there's something about ..... superman

Superman is Real! No Kidding!! He real name is not Clark Kent but Dwight Howard. His day job is not journalist but he is a professional basketball player in NBA!!

This must be the best Slam Dunk contest since Michael Jordan era. Dwight Howard even surpassed Kobe Bryant's and Vince Carter's standard.

He scored 4 full marks in his 4 different dunks but this one will capture all headlines. While this score high in entertainment value, his other 2 dunks score high in technical, high in difficulty and high in creativity. However, only this captures the heart... and this captured my heart.

Fabulous!! The ball is being lobbed over the top of the basket by his team-mate standing behind the basket.

there's something about ..... ttsh (updated)

My mum was having a A&E situation yesterday and I promptly sent her to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. She is fine now but yesterday was one amusing day for me.

Coolcat was asking why I always have such dramas when visiting Hospital... and seriously.. I do not know.

As said, it was an A&E situation. After the nurse pushed my mum to the consultation room which is out of bounds for companions, I was asked to wait in another area.

The nurse told me that the doctor would not come in/out through the "normal" waiting area and it's more convenient if I could wait in another waiting area.

So she lead me to the next "waiting" area and I was shock, confused, amused all at once.

IT'S A LOADING BAY FOR AMBULANCE!!!!!!! See those chairs behind the plants, I was asked to sit there and wait.... without air con..... without TV.... without magazine racks..... but greenery view!!!!

I got this niggering feeling that perhaps I was rude to the nurse in the first place and this is like a little punishment for me.

After waited for about 15 minutes and see no action, I returned to the same nurse and asked how long more I have to wait and I was told it's a LOOONGGG wait.

Win liao lor... I was asked to wait at a "loading bay" not briefly but a LONG one.

So I decided to go to the Toilet. The layout of the A&E is not exactly efficient. After a long winding path within the A&E department, I found the toilet.

Just after I used it and was about to begin my long journey back to the loading bay, I "bumped" into my mum being wheeled from the consultation area to observation area. In that narrow corridor, my mum is able to tell me the whole diagnosis result and even asked me to go back first as she would have to be observed for half a day. ALL in that short width of the corridor.

I don't see the logic of asking me to wait at the loading bay when all the activities are happening on the other end of the department, unless as I mentioned, I was rude and this is the way to weed out nuisance. Or perhaps that is the smoking area and I have a smoker face.

Update

Read from the ST that there is a space crunch at TTSH. As a result of that, even the CEO has to give up his office to house a consulation room.

And there I was complaining about my comfortness while waiting at a loading bay..... tsk tsk tsk

there's something about ..... edison chen saga

The photographs stopped coming... and conspiracy theory started...

Taken from a website.

02/13/08
Labyrinth translated an earlier comment from Hade. It sounds far-fetched, but it’s a fun piece if you’re into conspiracy theories.

Latest News!Kira received 7 million HK dollars, disappears forever.Beijing, Feb 12, 2008

The curtain has dropped: According to friends in HK, all the photos we have seen thus far were screen captures from videos. Gill’s photos were the first 10 minutes of the video, why? Because it was a used as a bargaining chip for extortion. Secondly, the audio of the video involves the reputation of many other big-name celebrities.Gaoqing (who?) has over 1000 photos alone, and they were partially released last year. The first time Edison’s photo got released was the result of a hacker. This hacker has the most complete data. In order to protect himself from hackers and trojans, he transferred part of his data to his Apple computer. Apple does not run Windows, and most trojan are designed towards windows. The photos that were stolen during his computer repair is only a small part, and that is to the person we come to know as Kira. Photos of Vincy Yeung released on the 9th was unexpected from EEG Music. As we know, Edison’s photo all came in a set, and every women has a complete collection including the sexual parts. Usually they are released in few numbers first, then released in completion. So Vincy has a complete collection too.
Kira’s upload on the 9th, 4:45 is the last upload from Kira. He had an agreement with EEG in the amount of 700 hk dollars. Why did Gill’s manager said Gill would appear on the 11th? Because they have came to an agreement with Kira. After the money is received he needs 24 hours to confirm payment, also time for him to flee. As a matter of fact, the photos he has have already been uploaded to various free servers in the United States and Europe. If the discussion does not fall into place or if anything were to happen to him, he has set automatic emails that would email the links to his trustworthy friends, so they can spread the files. The reason Gill appears in front of the media on the 11th, and the fact that she had a big smile on her face, was because she knew the ordeal has came to a rest.
What’s Kira’s gain for showing us the photos? What does he get by destroying the life of these celebrities? He is not a warrior of morals, he’s just a regular Hong Kong citizen. Money is his ultimate choice. So everyone, please stop calling for him, he has disappears forever. From tomorrow, there’s a lot more entertainers going to entertain us, and the danger is over. It is disappointed for us, but we all know the reason behind Kira’s action.
GossipThe photos actually were stolen a long time ago. At first Kira talked to Edison, asking for 5 million HK dollars, but was not agreed upon. Edison was afraid he won’t be able to get back all the photos. He looked for Yeung Shou Cheng (EEG’s president) to help him on the matter. Eventually, Kira released some information to the media, the magazines last year briefly mentioned this matter. However because of EEG’s influential power, magazines were afraid to show the photos nor pay Kira. Through the help of magazine’s editor, one of the three members from Kira’s group was found. He knew whether he surrender the photos or not, he was doomed. He did not say anything while being question, and was eventually killed. The other two then fled to Southeast Asia, and again try to distort EEG and Edison. Befor the matter gains public attention Edison already knew, because both parties could not agree on a price, this time Kira was asking more than 10 millions. Edison took a private car to Shenzhen, then to Macau, took a private plane from his dad’s friend to the United States, and look for Vincy Yeung to help his cause. Yeung Shou Cheng thought he could handle the matter, but eventually it was still not solved. Kira has decided to raise the price, and released the photos the night when Edison fled HK. Since that day Kira has been raising his price every day. It is believed Kira is in Thailand and Indonesia, and Kira is a group of two, and the data has been uploaded to the United States.Do not think you have seen the best of all, why hasn’t C10’s and Maggie Q’s photo being released? Because Kira hasn’t gotten the right price, or because of safety reason, there isn’t a safe way for him to get paid.Right now, both parties are fighting. The involvement of HK police has propelled this tension to its maximum. If Kira is sure he couldn’t get his money, there’s gonna be a monster upload, but not all. The reason is because there’s heavy involvement from other celebrities, including HK, China and Taiwan. If Kira wants to live longer than Edison, he would have to have something to protect himself from.

It is obvious what is going to happen to Edison, he’s going to die unnaturally.

Vincy’s 3 photos was a declaration of power to EEG, showing Kira has even better materials. This action forced EEG to come to the table, leaving the police behind. Bobo’s photos that were uploaded today were no longer of importance, since she was only a sacrifice in this whole matter. However, Vincy, C10 and Maggie Q, definitely will not be released today. Because this is Kira’s ultimate chip. And the most controversial material in Kira’s collection? I dare not say, because I don’t want to die before Edison does.

Trust my information and do not ask me where the information is from. Use your head to decide whether this is true.

there's something about ..... avi

No... no... I don't have the video of Maggi Q and Edison Chen.... and "avi" do not stand for "Adult Video Iwant".


Leon passed me few decent movies in "avi" format over the weekend and I promptly copied it into my hard-disk.


So how do you watch a "avi" format movie? It all depends whether you are stubborn or not.


If you are not stubborn, most computers like mine will be able to play the format and you will watch over the computer.


However, I belonged to the stubborn category. I insist on watching it on TV. And so I begin my long journey......


Tuesday


1.) I burnt it onto a Disc(1). Brought to my DVD player and realised my DVD player which supposedly could support avi could not play my Disc. I thought perhaps I need to convert to mpeg 4.


2.) I downloaded an software to convert avi to mpeg4 on evaluation or trial. After 1 hour of converting, the F%& software says that only 60% is converted and the remaining 40% will have to be paid.



Yesterday


1.) Desperately I seek Leon's help. He advised that perhaps the speed of burning is too fast. So I burned into another Disc (2) on a slower speed. I tried and it still couldn't play on the dvd player.


2.) Decided to download another converter, this time round I was looking for freeware. Found one and downloaded it.


3.) The software apparently could convert to multiple formats. I was smiling, very proud of my effort.


4.) Saw that it could direct covert to "DVD Pal", so I chose the option. After 1 hour of convertion, I burned into another Disc (3) and tried to play on my DVD player. Ninabeh. Cannot see!!! Double check the disc and realised that "DVD Pal" is actually "vob" format. And only contains one VOB file.


