I'm finally a bluetooth user!!
Bought a new handphone and it comes with bluetooth capability, the first time the phone that i uses comes with such feature.
So I decided to embrace this technology.
NINABEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This technology just proved something I knew all my life.
I have SMALL EARS!!!!!!!! Bloody Hell!!!
I can imagine the doctors at the hospital uses the bluetooth earpiece device and measure if anybody has smaller than normal ears.
Doctor: Yes.. what's wrong with you.
Me: Doctor, I think I have small ears and it's affecting my looks. I think I look better with bigger ears.
Doctor: Ok.. you try this bluetooth earpiece.
Me putting on the earpiece.
Doctor: Confirmed. You got small ears!
NABEH!!!
I always hear people telling me that it's not comfortable and it takes a while to get used to it.
But when I use them, it's bloody comfortable like nothing it's there. Because the hook at the back is too big for my ear, thus it's not very secured.
My dad tried it on and it's too small.
My wife tried it on and it fits like a glove.
I wear it and it felt like a dangling ear ring!!
This is frustrating.
And I now know for sure 100% that I have smaller than average ears. You have to believe that companies like Samsung or Ericsson would have done enough research to ensure that the hook fit nicely to MAJORITY of the users.
And I'm not the majority.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
there's something about ..... first time
These days.... Life becomes pretty bored. So one fine day last week, I woke up and decided to paint.
I don't mean painting as in art, I meant PAINTING as in painting the wall.
The spontaneity just snapped. Send my wife to work and I went off to buy paint and brushes. Not only the spontaneity snapped, I decided to be passionate and a bought Red Paint. And mind you, this is not for the room, it's for my little "SOHO" or home office, not exactly the appropriate place for a red colour wall.
Just when I was about to start, I realised.... this was the first time in my life that I actually do painting! I didn't know whether to add water to paint, or add thinner or don't add anything.
My mum being the professional that she is, told me to add water. In fact, she was the one who ask me to buy brushes too.
And so I started.
Painting with a Brush is quite a challenged.
I tried 3 different method being my first time on three different patches, and all the patches looks really bad. At that point, I seriously doubt my mum's advice. I mean, I have seen professionals painters and they have hardly use brush.
After I did one coat of the paint, the result was frustrating. This is even more so when the colour is bright or dark and all uneven painting patches are visible.
I decided to go out and buy a roller and a tray.
The rest is History.
Now I realised those so-called professional painters are at best my standard. It's bloody easy to use a roller. Not only that, it's fast and every patches are even. The end results was "professional".
My dad who didn't realised I was using a roller couldn't quite believe the end result.
I don't mean painting as in art, I meant PAINTING as in painting the wall.
The spontaneity just snapped. Send my wife to work and I went off to buy paint and brushes. Not only the spontaneity snapped, I decided to be passionate and a bought Red Paint. And mind you, this is not for the room, it's for my little "SOHO" or home office, not exactly the appropriate place for a red colour wall.
Just when I was about to start, I realised.... this was the first time in my life that I actually do painting! I didn't know whether to add water to paint, or add thinner or don't add anything.
My mum being the professional that she is, told me to add water. In fact, she was the one who ask me to buy brushes too.
And so I started.
Painting with a Brush is quite a challenged.
I tried 3 different method being my first time on three different patches, and all the patches looks really bad. At that point, I seriously doubt my mum's advice. I mean, I have seen professionals painters and they have hardly use brush.
After I did one coat of the paint, the result was frustrating. This is even more so when the colour is bright or dark and all uneven painting patches are visible.
I decided to go out and buy a roller and a tray.
The rest is History.
Now I realised those so-called professional painters are at best my standard. It's bloody easy to use a roller. Not only that, it's fast and every patches are even. The end results was "professional".
My dad who didn't realised I was using a roller couldn't quite believe the end result.
The roller to a painter is like what a wonderbra is to a woman. What an invention!
The whole excercise has been so interesting, I'm comtemplating painting other parts of the house.
I always knew I'm artistic.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
there's something about ..... brokeback
I came across this guy selling this in Yahoo. Amazing... he has my vote for Businessman of the Year. Not only that, I believe he can hit 2 dicks birds with 1 stone.
Because not only can he make money, he can also touch get in touch with like-minded people and go break back.
I wonder why it is called Brokeback Mountain.
Cowgay 1: Hi darling, come.... let's do it.
Cowgay 2: Ok... you bend or I bend.
Cowgay 1: you bend lor.
Cowgay 2: ok. (bend down)..... ARRggggg... I break my back!!
Cowgay 1: Ahhh... I like it.
If the screenshots is not very clear, you can see the full extent of the auction in Yahoo. The link is here. The screenshots is only 30% of the actual content. This guy gives a synopsis of all his gay films.
page 1
page 2
page 3
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
there's something about ..... kk
Yesterday morning I brought my kid to KK hospital A&E. We decided that the fever has dragged on for too long and further more, there was lots of phelm in his throat that is making him very miserable and us very worried.
It's my first time to KK hospital since.......... I WAS BORNED!!! Wah.... it felt like returning to "hometown" after 30 over years. But seriously I've never have much faith in them. If not for the fact that most private clinics are closed and given the seriousness of my kid's condition, I would not have gone KK at all.
When I arrived, I tried to look out for the Children's clinic but the only one that I found was "CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY".
I kept asking myself if mine was an emergency but I thought perhaps not and kept on searching for a "normal" clinic.
But there isn't any other clinic and only this is opened.
So bo bian.... go in lor. It was full of people as expected of a government hospital. And what follows is an interesting observation of how a government clinic function.
We take a queue number at the door. Very typical in Singapore now. You go Nokia Care Centre, you take a queue number. You go to Starhub shop, you take a queue number.
So we waited for our turn for what it looks like a "registration" counter except that is it half of it... it is a "TRIAGE"!!!!!! DUN PRAY PRAY!!! Your Ang Moh not powderful, you also dunno what it is!!!
Nabeh!! Just realised my english standard is very layman. I dunno the meaning of that word.
But I just checked webster and this is what I got:
Triage:the sorting of and allocation of treatment to patients and especially battle and disaster victims according to a system of priorities designed to maximize the number of survivors; broadly : the assigning of priority order to projects on the basis of where funds and resources can be best used or are most needed
WAH.... very good system. Why I say good because I actually benefitted from this "Triaging".
It's my first time to KK hospital since.......... I WAS BORNED!!! Wah.... it felt like returning to "hometown" after 30 over years. But seriously I've never have much faith in them. If not for the fact that most private clinics are closed and given the seriousness of my kid's condition, I would not have gone KK at all.
When I arrived, I tried to look out for the Children's clinic but the only one that I found was "CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY".
I kept asking myself if mine was an emergency but I thought perhaps not and kept on searching for a "normal" clinic.
But there isn't any other clinic and only this is opened.
So bo bian.... go in lor. It was full of people as expected of a government hospital. And what follows is an interesting observation of how a government clinic function.
We take a queue number at the door. Very typical in Singapore now. You go Nokia Care Centre, you take a queue number. You go to Starhub shop, you take a queue number.
So we waited for our turn for what it looks like a "registration" counter except that is it half of it... it is a "TRIAGE"!!!!!! DUN PRAY PRAY!!! Your Ang Moh not powderful, you also dunno what it is!!!
Nabeh!! Just realised my english standard is very layman. I dunno the meaning of that word.
But I just checked webster and this is what I got:
Triage:the sorting of and allocation of treatment to patients and especially battle and disaster victims according to a system of priorities designed to maximize the number of survivors; broadly : the assigning of priority order to projects on the basis of where funds and resources can be best used or are most needed
WAH.... very good system. Why I say good because I actually benefitted from this "Triaging".
The "receptionist" is probably some Nurse who not only register you but will take temperature, "investigate" the problem of the patient and then decide whether to give priority to you.
We were given priority and we skips about 20 patients before us. I was glad because I dun have to wait but worried that Ian's condition is serious enough to warrant a priority.
After the triaging, the next counter is for payment. Ultimate. Haven't seen the doctor, we must pay first. $65 to be precised!
That means we cannot even change our mind if we decided to leave without forfeiting the money.
Next is the waiting area for all patients. There are about 7 rooms of which one of them would be meant for the "urgent" patients. This one room do not run by queue numbers and instead they called out the names.
Soon after, our name is called.
The doctor looks like some guy fresh out of uni. Not unliked those in private practice who looked like near 40. This doctor doesn't speak very confidently and he doesn't give opinions easily unless you probe for it. At that point, I really almost want to ask for a refund. Now I know why they collect money first.
There I was, in a children "emergency".... and I'm being managed by a inexperience doctor?!?!?!
To be fair, young doctor can be good even without years of experience behind them.
The doctor prescribed some medication to be taken immediately and we were told to wait for the medication to take effect so that the doctor could attend to us again to see if the ailment require more attention. We were told to wait for 2 hours.
And meanwhile, the kid needed xray to see if the lungs are affected.
Poor kid. So young and already must go for xray.
After about 2 hours, the doctor called us in and told us everything seems fine and we were told to go pick up our medicine.
After I pick up the medicine at the pharmacy, I was expecting to be told to go somewhere to pay for it but to my surprise...... there wasn't any further payment necessary!!!
Whatever we paid earlier covers the xray and the medication. WOW.
