there's something about ..... 2008

I always do a last blog entry on every 31st of the year, but since I won't have time tomorrow, this year's entry will come today instead.

Just realised, it's the 4th year I have been blogging. Wow.

2007
2006
2005

Anyway, it's all about personal highlights, not national level, not global level, not universe level.

Top 10 Highlights of 2008

No.10
Caught one of the best Amercian Football game during Superbowl. link (I am a sports fan, what to do, any good game will excite me for life!)

No.9
I have turn to online streaming for my football actions and even movies. To me, it's a quantum leap considering I always have Sports Channel since the day I have cableTV. To cancel that Sports Group is like parting ways with your ex-girlfriend. U know you got to do it, and it's painful, but you just have to do it. Yes, you will miss the good times together, but without exploring what else is available, you never know if she starhub is the one for you.

No.8
My blog entry stupidity was mentioned and quoted in Sunday times. Very small section, smaller than most Obituary placing.

No.7
The escape of terrorist Mas Selamat. This was earth shattering. It's an eye opener for Singaporeans. Lots of parodies and jokes available in the net. It also casts many questions, like how come there must be 2 urinals in a cubicle? link

No.6
I crosspath with Stephanie Sun. THE Stephanie Sun. Not another Singaporean Celebrity that speaks with an American Accent and appear in MTV as Geisha and proclaim "Ohh.. I am a Fashionista.... " link

No.5
Olympics this year is the BEST. BEST Opening ceremony Ever. Lots of great sports moments. Singapore got a Silver Medal. We all know who Lee Bee Wah is. It's just great stuffs! TCS should write a story about this called "Little Beewah"

No.4
The financial crisis really hits home... hard. My income dip by 60%. So friends, if you are reading this, please pay for my meals next time.

No.3
Edison Chen's Saga let us peek into the world of Entertainment we all already knew, it also let us peek into many other things. YES... I am LAME!! Give me a nude shots of a pretty celebrity, and I will give him high ranking!!

No.2
F1 Singapore and The last race of F1 where Hamilton pip Felipe Massa in the last 10 secs to win the Championship, it was the best race ever... even surpassed the previous year where Kimi won, and any of those Michael Schumacher years. Yes.. I wanted Felipe to win, but the race itself was true classic.

No.1
The birth of my second son. Grown-man do cry.. even if this is the second time round.

RESOLUTIONS

Every year I do resolutions. But I realised this is a little stale as it's always the same, year after year. So nothing this time round.


BLOG ENTRY OF THE MONTH

This is selected by a panel of judges, namely the who and who of the blogosphere, their names are withheld for security reasons, so as to protect the intergrity of the votes. YES... you never know... there are people out there who want certain blog entry to win. It's prestigious.. u know!

Criteria also varies. Could be the number of comments. (that should be easy) Could be the quality of comments. (that should be easy) The author's favourite. The number of words. The number of pictures. The number of paragraphs.

Here goes.

Blog Entry for the month of JANUARY 2008 goes to....

there's something about leading pisa

February

edison chen

March

conspiracy

April

stupidity

May

sumiko

June

No winner

July

a Tie
genetic
and
youth of today

August

Olympics

September

guests

October

No winner

November

Tie
airline
and
punks

December
pursuit

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! MAY THE YEAR 2009 be MUCH BETTER!!!!!

there's something about ..... united nation

Last Sunday I was in one of the Jurong coffeeshops watching soccer on TV. Oh.. man... I didn't realise the UN asean headquarters is based here.

I was surrounded by China Chinese, India Indians, Blagadesh, Myanmmar, Malaysians Chinese, Malays...and I think I am the only Singaporean in that mix.

I have never being in the company of a group so diverse. It was a real interesting experience.

there's something about ..... countdown 2008

So 2008 will have 1 extra second

Meaning to say, we have to adjust our clock and watches to either delay the movement by 1 second or turn back by 1 second, so that our life will be more meaningful.

They say decisions are made in split seconds. Michael Phelps won one of his Golds by mere 1 second faster.

So you see, that is really major!! 1 second more!!

Imagine the countdown tomorrow...

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0

or 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

or 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 , 5, 4, 3, 2, ONEEEEEEEE

***********

I can already guess what would be the program at the countdown party.