5.) With a never give up attitude, I decided to try another format. Decided that MP2 might be the right one. So after 1 hour of converting, I was clever not to burned into the disc and wanted to test on my computer first. Heng!!! The MP2 was either corrupted or not supportable by my computer media player. Decided that it's too risky to burned into the disc.


6.) Very low morale, I decided to finally settle for MP4 format. So after 1 hour of converting and tested on my PC to be working fine, I decided not to burn the disc. Decided that 1Gb file is too wasteful for 1 disc.

Today

1.) Trying to convert all the other movies.

2.) Still Converting.

there's something about ..... edison chen

I have just seen all the sexcapades photographs... ACCIDENTALLY. I googled "entertainment" and came across this website that carries all the photographs. REALLY!!

Anyway, these are my thoughts:

1.) While I'm no expert, they are not doctored. Fact that Edison Chen and Gillian Chung came out to apologise without dismissing those photos suggested these are real.

2.) Even if these "actresses" are lookalike, I don't think anyone mind. At least, Edison Chen and myself do not mind.

3.) It's so easy to get a laid in HK movie industry. Doesn't matter if you look like a kid, not good looking, wear baggy jeans but you must have that "bad boy" look and you must be at least semi-famous.

4.) HK Actresses like to be filmed while sucking.

5.) Edison Chen has no preferences for women, as long as they are willing.

6.) Edison Chen has average size manhood. Not that it's important at all to the actresses.

7.) I want to quit my job and become an actor.

8.) Gillian and Cecilia will be the next Category III Star. In fact, they can venture into Japan as AV Star. I think they will be a hit.

9.) Bobo Chan is screwed, literally!! For the rest of her life!!! She do not have what it takes to be a Category III star unlike Gillian and Cecilia, and her wedding to a rich man is off!!

10.) I want to quit my job and become an actor.

there's something about ..... cj7

Yesterday I caught CJ7 in the theater.

After refusing to watch a pirated version from JB at my inlaws place on CNYday2 (it's HK version and the peddlar told them it was recorded in the cinema), I was hoping this show would boost my ego during my next visit to my inlaws.

How?

Inlaws : hey.. we got CJ7 DVD... you want to watch... (translated from dialect)

Me: No lah... Watching it in the cinema tomorrow (very proud of my middle-class syndrome)

inlaws: this show no effects one...

Me: It's ok... I bought the ticket already.

And now I hope I never have to return to my inlaws' place and be asked "CJ7.. HOR KUA BOH?"

Seriously... I'm disappointed. In retrospect, I would have taken the pirated DVD and watched it at home. I didn't feel it was worth watching it at the cinema.

Don't take me wrong. The movie is not all bad but I was disappointed. But the best thing about the movie was actually the trailer. It was so good you really want to watch the movie. That is what all good trailers do.



This is not your stephen Chow slapstick comedy that is found in Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle.

So you can imagine my disappointment hoping to get a laugh and got none of it. In fact, you can call this heartwarming or a tearjerker if you are ultra sensitive.

The show is well-made actually. Stephen Chow was convincing as a odd-job labouror trying to be a good father. The kid acted very well. The supporting cast was generally good. The "effects" on the alien is not too bad. The story is atypical but you don't feel jaded like watching another gangster movie from HK or another Rocky franchise. The little humour there and then was just about right for this kind of show.

I like the subtle reference to his last 2 shows. Like how Kung Fu Hustle made reference to Shaolin Soccer, and this one made reference to the 2. And I like how at the end of the show, Stephen Chow decided to revert back to his slapstick after acting serious throughout the movie, almost like telling the world that he-is-sorry- and-this-would-be-the-last-time-he-is-doing-a-serious-movie.

But I'm still disappointed.

P/s: Looks like CJ7 is the winner during this CNY movie feast. From the look of monitor screen at GV, Ah Long looks like a very close second place and that Kung Fu basketball is a obvious distant 3rd.

there's something about ..... cny

Here wishing all my friends a Happy New Year.

May you win more money gambling, except playing with me...

and win CNY TOTO draw (second prize) while I win the TOP prize.

there's something about ..... s-pop

I was just telling coolcat today how I enjoy S-POP Hurray, that program that celebrates Singapore chinese music.

It was a trip down memory lane when they showcase the music from early years all the way to current pop. You have Teng Miao Hua, Eric Moo to Stephanie Sun and JJ. Practically every singer was featured from the last 25 years or so... except....

Ho Yeow Sun!!!! How can they omit such established International star?!?!? Even the Fann Wong whom she admitted that she can't sing, got featured and sang! The international star who probably think she is singer of International standard was not featured. (at least at this point)

Anyway, yesterday's show featured Teng Miao Hua singing the song from Siao Fei Yu (flying fish).

My wife was asking me, "how come they never feature JIANG HU?"

I did a Youtube and I found this classic song by Jiang Hu.



Somewhere in the first quarter of the "MTV", you see Li Nanxing did a James Bond of Casino Royale. That was hilarious!! I Think SBC can sue the James Bond franchise for imitating Li Nanxing.

Other "SBC" classic:

there's something about ..... superbowl

What a fantastic game!!! This must have ranked my Top 5 Final for all sports ever!!

I remembered how Singapore won the Malaysia Cup beating Kedah in the Final.

I remembered when Michael Jordan made "The Last Shot" and won the NBA Finals.

I remembered when Liverpool came from 0-3 down to win the Champions League in 2005.

I remembered how Kimi Raikonnen win F1 last year when Hamilton choked big time in the last race.

And I have now witnessed the best Superbowl EVER!!!!

After Patriots score a touchdown thus leading 14-10 with 2.30 mins left in the 4th quarter, everybody including players from NY Giants thought it's all over.... except Eli Manning.

With 1 minute left, he somehow managed to survive a sack and throw out a 32 yards conversion. That rattles Patriots so much that within 30 secs, Eli Manning made that clutch throw for a touchdown!

How Patriots could not defend is almost impossible to comprehend. Patriots would have made history as the best team ever if they won this superbowl but they are now also in the history as the team that choked amazingly to a wild-card team that no ones thought could win.




My wife was asking me "is there no sports you don't watch?"

And I answered "cricket!"

"and why is this called Superbowl?"

"......"

Seriously, American Football is one ridiculous sports. It's a "football" that doesn't depend your feet to win but in your ability to throw and catch a ball. But I guess someone already invented the name basketball and handball, and someone forgot to tell them that "football" has been adopted by the whole world outside of USA.

So to camouflage their inability to find an appropriate name and refusal to accept it was a mistake, they decided to continue the mistake by staking a claim that it's American. Meaning to say, "WE ARE AMERICAN, we rule the world, we call the sports the way we like it!"

And if ridiculous name is not ridiculous enough, they name their biggest event after a crockery. And to make sure it's not just a normal crockery, they have to emphasize it's SUPER CROCKERY!

I loved Superbowl!!

p/s: I'm a fan of 49ers. In real football terms, it's like supporting Nottingham Forest.

there's something about ..... leading pisa

We were going through the tour photographs of Coolcat during Christmas Eve when we came across those photos taken of Leading Tower of pisa.

It's an amazing structure, not so much of the architectural merits or the wonders why it is slanting, but it has that amazing powers to make EVERYONE do that "hand-supporting-the-tower-and-smile-at-the-camera" pose.

It's simply amazing!

When I was there with my then-girlfriend-now-my-wife, I told myself that I'm not going to do something so silly. It's so bloody embarassing. It's so bloody uncool.

We ended up doing it. And took a picture as well. Bloody hell!

I think the phenomenon to explain this is : conformity.

When in Pisa (Rome), you do what the Tourists (romans) do.

Everyone does that and you decided to conform.

While everyone concentrates on the leading tower, many people ignore the beautiful tower just across the leading tower. It's just as nice except it's not slanting.

Life is so perverse. No one cares if they are normal, people only cares about deficiency. Cludos to Coolcat. She managed to capture the forgotten tower.



So people, if you ever go to Leading Tower of pisa, do pay more attention to the Tower across it.... as well as your pose.

there's something about ..... race

The amazing race still gives me the goose bumps. The finale may not be the best in terms of excitment given that all 3 finalists are nice couples and none has physical advantage, but it still good enough for me.

Damn!! It's going to be another long wait for the next series. I should find myself another fav TV show....

there's something about ..... essense

I was about to fall asleep last night when my wife woke me up to get me to "relocate" a bottle of chicken of essense away from the window.

