there's something about ..... tally

So who is the top nation at the Olympics at the moment?

It all depends which website you are reading....

If you are Chinese and British, you would follow the official Beijing Olympics website.....

If you are American and Russian, you may want to read CNN....

there's something about ..... sway

Phelps' 7th Goal in the 100m Butterfly.... was so bloody close....

Milorad Cavic was almost ensured of the Goal... Almost...It's not the case of Phelps leading all the way and win by 1/100th of a sec. It was Cavic leading all the way, ALL THE WAY untill he was about 1cm away from the wall.

1 CM.

Cavic's hand was gliding under the water, 1 cm away from winning the Goal.Out of nowhere, Phelps' chop (his hand's last stroke) came down and just manage to pip Cavic's hand only at the last CM and won by 1/100th of a sec.

Cavic lost the goal medal the hardest way. He was so sure of winning.

The photo finish below showed how Phelps did the incredible.

Phelps should be cast in the sequel to "I AM LEGEND"!

Phelps is the one on the left.

there's something about ..... silver

I was exchanging sms with a friend when Singapore was given the Silver Medal on the Podium.....

He said,"China won Gold and Silver....."

Later during the national anthem of China.... He said,"Did you see the silver medalist singing?"

These people......

there's something about ..... bolt

What a race!!!

Not since the infamous victory of Ben Johnson vs Carl Lewis, had I seen such a dominating race.

Back then..... Ben Johnson was a mile ahead..... he was so arrogant that he stare back at Carl Lewis with his finger pointing to the sky.... he did 100m at 9.79s, an impossible time at that era.... he was also on steroids.

This time round... Usain Bolt vs Powell..... Powell was expected to come in second.... Bolt is expected to win easily.... but who would have thought.... it was not only easy... he did the impossible of going below 9.7s..... with zero win-assist.... he wasn't only a mile ahead... he slowed down in the last 15-20 m....celebrating... and still got the record.

When asked "why did you slow down towards the end?"

He replied "I didn't come here to beat the world record... because I am already the World Record Holder.... I came here to win!"

What a fabulous quote!! I think he could have done 9.5 seconds with a 3.9 wind-assist.

Powell? He choked! Expected to get a silver... he came in 4th.

there's something about ..... silver

Now we know why Gold price is thru the roof, because Silver is worth $750,000.

So I have to eat my words now. I said we can only hope for Li Jia Wei to get us a bronze even when she is not at her peak. Maybe I am not wrong. It was Feng Tian Wei that did Singapore Proud.

I saw the game. It was fabulous.

Last Set. Last Game. tied at 9-9. Two more points and guaranteed a silver.

There is no space for choke. 1 choke and $750,000 will go down the bowel system. 1 point is worth $350,000.

The whole nation must be thinking "how we wish is Li Jiawei in that situation". I mean.. Feng Tian Wei??!? I can almost see the despair in our MPs at the stand. Afterall, Feng only join Singapore Last year and she has only been a Singapore Citizen since Jan this year.

But... Feng..... kept her calmness and ensure Singapore got a Siver in 48 years.... and she ensure Li Jia Wei got her share of $250k.

She deserved to have a road named after her in Chinatown.

The camera has a glimse of our MP Teo Chee Hean at the stand after Singapore won the game. He was so deadpanned. I think he either fell asleep with his eyes close... or he couldn't understand that the game was already won..... or he was cheering on the Korean Team thinking that they were Singapore....

*********

Can't wait for the 100m race later. Usain Bolt vs Asafa Powell. Current world record holder of 9.72s vs ex-world record holder of 9.74s.

Damn exciting.

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The sight of the weight-lifter's elbow being dislocated while lifting the weight is scary. Do a search in google or youtube. You have been warned.

there's something about ..... table tennis

Yesterday I read the news headlines that Singapore Women's Team Trash USA.

Wah... don't pray pray.... USA leh...

After I watched the Daily highlights, then I realised USA also represented by China's chinese.

So I felt better that a more superior country also can choose lousy players from China to represent them.

It's really quite amusing. It's like only Chinese can play Table Tennis.

So, basically, for all the different countries participating in Table Tennis, every player would felt like they were being cheered on. Afterall, this is Beijing.

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

Recently, price of Petrol went up slighly after the start of Olympics. Now it's trading around US$117 per barrel.

The main cause of the increase came from China. Everyone in Beijing kept saying 加油.

there's something about ..... olympics (no.2)

Since my wife gave birth on Monday, I have been watching alot of Olympics.

