at not so good discount by major departmental store, might as well kenna sabo twice over. Held in the same premises is SPORTS LINK warehouse sale.

SPORTS LINK has been celebrating their anniversary sale at all their outlets over the national day week. Over at the AMK outlet, you get to buy their latest apparrels at 40% off. I decided to skip it thinking that warehouse sale may just offer better discount, or at worse, same discount but with more merchandise since they say "Warehouse", so must be big.

Nabeh. It was probably the smallest Sports Link "outlet" ever... and they were selling dated merchandise...... and there aren't any recent merchandise. I mean who buy LOTTO Polo shirts, or DIADORA Polo Shirts, or YONEX Polo Shirts nowadays?

Next time won't go again.

Monday, August 08, 2005

there's something about ..... online fraudster?

I'm trying to sell my DVD cam online and keep receiving such mails from these fraudsters. The best thing is I'm only selling this at 1200 but received "offers" at 1500?!?!?!?!


Question 1
lindasmith360 (unrated):
Good-day dear seller,Im Mrs linda smith from united kingdom,i saw your item listed on the auction site and i really like to buy the item from you directly, infact am ready to offer as much as the sum of $1500.00 USD but firstly,i will like to know the working condition of the item and the total price for three unites of it including the shipping cost to my Client in Nigeria via DHL or UPS.i will like to send the money to nyou via BIDPAY MONEY ORDER but before i can send the money to you,i will need your:name and contact address including your phone number and the total amount to pay on your behalf. Immediately i receive your details i will send the money and they will notify you after the payment is approved by your email address. Thanks and hope to read better from you and send me your details as soon as possible for me to send the money.

Question 2
rosemary2k5_uk (unrated):
Good day Seller, Im Mrs Rose Mary from United Kingdom, i want to buy one HITACHI DVD CAM MV-730E ( SONY PANASONIC CANON JVC viewcam ) Hitachi DVD CAM DZ-MV208E Camcorder from you and ship it to my son in Nigeria for his coming Birthday im buying the camcorder for him for his birthday for the recording to be able to record the birthday. im a Medical doctor here in the United Kingdom Trained in Nigeria, i will really appreciate your good service. I have 1400 SGD including shipmet, hope thats ok? Send me the bill including shiping fee through UPS courier service asap Your quick response shall be highly appreciate i will pay your last desire price for the item and which i will be sending to my new appointed manager in Nigeria via UPS/EMS speedpost so i will be sending the payment for the item via WESTERN UNION BIDPAY Money order In which you will recieve the confirmation mail of the payment from them and you will also be able to track it online, so as soon as you recieve the message i want you to ship out the item as soon as possible,so i want you to send t me your full name and address + the shipping cost and the total cost of the item Name of the item for me to submit to the WESTERN UNION BIDPAY MONEY ORDER for the payment . REPLY ME WITH GOOD ENGLISH Reply me to this mail rosemary2k5_uk@yahoo.com Is there UPS courier service arround you? Please treat as URGENT to be able to make necessary arrangement. Thanks and GOD bless Mrs Rose Mary Buyer


Question 3
nelly0000005 (unrated):
Hi seller, It is my great pleasure to inform you that i will like to make the immediate and urgent purchase of your items and send the items to my clients in Africa .So i will handle the shipping down to Africa through my FedEx shipping account .So i will be looking forward to your response as i will like the payment to be make thruogh Western Union Money Order.It is nice doing business with you and i hope to hear from asap.Kindly send your name for the payments and your best price for the item excluding the shipping cost and quatities you have in stock .As the shipping will be handle by fedex account.Hope to hear from asap.Kindly send the following information for the payments full name: full address: city: state: zip code: country: Best Regards, Nelly Brown So i will offer you SG$ 1450 .00 excluding the shipping cost as my fedex shipping account will handle the shipping. For quick response reply to me at my email address : nelly0000005@yahoo.com


Question 4
rosemary2k5_uk (unrated):
Good day Seller, Im Mrs Rose Mary from NY, i want to buy One Camcorder from you and ship it to my son in Nigeria for his coming birthday so that they will be able to record it and send it to me to view. Im a trained Cheif Matron in here working . Send me the bill including shiping fee through UPS courier service asap Your quick response shall be highly PLEASED with ,i will pay your last desire price for the item and which i will be sending to my new appointed manager in Nigeria via UPS/EMS speedpost so i will be sending the payment for the item via WESTERN UNION BIDPAY Money order In which you will recieve the confirmation mail of the payment from them and you will also be able to track it online, so as soon as you recieve the message i want you to ship out the item as soon as possible,so i want you to send t me your full name and address + the shipping cost and the total cost of the item Name of the item for me to submit to the WESTERN UNION BIDPAY MONEY ORDER for the payment . Mail me rosemary2k5_uk@yahoo.com Is there UPS courier service arround you? Please treat as URGENT to be able to make necessary arrangement. Thanks and GOD bless Mrs Rose Mary Buyer


