there's something about ..... post-SGP

My wife asked me why am I more excited about F1 than the birth of my son...

I strongly denied that allegation.

I told her that I didn't even pay to watch F1 but I paid thousands to watch her delivered.

there's something about ..... Singapore GP

1.) 100,000 spectators demographics as follows:
a.) 40,000 tourists
b.) 10,000 fans
c.) 50,000 curious spectators

2.) Only in Singapore, police are deployed, not to ensure safety, but to ensure no ones can watch SGP for free, as evident at the link bridge between Suntec City and Marina Square.

3.) They have done everything right, except removing the "curbs" at turn 7, aka "little tortise" by Felipe Massa.

4.) We are so unique that our PM, wore a formal black suit, to give out the trophy. Whatever happen to our national dress.

5.) Our race track come with so many lines etc: continuous white lines, yellow bus lanes, permanant bus lanes, broker white lines, zig zag line, double zig zag lines, arrows. Some drivers were reportedly nauseaus.

6.) Because of the lamps, they conveniently built "barricades" up to the lamps, it seems like we were racing inside a cage.

7.) This race is also unique that we saw someone started at grid 14 winning the race, and someone started at grid 1 coming in last.

8.) Rain was expected during the race week, but came 1 day after Race Day.

there's something about ..... F1 (podium)

They hate each other. They were team-mates at Mclaren last year but the in-fighting were so bad that Alonso has to leave Mclaren. You think Hamilton is an angel? His trash-talking is as good as any NBA players.

So what did Hamilton say to Alonso at the podium:

1) Haha... your first podium this year?
2.) Your hair is still as ugly.
3.) You want to join me in Mclaren, I need a strong backup.
4.) I watched Wall.e, I though you were the voice-over.
5.) Can you pass the message to Nico (second place), that I will meet him at Zouk after this.

there's something about ..... F1 (sunday)

So you were there at the circuit.... so you pay couple of hundreds for it..... so you got to hear the roar of F1..... so you were part of History.....

But did you manage to see this piece of history being made:







I did. I saw it on TV!

there's something about ..... F1 (saturday)

Decided to watch yesterday's F1 on both Sportscenter and Channel 5, just to see what's the difference.



Qualifying starts at 10pm. Try telling that to Channel 5. They think having Tay Ping Hui and a guest telling us what is F1 is more important than showing qualifying. And what did they talk about?

They talk about the 1500 lamps along the circuit, and including interview of the lights expert.

Ok.. so it's only about 5 minutes. But it's QUALIFYING that we are talking about, not practice sessions.

Sportscenter did the reverse. They start the program 5 minutes before 10pm to give us updates at the Pit.

However, Channel 5 got a slight edge.

Local channels are beamed about 1-2 secs earlier than cable channels.

So footages on Channel 5 is 1-2 sec earlier.

So if there is a very close race where the difference is 1-2 sec, channel 5 will show the winner first.

Also, I think channel 5 commentators could be on site. The F1 Roar seems alot louder. That adds to the viewing experience.

***********

My bloody friend sent me another sms, "call me if you want to hear the F1 sound again"

Coolcat sent me a sms, "you want to hear the F1 sound again?"

Life is so unfair.

***********

there's something about ..... F1 (friday)

Caught the F1 on TV last night.

Realised the biggest winner in Branding exposure is none of those "Singtel", "DHL", or "RBS" or others.

It's "ESPIRIT". That clothing line. Their brand was already prominently displayed on the link bridge between Marina Square and Suntec City all these years. So they have free mileage to reported 500millions worldwide audience, and they don't even have to pay a fee.



********************

Good thing I didn't cancel my sports group. I had wanted to wait till Singapore GP is over first, before cancelling.

Good thing! Channel 5 commentators SUCKS!!! I thought they will carry the same footage as in ESPN Starsports, but Channel 5 has their own. While they speak well and carry that Ang Mo accent, it just not polished. Plus they kept saying "Welcome to Channel 5".