Not that $65 is cheap or anything, but the fact that it covers that many items do suggest that perhaps the doctor is indeed not very senior.
But I must say, my kid is recovering much faster than we expected. Which is good. So much faster that we actually went shopping that same evening.
We were at OG at bencoolen when we came across an exhibition on the fortunes for all the zodiac signs.
Interestingly, they correctly predicted the health problems. BUT... academic performance!?!??!?! Grades should improve!??!?!?!?!?
For a 10 months old baby?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?
Sunday, January 29, 2006
there's something about ..... Hong Pao
You would think as a first time parent celebrating Chinese New Year with their kid for the first time, there will be a big hooha surrounding the giving of ang pao to their kid.
I mean that is a significant moment, a big moment because it's the first time.
I almost planned for a elaborate event with video, cameras, settings etc.
Except there isn't any event to witness this significant moment....... it didn't even happen at all!!
YES.... I'm a bad parent!!! My wife is a bad parent!!! We have yet to give our kid his ang pao.
My parents gave him yesterday and we thought we will give him at 12am exactly but of course he slept early due to fever.
We thought... let's give him this morning when he wakes up. But he woke up too early and I promptly let my parents look after him so that we can continue sleeping.
When we are finally up, we need to rush out for visiting and we didn't want to rush thru such a significant moment like this, so we thought, let's wait till we came back home.
We come back home and he sleeps immediately because we had a long day and he is still having slight fever.
And now we have passed the first day and we have yet to give him the red packet.
Shall we forget it? I mean, you put money into a red packet, give to him which he doesn't know what is it, end of the day, you take out the money and put inside the bank for him. Might as well just do a internet banking and transfer the money to his account.
Still pondering.
I mean that is a significant moment, a big moment because it's the first time.
I almost planned for a elaborate event with video, cameras, settings etc.
Except there isn't any event to witness this significant moment....... it didn't even happen at all!!
YES.... I'm a bad parent!!! My wife is a bad parent!!! We have yet to give our kid his ang pao.
My parents gave him yesterday and we thought we will give him at 12am exactly but of course he slept early due to fever.
We thought... let's give him this morning when he wakes up. But he woke up too early and I promptly let my parents look after him so that we can continue sleeping.
When we are finally up, we need to rush out for visiting and we didn't want to rush thru such a significant moment like this, so we thought, let's wait till we came back home.
We come back home and he sleeps immediately because we had a long day and he is still having slight fever.
And now we have passed the first day and we have yet to give him the red packet.
Shall we forget it? I mean, you put money into a red packet, give to him which he doesn't know what is it, end of the day, you take out the money and put inside the bank for him. Might as well just do a internet banking and transfer the money to his account.
Still pondering.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
there's something about ..... new year "goodies"
I hope the year of the dog will start much better than the way year of rooster ended for my family.
My wife suffer from Food poisoning last weekend, follow by my mum. Both happened in the middle of the night and I have to go 24 hour clinic. And since the baby is taken care mostly by both of them, it became a challenge in the family since.
While my wife has fully recovered, the virus in my mum still persisted. She has diarriah (dunno how to spell) every alternate days and have seen doctors 3 times. As of today, we are not too certain whether she has recovered.
And I had sore throat early part of the week with slight flu and cough. So taking care of the kid became a bigger challenge with my wife and mum not exactly well too.
And yesterday morning, we woke up only to realised my kid has a high fever of 38.8 degrees. We were shocked as we didn't know how long in the night he has suffered.
Immediately we send him to the paedetrician (dunno how to spell). This is the first time he fell sick and somemore so high fever. So we were naturally worried.
We suspect is the big tooth thingy. But the doctor says he is suffering from Sore Throat. Win Liao lor. Of all things, he has the same problem as me.
Thus, medical expenses this week is about $300.
Not that I'm care about those $300 but if someone extort me for $300 in exchange for good health in the family, I will tell him I'll top it up to $500.
Seeing my son sick is damn heart pain. Seeing my mum sick is worrying.
So, I hope tomorrow being the start of the new year..... GOOD HEALTH TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS.
My wife suffer from Food poisoning last weekend, follow by my mum. Both happened in the middle of the night and I have to go 24 hour clinic. And since the baby is taken care mostly by both of them, it became a challenge in the family since.
While my wife has fully recovered, the virus in my mum still persisted. She has diarriah (dunno how to spell) every alternate days and have seen doctors 3 times. As of today, we are not too certain whether she has recovered.
And I had sore throat early part of the week with slight flu and cough. So taking care of the kid became a bigger challenge with my wife and mum not exactly well too.
And yesterday morning, we woke up only to realised my kid has a high fever of 38.8 degrees. We were shocked as we didn't know how long in the night he has suffered.
Immediately we send him to the paedetrician (dunno how to spell). This is the first time he fell sick and somemore so high fever. So we were naturally worried.
We suspect is the big tooth thingy. But the doctor says he is suffering from Sore Throat. Win Liao lor. Of all things, he has the same problem as me.
Thus, medical expenses this week is about $300.
Not that I'm care about those $300 but if someone extort me for $300 in exchange for good health in the family, I will tell him I'll top it up to $500.
Seeing my son sick is damn heart pain. Seeing my mum sick is worrying.
So, I hope tomorrow being the start of the new year..... GOOD HEALTH TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
there's something about ..... cheekybynature
This is a tribute of sort.
It was a great blog. Full of humour. Good writing. Original writing. It's a blog I go check it out everyday for new entry, or just go thru some of his past writings for fun reading.
Anyway, hope you come back soon.
Cheers
It was a great blog. Full of humour. Good writing. Original writing. It's a blog I go check it out everyday for new entry, or just go thru some of his past writings for fun reading.
Anyway, hope you come back soon.
Cheers
Sunday, January 22, 2006
there's something about ..... that phone
What a weekend. I can't even imagine how a day can be so perverse. The only Saturday I could really take a break off work with CNY next week and whoever up there decided to take it away from me.
This blog is inspired by "Momento". Should go see the movie.
Saturday 9.45pm
Got Home Finally. Physically and Mentally exhausted.
9.20pm
Got into my car at Cineleisure. Haven't been there like donkey years but didn't have the mood to walk around.
Nabeh!!! The end station of "NORTH/SOUTH" line is in the "WEST".
8.15pm
Finally My turn at Starhub Customer Service Centre. The customer service officer is very friendly. He single handledly restore my confidence in Starhub. He exchanged my nokia one for one.
7.30pm
Reached Starhub Customer Service Centre in Plaza Singapura. Bloody Hell, it's damn crowded.
7.20pm
Took a bus from Orchard Plaza, next to Midpoint Ochard.
7.10pm
Ran to Cuppage Centre. The sign at the door says "close at 7.30pm". Phew. Just in time. Went into the Starhub Shop, told the guy at the information counter that I like to change my phone.
The guy tested the phone, agreed that it's not working well. Walk in to ask his manager. Manager came out and told me that they don't do exchange. WTF?!?!?!?!?
Me: What?!! They told me to come here! They said you guys do exchange!!!
Manager: Sorry. We are solely doing Retail now. We have moved our Customer Service Centre to Plaza Singapura.
Me: Comeon... surely you guys can just do an exchange, afterall you guys are one same company.
Manager: Sorry we can't. We need to have the technician there to certify your phone is not working.
Me: No need to certify... you can see for yourself it's not working.
Manager: Without the technician certification, we cannot exchange phones. It's the policy. Please go to our Plaza Singapura Branch. They close at 9pm. You still have time.
I STORMED out of the shop.
7pm
Arrived at Heeren Starhub Road show. Went to the guy who sold me the phone. I told him that the phone is not working. He tested... and tested.
Salesman: Sorry, we can't exchange it for you.
Me: Why? I just bought this this afternoon. You remember me. And I have receipt to show.
Salesman: I know. But we can't exchange because we are a distributor and we only sell phone.
Me: WHAT?! But this phone you sold to me is not working and I only bought it few hours ago!!
Salesman: I know. But we can't do anything about the phone if you return to us.
Me: You return to Starhub lah.
Salesman: Sorry. It's not that we don't want to help you, it's we can't. You better rush down to Starhub Customer Service Centre. They will do a replacement for you if it's within a day.
Me: What?!? I came all the way here and you ask me to go Plaza Singapura??!
Another Salesman came over: Why don't you go to the one at Cuppage Centre, it's nearer. But you better go, they are closing soon.
Me: I can't believe this.
6.50pm
Car park at Cairnhill place is Full. I decided to try my luck at Cineleisure. Luckily the car park is not full but bloody entry is $3.
6.30pm
Just reached home. My wife told me the phone is not working. NABEH. I just got back from Town and I have to go back again.
6pm
Met up briefly with Anthony at Bugis.
4.30pm
Reached my work destination in River Valley.
4pm
Went out for my appointment.
2pm
Got home. Happy that I gotten a good deal for a phone. Pass to my wife but she was sleeping.
1.25pm
Finally my turn. Buy the phone, trade in my old one still can take back some money. Shiok man. Some more the phone selling cheaper by $70 than elsewhere. I was too preoccupied with the deal that I didn't think of asking to test the phone, and they didn't offer as well.
12.40pm
Reached Heeren. Wah... Bloody long queue. Nabeh. But never mind lah, today not much work commitment. Can wait.
12.15pm
Saw on advertisement about the phone offer. decided to rush down to Heeren.