"why?"

"...because the morning sun would come in tomorrow and may cause the chicken essense to spoil"

"Why don't you drink it now?"

"No one drinks chicken of essense at 1am at night."

"It's ok to leave it there lah."

"you want me to drink something unsafe?"

"it's safe, this whole bottle can put into microwave oven for heating up, so morning sun is not half as bad plus lesser radiation. Also chicken is a farm animal, they like morning sun, so I don't think they turn bad so easily."

"you want me to drink something unsafe?"

She won the argument.

there's something about ..... mac air

Keynote by Jobs



Macbook Air Advert



Macbook Air Advert parody (funny man!)



Mr Brown's experiment!

there's something about ..... protocol

There's always a certain protocol for everything.

Like there is a protocol for finding a urinal in the toilet.... for example, you do not use the urinal next to the one that is being used by another gentleman. You skip that and you use the one 2 urinals away, thus leaving a "gap" between you and that gentleman.

It's almost an unspoken rule.

Like how a packet of tissue paper has a much superior duty of "chopping" seats. 20 cents buy you a sense of security that you can go and buy your lunch and come back to your seat knowing that your tissue paper has done a great job. And after that, you betray the tissue paper by using them and dispose them off.

And I just discovered another protocol. How you should stand in the lift.

When the lift is crowded with strangers, everybody stand facing the lift door and examine the amount of grease on the gentleman's hair in front of you.

When the lift is occupied by a couple of strangers and there are plenty of room to do star-jump, you tend to want to relax and lead against the sides of the lift and you glance sideway towards the lift door like you are expecting something unusual happening to the door other than the door being opened.

When the lift is occupied by 2 others fellow parent of your kid's school after dropping off your kid and if the lift is fully mirrored from all sides, glancing at the lift door means looking at each other indirectly and it's a no-no. Given such a situation, you must lead against the sides of the lift, both hands in front of you and you look down to the floor very much like how you would say grace. That way you avoid all eye contact in a lift.

See.. there is a protocol for everything.

there's something about ..... communication

I have been busy the last 1 over week on my buddy's wedding. Not too often you still have buddies getting married at this age and it's a real blast!!

I was jokingly telling coolcat that maybe it's time I find other buddies that would satisfy my desire to be best man.

They have to be in their late 20s, and planning to get married in about 2 years so that we have time to bond and build the buddy-buddy relationship.

Yesterday at the wedding, we saw how modern technology has conquer our lives. Some of my friends were constantly on the phone with clients and colleagues, even at night!!!

And I just wondered.... wasn't life much easier during the days without such technology?

It's almost a job requirement now for you to reveal your mobile number to your office as well as your client. And when you express privacy as a reason for not giving, one will be given to you... plus a blackberry.

You thought... WOW... blackberry... you take it with a glee...

... and the glee last for 3 days...... and you felt like you have been cursed after that. You wonder which is worse... client calling you after office hours or client sending you an email after office hours but expect you to reply immediately... because you carry a blackberry.

Gone were the days when you carry a pager....

The pager peep..... and you ignore it.

The next day, client ask you why you didn't return the page and you replied that your phone card has no more value or you couldn't find a public phone in the train.

In fact, during those days, clients do not page for you outside office hours. It's almost a courtesy thing to do. Nobody does that. They wait till the next day and if necessary, they faxed across to your office asking you to return the call.

So you are given a blackberry? Good luck to you!

there's something about ..... countdown

... or the lack of any.

It's frustrating. Just when I was hoping in my last post not to have any A&E situations in the new year, I ended up having one spread over the new year.

And by the look of it, it looks like I'm the only one at the A&E.

The queue is extremely fast. 5 minutes and it was our turn.

The saddest thing is that they were putting on Channel 5 on a TV and you could see Gurmit Singh and Mchielle Chia doing the countdown show. Of course, watching that show at home would be equally sad, but imagine watching at a A&E and you really felt rock bottom.

The most defining moment was the strike of 12 midnight. It was so bloody awkard because I was paying up to leave and 12 midnight arrives. I was like their last customer of 2007 and first customer of 2008. The hosipital staff and myself weren't too sure if we should say "Happy New Year".

What's there to be happy? They were doing shift on New Year's Eve and I'm at the A&E which is not exactly a happy place to be.

Nevertheless, we should thank them for working. And I must thank the doctor who rushed down.

Now, I'm not too sure whether I should add this as one of the top 10 notable events in 2007 or 2008.

there's something about ..... 2007

Every last day of the year, I would do a recap/highlights of the passing year. I did it last year in
2006

This is a rather "boring" year where personal level is concerned. National Level seems exciting though.... but that is not the agenda here.

Top 10 notable events of 2007

10.) One of my post make it to Seewhatshow of Mr Brown. It was a movie review of 4:30 seewhatshow My blog is generally not a high traffic blog and no effort was done to make this any more prominent as it is. It's really for my own rants and muse. To know that someone like Brown come across this... it's like a nomination of Best Actor in Golden Balls.

9.) Another of my post make it to Mr Brown

8.) I finally watch a movie in the Cinema and it shows breasts and balls. It's been like 3 years since my last movie at a cinema, so you can imagine my excitment of watching a RA movie.

7.) This year is a frustrating year where traffic summons is concerned. They fine you for no good reasons. Yes you did commit a traffice "offence"( read link ) but you can't help it but feel that they are more for monetary gain than the true spirit of traffic management. I have yet to make a post on this, but my mum was caught Jay Walking not on Orchard Road where hundreds of people do that, but on a service road at the back of Junction 8!!! It was a road where you could reach the other side within 10 steps. But a sneaky Warden was hiding behind the pillar and bounced on you for $20 fine.

6.) A turtle crossing a 3-lane major road along Keng Lee Road, opposite a police station, and did not get fine for Jay walking! see link

5.) I have the most expensive Chap Chai rice at $7 over at Vivo City. What inflation due to GST nonsense?! Our Inflation is due to listed food court operator charging super-high-rent on foodstall owners and they in turn pass on the costs to us.

4.) I'm a super sports fan. There are only 2 sports which I don't follow. Baseball and Cricket. And I get super-excited over a climatic finale. So you can imagine I have the best F1 experience ever when Kimi Raikonnen beat Hamilton in the Final Race. Fabulous stuff!!

3.) Any holidays must be among the Top 10.

2.) My son was hospitalised over Children's day. It's the first time this ever happened and the virus was passed on to my wife who in turn got into a panic attack which shocks us.

1.) Dad was hospitalised due to sepsis. It was a dangerous thing that can happened to an elder and we are glad he is alright now.

It's been 2 years in a row where my top 2 events involve round hospital. This has to stop for good!!

2007 Resolutions

Let's see whether I have achieved any of my 2007 Resolutions.

1.) To Improve on my Business and hope for a breakthru year. In fact, this shall remain permanent.

This has indeed improved. But there is no surprise when the economy also improve and therefore you ride on it. But yes... I would say I have met this resolution.

2.) To catch up with my wife to be a good parent.

While I may not have match my wife's level, but the gap is narrowing. So I would say I have met this resolution.

3.) To lose weight. Ok.. let's be realistic. 78kg will be my target for this year.

Nabeh!

4.) To find a new hobby.

hmmm..... I did start on futsol this year. ok lah... resolution met!

5.) To read more books with my son.

I failed on this. We started new classes for him and somehow we took it for granted and we read to him lesser.

6.) Be healthy. To cut down on visits to Clinic by half to almost zero in 2007.

Failed!

7.) Can making babies be a Resolution, can.. ok lah...

met.

2008 Resolutions

Carried forward:

1.) To Improve on my Business and hope for a breakthru year. In fact, this shall remain permanent.

2.) To lose weight. 78kg will be my target for this year.

3.) To find a new hobby.

4.) To read more books with my son.

5.) Be healthy. To cut down on visits to Clinic to 4 times a year.

6.) To strengthen my knees.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

there's something about ..... christmas and 881

It was a great Christmas Dinner at Coolcat's.

Somehow, this year's dinner fare is more varied, breaking away from more traditional Christmas food.

As a result of Chicken Wings and Chicken Rice, I'm down with a severe Sorethroat.. so bad that swallowing Saliva becomes a nerve-wrecking experience.

Needless to say, I have to endure 2 nights of lousy sleep, both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

My family Doctor must have been making good money. He doesn't work on Holidays as well as 3/4 nights of the week. I was only able to consult him this morning.