I am sticking to Starsports this weekend. They have more footage with reporters at the Pitlanes. interviews etc.

********************

Jarno Trulli was fined S$20,000 and reprimanded for driving the wrong way on the track. I can almost hear him appealing to the officials "I was just following the arrows..."

Someone forgot to tell him SGP is anti-clockwise, or perhaps Jarno Trulli do not know which is anti-clockwise. Well, he knows now.

********************

Somehow I still like day races. I dunno why.

********************

My bloody friend who called me (I didn't know he bought a ticket but he knew I was a fan), and let me hear that roar of F1 Cars zooming past, through the handphone...

He didn't even talk.

F#^% You!

******************

So my initial prediction of Kimi earning pole seems way off.

Will know by tonight.

I like the inscription on his helmet "Cool under pressure and chillingly unemotional"

*************************
Traffic Police to ensure no F1 cars can be parked along zig-zag lines and drive along bus-lanes.

there's something about ..... F1

I am so F$@% excited about F1 this weekend.

I wanted to go see Hamilton at Ngee Ann City, I wanted to go see Raikonnen at Paragon, I wanted to take pictures with all the "imitations" cars at almost all shopping malls, I wanted to volunteer for F1, I wanted to buy a ticket to watch F1, I wanted to buy the F1 shirts on sale at Takashimaya, I wanted to buy that limited Tag watch...... I did none of the above.

I decided that watching on TV will allow me to follow the race. If you are at the track, you will only see the cars driving past you in that 2 secs 61 times, and you wouldn't know what happen for the rest of the race.

I have been a fan of F1 since the start of Malaysia GP, maybe about 8 years back. Back then, there was a lot of buzz in Singapore as well as finally, F1 is so accessible to Singaporean. I remember then, Mika Haikkenon was the F1 Champion, Mclaren was the Constructor's champion. Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were bridesmaid, Jean Todt was Single, Lewis Hamilton was a boy.

I became a fan of Ferrari. It was easy choice. They were second-best and they are ferrari.

I remember after Mika retired that year at a very tender age, Michael Schumacher became the king.

Michael blew away all competitions, help by his aggressive driving and he was equally potent on wet surface, just like Hamilton now.

Michael and Ferrari were so bloody good, F1 decided to make changes to the sport to curb the superiority of Ferrari. It's called "Ferrari Rules".

Ferrari still dominates until a certain Alonso came into the picture.

Michael Schumacher should have retired. Like all Legends, they have a problem knowing when to quit. Like Michael Jordan stupidly came back to play for Washinton Wizards. Michael Schemacher decided that he could still win one more against an upstart, Alonso.

He was wrong. Michael retired as a runners-up.

Alonso went on to win the next year and he became the youngest back to back World Champion, in his Renault no less.

However, Alonso did something stupid. He decided to quit the team that brought him the championship to join Maclaren, a more glamorous team.

He thought he will given the number 1 status within Maclaren. He would have been given if he didn't have a team-mate call Lewis Hamilton, a rookie.

Hamilton blew F1 away with his flair. However, dramatic in-fighting caused Mclaren dearly and they lost both the driver's title and constructor's title to Kimi Raikonnen and Ferrari... all at the very last race.... the most exciting race ever... that sees Kimi Raikonnen with outside chance of winning, VERY OUTSIDE.... he did a miracle and Won the Driver's Title.

Kimi's title was not the highlight. The highlight was the in-fighting between Alonso and Hamilton. Alonso went on to "sabotage" Maclaren and Maclaren was strip of all points.

Alonso could not stay on anymore and have to rejoin Renault.

This year saw a different race fight. It will be Hamilton vs Massa of Ferrari, with Kimi a distant 3rd.

1 point separating top 2 with hamilton leading.

So who will win Singapore GP?

I say... Kimi Raikonnen.

It's an anti-clockwise track, and Hamilton choked last year's final race because it was anti-clockwise.