You will have past Singapore Idols, past Whatever Idols singing maybe about 2 songs each.... then you have all past Singapore losers, past whatever losers singing as a group about 2 songs each.... then you have some TCS actors or actresses making their singing debuts.... and then just about the last 5 mins, you have the MC asking every "celebrity" about their best moments in 2008 and what they wish for in 2009, then about the last 2 mins, small talk to wait for the countdown to start...... then chose one of the above format and countdown.... sing Happy New Year Song... then ask the crowd to "everybody scrreeeeeaaaammmmmmm"

there's something about ..... nonya

In a show that swept Singapore by storm, according to official statistics and unofficial statistics based on the number of aunties I heard from my mum who watches the show religiously, this show failed to add me as one of the statistic.

It's not the show. I just do not watch period dramas. Or shows that are set in the early days of Singapore before independence. I just got no interest at all in such shows.

Nevermind that it has 3 of Singapore starlets in it. Nevermind that it is guaranteed that in a show like this, it will feature at least 1 raped scene, multiple attempted rapes, multiple attempted molests, perhaps some molest... topics that will guarantee box office.

Nope... no interest.

And early this week, I finally caught 1 espisode. It's that espisode where Joanna Peh was raped. Now i know why this show is a Box-office draw in Singapore. The screen writer is not interested in just writing a normal rape scene. ie, rapist rape victim. period.

They must sensationalise the scene.

It mustn't be just a simple rape scene of the maid which is the Lead Actress.

In fact, It must be a mistaken identity.

The Victim should not be another maid.

The Victim should be the Master's daughter, a goody girl next door (also a virgin, this was emphasised) who is there, not because she happens to be there, but there because she was doing a good deed trying to release the maid from captivity, not realising that a rapist is on his way to rape the maid.

Yes. A good deed. Ie, the feeling instilled into the audience must be the feeling of "DAMN SUEY", "DAMN WASTED"

In order to magnify that feeling of "DAMN SUEY", or make it "DAMN SUPER SUEY", this travesty could have been prevented if the Victim's sister who came upon the attempted rape, called for help... but NO... due to some rivalry, she decided to walk away.

In order to super magnify that feeling of "DAMN SUPER SUEY", the victim actually saw her sister witnessing her trauma, and saw her sister walking away from it.

You think that's it? NO.....

The script writer wrote the scene ending with the sister closing the window to make sure no passer-by could even know there was a crime taking place. At this point, most audience would be cursing not at that Rapist, but at the sister!!! The emphasis was not on the crime itself, it was the sibling rivalry!!

MAN.... WHAT HAVE I MISSED?!?!?!??!THIS IS DAMN GOOD SHOW MAN!!!!!

there's something about ..... flyer

In boring Singapore, an mechanical failure in a tourist attraction will be reported in the same breath as Mas Selamat's escape.

Seriously, 5 hours at the top of the flyer is not that bad. Most people pay about $1 per every minute on the Flyer, and they pay about $6 for every hour. That is good value for money.

Of course, you get to count the number of cranes in Marina Sands IR, once every 30 mins, just to be sure you get the numbers correct....

Of course, you get hungry...

BUT... you get to see the afternoon view, the sunset view and the night view. All for the same ticket price!!!

No post-christmas sale in Singapore can beat that!

And in boring Singapore, scrutiny will take place on the method of rescue.

Is there another better way to rescue people?

Perhaps a crane so tall that could reach the top of the Flyer? Then, the crane itself would also create history as the tallest crane in the World.

Parachutes? That wouldn't do. What if you land in ECP and you died of traffic accident.

Seriously, I don't see any other way.

Slow... Yes.

Safe... I would think so.

You want fast and safe? You got better luck repairing the mechanical failure.

Another interesting fact, one of the DIVER came in shorts and shirts because he didn't have time to change. From Toh Guan in Jurong to Singapore Flyer, apparently, took them 2 hours. Add another hour, they could probably reach Kuala Lumpur.

2 hours?!?!?

there's something about ..... 2010

This is not the new movie prequel to 2046.

This is the date then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong set for Singapore to be in the World Cup.

Then Singapore gave a couple of Ang Mohs PR so that they can play for the Singapore National Team.

One of them is AGU CASMIR.

On Sunday, during the Suzuki Cup, I saw Agu Casmir singing out National Anthem before the start of the match.

I felt I was watching Milli Vanilli. watch this video

******
Sometime back, I wrote about our Always-the-last-game-at-National-Stadium.
Link

I think all those people who bought expensive tickets to catch the "last game" at National Stadium, should gather together for a Class Action against MYCS, for misrepresentation. At least, they should get a refund of the ticket price.