11am
Work up. Weather was fine. Felt like a good Day.
This blog is inspired by "Momento". Should go see the movie.
Saturday 9.45pm
Got Home Finally. Physically and Mentally exhausted.
9.20pm
Got into my car at Cineleisure. Haven't been there like donkey years but didn't have the mood to walk around.
9.10pm
Step out of Somerset Station. Walk towards Cineleisure. Wanted to cross over to Heeren to vent my anger. Decided I'm too tired for that.
8.45pm
Douby Ghaut MRT interchange. Ninabeh. I felt like a F%$^ tourist. I actually got LOST in that F!^$ station. I wanted to take the train to Somerset MRT station and was looking for the North-South line, and promptly follow the direction signs in the train station. They put up a make-shift sign that says "Orchard, Yishun" next to the escalator and I just follow and take the escalator down.
But when I went down I couldn't find the F$^! direction to lead me to the right platform. All I saw was "NORTH-SOUTH LINE JURONG EAST/MARINA BAY". But I couldn't find that one that says anything remotely suggesting Orchard. I thought I went to the wrong level... I mean the Douby Ghaut Station is like bloody Big.
So I went back up thinking perhaps I went to the wrong escalator.
But it was correct. So I thought maybe I didn't search properly for the platform and I went back down again.
Still... I cannot find the direction that brings me towards North where Somerset station is.
So I went back up again. This time, I decided to put aside my ego and go to the control station to ask for help. I mean... I'm in my 30s plus a local ... and I bloody need help to find my way in a MRT Station?!?!?!?!?
I went to the control station and ask....
Me: Which way towards Orchard?
Officer: That way.
Me: But I went down and all it says was JURONG EAST/MARINA BAY??
Officer, show me a map: Neh......
Nabeh!!! The end station of "NORTH/SOUTH" line is in the "WEST".
8.15pm
Finally My turn at Starhub Customer Service Centre. The customer service officer is very friendly. He single handledly restore my confidence in Starhub. He exchanged my nokia one for one.
7.30pm
Reached Starhub Customer Service Centre in Plaza Singapura. Bloody Hell, it's damn crowded.
7.20pm
Took a bus from Orchard Plaza, next to Midpoint Ochard.
7.10pm
Ran to Cuppage Centre. The sign at the door says "close at 7.30pm". Phew. Just in time. Went into the Starhub Shop, told the guy at the information counter that I like to change my phone.
The guy tested the phone, agreed that it's not working well. Walk in to ask his manager. Manager came out and told me that they don't do exchange. WTF?!?!?!?!?
Me: What?!! They told me to come here! They said you guys do exchange!!!
Manager: Sorry. We are solely doing Retail now. We have moved our Customer Service Centre to Plaza Singapura.
Me: Comeon... surely you guys can just do an exchange, afterall you guys are one same company.
Manager: Sorry we can't. We need to have the technician there to certify your phone is not working.
Me: No need to certify... you can see for yourself it's not working.
Manager: Without the technician certification, we cannot exchange phones. It's the policy. Please go to our Plaza Singapura Branch. They close at 9pm. You still have time.
I STORMED out of the shop.
7pm
Arrived at Heeren Starhub Road show. Went to the guy who sold me the phone. I told him that the phone is not working. He tested... and tested.
Salesman: Sorry, we can't exchange it for you.
Me: Why? I just bought this this afternoon. You remember me. And I have receipt to show.
Salesman: I know. But we can't exchange because we are a distributor and we only sell phone.
Me: WHAT?! But this phone you sold to me is not working and I only bought it few hours ago!!
Salesman: I know. But we can't do anything about the phone if you return to us.
Me: You return to Starhub lah.
Salesman: Sorry. It's not that we don't want to help you, it's we can't. You better rush down to Starhub Customer Service Centre. They will do a replacement for you if it's within a day.
Me: What?!? I came all the way here and you ask me to go Plaza Singapura??!
Another Salesman came over: Why don't you go to the one at Cuppage Centre, it's nearer. But you better go, they are closing soon.
Me: I can't believe this.
6.50pm
Car park at Cairnhill place is Full. I decided to try my luck at Cineleisure. Luckily the car park is not full but bloody entry is $3.
6.30pm
Just reached home. My wife told me the phone is not working. NABEH. I just got back from Town and I have to go back again.
6pm
Met up briefly with Anthony at Bugis.
4.30pm
Reached my work destination in River Valley.
4pm
Went out for my appointment.
2pm
Got home. Happy that I gotten a good deal for a phone. Pass to my wife but she was sleeping.
1.25pm
Finally my turn. Buy the phone, trade in my old one still can take back some money. Shiok man. Some more the phone selling cheaper by $70 than elsewhere. I was too preoccupied with the deal that I didn't think of asking to test the phone, and they didn't offer as well.
12.40pm
Reached Heeren. Wah... Bloody long queue. Nabeh. But never mind lah, today not much work commitment. Can wait.
12.15pm
Saw on advertisement about the phone offer. decided to rush down to Heeren.
11am
Work up. Weather was fine. Felt like a good Day.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
there's something about ..... pronounciation
All I wanted was a simple name for my kid. Nothing complicated. Just 1 syllabus name..... except... I was told much later.. it's not 1 syllabus but 2!!!! NABEH!!!
Then why the hell did everyone pronounce it the way I know all my life?!?!?!
When I grew up watching Ian Rush (that liverpool legend).... people pronounce Ian as Yan/Yen or something like that.
But when I told some of my friends of "higher" society, I became a laughing stock.
It's not pronounce as "Yan/yen" or single syllabus... but it's supposed to be a dual syllabus with a very soft "e" in front.
Thus.. it's pronounce as "e-yen".
Of course some "lower" society will pronounce IANAHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Nabeh. Now I'm super lost.
Friend 1: What's his name?
Me: "e-yen"
Friend 1: huh?
Me: YAN.
Friend 1: Orhh.. Y A N issit?
Me: No... I A N.
Friend 2: What's his name?
Me: "yan"
Friend 2: orhhh... Y A N issit?
Me: No... I A N.
Friend 2: ahhh... I see.
My friend of "higher" society tells me that "Ian" is of Irish heritage. Thus the need to pronounce it the irish way.
Just like "JOSE" is not pronounce as "JOES" or "JO-SE", but "Or-Say".
Or
"Genting" while commonly pronounce as "JAN TING", I was told it's "Geng ting"
Or
"Johan" is not pronounced as "Jo-han" but "Your-han"
Or
If a French guy called "Robert", you don't call him "Raw-bert", you call him "Raw-bear". If a Singaporean called "Robert", you don't call him "Raw-bert", you call him "Lor Bert"
Interestingly, when my Phillipino Maid first arrived, she called my son "e-yen". My wife and myself were embarrassed.
And as a Father, I felt a terrible need to correct myself constantly so that I pronounce it the correct way, so that my son will learn his name correctly and not have to be corrected by some "higher" society friends.
Now... the bigger task at hand.... how to correct the "lower" society not to call him IANAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Ian: Daddy... what's my name?
Me: "e-yen"
Ian: Then how come ah gu call me IANAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Me: Ok... tell mummy, you don't want to go Ah Gu's house every sunday ok.
Then why the hell did everyone pronounce it the way I know all my life?!?!?!
When I grew up watching Ian Rush (that liverpool legend).... people pronounce Ian as Yan/Yen or something like that.
But when I told some of my friends of "higher" society, I became a laughing stock.
It's not pronounce as "Yan/yen" or single syllabus... but it's supposed to be a dual syllabus with a very soft "e" in front.
Thus.. it's pronounce as "e-yen".
Of course some "lower" society will pronounce IANAHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Nabeh. Now I'm super lost.
Friend 1: What's his name?
Me: "e-yen"
Friend 1: huh?
Me: YAN.
Friend 1: Orhh.. Y A N issit?
Me: No... I A N.
Friend 2: What's his name?
Me: "yan"
Friend 2: orhhh... Y A N issit?
Me: No... I A N.
Friend 2: ahhh... I see.
My friend of "higher" society tells me that "Ian" is of Irish heritage. Thus the need to pronounce it the irish way.
Just like "JOSE" is not pronounce as "JOES" or "JO-SE", but "Or-Say".
Or
"Genting" while commonly pronounce as "JAN TING", I was told it's "Geng ting"
Or
"Johan" is not pronounced as "Jo-han" but "Your-han"
Or
If a French guy called "Robert", you don't call him "Raw-bert", you call him "Raw-bear". If a Singaporean called "Robert", you don't call him "Raw-bert", you call him "Lor Bert"
Interestingly, when my Phillipino Maid first arrived, she called my son "e-yen". My wife and myself were embarrassed.
And as a Father, I felt a terrible need to correct myself constantly so that I pronounce it the correct way, so that my son will learn his name correctly and not have to be corrected by some "higher" society friends.
Now... the bigger task at hand.... how to correct the "lower" society not to call him IANAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Ian: Daddy... what's my name?
Me: "e-yen"
Ian: Then how come ah gu call me IANAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Me: Ok... tell mummy, you don't want to go Ah Gu's house every sunday ok.