Question 6
jumexpeck (unrated):
hello seller, Good day to you overthere.am Mrs sandra anny ive seen your camcorder cut and am willing to buy it for my nephew. kindly give reasonable detail about this item also let me know the total cost of it including the shipment through DHL or UPS,to 23402 ibadan Nigeria.to ensure that your annoucement appears,in the next available issue,kindly forward instructions,together with your remittance address without delay. your payment will be made via Western Union Money order BidPay.am looking forward for full standard business.sandra_212@fastermail.com reply without delay. Mrs sandra best regard to you.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

there's something about ..... huang na's case

I didn't really follow Huang Na's murder case. It's a pity. I love such things. But it coincided with the Peanut case which was more interesting.

And by then, the case was half way through and interest for the case wane. Who watches a movie half way through?

Not to mention there were more interesting news during those times.

For example.... the ipod vs Zen Micro. To battle the popularity of the IPOD U2 limited edition, Creative came out with a limited edition of Zen Micro with SIM WONG HOO's signature. Ni Na Beh. No wonder share price drop by half and needs Microsoft to bail him out.

Next, we were told that the name Marina Bay will be renamed.... Marina Bay. Such $400,000 stupidity (2/3 peanut) cannot escape bloggers' attention and everyone talks about it.

So you see... where got chance to read Huang Na murder case.

However, something did get my attention about the case. Is it just me but... Took (ah Hao) is being represented by that famous lawyer, which is an Indian. His psychiatrist is also an indian. The prosecutor's psychiatrist is also an indian.

Only the prosecutor is a chinese.

Like that Took sure die lah. How to communicate?!?! No wonder Took doesn't want to be on the witness stand.

How can a psychiatrist perform their best analysis on a complicated issue like
schizophrenia when there is language barrier? Surely getting a translator will have only 80% accuracy at best.

Not to sound too demeaning to the profession, but I think it's quite easy to be a psychiatrist. You just have to have logic. And often, you get the impression that all they do is listen to their patients on a chasis lounge like in most movies.

You would have realised that most of their analysis uses derivation. Like because he sometimes smile in court, therefore he has strains of a schizo. He believes 3 men killed hung na and not him, sometimes he knows he killed her, thus he is a schizo. Things like that.

It's like to any layman, if we hear things like that from the defendant, we, normal human beings, will immediately say..."He Siao Ah".

You see... we are not too far wrong from these experts.

Monday, August 01, 2005

There's something about ..... closure

It's a closure.

I don't mean those road closures near the Padang last weekend for the upteemth times they were having rehearsals.

I have finally had my closure because I conquered the bad traffic around the Suntec City area, coming from the north where I stay. I understood those living in the east or west that plys the ECP are not affected by those road closures.

But just because I stay in the north shouldn't mean I should be further penalised from patronising my favourite mall on weekends. I have already being penalised with more ERP gantries just because of some silly town planning by URA.

I managed to find a way to go Suntec and it was a breeze. It was even faster than before. And now I wish they have NDP rehearsal for 2006 every weekend starting from 10 August.

I'm super glad. Not only that, the place is half as crowded. For once, all dining options at the Fountain are available. I have never seen that area so quiet before. In the past, after walking one round, we often ended up at Country Mana. Now, we walk 2 rounds and we couldn't decide what to eat.

So my wife and I decided to eat at NYDC.

And to wrap up an fantastic evening, I met with something amusing as well.

As friends would know it, I probably have a mild Irritational Bowel Syndrome. I said probably because I have a 90% probability of visiting toilet right after a dinner.

And I notice that this may also be a Gemini problem because Jeff seems to have the same problem as me though my problem could be seen as more acute.

So, right after NYDC, I head towards the toilet.

There were only 2 cubicles for BIG business and I have a 50% market share.

I noticed the chap next to me were there for a while.

A short while later I started my business, my neighbour's friend came to look for him in the toilet....

Chap's friend (shouting): SAM, 你肚子不舒服?

Sam (sounding super irritated that now everyone in the toilet knows the person LAO SAIing is called SAM) : YEAH LAH.

Chap's friend: Ok

I'm glad I dun have moronic friends. Or should I be sad that I dun have caring friends.

But Nabeh... What else can he be doing in the toilet?!?!??!?!?! Want to wank also must see location. I do not see anyone feeling turn-on with the kind of smell coming from my cubicle.

Anyway, I wanted to get out quick to see how Sam looks like but too bad... my business was still expanding.