It's a joke really.

Yes. Construction Cost balloon so much that they have to postpone the demolition. But to always bill any events as possibly the "LAST GAME"?

********

Getting Ang Mohs in our team is not a sure-win strategy to dominate asian football.

I mean, if these Ang Moh is any good, they should be playing for Nottingham Forest in Div 3 in England.

No... why play for Nottingham Forest and be ordinary footballer which nobody recognise... you might as well play for Singapore. You get fat-pay, live like a celebrity, bang girls, and be recognised by at least 1 million people and still can be so ordinary?

The vietnamese must be gloating.

I am thinking... we might as well give PRs to the whole Vietnamese team or Thailand team.

That way, perhaps, one fine day, we may just be able to play in the World Cup.

there's something about ..... stephanie sun

I officially declared 18 December is Stephanie Sun day for me.

Not because today is her birthday....

Not because she won some prestigious music award....

But because I saw her today.. in real person.

I couldn't believe my eyes really. There she was, walking past me, and I didn't do anything silly.

Of course, I could have approached her, ask for an autograph but I am too old for that.

Of course, I could have approached her, ask for her number but I could probably received an injuction from Court to keep a 50 metres distant from her.

And of course, I could have just approached her and tell her I am a fan of hers and proud of her.

Seeing her today just reinforced my opinion of her.

No pretendence. No make-up. Simply dressed up. Nothing extravagance. No silly caps that cover half your face... YES... WONG LILIN.. I AM TALKING ABOUT YOU.

Just plain. Just herself.

Yes. She does appear awkward. I wouldn't blame her really. Wong Li Lin with a Singapore-made movie under her cap (pun intended), couldn't even walk outdoor without a cap covering half her face, worried that Fans (if any) would recognise her and rush up and bother her. And we are talking about Stephanie Sun. A bona fide celebrity with fans Worldwide and sold millions of albums.

And fame, comes loneliness. She is like a poor little rich girl. Or at least that is how I feel in that brief moment when we crossed path.

Well, and since today is Stephanie Day for me, it's only apt I put a MTV here.

there's something about ..... customer service

We often heard that Singaporean are nasty customers. I wouldn't disagree because to some extend, I am nasty. Nasty to customer service officers.

It's not my fault really. Or rather, yes.. I had a problem which is why I called them or speak to them. Otherwise, why is there a need to have Customer Service officers if the end result is still "no".

Or maybe Customer Service Officers are stationed wherever they are, or in call centres to tell customers "no" nicely.

But, I never take "no" as an answer. I am nasty. But I am only nasty if their response is below par.

Just like how I called Credit Card companies and tell them to waive off my subscription charges and so often they obliged.

This is a story of 3 customer service situations I encounter.

**********



Starhub.

I have been a customer of Starhub since Day 1. Not necessary the biggest fan but I am a customer.

One day, my wife exclaimed that my reward points just expired. The numbers looks big, something like 3000 over points.


You know these things, for months and months when it's there, you don't take notice, and when it expired, it alerted you.

And so my wife asked me to talk to them about reinstatement of my expired points.

And so I call 1633.

Moomooman: Hi, (my verification details) my starhub reward points just expired, could you please reinstate them for me.

Customer Service officer (CSO): No. Sorry we can't do that.

At this junction, the response from them shocks me. There wasn't any niceties, no beat-around-the-bushes, no "let me check", no "hold on a moment and let me check". Nothing.

Her response was as immediate as the end of my sentence.

Me: why can't you do that?

CSO: We can't. Once it's expired, it's expired.

Me: I dunno it was expired until I saw the bill.

CSO: It was stated in last month's bill that it will be expiring.

me: I didn't notice the last month's bill, and there wasn't even any instructions on how to redeem those points.

CSO: you have to log in into Internet with your user id and password.

Me: So you are assuming that I know how to operate internet and I am rich enough to have a computer to do that?

CSO: Or you could call in and we could redeem for you.

Me: I don't even know what's on offer.

CSO: It's in the internet.

Me: Anyway, I want to speak to the person in charge of reward points.

CSO: They would still not be able to reinstate the points for you.

Me: I still want to speak to them.

My line was transfered. This time round, a gentlemen manages me and he was polite, apologetic and promised to put up my request and get back to me the next day.

My reinstatement was approved. In fact, immediately, that gentlement redeem my points for $$ reduction off my next bill. And I realised that whatever it was reinstated was worth about $100.