Friday, January 13, 2006
there's something about ..... globetrotting
Isetan at Shawn Building
Tangs
Lucky Plaza
Wisma Atria (few times)
Ngee Ann City (few times)
Paragon
Centrepoint (few times)
John Little (few times)
Plaza Singapura
Raffles City
ADELPHI
FUNAN
Bugis Junction
OG at Waterloo (few times)
Suntec City (few times)
Millienium Tower
Marina Square
Thomson Plaza (many times)
Junction 8 (many times)
HDB Hub (many times)
Chinatown
Just realised yesterday my kid has been to alot of the shopping malls, even ADELPHI.
Siao liao... I ran out of places to bring him.
Yesterday we also went Chinatown. After we finished our hair cut (the whole family excluding the kid and maid) at Adelphi around 8.30pm, we realised the rain had stopped and going Chinatown seems logical.
It was fantastic. There is enough crowd to keep the place festive but not super crowded. We can even push the pram without difficulty. On top of that, there was a light breeze.
It was great.
We almost bought a Wong Fei Hong hat for him but it was a bit too big and we didn't think it will be comfortable to wear over a long time. So as all Kiasu parent, I took a picture without buying. Hiak Hiak Hiak.
I remember we used to go every year with JET and we will buy new year stuffs for our in laws and we will patronise the same shop every year. But now, it's getting logistically troublesome with the kid and stuffs.
Chinatown always have the same old things. They have tidbits, new year goodies, new year decorations, cushion covers, coconut drinks. Somehow, every year we will buy cushion covers from China town.
Tangs
Lucky Plaza
Wisma Atria (few times)
Ngee Ann City (few times)
Paragon
Centrepoint (few times)
John Little (few times)
Plaza Singapura
Raffles City
ADELPHI
FUNAN
Bugis Junction
OG at Waterloo (few times)
Suntec City (few times)
Millienium Tower
Marina Square
Thomson Plaza (many times)
Junction 8 (many times)
HDB Hub (many times)
Chinatown
Just realised yesterday my kid has been to alot of the shopping malls, even ADELPHI.
Siao liao... I ran out of places to bring him.
Yesterday we also went Chinatown. After we finished our hair cut (the whole family excluding the kid and maid) at Adelphi around 8.30pm, we realised the rain had stopped and going Chinatown seems logical.It was fantastic. There is enough crowd to keep the place festive but not super crowded. We can even push the pram without difficulty. On top of that, there was a light breeze.
It was great.
We almost bought a Wong Fei Hong hat for him but it was a bit too big and we didn't think it will be comfortable to wear over a long time. So as all Kiasu parent, I took a picture without buying. Hiak Hiak Hiak.
I remember we used to go every year with JET and we will buy new year stuffs for our in laws and we will patronise the same shop every year. But now, it's getting logistically troublesome with the kid and stuffs.
Chinatown always have the same old things. They have tidbits, new year goodies, new year decorations, cushion covers, coconut drinks. Somehow, every year we will buy cushion covers from China town.
Last year was 3 for $10. This year, many stalls were going for $2 each. Interestingly, some stalls are still sticking to 3 for $10, even when their neighbouring stalls for going for $2 each.
I like to defy buying logic. So I went the shop selling 3 for $10 and ask for discount telling her that the stall next to them was selling at $2. The sales girl gave me a dead pan answer "NO".
Why did I even bother? I mean it's already cheap at $2 each, so why even bother trying to get a even better price next door, how much savings can I get from there? And in the process kenna snub. And also for the same designs covers.
2 things. First it's cheap thrill. There is no fun in negotiating something already so cheap at $2. But negotiating something perceived as expensive and get a good deal is shiok. But if you failed, going back to the neighbour shop, buy many cushion covers at $2 and walk pass the expensive shop, show them you bought many from the cheap stall... lagi shiok.
Secondly, I like to prove a theory. It doesn't make sense for a stall in Chinatown in a Chinese New Year month with so high competition from so many stalls selling the same thing, and with weather not in their favour, being so sales-disoriented. It's like telling people "don't buy from me, I'm not here to increase sales, go buy from my neighbour", unless.... this is their point.... buy from their neighbour..... meaning to say, both the stalls belong to the same owner. It's their strategy to sell their $2 cushion faster.
I got to be right.
Another thing I'm right is that Singaporean are blinded with brands. We walked past Lim Chee Kuan BBQ Pork shop. When we walked past, there was a super long queue around 9pm. When we were on our way back about 11pm, there were a short queue of say around 3 person. I thought it might be a good opportunity for me to buy a few packets back.
Ninabeh. They were selling their BBQ porks crumbs whatever you called it. The proper slices are all sold out, and they are just selling off the "balance loose pieces".
And these people are still queuing for it?!?!?! I decided to go Mei Zhen Xiang instead. No queue... proper slices.
Another theory... could Mei Zhen Xiang belongs to Lim Chee Kuan?!?
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
there's something about ..... movie reviews
Ratings as follows:
***** Mai Tu Liao
**** Wah… Solid leh
*** Ok Lah
** Ni Nabeh
* WTF is this
This show is also known as The new Mr and Mrs Pitt. The first half of the show ain't that bad. But the second half... REAL BAD.
I felt they drag the storyline a bit too long. The shooting scenes are so amateurish it seems like the director wasn't too interested about the action sequence but merely wanted to show the relationship between the smiths.
Just too cliche. Bad.
ratings: **
This show is funny. Some classic scenes. But the love story lacks punch. I mean seriously who cares about love story in a show like this? This doesn't belong in the same class as There's something about Mary or American Pie I, but a good top 10. The DVD came with good bonus materials as well.
***** Mai Tu Liao
**** Wah… Solid leh
*** Ok Lah
** Ni Nabeh
* WTF is this
This show is also known as The new Mr and Mrs Pitt. The first half of the show ain't that bad. But the second half... REAL BAD.
I felt they drag the storyline a bit too long. The shooting scenes are so amateurish it seems like the director wasn't too interested about the action sequence but merely wanted to show the relationship between the smiths.
Just too cliche. Bad.
ratings: **
This show is funny. Some classic scenes. But the love story lacks punch. I mean seriously who cares about love story in a show like this? This doesn't belong in the same class as There's something about Mary or American Pie I, but a good top 10. The DVD came with good bonus materials as well.
Ratings: ****
This is Meet the Black Parents but not as funny. They tried to play on the racist jokes but to limited effect. I dunno why, but why is Hollywood trying to create a Romantic Guy out of Ashton Kutcher or Mr Demi Moore? His last few movies is about Love Love Love. I think he is better as a Funny Guy. Bernie Mac is his usual funny self. He really save the movie.
Ratings: ***
I remember when the movie came out, they bill this as the best action movie promising great fighting sceneS between Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen.
Firstly, Donnie Yen is at best a supporting role if you ask me and yet his face is as big as Sammo Hung. The fighting scene?!?!??! NABEH... THERE IS JUST ONE....between the both of them.
In fact, Sammo Hung only fight just once throughout the whole show!! And that's it.
The whole show got only 2 fighting scenes and the choreagraphy is really bad. To think you have 2 of the famous Kung Fu chaps, and they couldn't come out a good fighting sequence at all. Even Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong is more entertaining. This is a real shame.
The story line..... it's triad vs Police. They tried to make this a Infernal Affair standard but failed. Also, certain scenes are too gruesome.
Rating: *
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Monday, January 09, 2006
there's something about ..... charity show
Win already.
I told myself never... never .... donate a single cent for anymore charity show on TV and today I donated $15.
It's impossible not to donate.
The whole renci show was a dissappointment. Jazzlyn Tay was injured rehearsing a "Cirque Du Solei" performance according to her and she voiced her unhappiness to the press saying why they have to risk life for the sake of charity.
Her complaint carries more coverage than what reverend Ming Yi was to do earlier for the show.
And so I watched in anticipation for that performance to come.
Nabeh!! What nonsense!! While I was expecting life-endangering moves, it wasn't something that will give you a "WAH.." It was moves that could easily be mastered thru practises by amateurs.
If we can have a reverse donation for every bad performance by these people, I will be very rich.
But.... But..... But......
The performance by reverend Ming Yi was so damn touching. He has to walk on 2 parrellel flat beams suspended at the top of Republic Plaza IN THE RAIN AND STRONG WINDS without support!!!
Every little step he took, your heart skip a bit.
After he completed the parrellel beams, he was to have tried to walk on a single round beam. But due to the weather conditions, they have to cancel that for safety reason. At that time, reverend Ming Yi was holding back his tears for not able to continue with the performance.
Nabeh!!! That sincerity touched me so much, I felted I have to donate or be damned.
How I wish it was TT Durai who did that performance and that he fall off and I don't have to part my $15.
I told myself never... never .... donate a single cent for anymore charity show on TV and today I donated $15.
It's impossible not to donate.
The whole renci show was a dissappointment. Jazzlyn Tay was injured rehearsing a "Cirque Du Solei" performance according to her and she voiced her unhappiness to the press saying why they have to risk life for the sake of charity.
Her complaint carries more coverage than what reverend Ming Yi was to do earlier for the show.
And so I watched in anticipation for that performance to come.
Nabeh!! What nonsense!! While I was expecting life-endangering moves, it wasn't something that will give you a "WAH.." It was moves that could easily be mastered thru practises by amateurs.
If we can have a reverse donation for every bad performance by these people, I will be very rich.
But.... But..... But......
The performance by reverend Ming Yi was so damn touching. He has to walk on 2 parrellel flat beams suspended at the top of Republic Plaza IN THE RAIN AND STRONG WINDS without support!!!