And just when I thought my Christmas can't get any worse, I decided to watch 881 last night.

You know that Royston Tan's hit and Singapore Top Grossing Movie of 2007 beating spiderman 3 in the process.

I'm sorry to those people who gave fantastic reviews of the show and sorry to those who spent money to watch it at local cinemas and have bought DVDs, but my borrowed pirated DVD from JB, did not give me much pleasure at all.

This is not a movie inspired by 歌抬， it's a movie inspired by 天龙八部. Those who have watched would know what I'm referring to. I mean... your movie is almost reaching greatness and you have to spoil it with your Laser-effects-coming-from-fingers? Upon searching the official website of 881, I realised the right term to use is "laser darts". The below para is taken from their website:

"At a confrontation, the Durians challenge the Papayas to a showdown. The stakes are high: whoever loses will leave the getai scene for good. The Papayas accept, and start preparing for the big day – new costumes, new songs, new dances. The movie climaxes with a dramatic musical battle. Both sides pull out all the stops to win over the audience, at first with their musical numbers. But as the fight becomes more intense, the Durians attack with their laser darts and the Papayas retaliate with their celestial powers. Who will triumph? Watch Royston Tan’s 881! "

The best part of the show is really the opening 5 minutes of the show. The first 5 minutes gave me so much anticipation about the movie that I must say the let-down was too great.

I wouldn't know if they have done the show without the "Laser Darts", whether I would like the show more... as I said, I wouldn't know.

It's disappointing. I was really looking forward to a good movie and a great Christmas. I got none.

Merry my foot!

there's something about ..... travelogue 5: wine

This shanghai trip is part business, part pleasure. Almost every dinner is with business associates in some lavish restaurants.


Our very first dinner with them, I was asked if I drink "白酒".


Of course I do and I replied accordingly.


Just when I was expecting white wine like those over here from the western countries, I was given a rude shock.


It was really WHITE. Crystal clear white like Water. They pour it into a very small glass with each serving equivalent to a little more than a sip. For every toast, you are supposed to finish... I mean.. it's only a sip. You can't simply have half a sip, that would look silly and rediculous.


How bad can that be, I thought. The worse case could be like brandy, I thought.


On the very first toast, like everyone else, I gulp it in..... without thinking.


NINABEH!!!


This alcohol BURNS!!!! I don't mean brandy kind of burn, it felt like drinking fire! Naturally I choked!


The chinese people got a good laugh. Nabeh!


I was told that this contains about 60% alcohol and the actual term is called "高粮". This is supposedly the best chinese wine ever. After each drink, you can feel the liquid going through your body down to the intestines. It's that strong.

And once you finished the first Gulp alive... these Chinese Businessmen expects you continue this drink with them for subsequent Toasts.

What price you pay for free dinners.

Moral of the Story.... Don't go China.

there's something about ..... travelogue 4: Car/Child

Shanghai is a Heaven of Imitations. They have imitated every possible thing they can, you name it, they imitate it to perfection.

They even imitate BMW but with a engine made in China. They even sell Thumbdrives with 32GB and 48GB. Seriously I'm out of touch with such things but I don't believe Singapore got such high capacities in thumbdrives.

They don't just stop there. They also imitate Singapore's car management policies. They have what we called COE in Shanghai.

Our Singapore very own COE is now available in Shanghai.

While COE in Singapore buys you a certificate that last for 10 years, in Shanghai, you bid for the licence car plate that last you as long as your car can last.

When I left Shanghai, the bidding for the licence Car Plate is about $58000RMB or about S$11000.

As a comparison, a Honda Oydessy there cost about S$70,000.

So the smart alec will say, I will then buy a car outside Shanghai and drive into Shanghai lor. Like Singaporean buying a JB car, except in China you would not have cross-province custom.

But while you think you are Smart, Shanghai Policy-maker also not stupid lor. Most major highway and major roads are out of bounds for non-shanghai registered cars. That way, even if you buy a non-shanghai registered car which is cheaper by $58000RMB, you would not be able to commute to your destination without much frustrations.

So while you get frustrated about bidding for a licence plate, you have a much bigger hurder before that. Getting a licence!!

They pay about $50,000RMB for a licence or S$10,000. So you paid over $2k for a licence in Singapore and you already complained? Thank god you reincarnated in Singapore and not in Shanghai.

However, they only imitate Singapore Car Policy and not our procreation policies.

They still have a One-Child Policy. When you give birth to your first Child, the government will assist you by giving you a few months of your salary. However, the reverse happens when you intend to give birth to a second child. The penalty is extremely high. Not only that, the second child may not be entitled to medical and education benefits.

To the very rich, they will just pay the penalty.

However, they have recently "loosen" the policy. If yourself and your wife have no other siblings, meaning both of you are single child, then you are allowed to give birth to a second child.

In any case, it seems this One-Child policy has zero impact on modern Chinese. Most could only afford 1 child and has no plan for a second child.

My Singaporean friends in China who are relocated there have more than a couple of children. And whenever they go out, they would be stared at. In fact, one of them was asked whether she is the mother for all the kids.

I can understand their rationale for One-Child policy. Singapore has gone thru such phases before.

However, I'm thinking... How come Singapore government never give me few months of my salary for my first Child??!?!??!

there's something about ..... travelogue 3: flight meals

We took a SQ midnight flight departing from Singapore at 1.15 am. We thought it makes hell lots of sense. You save on one night of Hotel, you sleep in the plane, you wake up in a new city on a brand new day, you start your touring without missing a beat! Great planning!!

It was well-thought out except that we forgot we are Singaporeans. That means we are bloody Kiasu.

I was almost half-asleep when the plane was in the air just about 1.30am when my wife asked me why I'm sleeping so early.

Dumb question I thought. So I entertained her by replying "It's only a 5 hours flight, we need to catch some sleep."

She replied, "You don't want the refreshments?"

"huh? got refreshments? ok lor"

And so the refreshment came just about 1.45am and we finished that at about just after 2am. It took me a while before I finally slept.

Not for long.

We were all woken up at 4.30am....for breakfast. 4.30AM... BREAKFAST!!!!

Damn it!! I know Hari Raya is around the corner, but do we really have to break fast so early?!??!?

I struggled but decided that I should not waste the food (money). And so I ate breakfast half-asleep.

And out plane arrived at Shanghai at about 6am.

All of us slept for about 2 over hours. Needless to say, we arrived at Shanghai, not full of energy but full of sleepy bugs.

And we spend the whole afternoon sleeping at the hotel.

Ultimate.

there's something about ..... travelogue 2: Taxis

We complained so much about our taxis in Singapore.

How they disappear between 11 to 11.59pm?

How expensive they are during certain hours?

How touting is bad for the image and unfair to most customers who queue?

In Shanghai, thank God, they do not have midnight charge. They do not have peak charges as well. It's so bloody cheap that we took taxis everywhere we go. It's like staying at Marriot Hotel and you wanted to go Raffles City.... take MRT? Nah... just take a cab. The meter never move and we still pay the same flag-down rate of 11RMB which is a little over $2 for 5 of us.

BUT...

This is also where the problem comes.

In Shanghai, the demand for Taxis is extremely huge! You have tourists like us, coming from Singapore who felt the Taxi Charges are so bloody cheap.. can you imagine the Caucasians, both tourists and working there!! This become our basic mode of transport.

What touting?!?!? If there is word to describe what I did, the closest would be "reverse-touting".

We have boarded at least 5 Taxis only to be told that they do not know the place that we were staying. Only on one of the Taxi Rides did we learn from the driver that most Taxis would not want to send us back because the distance is too short and they wouldn't earn enough.

We decided to "bribe" them more. Each time a taxi driver refuses to take us, we offered them $10RMB more ($2) and they would pause a while and suddenly, they would know where we stay.

We consider this "bribe" as worthwhile. They do not have Taxi-Stands and it's like a War out there. Especially in the City and when it's raining.

We don't care if that sets the precedent, we were desperate.

In fact, I was involved in a "fight" over a Taxi.

We were in the City and it was raining, we were unprepared by the down-pour and we waited like 30 minutes under the rain. Finally, I saw a taxi stopping like 50 metres away from me as one passenger was alighting.

I ran towards the Taxi. Likewise, one local woman was also running towards the taxi but she came from across the road.

She reaches the cab before me, but she was asking the driver about a certain locality when I just boarded the cab and told the driver I would pay him 10RMB more. Naturally the local woman was furious.