I was in the Labour Ward and I saw Ronald Susilo kenna trashed and Tao Li coming in 5th for Swimming.

Nowadays Labour Ward also got TV. Wonderful.

Naturally, Olympics is the hottest topic when visitors come to visit my wife at the Hospital. Topics like how my wife suffered through the labour is secondary. haha.

Now, ramblings on the Olympics:

Yes. Tao Li came in 5th. But if you use the swimming time and divide by the height of the swimmers, secs/cm, Tao Li will probably win the Gold Medal. The winner is like 2 heads taller than Tao Li lor.

Why did we send Ronald to the Olympics? I can understand if you have gotten beaten by World No.1 and I can say it's pure bad luck that you have to meet him in Round 1. But to have lost out to our neighbouring country? Yeah... sure.... Li Jiawei/Kelly Poon is/are too distracting and you lost. I mean... I can go and represent the country with my limited skills and I would still lose out in Straight Sets lor. Just like Ronald. What a waste of money.

I heard people criticised Li Jiawei for dragging the Flag on the ground during the Opening ceremony. I watch it again. (yes I have it recorded) It's not like she meant it. She is simply too short to be a flag bearer, and she doesn't seem to have any strength to carry the pole. So the fault lies with Singapore Commission. Helloo.... Singapore Flag leh.... Anyhow ask anybody to carry one meh.... never go testing testing one meh.... China make sure their flag will not reach the ground... EVER... even if Yao Ming is to walk with his knees....

I caught NDP on Saturday. Poor thing. Even the sky got to cry. We should have hold the NDP parade 1 weekend earlier. After watching Beijing Ceremony.... watching NDP is so painful. I can imagine this was more painful than labour.

MM Lee said that China can pull off one of the greatest ceremony is due to the sheer size of the population. I believe that is always going to be our main reasons for our continual dismay results at Olympics. But seriously, we need to examine our commission. I mean... we sent Ronald to the Olympics with a zero chance of winning a medal. We sent Tao Li for the exposure and we felt over the moon that she is now the best in Asia, with no medal. We now wait for Li Jia Wei to win us a Bronze medal, where she failed the last time round at her peak. If you look at the olympics, we should concentrate on sports where physical strength is not necessary. Like:
Air Rifle. We have a nation of NSF and Reservists and we can't find anyone to shoot accurately?
Archery. Just aim and practice hard. No push up needed.
Beach Volleyball. We have Siloso Beach. We even have our own Beach Volleyball Channel 8 comedy "Beach. Ball. Babes". So we have the culture to produce winners in bikinis.
Weight Lifting. Our last medal was from Weight-lifting. With so many strong body-builders in California Fitness and all others, cannot find someone strong meh?

Or at least pick players from China that is a sure no.1 bet in the world. Not 4th or 5th best.

Talk about Weight Lifting. China women Gold Medalist in Weight Lifting.... how come they look like Indonesians?

there's something about ..... no.2

Yipppeeeee....

I welcome the new addition to my family.

there's something about ..... olympics

Singapore will have alot to do today for the NDP parade to beat Beijing in terms of boredom.

4 Hours!!!! That is like watching NDP 2 times.

Seriously, it's only the first 45 minutes or so that is so lovely. And probably the last 5 minutes where the Torching of the Flame happens. In Between.... I couldn't decide which is more exciting... the NDP or the Olympic ceremony.

I was eagerly waiting for the Singapore Team to surface. But Beijing decided that introducing participating countries in alphabetical order would mean China being introduce early. That wouldn't do. They decided that the teams should be introduced in a decending order based on the number of strokes of the country's chinese names. Therefore, they would very much ensure 中国 would have the fewest strokes and would be the Last country to come out.

Because of that, there is no bloody way to know when your team would come out. There are 204 countries... and just participating atheletes coming out take 2 hours. I remember the first country coming out was about 9pm and the last is about 11.15pm.

You can imagine the agony of just watching people you do not know walking out for 2 hours. It's like you are at the basement of Wisma Atria Underpass and you sit there for 2 hours.

I also feel slighted that most country leaders were given TV footage when their representing country was paraded, except Singapore and probably other smaller countries. Naturally George Bush was given the most footage.

Why do I want to see the Singapore Team? I wanted to know how I feel about having Lee Jia Wei carrying the Singapore Flag. I didn't feel too proud.

In fact, I got goose pimples when I saw Yao Ming carrying the Flag for China.