It will be Kimi first. Massa, second, hamilton third.

there's something about ..... wall.e

I know it's a kiddie's movie... but to have a love theme that is probably abit too mature for a 3.5 year old, and to have a movie that is too kiddish for Adults....

There are only 2 word to describe this show...

Wall.an eh

Wall.au eh

there's something about ..... tooth IV

Just realised it has been about 2.5 years since I embarked on the journey of using bluetooth earpiece. see link

I always had bad experience with bluetooth earpiece.

I first used a Samsung Bluetooth. The fit was for people with big ears and since I have ears slightly bigger than a dwarf, I felt like I was wearing a big dangling ear ring. After few months of using, I decided to revert to wire earpiece.

Then, I bouught a HTC pda phone last year. I decided that it make sense to use bluetooth again. I was given a Motorola set.

Same story.

Refusing to give up, I decided to find bluetooth sets that doesn't comes with the earloop, perhaps something with a ear hole insert, ie, a rubber knob that fits into your ear and hang there.

I came across this local brand called Axioo, that fits the above description.

I bought it but the rubber knobs did not exactly fit into my ear snugly. And with grease, it became another dangling ear ring. I just have to turn my head, not even violently, and it fell. In fact, it fell to the ground and was damaged slightly after 1 week of using. Also the construction of the bluetooth of too fragile. I pressed the button and it gave way.

I just bought a new phone this week. I have decided to give bluetooth another try.

I have always bought bluetooth that cost nothing more than $40, and I have decided that it's time I gave the expensive bluetooth a try.

And this brings me to PLANTRONICS. Cost me like $140 for a older generation bluetooth. Newer generation that looks super sleek and top of the range performance will set me back like $190. However, given the uncertainty of the fitting, I decided to go low-range.

And oh my......

I now declare.... PLANTRONICS Bluetooth is FABULOUS!!!! FABULOUS!!!

The construction of the bluetooth is strong but light. The fit of the bluetooth is perfect. It didn't even move even when I shake my head agressively.

The clarity is excellent.

The choice of charging is extremely useful.

Plus a 2-year 1-1 exchange policy....

I didn't realise finding a bluetooth earpiece is more difficult than finding a wife.

But the important thing is, I finally found it.

there's something about ..... beer

My family went to Chinatown Hawker Centre last Friday for Dinner.


My father decided that he would like to drink some beer, so he stood up, look around for the drink stall and was about to head towards the drink stall when he saw a man in his 30s walking past our table.


My father stopped him in his steps and ordered "ABC stout".


The man look at him, part amused and part angry, told him that he don't sell drinks. In fact, this man sat near us with his family.


Of course, my father is extremely embarrassed.


But what makes my father think that man is a drink-stall hawker?


He was wearing this:

I think I will think twice about wearing any football jersey to a hawker centre next time.

there's something about ..... expression

You know you are one Ah Beng, when you don't just swear.... you swwwweeeaaaarrrrrrrrr!!!!!

My brother-in-law was telling his sob story about how his favourite pet fish's eye was caught in the motor filters in the tank and as a result become one-eye-fish.

To show us how much he love his pet fish and how heartpain he is about the lost of the fish's eye....he exclaimed:

"......WAAAHHHHHH LAAAANNNNNNNN EEEEHHHHHHHH... NIIIIIIIIIII NAAAAAAAAAA BBBBEEEEHHHHHHHHH!!"

I reckoned this was stretched over about 30 seconds. Longer than a Formula 1 pit-stop!

there's something about ..... paralympic

Singapore Laurentia Tan won another bronze in the paralympics. link

Sports Achievement is never going to be easy for them. While this is the so-called Olympics for them, the reward for them is rather paralysed.

For the bronze, Laurentia will get only $25,000. That compares with about $250,000 for a bronze for a normal athelete at the Olympics Games.

Rather disheartening.

For them, the biggest comfort and encouragement is to do things beyond what people perceived they could do. Monetary may not be that important. Nevermind that it takes maybe even more sacrifices and effort to do what they are doing.