She came over to the passenger seat where I was, open the door and screamed at me. She wanted me to get out of the cab. I told her that I boarded the cab first and she argued she saw the cab first. I told her that I was on the same side of the road and she wasn't. She continue to abuse me and ordered me to get out. I ignored her and she screamed "下流" before Slamming the door on me.

She probably didn't know where I came from. Otherwise she would have known that Singaporean are so bloody thick skin and we are almost immuned to such abuse of low standards that didn't involve my parent's genitals.

What she also didn't see was that I was grinning. I never have such an opportunity in Singapore and I was glad to be involved in such a "fight". It makes my day.

Don't blame the touts. They were touts because the tourists allowed them to have such opportunity. It's wrong. But really... the tourists wouldn't care. We didn't care as well in Shanghai.

there's something about ..... travelogue 1: luggage

Just came back from Shanghai. At the airport, I took a picture of the amount of luggage that I had and felt a sense of deja vu




And I realised that there were 4 other bags of alcohol from Duty Free that didn't make it to the Trolley.

5 Luggages

4 Hand Carriers

4 Duty Free

1 Stroller

1 Slave (that is me)

Given last year's experience, I have accepted my role during such holidays. You should have seen how we clear customs.

My elders have decided that they are old enough not to carry heavy hand carriers, my wife has decided that she has a bigger responsibility to hold on to my kid, and they have decided that I have the bigger responsibility to hold all the hand carriers. Without the hand carriers, they wouldn't be able to access things that they may not need during the flight and of certain importance should they need it.

It's so complicated.

This is not only a holiday, it's a fitness program. With the responsiblity that I have, it's almost like a ICT.

Sigh!

there's something about ..... University of...

Sigh... I think I may have enter into a wrong course of study in my Uni. If only my parents had given me proper advice.

People go take some Bachelor of BarbeQue from Uni in Hong Kong and can come back and open stalls and become Millionaire... Me? Sigh.


Holiday for 1 week. Hopefully got more things to blog about when I returned.

there's something about ..... fatherhood

It's been a while since I posted something. I was busy trying to clear my work before going on Holiday which is next weeek.


When you try to book a holiday in late November when the whole of Singapore Population already done theirs in September, you know you are unlikely to get choice destinations unless you feel like visiting Iraq or North Korea... and of course certain parts of China which is where I'm heading to.


Anyway, while trying to get ready for my tour, I decided to also become a slightly better father.


Jeff told me that I should bring my kid to watch Disney on ice. I probably would if they charged half-price for the kid or half-price for the accompanying adult or perhaps follow our local cinemas for having a cheaper ticket on a Monday afternoon. To summarise: I thought it was expensive.


But... wouldn't a smile on your kid's face be so priceless?


I struggled on that and decided to become a better father. I decided to bring my kid to see DORA at United Square yesterday. I didn't know what is Dora and boot but again.. it's not about what I know, it's about what my son knows and likes.


And there I go to my very first cartoon characters show held at Malls.




With the show starting at 7pm and us arriving at 6.30pm, and almost the whole Singapore Population queuing up or "chopping" their territory on the second floor as early as 5pm, you know you are likely to get a viewing gallery as ulu as Iraq or North Korea.

However, with a never give-up attitude or that determination not to disappoint my kid, we queue hoping that we are able to get into the sitting area. At the same time, I went to see if I'm able to get space on the second storey. At 6.30pm, you have better luck buying 4D for Saturday's draw than finding a space in the mall.

Just when we were very near to the entrance of the sitting area, we realised that we have queued for nothing!! You have to purchase $30 worth of merchandise before you are allowed to enter the sitting area!!! Ninabeh!!!

Hurriedly, we went into the merchandise area just to see if we can somehow buy something very last minute.

And I realised.. I could actually view the whole show just standing at the merchandise area which is much nearer to the stage than those kids standing at the back of the sitting area! I took the above picture without zooming and you could see how near we are to the stage.

The best thing is... I didn't need to buy anything!! Cunning!

Yes.. my son would not have that chance to take photo upclose with DORA ($30 include that picture), but I know that he was smiling so happily just being able to watch the show.

I felt peaceful with myself. No more quilt.

Like my son always say "I KNOW YOU CAN DOOO IT" (some phrase from Dora)

there's something about ..... embrace

Garment tell us that we must embrace foreigners, welcome them, treat them like one of us.

I tried.

Yesterday I was at Jurong Point. You know it's a in-laws day for me. And naturally I felt like Tony Leung.

I was walking towards this shop when a China Student in his teens walking alongside me, and asked me, "先生，请问书店在哪？"

I look at him, intensely, and nod my head towards the direction.

We were just outside here.


Ok. Maybe I was being moody. He may be new in Singapore and may not realised that Popular is popularly known as a bookstore.

But look at the wide-entrance, and really he was also walking towards Popular, he would be able to see many books inside. Plus.. he was WALKING TOWARDS it. It seems like he is just seeking acknowledgement, confirmation whatever.

What am i? A walking Receptionist? Nabeh!

How to embrace foreigner like that?

there's something about ..... lust.caution

After I wrote my last post, I decided to eliminate point no. 5 totally and thus becoming 1 point lesser of being an uncle. I went to watch Lust. Caution this afternoon.

The irony of life is that, myself and my wife were the youngest among the audience. I felt like I'm in Yangtze among all the Lau Ti Gou trying to watch some RA shows. To be fair, you will not find any working crowd in a Cinema during working hours, plus at a not-so-happening location... Balestier.

Much have been said about the show, so there is nothing much to review about. But my... what a show.

Maybe I'm one of those Lau Ti Gou in the cinema, which means I'm one step nearer to be an Ah Pek. But with sex scenes like that..... I don't care if this is some skin-flick.

I can imagine it's not too difficult for Tony Leung to accept this role. I would too, if Lee Ang ask me to do it for free. You got to have multiple sex-scenes with pretty girl, the acting is relatively simple.


This is his expression throughout the show. I feel I can pull it off too, they just need to film me every Sunday and I'm able to pull-off that moody look.... All the Time... 100%.


Otherwise, instead of saying..."Scene no.2... take no.3.... Action!!" They can say ... "Scene no.2... Take no.3 ...... In Laws!!" and I will be able to act that way every day.



All I need is to make sure I tone up my body and my butt and I'm ready for Lee Ang.


The sex scenes... while not breaking the laws of Kamasutra... or breaking the cinematic boundaries of sex...... is perhaps the biggest of all because it's by the most established of actors. The amount of nudity by Tony Leung is surprising.


At one scene, you actually see his balls. Though I'm unsure if it is indeed his balls. But balls are still balls.


Balls aside.


The sexual contact between them is almost like they were really doing it. And we are talking about Tony Leung here. TONY LEUNG!!!

Tang Wei, the actress, is just beautiful to look at, with or without clothes. To me, she is the most-suited to act in this role.

My wife ask me "who benefitted more during the sex scene?" or in Hokkien "who Tan Dio?"

You have a unknown girl acting out a sex-scene with the biggest name of Actors and you have a biggest name of Actors acting out his virgin sex-scene with such a beautiful girl?

My answer is .......

Her acting is very good. In fact, she deserved the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress. (of course, I would have said that even if I watched the NC16 version)

How about Best Actor Award for Golden Horse? To me, Tony Leung's defining moment, that will sure capture the hearts of the judges, was the one where he runs towards his car towards the end of the show.

It's either he has never run in his life and thus do not know how to run beautifully or normally or with better co-ordination between both arms and legs, or it's actually acting. Perhaps Traitors do Runs like that in the past.

To me, I chose to think that he is acting. Afterall, this guy has shown he has balls to act in a skin-flick spy thriller.

there's something about ..... generation gap

This topic heading was inspired by Coolcat.

Anyway, I was down with diarriah (whatever) on Saturday. Fabulous timing if you ask me. My son was having a fever on that day as well, and since we can't go out, my gastric decided to go on strike or unstrike.

I hate Diarriah. Isn't it interesting that the most disgusting ailment has the most difficult spelling or a spelling most people could not remember? That aside.

Diarriah makes you weak after that. You probably think you can catch a DVD at home, pause the DVD as and when you need to go to the toilet, come back and continue with the disc. NAH.... you are so bloody tired and weak, you just want to sleep.

As of today, I'm still feeling weak. To Diarriah.... this is what I have to say to you "SHIT YOU!"

Anyway, recently I felt old. It's like I'm kinda lost track on what's trendy. It's almost like I've become an uncle.

1.) My X-box is still the first generation and I'm still playing old games because new games are meant for X-box 360.