In fact, I almost want to cry when I saw Li Ning being the last Torch Bearer. It was a mystery until the very moment when they announced that was Li ning.

It was amazing. When the commentator was speculating on who the last Torch Bearer was... I told my wife that it might be Liu Xiang since we didn't see him during the parade. And since Yao Ming already took the torch during the relay, he wouldn't be the choice.

But when I saw some old atheletes taking turn to take the Torch... the name Li Ning came to my mind and I told my wife.

My wife said "Li ning? A Girl?"

I told her it's a famous Gynamst.

And when she saw Li Ning... she exclaimed "huh? Old man?"

Seriously, I never have thought that Li Ning would be like an uncle.

But I felt he is so fitting to be the last Torch Bearer like Mohamed Ali was the last time. He is a Legend in the early 80s.

Yes... I have been watching Olympics since the early 80s.I am such a big fan of Olympics.

In fact, I just finished watching Weight Lifting, Women's category.

It's time to continue my Olympics.

there's something about ..... tv shows

All my current favourite shows seems to be ending by next week, quite nicely before the Olympics take over our TV channels.

Apprentice is already over. Fabulous season as always.

LOST finale is coming Monday. Last week cliff-hanger is set on a cliff so bloody high, I am so tempted to watch it on the internet or read what happen.

Contender Asia should end Next Thursday on Channel 5. And what a fight last night between Singapore Zach and Mr Maia Lee. The American Commentators had a good time digging on Zidov and Maia Lee's scandal. And the number of illegal kicks below the belt (about 4 times), especially on Zidov...just make you wondered whether Zach was angry...

And Zach make Singapore Proud. I didn't think he could fight but he trashed Zidov. Yes.. Zidov was ordinary... perhaps the news of becoming a father was a burden to him... but Zach showed some potential.

Anyway, Olympics is coming. Hooray.

I love Olympics. It's the only sports franchise that allow you to watch all kinds of sports at the same time. And even some rare sports that you hardly could watch because they are deem less popular to be shown on ESPN.

I can't wait to see the USA basketball team, trying to regain their supremacy.
I can't wait to see who will win the 100m race, 200m race, 4x100m
I can't wait to see Gymnastics.
I can't wait to see Syndronised swimming.
I can't wait to see handball.
I can't wait to see if Brazil will win the soccer goal.
I can't wait to see Volleyball.
I can't wait to see table tennis between China and another chinese-from-china-now-representing-another-country.

And many other sports which I really don't mind wasting time on...

...like... weight lifting
...like... diving
...like... wrestling
...like... swimming

Plus all side dramas, like:

The opening ceremony.... Zhang Yimou so-called 15 minutes sequence... where 1 min has been leaked... and they think it's treason. So drama.

And the algae infested river.....

And the polution infested air..... will runners be able to perform under such conditions....

Will toilets be the talking point in Beijing? Remember our parents will tell us that you need to bring umbrella into the toilet when you pee.

Will LI JIA WEI win a Gold Medal in Table Tennis but the organiser wrongly played the China National Anthem?

Seriously... many more... I can't wait for Olympics to start.

there's something about ..... stadium

photo by redsun81 (flickr)

What a beautiful shot of Singapore National Stadium or should I say:
The-Stadium-that-never-get-demolished
or perhaps
The-Stadium-that-always-reopened-after-saying-that-the-last-game-was-indeed-the-last-game.

First... they have commerative events to mark the end of National Stadium.

Then.. they have Australian national team coming to play as a Swansong game in National Stadium.

Then... they have World Cup qualification games played at National Stadium, the last game being really the last game.

Then... they have Brazilian coming to play as warm-up game for Beijing Olympics, saying the game will really be the last game.

This reminds me of Retailers in some ulu ulu place that always hang up banners saying "Closing Down Sales". But they never close down.

I guess this is Singapore Mentality.

there's something about ..... youtube

I spent probably about 30 mins a day looking at youtube. I always start off with 1 video and later chose any videos from the right hand bar under "related videos" and just go on and go on.

It's very interesting where you ended up watching.

For example,

I was watching this MTV from Peter Cincotti's "Some kind of wonderful". Nice song, nice video. Unfortunately embedded is being denied.

At the side bar, I chosed this MTV from a movie of the same name "Some kind of Wonderful"



After going thru a few others movies clips under "Some kind of Wonderful", I came across "Pretty in Pink".