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

Ikea.

Who isn't a fan of Ikea? yes... they may not necessary be durable furnitures, but their accessories rock!

And being a member called "Friends", I get to again gain points for every purchased.

Recently, I was making some big purchases on behalf of my client, (That comes as part of my job description) but I forgot to bring along my card to gain points.

And I thought, well, just have to come back on another trip then.

On my next trip, I went over to the "friends" counter. I brought along my receipt and my card, and I asked them to top-up my points.

Yes. I sounded like it was so natural. So logical. So possible.

Until, the CSO told me that this can't be done. She explained that points can only be given at the cashiers at POINT of purchase. And that they do not have the equipment to do that.

I knew it was pointless to argue. And So I decided to go to the cashier instead.

At the cashier, the cashier told me that she can't do that because she can only add points if the purchase is made on that day. She can't "backdate".

Not giving up, I decided to go to the customer service counters. There wasn't any sections that would deal with such things. I mean, how many people would even bother to ask for such things? Probably me. I am a sadist. I like to torture CSO.

I didn't know which counter to go, until I saw a CSO walking past me. She is probably the manager so I shall call her CSM.

I stopped her and told her my full story. She repeated that this was not possible.... UNTIL I gave that "ARE U KIDDING ME" look... and she immediately told me that they could top up for me only for "THIS TIME ROUND". And she told me to go to the "friends" counter.

I told this CSM that the other CSO at "friends" counter told me that this could not be done, and this CSM told me that she will call her to approve it.

And I remain a fan of Ikea.

**********

This is customer service of a different type.

This HK cafe situated along Siglap Road was a totally different customer service experience. I really have to compliment the chinese waitress with her product knowledge.

In times like this, it's always good to know that there are people there who bother to know their products to give their customers a good all-round experience.

Me: 小姐，请给我一碟 “猪肠粉”(chee chiong fun)

waitress: 先生，对不起，我们只有肠粉，不是猪的。

Told you, it was a good all-round experience. It was amusing.

there's something about ..... windsor

Everyone in their lives will occasionally be a victim of cheats, con jobs, misrepresentation etc.

It's only the magnitude of it. Some big con jobs, some small con jobs. Again, the size of the magnitude is also relative. Big to some, small to others.

Last night, my family was a victim of "misrepresentation" according to my parents, "con jobs" according to me.

2 weeks back, on our National TV channel 8, my parents came upon a "food variety" program introducing good eatouts in Singapore.

That program was introducing a Teochew Buffet Restaurant in Windsor Hotel at Macpherson at only $11 per person.

Naturally, it must be good because right immediately my parents wanted to make reservation for last night.

When my mum told me about it, I was like:

"huh? Teochew Crusine can have buffer one meh? "

When my mum told me about Windsor Hotel, I was like:

"Huh? That place can have good restaurant one meh?"

When my mum retorted that the value is phenonmenon, I was like:

"Can have good buffet at $11 meh?"

When my mum angrily told me it's highly recommended by CHANNEL 8, TCS, I was like:

"ok lor"


And so we went.

The restaurant was smart enough to take money first at entrance, or we would have walked out immediately after seeing what is on offer.

I mean... if you are aware about TEOCHEW crusine, it's nothing but TAO POK, TAO KUA, VEG, FISH CAKES, STEAM FISH, PORRIAGE... u know, those cheap cheap things that is cooked bland.

I mean even if you hired the best chef from Hong Kong, a Tau Pok will not become a abalon. It's still a Tau Pok! Worse, I don't think they hire the best chef in Hong Kong, I think they hire the "best" chef in Macpherson.

Buffet? How many rounds of Porriage and Tau Pok can you eat??? I counted... 3 rounds. Not because you are full, but the fatique of seeing another round of tau pok is enough to make you bored.

I forgot to take another picture of their "orange juice". Interestingly, they put up a little sign on top of the dispenser calling it "cordial juice". They were really friendly with the water. I think it was 1 part orange juice, 5 parts water.

There was this empty tray that lies empty for almost the whole duration of our dinner. Naturally we were curious. Perhaps, this tray of food will make a huge difference to our dining experience. There is a sign that says every diner is limited to 4 pieces per queue. But we couldn't wait and wanted to go back.

Finally, that tray of food arrived. Immediately a long queue started forming. One waitress was there rationing the delicacy to all diners.