2.) I do not own an Ipod. Transfering music to a fashionable hardisk so that you can play it thru a speaker while at home, runs contradict to the idea of "walkman". I thought that is comparable to listening to music from the PC with speakers. And since little time is spent "waiting" or "walking alone" outside, getting a "walkman" or "ipod" doesn't seems logical.

3.) I go to a neighbourhood store and rented 4 DVDs at $2.50 each, eventhough I got no time to watch them, simply because I didn't want to miss out on a good deal.

4.) Coolcat's son, bryan, was performing at a rock concert. Coolcat told me he is performing this song by Greenday called "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". My first reaction was, "huh? come again?". She repeated. My second reaction was, "huh? by who?" Is that a rock song? I thought only Bon Jovi can sing rock song. Is Greenday from Greenland?

5a.) My parents, aging parents, went to watch LUST.CAUTION on Sunday. Not your pirated DVD from JB. They watched it at a CINEMA. Somemore RA!! They spent $20 on a RA movie while I go to a neighbourhood shop to rent 4 DVDs at $10?!?!?

5b.) My parents went to watch a movie at a CINEMA?!?!?!? The last time I watch a movie at a cinema was probably STARWARS Espisode III.

6.) I'm on Facebook. Cool you say. Except I find it a struggle to like and enjoy facebook. Facebook says "Facebook is a social utility that connects you with the people around you."
I say "how?"
Facebook probably says "You get endless pokes from friends, invites on Vampires, werewolfs and others, you play Paper, Scissors Stone, you can take all kinda of tests so that when your friend take the same test you would know how compatible you are with them, You can write on their "Walls" like a noticeboard (but you wouldn't write to them in an email), you can leave them messages in the facebook so that facebook can then email you to your mailbox to tell you that your friend left you a message in facebook (wow, efficient!)"

So You see... I'm really struggling to get out of the Uncle Mode. Maybe it's the diarriah having that effect on me. I think the next stage of my uncle life will be wardrobes. Printed Short-sleeves shirts tucked out of your pants, like those you buy from wet-market.

Sigh.

there's something about ..... old style shopping

Yesterday my family decided to relive those old days shopping in a old town HDB Central, in particularly Ang Mo Kio Central.

The shopping was great, the nostalgia feel make it a better shopping experience than say shopping in Ang Mo Kio Hub.

Went past a DVD/VCD shop and saw a rental service available at 50% discount. And to my delight, they have recent titles like DIE HARD 4.0 and SPIDERMAN 3, available for rent at $2.50 each, after discount!!!!

$2.50!!!!! I remember movies in the late 80s were $2.50!!!!!

At $2.50, you can't even order a Mee Bok Dry with Chilli and no Dee Gua at Ang Mo Kio Hub.

At $2.50, you can't even order a full set at Ya Kun Coffee Stall.

At $2.50, you can't even take a MRT to and fro to City Hall.

At $2.50, you can't even buy a Popcorn and Drink upsize at Golden Village, not less a movie ticket.

At $2.50, you probably can buy 2 nice buns at Breadtalk, after eating and 1 day later, all out in the toilet bowl.

But at $2.50, you can rent a DVD of a recent title, watched it with your wife, enjoy the movie and later burnt it into a disc so that you can sell it on Ebay at $5 including shipping.

Damn Shiok!!

Not only can you rent cheap dvds, you also have good customer service from the shop's sales girl likely from Malaysia, unlike some "upmarket" rental shops housed in shopping Malls.

I was asking how long can I rent the disc for and she replied:

"要 看 是 movie 还 是 doma lor?"

You see, I have been out of heartlander mode for a long time. I was having self-doubt whether there were some local slang which I may have missed out over the years.

Trying not to appear too stupid, I continue asking her how many days I can keep the disc for movie.

She explained to me but fall short of explaing what a Doma is. I was hoping for a clue to avoid asking and in the process looks stupid.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. My quest for knowledge is too over-whelming. So I ask her.

She replied "Doma is 联续剧 lor".

there's something about ..... translation

How come a one syllabus word "blog" is translated in chinese as 3 words "部 落 格"? see www.omy.com.sg

While a two word syllabus word "Bedok" is translated in chinese as also a 2 words "勿洛"?

there's something about ..... horse

So today's biggest news is that Gurmit Singh got nominated for Golden Horse Award for his role in "JUST FOLLOW LAW".

Not for newcomer award...

Not for comedian award...

But for BEST ACTOR!!!!

BEST ACTOR!!!!

Up against TONY LEUNG in Lust, Caution.

It seems anything is possible these days. Who would have thought a lousy movie can produce a nomination for best actor category?

This movie also produce another nomination in "best visual effect".

I saw the movie. The only visual effect is Fann Wong behaving like a man and it's not exactly a nice effect.

It's a lousy movie, to say the least. Movies about swapping souls or bodies are aplenty in the movie industry, but the method of swapping is the most rediculous in "Just Follow Law".

Not contend with the lesser drama of two people knocking into each other, the director decided that the best way to show case the swap, the most drama ways, is for an attempted murder of Fann Wong by Gurmit Singh via a car-chase.

After gotten sack by Fann Wong, the character played by Gurmit Singh was so disdraughted that he gave a car-chase hoping to crash Fann Wong's car.

The chase ended up with both cars flying off the expressway and both cars came crashing down. In most instances, this would result in a horible death possibly with a explosion to the cars.

Instead, both swap bodies and woke up with slight injuries at the hospital.

Great stuff!

It's not exactly the proudest Singapore movie I would like the whole world to see, especially at the Golden Horse.

You just wonder... are there so few entries that even this can be nominated? or the entries are so bad that even this can be nominated?

Don't get me wrong. I am happy for him and I like Gurmit Singh. In fact, I'm eagerly waiting for two of his sitcoms. 80s Rewind and The Noose. Going by the trailer, both promise to be very funny. Just that, I hope it's a better movie than "Just follow Law"

there's something about ..... clutch and hangover

What a weekend!!!! I haven't had such a good time for a super long time.

I caught one of the best derby games between Everton and Liverpool. I caught one of the most boring Rugby Final. And I caught the most exciting F1 race EVER.... EVER!!!! All in odd hours!!!

So it's not to be an English Weekend. I think the sign says it all when England lost to Russia in Euro qualifying during midweek which put their Euro qualifying at risk.

Everton vs Liverpool

What a game... if you are a Liverpool fan.

Own goal by your fav team.... only to win it during the injury time with a penalty.

1 own goal
2 red cards
2 penalties, one in injury time
2 penalties denied, one in injury time

Wah biang... almost immediately... the sign became clearer... it's not to be an english weekend.

England vs South Africa

You know it's damn suay.... when Jonny Wilkinson also known as Mr Clutch... miss a drop goal... with his dominant left foot... not too far off either.

You know it's confirm damn suay... when the only try by England which would have tie the game was ruled out.

You know it's gone case when Jonny Wilkinson did not attempt any more drop goal since he missed one. No more Mr Clutch.

Actually, I'm also not a big fan of Rugby for me to support England. I just like to watch a good sports game. And it's one big boring final!!!

Hamilton vs Alonso vs Raikkonen


Who would have guessed? My god. What a choke by Hamilton. 3 mistakes. Who who have guessed someone that started as no.2 will drop to the back after couple of laps? He just need to finish as no.6... how difficult is that starting from no.2?

Apparently very difficult. Ask Hamilton and he will tell you that. Give him credit for racing back from no.14 to no.7. He just need to overtake one more car and he would win.

Alonso knows he can't win the race and so he just had a ordinary race. But he is the happiest of the 3. YES... HAPPIEST Of the 3. As long as Hamilton don't win... it doens't matter to Alonso. He got a quiet race.

But Raikkonen. My god. What a good race!! No doubt with the help of Massa and ferrari. He can only win the championship if he wins the race and Alonso at no.3 and hamilton at no.7. And what is the odds of that happening?

What a clutch performance. I actually have goose pimples when he cross the finishing line... damn!!

It's hard to stay awake watching F1 in the middle of the night.... but the race was so good.. I actually managed to stay awake for the whole race. This is the BEST race i have ever witness....

*******

I love starhub.

there's something about ..... clutch

From Wiki..

In American sports terminology, "clutch" means performing well under extreme pressure. It often refers to high levels of production in a critical game (such as Game 7 of a best-of-seven series), the last hole of a Major golf tournament, or the final minute(s) in a close match. Being "clutch" is often seen by sportswriters and fans as an innate skill which some players have while others do not.