Every little step he took, your heart skip a bit.
After he completed the parrellel beams, he was to have tried to walk on a single round beam. But due to the weather conditions, they have to cancel that for safety reason. At that time, reverend Ming Yi was holding back his tears for not able to continue with the performance.
Nabeh!!! That sincerity touched me so much, I felted I have to donate or be damned.
How I wish it was TT Durai who did that performance and that he fall off and I don't have to part my $15.
Kudos to Reverend Ming Yi. Just his performance garnered about 200,000 calls and probably about $3million in donation.
To jazslyn Tay, hope you recover soon and after that learn how to keep quiet and after that change your name... it's damn hard to spell!
Friday, January 06, 2006
there's something about ..... 饭 tastic
FANTASTIC!!!!
IT'S TRULY FABULOUS!!!!
If you like Rice Burger from MOS Burger, you will like the Chicken FAN tastic from Macdonald. If you are not a fan of Rice Burger, blame it on MOS Burger cos this one from Macdonald will blow you away!!!
I tried both the Chicken FANtastic and Beef FANtastic and I must say the FORMER blew me away. The beef Fantastic tasted more bland and I felt no different from eating the one from MOS Burger. But the Chicken one... YUMMY!!!!
In my opinion, the best creation since the SUMURAI Burger. And talk about Rebound. Macdonald finally put their act together since their disastrous creation in the McNuggets New sauces and their Kaya breakfast.
Go Eat it before it's too late.
IT'S TRULY FABULOUS!!!!
If you like Rice Burger from MOS Burger, you will like the Chicken FAN tastic from Macdonald. If you are not a fan of Rice Burger, blame it on MOS Burger cos this one from Macdonald will blow you away!!!
I tried both the Chicken FANtastic and Beef FANtastic and I must say the FORMER blew me away. The beef Fantastic tasted more bland and I felt no different from eating the one from MOS Burger. But the Chicken one... YUMMY!!!!
In my opinion, the best creation since the SUMURAI Burger. And talk about Rebound. Macdonald finally put their act together since their disastrous creation in the McNuggets New sauces and their Kaya breakfast.
Go Eat it before it's too late.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
there's something about ..... ang gong gia
For the first time ever... in blogging history.... exclusive to Cow.dunking, for a very limited time before it's removed from here.... I PRESENT
my brother in law's ANG GONG GIA.
FOR 3 DAYS ONLY!!!
my brother in law's ANG GONG GIA.
FOR 3 DAYS ONLY!!!
Monday, January 02, 2006
there's something about ..... year start
2006 started with a "bang".
My kid fell from the bed and has a bump on the forehead.
My parent-in-law met with a road bully, the latter still alive the last I heard. (he was lucky not to have met my brother in law)
My wife was stuck with me at my friend's house over 6 hours because I was playing blackjack and getting tipsy in the process.
I got to know that my old friend just got out of a relationship of 7 years and I sense he is getting very emotionally unstable. Kept saying that a soothsayer told him he wouldn't survive past this lunar year.
I played blackjack and lost $50.
I go to my inlaw's place. I thought approaching 7pm, no need to go liao... but I was wrong about it and have to drive over in the rain.
Stayed till 11pm and miss half an hour of "Spy Game" shown on TV.
Fabulous way to start 2006!!!
My kid fell from the bed and has a bump on the forehead.
My parent-in-law met with a road bully, the latter still alive the last I heard. (he was lucky not to have met my brother in law)
My wife was stuck with me at my friend's house over 6 hours because I was playing blackjack and getting tipsy in the process.
I got to know that my old friend just got out of a relationship of 7 years and I sense he is getting very emotionally unstable. Kept saying that a soothsayer told him he wouldn't survive past this lunar year.
I played blackjack and lost $50.
I go to my inlaw's place. I thought approaching 7pm, no need to go liao... but I was wrong about it and have to drive over in the rain.
Stayed till 11pm and miss half an hour of "Spy Game" shown on TV.
Fabulous way to start 2006!!!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
there's something about ..... year end
I'm always quite nostalgia about the year's end. I willl always look back on the year and think what have I done, what happened in the year, what's the up and down of the year etc etc.
So this is the TOP 10 things of 2005 to me.
AT NO. 10. Setting up this blog. It's no big deal as it's really quite simple, even for a technical nerd like me. But what is significant is that, I actually stick to my 2005 resolution of doing something like this.
NO.9. My maid arrived. While this is also no big deal to most people, but this present a change in lifestyle to me. I can't walk freely in my bare body, I can't talk and act crazy, I have to constantly look Fierce, which is hard.
NO.8. Got a "new" Desktop PC. This will deserve a mention since this only happen like once every 5 years. Surely this must be very shallow, considering even without one, my life will not be any better or worse. But you must know, with a boring life like mine, such things can be top 10 lah.
NO.7. Treasure Hunt. I really enjoy this. It's something I look forward to experiencing it for a long time ago, so this is definitely a highlight of the year.
NO.6. My birthday. While I celebrated this every year, this is the first year I celebrated as a father. It's a big jump in your life.
NO.5. Send my maid back. It's not so much about the sending. But the events that lead up to the sending off. It was a nightmare over 2 weeks, constantly staying up in the middle of the night to play dedectives, constantly worrying about strangers coming into our house, and the safety of my family.
NO.4. Sold of my car. This was an emotional send-off. Yes... I initiated the selling. I wanted to sell. But that doesn't mean I can't miss my car, especially it also goes with my number plate over 13 years.
NO.3. Liverpool win Champions League. Grown man do cry.
NO.2. Going thru labour with my wife. It's a hell of a experience. I'm sure my wife felt the same way. This not only rank as the highlight of the year, but I guess it's also the highlight of our lives.
NO.1 Birth of my son. Grown man do cry.
Anyway, 2005 is coming to an end. I will always remember it for the lovely memories it gave me.
My resolution for 2006, in no particular order.
No.1. Learn how to set up webpage. I think this is a natural progression from Blog.
No.2. To improve on my business and hope for a breakthru year.
No.3. To become a better father. I think I'm lagging from my wife.
No.4. To lose weight. I have lost 2 kg in the last few months, hope to hit 75kg.
No.5. To find a new hobby.
So, meanwhile, I wish 2006 a better year for everyone.
Cheers.
So this is the TOP 10 things of 2005 to me.
AT NO. 10. Setting up this blog. It's no big deal as it's really quite simple, even for a technical nerd like me. But what is significant is that, I actually stick to my 2005 resolution of doing something like this.
NO.9. My maid arrived. While this is also no big deal to most people, but this present a change in lifestyle to me. I can't walk freely in my bare body, I can't talk and act crazy, I have to constantly look Fierce, which is hard.
NO.8. Got a "new" Desktop PC. This will deserve a mention since this only happen like once every 5 years. Surely this must be very shallow, considering even without one, my life will not be any better or worse. But you must know, with a boring life like mine, such things can be top 10 lah.
NO.7. Treasure Hunt. I really enjoy this. It's something I look forward to experiencing it for a long time ago, so this is definitely a highlight of the year.
NO.6. My birthday. While I celebrated this every year, this is the first year I celebrated as a father. It's a big jump in your life.
NO.5. Send my maid back. It's not so much about the sending. But the events that lead up to the sending off. It was a nightmare over 2 weeks, constantly staying up in the middle of the night to play dedectives, constantly worrying about strangers coming into our house, and the safety of my family.
NO.4. Sold of my car. This was an emotional send-off. Yes... I initiated the selling. I wanted to sell. But that doesn't mean I can't miss my car, especially it also goes with my number plate over 13 years.
NO.3. Liverpool win Champions League. Grown man do cry.
NO.2. Going thru labour with my wife. It's a hell of a experience. I'm sure my wife felt the same way. This not only rank as the highlight of the year, but I guess it's also the highlight of our lives.
NO.1 Birth of my son. Grown man do cry.
Anyway, 2005 is coming to an end. I will always remember it for the lovely memories it gave me.
My resolution for 2006, in no particular order.
No.1. Learn how to set up webpage. I think this is a natural progression from Blog.
No.2. To improve on my business and hope for a breakthru year.
No.3. To become a better father. I think I'm lagging from my wife.
No.4. To lose weight. I have lost 2 kg in the last few months, hope to hit 75kg.
No.5. To find a new hobby.
So, meanwhile, I wish 2006 a better year for everyone.
Cheers.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
there's something about ..... Christmas
Christmas come and gone. Nabeh.
Log cake
How come Christmas Cake must be a Log Cake? I haven't eaten anything christmas cake that is not a "LOG" cake. Just because Chocolate cake is popular, they conveniently use chocolate to make a brown-looking cake and named it "log"? Nabeh. Talk about creativity.
Playing some one else's present
I think my kid inherited abit of me. Which is, can Play... no need to sleep. In fact, every day he sleeps around 12 plus, which I was told it's bad for the kid. But what to do.
He sleeps with us and we don't sleep until he sleeps. If we awake, how he sleeps early. That night, he slept around 1 plus 2, and even that it's due to much coasing.
I think at baby's term, he seems to enjoy that night. I think he got sick of the same old toys he has at home, and Jeff's place got alot of different toys. Hor say liao, I just found myself a new excuse to go Jeff's place more often.
Gift exchange this year is kinda of interesting. The value is upped to $20, first time since we celebrate christmas together.