My family was about to leave but stayed on to see what the hype was all about. For Singaporean to queue up for food, it must be a delicacy or expensive.

My wife commented that perhaps it's Lobster. But lobster not very Teochew leh, I thought.

My mum felt perhaps it's some expensive steam fish.

And so we decided to check it out on our way out.

WOW!!!!

DAMN IT!!! WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED!!!

WHAT FABULOUS FOOD!!!

It's braised duck.

there's something about ..... doing

You know in Facebook, you have this "WHAT ARE U DOING RIGHT NOW?"

NOBODY... and I repeat NOBODY admit they are actually doing this:

ABC is looking at some of his friend's friend's photographs and drool.

ABC is looking at his friend's recent photographs

ABC is looking at his friend's photographs and thinking why the photo so ugly

ABC is looking at his friend's photographs and thinking why the boyfriend so ugly

ABC is looking at his friend's photographs and drool at that sexy top she is wearing

ABC is trying to look at his friend's friends photographs but cannot access and very tempted to add friend

I call this Voyeuring.

there's something about ..... starr

So they won the Amazing Race.

But they look so good together, they look like a boyfriend-girlfriend, rather than brother-sister.

I have never heard so many "I love you" from other couples in the show, than portrayed by both of them. They exchanged "I love you" everytime they won each leg of the race, they in the cab, the brother flying down a flying-fox. In fact, Starr told nick that "you are my best friend and I love you" at the finishing line.

They hugged each other, chested hugs. Meaning, her whole chest pressed again him so tight. Ok..ok... so Hugs are supposed to be like that.... BUT... there is a difference between a sibling hug and a couple hug, and THAT to me looks like a couple hug.

They wear "lovers" clothes. They always wear the similar themes outfit all the time. You do that when you are twins or lovers.

And their arms are always around each other.

What's wrong if both siblings love each other? Do we as parents always tell out kids to love each other?

I dunno man. Perhaps I am asian and thus a more conservative thinking, but any angle I look at Nick and Starr, incest came to my mind. I simply can't shake it off.

Someone Help me Please!!!

there's something about ..... streaming

It's tough to contain my happiness.

I felt I hit gold. But again, I felt I hit gold when I beat the young punk!

DVD quality movies, stream to your notebook, output to LCD TV, felt like watching a real DVD movie..... FREE. FREE!!! FREE!!!!!!!

What Mio TV?

What Paid Video ON Demand from Starhub?!?!

What youtube?

3 Cheers to China!

HOORAY to China!!!

Without China... our cost of living would go up.

With China..... No subscriptions. No DVD Rentals. No need to pay. Just good DVD quality movies, legally stream to you.

Ok... so they may not have the latest titles.

But we are not talking about movies in the 80s, 90s either. The latest movie I saw was Drillbit Taylor. I believe this is a 2008 movie.

RedCliff part 1 is also in there.

Plus a list of older top movies all in the last few years.

Plus a longer list of B grade movies where you wouldn't spend money either watching it at the cinemas or renting it from video stores. But they are still your watchable movies. At zero costs, any movies are watchable!!!

The convenience of it is that I can watch it anytime I want, stop and continue the next day. Watch 1 quarter of it and decided you don't like it? Just don't watch lor.... you wouldn't feel the pinch since IT'S FREE!!!!!!!!!

3 cheers to CHINA!!!!

CHINA!!! CHINA!!! CHINA!!!!

there's something about ..... trivial pursuit

We are really living in a very turbulent time....

We are entering in the a global economy crisis, jobs will be lost, bankruptsy will increase, houses might be foreclosed, retrenchment will increase....

If that is not giving you a headache, you got to read about Bangkok's political crisis. Airport is closed, tourists are stranded. Protesters fighting with police.. Army trying to do another coup perhaps.

Then, there is another heartache in the form of Terrorists attack at Mumbai, where a Singaporean was killed. This took place in a City, which in my opinion, is too close for comfort.

Then, there is a group of Singaporeans that thinks that tissue paper is a menace to the lunch crowd society, and they put up lots of resistance to fight against the right way to use tissue paper.

Then, there is a good-looking mid-30s chap trying to outdo one primary school boy half his height in a xbox game.... in a public place.... on a demo....

Not to be outdone, 2 groups of Singaporeans in Facebook are trying to argue whether pork should be allowed in an International Sandwich joints. Yes.. we are talking about bacon bits.



We are really living in a turbulent era.