This will determine who wins what this weekend.

England Vs South Africa

This game is salivating. South Africa is like the team of the moment. They trashed England 36-0 in what was the worst defeat of England ever... in the group stage.

England, who was not expected to even clear the quarter-finals, beat the quarter and semi finalists thru clutch plays... none other by Jonny Wilkinson.

Jonny Wilkinson is like Michael Jordan of Rugby in my opinion. Super calm under pressure and in fact excel under pressure. This will be a decisive factor.

Man.. it's tough to call. Heart says England... pocket says South Africa.

Will go for England to win... just.

Formula 1

This must be the most exciting year since I started following F1 about 8 years ago.

You have a upstart rookie and a 2-time back to back champion plus a fantastic driver in Raikkonen in Ferrari... for a 3-way championship race.

Man.. is it going to be a England's weekend...

All hamilton needs to do is to crash into Alonzo "un"intentionally if Raikonnen is to be a non-factor in the race.

All Alonzo needs to do is to stay pole and not let Hamilton crashed into him.

All Raikonen needs to do is to win and let alonzo crash into Hamilton.

I'm hoping for some foul play to make this more exciting.

Everyone seems to like the rookie to win story. I would like to see Raikkonen wins, which is unlikely.

And the guy with the clutch... Alonso.

I'm going for Alonso.

Liverpool vs Everton

Depending whether this is an English Weekend or not, will decide the fate of this game. If this is destined to be a English weekend, Everton will win. If this is not, Liverpool will win. Why... Everton is more English than Liverpool.

And Liverpool has also suffer a confidence problem of late. meaning... they are unlikely to score that last minute winner or what the American known as "clutch".

My Heart says Liverpool... but seriously...

*************
I love Starhub.

there's something about ..... rejections

Just today, I received another call from some scammers from China trying to cheat your money by pretending it's some survey they are carrying out with regards to your mobile phone brands etc etc.

This is like the 3rd time I have received such calls. The first time, I was curious and basically listen thru to what they have to say. I ended up giving a laugh and that angered the chinese girl. I promptly ended the call.

Since then, I have adopted the tactics of speaking to them in english.

Chinese Girl: ##$%$$^&%$* (in mandarin)

Me: Sorry? I don't understand what you are saying.

Chinese Girl: ok (she hang up immediately)

This works fabulously.

I also received lots of calls from Credit Cards Companies' appointed telemarketer.

They are mostly from E-Fusion or Intermedia.

These 2 companies seems to be doing cold-calls for All Credit Card Companies.

Telemarketer: I'm calling from XXX, for XXX bank's new credit card YYY.

Me: I already have that card.

Telemarketer: Thank you.

This works all the time as well.

Why don't you just tell them to remove your name from the calling list? It doesn't work.

No point getting angry at them. Just end the call promptly.

there's something about ..... adverts.

Series of funny adverts from Thai

there's something about ..... 377a

Very happening topic hor. Very fashionable to discuss this even. There is even an website to repeal this Act. You can "support" the cause by petition against the act. Alot of "Celebrities" and notable bloggers have supported the repealed of 377a.

The petition will then be given to Prime Minister before the debate on Penal Code.

It's so "in" to be known that you are against the government on a topic about equality of Gay in Singapore. It's like 07/07/07 on the Green movement, save the earth.... what happen now?

It's like Anya's "I'm not a plastic bag", it's nothing but fashion. Who gives a hoot about saving the world, otherwise, might as well buy those imitations off the Masar Malam.

It's like an opposition Rally during Election where huge numbers turned out, only for the PAP to win the election. People go because it's fun, it's cool to be seen that you are opposing the authority.

Do the majority of Singapore cares if a certain minority group is being penalised because of their preference of the same sex? There are more victims in Singapore being penalised by bad traffic Wardens than the Gays can called themselves victim.

Yes.. fair enough. The current law makes them a criminal. Interestingly, prostitution is legal in Singapore, but soliciting is not. But being gay is more "criminal" than a prostitute in Geylang which might be on a social visit pass or a visa that allows them to stay for 14 days. So where is the justice?

Some argue that on that fact that these same gay people have serve the Nation throught NS, pay taxes to Government, and thus should be treated as equal.

I believe they have been treated as equal on most aspects of their life.

How would repealing the 377a changed their lifes? It doesn't.

Nobody has been procecuted because they are gay. Nobody.

Every Gay leads their life as per normal. They have sex within their own dormitary. They go about doing their own things and nobody gives a damn. In fact, they lead a more peaceful lifes than say a Man having a Mistress, which is probably not illegal.

It's good to repeal the Act, or reworded the act to give consenting sex legal. But if it's not, so what. Do those Gay really care?

I feel that this whole thing is nothing but a marketing campaign or certain political agenda by certain group of people.

It's definitely more "in" to say "repeal 377a" than to say "repeal traffic rules 123a".

there's something about ..... citizenship

Read this post from Mr Brown on citizenship.

Apparently, Singapore has stop distinquishing Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents in official statistics. In fact, both are lumped up as Singapore Residents.

And it seems the percentage of Singapore Citizens of the total population is shrinking from a high of 90% in 1980 to about half currently.

It's an interesting read, very Mr Brown, and it's that kind of article that would have been mentioned by PM Lee again in the next National Day Rally. PM Lee says that we have to embrace Singapore PRs, we needed them for economic reasons, etc etc. Whether you like it or not, there is no changing such things.

In my course of work, I dealt with many Employment Pass Holders, many of which subsequently applied for PRs and were almost immediately given.

I will always ask them, "Why did you apply for PR and what's the benefits to you?"

Interestingly, most of them mentioned this one reason "So that I can stay in Singapore when I change jobs" or "it makes coming in and out of singapore easy"

Nothing of the sort like:

• Singapore is a safe city and I would want to bring up my family here and grow old here.
• The Air in Singapore is so clean that it makes a healthy living as compared to other countries.
• The property market is booming and I have made couple of millions flipping properties and getting a PR will make property investment easier.
• The transport system is so efficient, bus-ride is so bloody cheap, goverment only raise 1 to 2 cents every year... damn cheap man.

To be fair, those people I spoke to, do not represent the majority. They represent the minority, the more-mobile minority.

There are 2 types of PR that I commonly see.

Those coming from countries that is less-developed than Singapore, and those coming from countries that is more-developed than Singapore.

It's very easy to spot them actually. The former are the ones that stay among the heartlanders. Coming to Singapore is the better alternative than elsewhere. They are the ones that will "grow" with Singapore.

The latter group stays in town. These are the highly mobile "expats" who took up PRs like collecting watches. They might work here one year, and in New York the following year. To them, they have zero loyalty towards Singapore.

Interestingly, one of the highly mobile "expat" told me that when he was invited to take up citizenship, the government body that invites him told him that he doesn't have to worry about his kids being enlisted into NS. Just apply student passes and when they reaches university age, send them overseas.

But it's these same PRs that make our properties prices appreciate. Did we complain when our property prices went up by 30%, in no small part due to these PRs.

Yes... it also make buying another property expensive. But that is the trade-off in Real Estate. You want to sell high and buy low? It's not going to happen in this order.

While I do not mind these PRs, my biggest worry is NS.

Recently NS period was reduced from 2.5 years to 2 years. Government said that this was due to a higher number of enlistees.

This also give rise to future increase in service should the number of enlistees fall short of the national requirement. In the last decade where birth rate has declined, this also means that boys who were born in this period will have to serve longer period of NS.

Not to mentioned if the population ballooned due to new PRs in Singapore. Will my son have to serve much longer in Future?

there's something about ..... road block

For the first time in my life, I was asked to wind down my window at a road block last night.

The traffic police (looks like a low ranking chap, he wasn't wearing those helmets, more like a beret) didn't stop every car, he selectively chose which car he want to inspect. Meaning to say he think I have a high suspicion of drink driving.

His head pop in thru my window and asked where I came from. I answered that I came from town and he let me move on. He probably just checking if I smell of alcohol.

But I hope he uses some common sense.

• Yes.. it was 12am on a friday night. But it's not like 1 or 2 am which might suggest some night partying.
• I was decently dressed. Pants and long sleeve shirt.
• My car is a normal SUV, not a Subaru WRX or Honda Type R.
• My car is not even Zhing.
• My car even run on a 15 inch wheel, not even 18 inch with alloy.
• It's a boring colour car even. So boring that it should suggest that the driver has a boring life, meaning drinking on a friday night is almost too exciting for the driver.
• And the best thing is........ my wife is with me. Ok... maybe that doesn't suggest anything, it could be a girl I pick up from Power Station.
• And the super duper Best thing is.... my son is with my wife at the back seat.