Interestingly, a Straits Times article a day before was on Gifts that Most people dislikes. Not surprisingly.... NO.1 ..... PHOTO FRAMES. Hahaha.
We went shopping for Gift Exchanges at Takashimaya this year. Not only for the gathering, but also for my wife's office party.
The office party has a $10 budget which after years of experience, I could almost immediately know what to buy. I reckon, if I were to buy it, I can choose something and pay up in less than 5 mins.
But my dear wife..... woman being woman... they want to spend more time choosing the right present, making sure that whoever receive it will like it.
My explanation to my wife (often fell on deaf ears) is like this, firstly, there aren't that many choices at $10 where "whoever receive it will like it". I told her, have we like any of the presents in the last donkey years of gift exchange at $10? Except... the very last one where I got a key pouch and even that is not $10.
So, if you can't determine who will get your present, the profile of the person that will get your present, how can you determine what present that someone will like?
So I told her, to waste time, and just buy. But as I said, it often fell on deaf ears.
After like 40 mins, we go pay up.... and she got a PHOTO FRAME for her office party. Wah.... luckily I don't work there.
I don't know what's with TAKASHIMAYA's Wrapper. Every girl crave for the wrapper. The queue for the wrapper is like super long. My wife insisted that I queue for it.
I told her... aiyeah... just take any wrapper we have at home lah... why must queue for it. Of course, again... it fell on deaf ears. And I have to queue.
Maybe it's the fact that Taka got this snob appeal and thus everything that comes with a Taka wrapper, must be expensive.... even if it is a $10 PHOTO FRAME. Ultimate.
Lesson learnt no.1. It's not what's on the outside, it's what's in the inside.
Back to our gift exchange, this year $20 budget present some unusual things. I was quietly observing to see if there is a more expensive photoframe or a more expensive mug. But... they veli good.... they put in more thoughts this time round, maybe because at $20, there are more options.
We have :
I remember the most classic of gifts in the past....
Good things always come and go very fast. Bad things come very fast but go very slowly.
Boxing Day is literally a day where I kenna "box", some more over the trivial of matters, none of which is my fault.
That is the problem when your job nature is 24/7. I ever received an SMS from my client 4am in the morning, she decided to send me the sms when she remembers in the middle of the night because she was afraid of forgetting it the next day. Problem is, I forgot to set my phone to silent mode.
Anyway, Christmas Gathering at Jeff's was good. And when I arrived, I realised we haven't been to their place since exactly a year ago. Wow... that must have broken some record, considering I was a regular visitor to their house....... and toilet.
Again, we never seems to learn.... we seems to have over-catered the food.
Very merry
What is see above did not even include 2 boxes of Salad which was left untouched, half the logcake not finished, 1 bottle of juice-wine not opened.
I reckon based on value, it's probably a wastage of about $80.
Log cake
How come Christmas Cake must be a Log Cake? I haven't eaten anything christmas cake that is not a "LOG" cake. Just because Chocolate cake is popular, they conveniently use chocolate to make a brown-looking cake and named it "log"? Nabeh. Talk about creativity.
Playing some one else's present
I think my kid inherited abit of me. Which is, can Play... no need to sleep. In fact, every day he sleeps around 12 plus, which I was told it's bad for the kid. But what to do.
He sleeps with us and we don't sleep until he sleeps. If we awake, how he sleeps early. That night, he slept around 1 plus 2, and even that it's due to much coasing.
I think at baby's term, he seems to enjoy that night. I think he got sick of the same old toys he has at home, and Jeff's place got alot of different toys. Hor say liao, I just found myself a new excuse to go Jeff's place more often.
Gift exchange this year is kinda of interesting. The value is upped to $20, first time since we celebrate christmas together.
Interestingly, a Straits Times article a day before was on Gifts that Most people dislikes. Not surprisingly.... NO.1 ..... PHOTO FRAMES. Hahaha.
We went shopping for Gift Exchanges at Takashimaya this year. Not only for the gathering, but also for my wife's office party.
The office party has a $10 budget which after years of experience, I could almost immediately know what to buy. I reckon, if I were to buy it, I can choose something and pay up in less than 5 mins.
But my dear wife..... woman being woman... they want to spend more time choosing the right present, making sure that whoever receive it will like it.
My explanation to my wife (often fell on deaf ears) is like this, firstly, there aren't that many choices at $10 where "whoever receive it will like it". I told her, have we like any of the presents in the last donkey years of gift exchange at $10? Except... the very last one where I got a key pouch and even that is not $10.
So, if you can't determine who will get your present, the profile of the person that will get your present, how can you determine what present that someone will like?
So I told her, to waste time, and just buy. But as I said, it often fell on deaf ears.
After like 40 mins, we go pay up.... and she got a PHOTO FRAME for her office party. Wah.... luckily I don't work there.
I don't know what's with TAKASHIMAYA's Wrapper. Every girl crave for the wrapper. The queue for the wrapper is like super long. My wife insisted that I queue for it.
I told her... aiyeah... just take any wrapper we have at home lah... why must queue for it. Of course, again... it fell on deaf ears. And I have to queue.
Maybe it's the fact that Taka got this snob appeal and thus everything that comes with a Taka wrapper, must be expensive.... even if it is a $10 PHOTO FRAME. Ultimate.
Lesson learnt no.1. It's not what's on the outside, it's what's in the inside.
Back to our gift exchange, this year $20 budget present some unusual things. I was quietly observing to see if there is a more expensive photoframe or a more expensive mug. But... they veli good.... they put in more thoughts this time round, maybe because at $20, there are more options.
We have :
- Optical microsoft mouse. Veli happening... because the buyer of that gift decided to go MOTOROLA RAZ V3 by buying 2 of different colours... one black and one pink. PINK mouse.... to me... that is really cute.
- cushion Clock.
- Fila Bag
- key chain
- Soft toy
- Towels
I remember the most classic of gifts in the past....
- 2 metal balls that one rolled within their hands, supposedly for blood circulation. That balls without parantel supervision, can killed someone if some kid use it and play baseball with it.
I hope edwin has improved health since then.
Friday, December 23, 2005
there's something about ..... charging Durai
Read with interest on the NKF saga. So much info overload, it's getting quite repetitive.
But will Durai be charged?
But will Durai be charged?
- Backdating his pay? ...... No.
- Backdating his annual leave and cash them out ..... No.
- Increase salary of his staff a few times a year ..... No.
- Surpassing the 30% mark of expenditure for fund raising events .... No.
- Fly First Class even if it is donor's fund ...... No.
- Buy many air tickets but never use them ..... No.
- Buy medicine but earn a profit by charging patients higher ..... No.
- Only 10 cent of every dollar spend on patient ..... No.
- Buying Gold taps ..... No.
- Spending 30k a month on credit card .... No.
- Misleading information...... No.
All the above are just corporate governance goes haywire, so what if they are a charity entity.
If your board approved your salary.... what can you do. If the CEO approve pay increment, it is his right to do so. He is the CEO afterall.
He can spend all the money he wants but he also ensure the "company" is not in the red. He didn't borrow money to spend. He spend on "profits". What's wrong with that.
Charging patients at a profit but patients still pay lower than elsewhere, what's wrong with that.
Ok.. surpass the 30% mark for expenditure.... sorry... wrong judgement... what you want me to do now... I already spend them. Go ask Mediacorps to return you the money, ask SPH to return you the money.
10 cent out of every dollar spent on patient. But nobody complain before.
Misleading information. It's a different perspective.
My point is, these are just problems associated with corporate governance and it is not a criminal offence nor a white collar crime.
Any problem with whatever happen only means NKF will face penalties or fine. But not Durai, even if he is the CEO.
What I'm hoping to happen is this.
Money that goes into those 2 companies that failed to deliver, indirectly goes back to Durai.
THAT would be white collar crime.
That would be fine and perhaps jail. And fine will not be small. Whatever the amount fine.... hopefully the government will return back to NKF.
Jail term... I don't think so even if it is what everyone wanted. But he is finished in Singapore. His only option is back in INDIA. So the best way is to fine him hard hard, so even if he leaves Singapore, at least Singapore can retrieve whatever amount belonging to Singaporean's patients and not be siphorned into India.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
there's something about ..... pc upgrade
My PC is finally upgraded!!!!
I do this (I meant the whole excercise) like every 5 years. And I'm not joking. Just to share with you a bit history of my PC.
I bought my PC in 1992. If you ever remember, DIGITEK. Last time this brand like machiam damn can. Before that, my PC was SHERRY... remember that brand. Like also machiam very can also.
But both the brands now... not very can. Cannot find.
Some time in 1998/9, I took over Anthony's hardware and put it into my Digitek. I believe it was Pentium 2.
And now... in 2005 December, almost 2006... I inherited Lily's PC. A pentium 3. But this process is damn CHI CHAM.
2 weeks ago, lily bought a new harddisk for the setup. After installing all the software, I think the PC got error... cannot run.
Over the weekend, lily tried again... and it was working. Hor Say liao, I took it back yesterday with full of anticipation, set it up at home.....
And..... I got an error "65k/56hz frequency out of range".
Win liao... monitor problem. Lily did the setup at her place and the system accepted her LCD panel as default and my 1998/9 Philip CRT monitor cannot accept the frequency. Nabeh.