But $25000 for a bronze?

there's something about ..... guests

Just had the full-month celebration for my kid.

I had planned for a "mini" party of 30 guests but I think about 50 turned-up. You asked," that is like 70% off projection, how did such bad planning occured?"

Well, never trust a woman to do planning. When my wife can listen to a telemarketeer for like 5 minutes because she couldn't know how to say "no", you know she has a problem dealing rejections to people.

When I told my wife not to invite colleagues because you are never certain whether they will turn up, or they turn up thinking this is a weekend excursion for the family.... she retorted saying that only 2-3 will turn up and that is not too many to manage....

Well... 2-3 became a contingent of about 15.... you have spouses, multiple kids per colleague, maids.... That is already more than the number of friends I had invited. I didn't even invite my colleagues, ex-colleagues, ex-ex-colleagues, ex-friends, acquaintances, ex-acquaintances.....

At least they didn't come to my place thinking it's a weekend excursion to a zoo or something, or they will be posing for photographs next to my plants or me.

But they did come to my place, thinking that this is a weekend outing to a holiday resort.

One young boy went to my refrigerator uninvited and took out 1 yakult. After that incident, we put the yakult much higher in the shelf to deter. But he went for a second helping, this time round, asking my maid to take the yakult down.

The whole bunch of kids, who do not know each other, also took over the TV. Each wanting to operate them to watch their favourite DVD. Naturally, all my kid's DVDs collection was ransacked.

One young girl thought this was a free-flow buffet. She took a plate of prawns.. only prawns and you immediately got reminded of scenes at those Marina South BBQ buffets where everyone take just prawns because it is the most expensive items.

Another boy took my boy's balloon and insisted is his. I tried to mediate between the guest and my son, but at that point, it was too frustrating for me and I decided to be bias and tactless.

2 young girls went to my Master Bedroom because "I just want to see only".

Ninabeh!

It's ironic that you are celebrating the birth of your child... such joyful occasion and yet the joyfulness was totally destroyed by children.

I have since set-up a black-list for future references.

there's something about ..... baby

I am so tired.

Strangely, my letharginess came right after the Olympics. So I am not too sure if it was the post-Olympics Blues that I have or the night feeding of the baby.

I usually managed the top part of the night, from 12am to 3am, my wife will manage the 3am to 4am feeding, and my mum will manage the 4am till morning shift.

Natuarally the Baby Bonus announced by PM Lee was met first with anticipation and ended in disappointment.

My boy was borned just about 6 days before the official start date on 17 August. It didn't feel too bad initially when WKS announced the start date on 1/1/09, but when he brought forward to 17/8, it felt like a pen-knife cutting on my toenail.

His explanation is less than satisfactory when asked why he couldn't do 1/8/08, especially when the last baby bonus effective date was on 1/8/04. He said that due to time needed for administration, 1/1/09 would be ideal but was prepared to listen to feedbacks and he dated it back to 17/8.

Helloo..... if you can date back by 4.5 months.... you can date back by 5 months!!!

For consistency sake, you should just do 1/8/08.

Of course, would I care if my baby is borned 17/8?

Interestingly babies borned on 8/8/8 which supposedly stood for prosperity, not very prosperous afterall, at least where government give-out is concerned. This just confirmed that WKS is not chinese, or he would consider dating back the date to 8/8/8 where alot of babies were borned, and a prosperous start to baby bonus.

PM Lee said that men should help to change nappies to relief the burden of the wife, and perhaps with less burden, we can have more babies.

I did more than that. I help change nappies, I make milk for the baby, I help feed the baby at night, I burped the baby.

And I tell you... I am so tired of all these that having the thought of a 3rd child seems remote at time of writing.

Government should provide fully subsidised Confinement lady for full 3 months. This work out about a total of $6k.

It's a win-win situation. We can boost the birth-rates and we can create a big industry for JB, thus giving the Government another trump card when they negotiate for cheaper water next time.

I want to go hong Lim complex to demonstrate.