HELLO..... police officer... can use some common sense next time please. It's a waste of time. Plus you make me feel that I'm guilty of something, or I look like a criminal or something.

there's something about ..... children's day

Yesterday is one very memorable children's day for me.

My poor son celebrated children's day from the hospital. He got stomach flu and kept vomitting on Saturday night and I have no choice but to admit him into Hospital. He was discharged yesterday's evening.

And when we got home, it was my wife's turn. She started vommitting as well.

We decided to go to our family GP who was nearby.

And just when she was making her way to my car, she blacked out momentarily and she started to "cry". According to her, she couldn't control it at point of time. And she couldn't walk. It's like all the strength just disappear.

Of course, that shock us, including my son.

So I carry her (as in really carry) into the car. My mother and my son followed along.

When we arrived at destination's car park, I told my mum (who is carrying my kid) to walk a little faster to register with our GP first, while I help my wife to walk.

And just about few steps later, my son vomitted. My wife, upon seeing this, got a panic-attack. Her whole body cramped up and she began to hyperventilate, and she went into uncontrollable "crying".

Immediately I carry her and rushed into the clinic.

The clinic or any clinic, don't usually see patients being carried into the clinic and you can tell the nurse was a little shocked.

The doctor immediately put a "plastic bag" (not to be confused with Anya's I'm not a plastic bag bag) over her mouth and my wife immediately recovers from the panic. We always see that in movies when people breathe into a plastic bag and now I know the reason behind.

She must have gotten the virus from my son, but the panic-attack was a shock to everyone in the family.

It was too dramatic for me last night. You know cantonese got this saying... "One Wave hasn't come down, another Wave come up". But I hope no more waves liao.

I didn't have a peaceful sleep last night, I wasn't too sure if anything thing would happen again.

They are both recovering well.

there's something about ..... boredom

Since the subprime woes started, I've been very free. Unfortunately I'm working in an industry that is directly affected by such things.

So I have an unwelcome break for the last 1 month or so.

And I took the opportunity to pack my room, filing, change computers, etc. Those mundane stuffs.

So mundane that I realised that there wasn't anything amusing in my life for me to blog. Nothing interesting happened in my life. Nothing interesting happened in Singapore.... unless you consider Alex Man's saga as interesting, Singapore has been rather "quiet".

However, yesterday's Straits Times brought a little laugh in me.

Story No.1

Driver charged with taking and giving bribes.

Consider him lucky.

If he is found quilty of such charge in European Union, they will also charged him with the following:

Driver charged with taking and giving bribes as well as carrying an imitation LV bag.

If you are not aware, EU can fine you if they see you holding an imitation of the top European brands. They can even do so at the Airport over at the custom.

Story no.2

Forum page, letter no.1

Three Lessons for Singapore from Mourinho's exit

Chelsea's charismatic Manager quit last week, a shock in the football fraternity. But to think that someone in Singapore could actually linked up that story with Singapore, shocks me too.

Lesson no.1: There is no such thing as permanent job security, no matter how special you are. The writer says, if Jose Mourinho can lose his job, so can anyone.

Lesson no.2: If you have good set of cards, don't complain that it's not perfect. The writer highlighted that Mourinho has good players but when he loses, he complained about every other thing. The writer goes on to link this with the CPF interest rate increase. He is implying that we have a good system but we still complain about the CPF system.

Lesson no.3: Know what is important in life. Mourinho says that he is more concerned about the bird flu than a rival team pulling away from his team. The writer goes on to say "How important really are CPF changes, enbloc rules and many other things that consume our time? Are there more important things we are missing?"

Story no.3

Sex Survey by Durex

I will highlight those that I thought was interesting.

Sexually active Singaporeans aged 20 to 65, either single or married, who:

• Have sex at least once a week: 67%
• Would like to have sex more than once a week: 63%
• Masturbate once a week: 39%

From this I can derive that

• 4% (67% - 63%) of the 67% who have sex at least once a week, think that once a week is the most they would want. I can only think that this 4% are women. As you know, man can have sex anytime, many times a week.
• Of the 63% who would like to have sex more than once a week, but not getting any more, almost 39% of the 63%, masturbate once a week. And I can only think that these 39% are men, while the remaining 24% of the 63% are women. As you know, man can masturbate anytime, many times a week.
• And since 24% of the 63% are women, and only 4% of the 67% think that once a week is the most they would want, the remaining 20% or so of the women would like to have sex more than once a week, but are not getting any.
• This means 20% of the women wanted to have more sex per week but their husband prefers to masturbate, which suggest that perhaps the wife is not desirable.

there's something about ..... the latest iphone (update)

Steve Jobs announced the latest version of iphone..

It's called "imsorry".

It's totally cool and it's US$200 cheaper with all the same specifications. Great stuff!! It even has a new marketing tagline, it's called "800,000 people was fooled to buy it first, be smart now and buy it so that I can pay good dividends to shareholders... and myself"

Update:
Decided to add my comments within the letter. bored.

source: http://www.apple.com/hotnews/openiphoneletter/

To all iPhone customers:

I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months (this is CREATIVE symdrome) after it went on sale. After reading every one of these emails, I have some observations and conclusions.

First, I am sure that we are making the correct decision to lower the price of the 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399, and that now is the right time to do it. (it was a wrong decision previously) iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to 'go for it' this holiday season. (Holiday season starts in September?) iPhone is so far ahead of the competition, and now it will be affordable by even more customers. It benefits both Apple (more dividend) and every iPhone user (and how?) to get as many new customers as possible in the iPhone 'tent' (and how is that beneficial?). We strongly believe the $399 price will help us do just that (Dividend up) this holiday season.

Second, being in technology for 30+ years I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. (totally true.. but 2 months?) This is life in the technology lane. (this is life of Sim Wong Hoo) If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you'll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive (yes.. buy CREATIVE) on the horizon. The good news is that if you buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple tries to do, you will receive years of useful and satisfying service from them even as newer models are introduced. (This is universal theory)

Third, even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone (try telling 800,000 of them), and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care (how about not dropping the price) of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.

Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit (Yahoo!!! that is exciting, now they can buy IPOD touch and have 2 bulky gadgets) towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website next week. Stay tuned.

We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you (stop suggesting that only a small handfull are affected), and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.

Steve Jobs
Apple CEO

Note: I have vested interest. I hold shares of CREATIVE and is totally pissed that the price has fallen so much.

there's something about ..... sway

"sway" as in " bad luck".

A friend of that national serviceman who was charged for carrying a firearm has been charged for knowing about it and not reporting it to police.

Read excerpt from asiaone:

A full-time national serviceman, Dave Teo Ming, 20, was charged in court on Wednesday with carrying a firearm.

Another man, Ong Boon Jun, 21, was also charged. Ong, unemployed was accused of consorting with Teo at a hotel in Geylang.

No plea was taken from Teo, who was remanded together with Ong.

Teo, a corporal, is said to have unlawfully carried the SAR 21 assault rifle at a toilet on the third floor of Cathy Cineleisure Orchard at about 8pm on Sunday.

He went missing on Sunday night, sparking off a 20-hour manhunt which culminated in his arrest the following evening.

Ong is alleged to have associated with Teo at Champagne Hotel in Lorong 16 between 3.45am and 7.30am on Monday in circumstances which raised a reasonable presumption that he knew that Teo was carrying the firearm.

WHAT IF:

Ong (friend): Wah.. bookout never go back.. come geylang find chicken issit

Dave: No lah.. I AWOL.

Ong: Haha.. Mai Siao lah... you backside itchy issit. AWOL got money take ah.

Dave: Not only that.. I took out a rifle.

Ong: Haha... Mai siao lah.. Singapore Government leh.. so suka suka take rifle out one meh.. you think I stupid ah. You think I believe you that you can take rifle out one meh.

Dave: Don't believe.. forget it.

And because of that, Ong is deemed to have knew that Dave has firearms and will be charged.

I mean.. Very SWAY RIGHT!!!

I mean who would have believe someone is able to take a gun or rifle out of Army/police station. We are supposed to live in a society where we have very strict SOP that dealt with such things.

Damn jia lat.

If next time someone is to joke with me about such things, I wouldn't know what to do. Call Police first or police call you later.

there's something about ..... time

You know time has changed when NTUC fairprice plays JAZZ music and not some ching chong chinese songs.