I was given 3 solutions today:
I do this (I meant the whole excercise) like every 5 years. And I'm not joking. Just to share with you a bit history of my PC.
I bought my PC in 1992. If you ever remember, DIGITEK. Last time this brand like machiam damn can. Before that, my PC was SHERRY... remember that brand. Like also machiam very can also.
But both the brands now... not very can. Cannot find.
Some time in 1998/9, I took over Anthony's hardware and put it into my Digitek. I believe it was Pentium 2.
And now... in 2005 December, almost 2006... I inherited Lily's PC. A pentium 3. But this process is damn CHI CHAM.
2 weeks ago, lily bought a new harddisk for the setup. After installing all the software, I think the PC got error... cannot run.
Over the weekend, lily tried again... and it was working. Hor Say liao, I took it back yesterday with full of anticipation, set it up at home.....
And..... I got an error "65k/56hz frequency out of range".
Win liao... monitor problem. Lily did the setup at her place and the system accepted her LCD panel as default and my 1998/9 Philip CRT monitor cannot accept the frequency. Nabeh.
I was given 3 solutions today:
- Bring the system back to Lily and set the monitor to a lower resolution and bring it back.
- Buy a new LCD panel.
- Re-install XP and thus all the softwares that I bought original from local shops (DO NOT BUY PIRATES) and was previously installed by Lily into the system will thus be gone.
I wouldn't have mind the first option accept.... the system is too heavy. I reckon is near 10kg. Bringing it around don't sound like a good idea in case something inside got loose due to vibration.
Lily suggested lending me the LCD panel instead but didn't want to bother her with that again.
So I decided to buy a LCD panel 17 inch. Almost commited to a LG one at $400. But for whatever technical thing that I buy, I will always call Anthony and Lily to get a final opinion first.
Anthony felt I should really try option 1 before buying. Lily felt I shouldn't even buy at all as the investment may not give me much return since I may not used it as frequent. And she ask me to go for option 3 saying that I need to go thru the process to learn.
And luck would have it, she accidentally left my original XP disk inside the CD rom. Thus I was able to proceed re-installing immediately.
But suay suay.... going thru half way, I realised I need to have product key and the box is with her back home.
Anyway, after all the hassle, finally everything is up.
I reckon by my next upgrade.....
- Casino will be up.
- Circle line will be up.
- Singapore DAM will be up.
Friday, December 16, 2005
there's something about ..... pang sai
So I admit.... I probably got a mild Irritational Bowel Syndrome. I have probably used all toilets in Singapore... including Jeff's house (many times), anthony's house, Lily's house, Leon's house....
Yesterday, I used the toilet at NTUC Temporary supermarket at Ang Mo Kio Central. Temporary because their megamart is currently under construction, so they did up a very decent like machiam actual supermarket like that, at a temporary site.
Their toilet is located on one end right at the front portion of the supermarket, where all the cashiers are located. So the moment you are out of the cashier, you can't miss the toilet. IT'S THAT VISIBLE!!!!
As a government-linked supermarket, I expect them to adhere to MOH regulations that ALL PUBLIC TOILETS must have toilet papers. The 10 cent you pay is meant for the cleaners to clean the toilet and toilet paper should come free.
Anyway, this NTUC do not give out free toilet papers. Nabeh. They have this "TOILET PAPER DISPENSER" right outside the toilet, AT FULL VIEW FROM THE PUBLIC. You pay 10 cents and the machine will "churn" out the toilet paper.... WITH A LOUD MOTOR ROTATING NOISE.
It almost felt like the sound travels to as far as the first few cashier counters.
NABEH!!! win liao lor... now everyone queuing will know that I'm going to Pang Sai!!!
And 10 cents barely produce enough toilet paper. I don't know about everyone, But I uses ALOT, for other practical reasons other than cleaning.
I uses toilet paper:
If you haven't try that before.... you should try.... it's super straining on your feet and calf. And if you are a six-footer like me......
Yesterday, I used the toilet at NTUC Temporary supermarket at Ang Mo Kio Central. Temporary because their megamart is currently under construction, so they did up a very decent like machiam actual supermarket like that, at a temporary site.
Their toilet is located on one end right at the front portion of the supermarket, where all the cashiers are located. So the moment you are out of the cashier, you can't miss the toilet. IT'S THAT VISIBLE!!!!
As a government-linked supermarket, I expect them to adhere to MOH regulations that ALL PUBLIC TOILETS must have toilet papers. The 10 cent you pay is meant for the cleaners to clean the toilet and toilet paper should come free.
Anyway, this NTUC do not give out free toilet papers. Nabeh. They have this "TOILET PAPER DISPENSER" right outside the toilet, AT FULL VIEW FROM THE PUBLIC. You pay 10 cents and the machine will "churn" out the toilet paper.... WITH A LOUD MOTOR ROTATING NOISE.
It almost felt like the sound travels to as far as the first few cashier counters.
NABEH!!! win liao lor... now everyone queuing will know that I'm going to Pang Sai!!!
And 10 cents barely produce enough toilet paper. I don't know about everyone, But I uses ALOT, for other practical reasons other than cleaning.
I uses toilet paper:
- To clean the toilet seat.
- To lay one round, sometimes 2 layer of toilet paper on the Toilet Seat to protect my beautiful ass from germs.
- To put some into the water to minimise "splashing".
LIKE THAT... WHERE GOT ENOUGH?!??!
Because of the loud motor sound, I'm too pai seh to insert another coin for more toilet paper. Also... 20 cents for a toilet in NTUC? This is not Paragon. Even Paragon is free now, with ALOT of toilet paper, can even Da Pao one stack for future use.
So, if I only have enough to clean and nothing more for the above antics.... And the toilet being the sitting type and not the squatting type.... how?
Nabeh......I Squat on the Toilet bowl.If you haven't try that before.... you should try.... it's super straining on your feet and calf. And if you are a six-footer like me......
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
there's something about ..... being creative
Creative: Zen Vision:m
SINGAPORE - December 8, 2005 - Creative Technology Ltd. (NASDAQ: CREAF), a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products and the number one manufacturer of MP3 players with music subscription support, today introduced the Zen Vision:M, Creative's premier 30GB video player, photo viewer and MP3 player. Designed with a stunning, 2.5-inch, high-resolution 262,144 color LCD screen, the Zen Vision:M displays rich, vibrant digital video, and photos, full-color menus and album art. The Zen Vision:M will be available in gorgeous high-gloss black, white, blue, green or pink this month for US$329.99 at www.asia.creative.com.
"When people see the Zen Vision:M, they tell us it's incredibly cool," said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative. "We designed the Zen Vision:M with its mesmerizing 262,144 color screen to display four times the color of the 30GB iPod that plays video, and to provide twice the battery life for video playback. Plus, we offer people the freedom to choose their video in a variety of different formats, and to get subscription music or download tracks from a number of different sites to their player."
I'm not promoting this gadget because I'm not popular enough for someone to give me gifts to promote it in blog.
In fact, I'm neutral to the brand Creative. Just like I'm neutral to the brand Apple. But I do know what "cool" is.
While ipod is considered as cool by everyone, it is something unspoken. It's not something that can be define.
To borrow what Mark Lee said during Star Awards "If you are good, you don't have to say you are good, people will say you are good, the road is long, my heart will go on".
"Cool" is something like that.
However, carrying an ipod doesn't make you cool instantly. Ask Edwin.
Paris Hilton was using Zen micro mini, but people didn't think she was uncool.
So what ipod did was great marketing. Create something that is beautiful, so be it if the gadget is mediorcre, and people (both cool and those not cool but want to be cool) will buy it.
What Creative did was marketing suicidal. Create something that looks so-so but on a gadget that gives a great punch, pronounce it as cool, price it $100 cheaper than the market leader, add lots of colour, and hope people (both cool and those not cool but want to be cool) buy it.
Now.. let's do your math.
Ipod: simple gadget + just 2 colours (black/white) + cost more = profitability
Zen: give more in gadget thus more components + lots of colours means more stocks and costs + charge lesser = tight profit margin.
Now... let's examine what Sim Wong Hoo says.
"When people see the Zen vision:m, they tell us it's incredibly cool"
Sim Wong Hoo: So what do you think of this product?
Staff A: Oh.. it's beautiful.
Sim Wong Hoo: YOU ARE FIRED!! Next... what do you think of this product?
Staff B: errr.... it's fantastic?
SWH: YOU ARE FIRED!!! Next... what do you think of this product?
Staff C (flipping thru dictionary): err...it's cool?
SWH: YOU ARE DEMOTED!! You... what do you think of this product?
Staff D: err.... it's incredibly cool?
SWH: YES.... YES!!! I just knew it!!! That is what I always says... Creative is incredibly Cool!!!
Monday, December 12, 2005
there's something about ..... dvd review: tom yum goong
tom yum
Caught this show in DVDp at my inlaws on Sunday. I must say the DVDp quality is very good. Like real DVD.
This is the second show featuring the Jackie Chan of Thailand since that fairly popular movie ONG BAK. And I must say, this movie not only live up to the last one, but even surpassing it where action is concerned.
This show has no relation to Ong Bak, or I believe. When things are in Thai language and in English Subtitles, sometimes certain things are lost in translation.
The fighting scenes are alot more elaborate this time round and with choreography that resembles the earlier Jackie Chan Movies, you almost forgot you are not watching Jackie Chan but some guy that looks like a Thai Construction Worker.
The fact that he looks like a construction worker only means his characterisation will often remains the same.... that is a thai farmer being sent to another place seeking something that was lost. Both shows goes along the same line. That same anguished look has not changed since Ong Bak.
This time round, this thai farmer is sent to Sydney to look for his "loved ones" that were kidnapped in thailand.
Production value for this show has vastly improved. Trying to add that international feel to it, the show is filmed in Sydney with English, Chinese and of course Thai Language featuring throughout the show. Of course, the elaborate scenes are really a plus here as compared to Ong Bak where most of the scenes were in the underground fighting ring. At one point, few minutes of action was film in one continuous take, probably thru a handheld. That was impressive.
Where storyline goes, as mentioned, it's always that thai farmer being sent to another place looking for something that hold dear to him or his village.
Ong Bak was about finding a Buddha Statute's head that was sacred to his Village and was stolen by a syndicate. And the word ONG BAK was in reference to this statute's head called ONG BAK.
Ultimate!! If a pig was stolen, the show would have been called BAK KUT TEI.
That aside, this show is about him looking for his "loved ones". Towards the end, (spoiler), when he found that his "loved ones" was actually killed, the lead character cried so bad that all those beatings he received at that point was numb to him.
Of course, during such fighting shows, the lead character will always draw strength from the death of their "loved ones", and somehow displayed super duper solid fighting skill that will defeat all enemies that was impossible to beat earlier, very much like those old Kung Fu movies.
Now... why did I quote, unquote the word "loved ones".
For all the trouble, all the drama, all the fighting, all the sacrifice is because his "loved ones" is a pair of......................................................
ELEPHANTSWAH........ Does that mean Tom Yum Goong is reference to Elephants?
At one point, when he was desperately looking for his loved ones, he called out (in thai) : WHERE IS MY ELEPHANTS?
So how would I rate this show.....
**** for the pure enjoyment of the fighting sequence
* storyline
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
there's something about ..... our president
I'm not making fun of our president because I do like him as a person. But I can't help feeling that he was sabotaged by TCS.
TCS event organiser chairman: Mr President, do we have the honour to have you to be our guest of honour for the Media Event of the year?
Mr President: Oh... sure... but I thought NKF no longer have charity show... and Singapore Idol not here yet right?
TCS event organiser chairman: No.. it's much bigger than that, it is so big that it will be telecast over 2 channels simultaneously and 1.7m viewers are expected to watch the show because we will make sure they have nothing else to watch.
Mr President: Wah... like that, I definitely have to grace the event. Which charity event is it?
TCS: Err.. Mr President, it's not a charity event, but it's bigger than that. It's the STARS AWARDS, where we present awards to TCS artistes every year.
Mr President: huh?!?!??!
TCS: Not only that, you will give out the ALL TIME FAVOURITE AWARD to an international Star, very famous one, got film in Hollywood, China and taiwan one. So which is why we must also have a heavyweight to present this award, no one better than our president, your honour. Imagine, all the regional press will be present to capture this moment, and your picture will be splash across all major newspaper in the region and worldwide. We are talking about International Star here.
Mr President: ok. ok. ok. Hollywood star. So who is it?
During the show..........
Mr President: Thought you guys told me this is an english event?
Mr Banyan Tree aka chairman of Mediacorp: But we do have International Stars coming over from Taiwan and Hong Kong and I'm sure they speak English. Don't worry, I have already told Gurmit Singh and Mark Lee to say something in English later.
Mr President: Now that I have presented the award to the hollywood star, can I leave now?
Mr Banyan Tree: I'm afraid not sir, this is a 3 hours show....
Mr President: But everything in Chinese and I don't understand.
Mr Banyan Tree: It's ok sir, which is why I'm sitted next to you so that I can translate everything they say... that lady there, she is zoe tay, she come out and try to be funny, want that guy there call Christopher Lee next to her to proposed on stage to the hollywood star, this one hor... unscripted one, I also dunno she will do that, .... DEAR... can you stop showing that magazine to Mrs Nathan, it's very distracting.
Do we really need our president to be guest of honour in a Show like this? Even a member of Parliament would have been overkilled. I wish TCS would stop making a mockery of our honour in future by making him sit throughout a 3 hour event show in a language he couldn't understand and a show that is gossipy in nature.
I feel sorry for him. But at least he got to hug Fann Wong UPCLOSED.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
there's something about ..... foodcourt
Brought my whole family to THE Foodcourt of the moment, FOOD REPUBLIC or 大食代 at wisma Atria on wednesday night.
Food Republic
If you haven't heard about it yet..... HELLO.... ARE YOU A TOURIST? I suspect even tourists have been there given their good location. If you ever remember, WISMA ATRIA 4th floor used to be a cluster of small shops and 1 side of it is the foodcourt. A not so popular foodcourt.
But NOW.... OMFG.... the whole floor less Isetan is Food Republic. And this food court come highly rated and highly publicised because their foodstalls and mini-restaurants boast some of the famous stalls as well as some famous chefs etc etc.
And if you are wondering why the name is so Cina, it's because it is. Food Republic first opened in Shanghai by our Singaporean Mr Breadtalk or previously known as Mr Food Junction. So this is the first overseas branch by a local company. So does it make this a local branch with a overseas branch in Shanghai?
And the crowd.... OMFG x 2. To say KANG SI LANG crowded is understatement. There are as many people walking around looking for a table than tables available. And we are talking about a very big foodcourt here and we are talking about Wednesday night.
Food Republic
If you haven't heard about it yet..... HELLO.... ARE YOU A TOURIST? I suspect even tourists have been there given their good location. If you ever remember, WISMA ATRIA 4th floor used to be a cluster of small shops and 1 side of it is the foodcourt. A not so popular foodcourt.
But NOW.... OMFG.... the whole floor less Isetan is Food Republic. And this food court come highly rated and highly publicised because their foodstalls and mini-restaurants boast some of the famous stalls as well as some famous chefs etc etc.
And if you are wondering why the name is so Cina, it's because it is. Food Republic first opened in Shanghai by our Singaporean Mr Breadtalk or previously known as Mr Food Junction. So this is the first overseas branch by a local company. So does it make this a local branch with a overseas branch in Shanghai?
And the crowd.... OMFG x 2. To say KANG SI LANG crowded is understatement. There are as many people walking around looking for a table than tables available. And we are talking about a very big foodcourt here and we are talking about Wednesday night.
Finding a table in a foodcourt is 50% art, 40% skill and 10% thick skin. And Finding a table in Food Republic is 20% art, 50% skill and 30% emotional blackmail.
I deployed my whole family, including my boy, to look for tables across the whole foodcourt, and we communicate via walkie-talkie aka handphones.
You know how sometimes you saw a table of patrons finishing their last bite of their food and then when they saw you standing next to them, they will then take their own sweet time drinking their coffee, chit chat and try to avoid eye-contact with you as if you are damn invisible?
I just invented a new technique which I hope to patent it, call "ianah". I have success using this technique and works 100% of the time by at least saving 5 mins of waiting time. I will first find a table of majority ladies finishing their food, call out to my wife/mother carrying my boy in their arms (eventhough we could have put the boy in the stroller) and stand next to them. This emotional blackmail works wonder. It fact, my mum overheard one of them rushing their friend because of us waiting with baby in toll.
I have been to this foodcourt twice and so far it takes me about 15 mins to get a table of 4.
thye hong hokkien mee
This foodstall sells the famous hokkien mee featured at the old Glutton Square, car park next to John Little. It was featured in the papers as the most popular dish at glutton square with about 10,000 plates being served per night.
Of course, Singaporeans love to queue for popular-but-so-so food. We are blinded by brands. We think anything that people queue is damn nice. And we think anything that is featured is newpaper must be damn super nice. So we queue. If we do a study on this herd instinct, I think such queueing time will caused Singapore of at least 2% GDP growth on productivity lost.
I queued. 30 minutes. Assuming I have an $100 hourly rate, that is $50 lost on 3 plates of Hokkien Mee/Orh Luat.
And the funny thing is, I have meant to just buy 1 plate of Hokkien Mee. But I thought... nabeh.. queue so long, might as well buy 2 more plates for sharing.
So after queueing for a while and about 10 person away from my turn, they have one of the stall helper "taking orders" for everyone in the queue, up to probably 15 patrons.
To my astonishment, everyone else has multiple orders. It's damn scary. 3 plates of this, 5 plates of that, 2 plates of this and 1 plate of that plus da pao 2 packets of that, one with HARM, the other no chilli etc. The latter one is not a joke. The ah soh in front of me really did order such a long list. Nabeh. This is disgusting.
Based on my estimates, this stall have a turnover of at least $20,000 to $30,000 a day. I'm actually contemplating to groom my son to be a Hokkien Mee Seller. Why study so much so that you earn a respectable income with annual leaves and stays in HDB Flats. Might as well be a Hokkien Mee Seller, works 363 days a year and stays in a bungalow.
Anyway, is the Hokkien Mee good?
Let's just say I wouldn't queue 5 mins for it.
Is the ORH LUAT good?
Let's just say I don't mind queueing 10 mins for it.
Is the overall experience at Food Republic Good.
It's good enough for me to patronise them twice in a week. With lots of Chio Bu and relatively good hawker food, it's a joy.... but I will only go if my son comes along.
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