This led me to:

OMD "if you leave"



After this, I saw "New Order's Bizzare Love Triangle"



Another New Order song "true Faith" which interestingly was one song that was brought to my attention yesterday.



And this series of videos ended.

From watching a modern day jazz singer, I ended up watching a boy band in the 80s.

Another series starts all over again.

there's something about ..... wedding

This wedding shot of Tony Leung and Carina Lau damn cool man! Even if you damn rich, may not even guarantee you can get married at Bhutan. So to pull off a photo like this...

there's something about ..... fannie and freddie

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sounds like distant cousins of Amy Winehouse, or names of the next Batman's villains.

Who would have thought they are nicknames of banks in America, who just recently almost gone bust until the Government bailed them out. see link

Fannie Mae is actually "The Federal National Mortgage Association" while Freddie Mac is "Federal Home Mortgage Corporation"

Only in a matured country like USA could come up with something like that.

Imagine Singapore giving nicknames to POSB and DBS bank.

POSB is Post Office Savings Bank. SO boring!!!
DBS is Development Bank of Singapore. SO F#^% Boring!!!

Must we always take the first letter of every word and put them together to form another shortcut name?

Wouldn't it be cool if we can call POSB...... Po the Orang Utan.

And yes... I finally watched Kung Fu Panda.

Now my kid will grow up normally and will not be laugh at by some Uncles.

there's something about ..... panda

I am a lousy father.

During the lead-up to the premier of Kung Fu Panda, with all the trailers on TV, I got my kid excited about watching the movie on the big screen. I think that was sometime early June.

Sometime middle of June, the pirated DVD from JB surfaced in Singapore. My brother-in-law proudly declared that he has the DVD and played it on the TV for us to watch.

1.) I don't watched pirated DVD filmed from cinema.
2.) I don't watched anything that comes from my brother-in-law.

I told my kid then that I will bring him to watch in the cinema and encourage him not to watch it on TV. He understood and he went on to play.

Sometime in late July, the show seems to have near the end of its run with all movie times either early morning or middle of afternoon, and mostly on weekdays. It was tough as my kid either got school, having his nap, or I was working.

I kinda think he forgot all about it....

...until last Saturday.

I have arranged for a dinner gathering with my friend. The last time we went out with this friend about 6 months ago, we went for a movie together with their kids.

And so when I was getting my kid ready to go out, and I told him that we are meeting this friend and their kids...

My son excited say "We going to watch Kung Fu Panda?'

Both myself and my wife's heart sank so low..... so bloody low......

The good thing is, the show is still showing in local cinemas... and this time round, we promised to bring him to watch it this coming Wednesday.

There is no turning back on our promise now.

Not after our friend repeatedly told my kid how nice the show is. That bastard!

there's something about ..... pharmacist

Last night I have an interesting encounter with a pharmacist.

After coughing like 2 weeks with limited signs of improving, I turned to a pharmacist.

After explaining my problem, she asked if I wanted something to curb my cough or eliminate phelms.

After telling her that I wanted something to curb my cough, she recommended something that can do both!!

?!??!?!?!?!??

And she goes on to say "....NO ALCHOHOL and NO SUGAR....."

To me, it was an obvious instructions. I mean... we should never take medication with alcohol.

But "no sugar"?

So I asked how long before I take the medication should I refrain from sugar-related drinks?

I think she was amused.

She told me that she meant the medication that she recommended DO NOT contained alchohol and sugar.

She should know that she is talking to a sick man and she should be clearer in her explaination!

there's something about ..... alumni gathering

Recently I was invited to attend a social gathering organised by some secondary schoolmates. It has been 20 years since I saw most of them.

I didn't attend. I don't see the point.

If I had wanted to keep in touch with some of them, we would have gotten in touch even after we left school. We didn't. All of us kinda just go on with our own lives. Those days, there aren't facebooks, email, mobile phones... only pagers and house numbers.

And after 20 years, some folks decided to catch up old times.

But... there aren't any old times to start off. So where do we start?

Is it just a gathering to compare achievements?

Or is it just a gathering to get contacts?

I really do not see a point.

there's something about ..... youth of today

Today I saw a disturbing sight.

I was hungry at in the afternoon and decided to go out to grab a bite. With $3 in my pocket, you would be surprised that my choices are pretty limited. Foodcourt nowadays start from $3.50 onwards. However, Macdonald still have affordable bites starting at $2. And so I went to the Macdonald at AMK.

I was queuing behind 3 NYJC students. As another counter was available, one of these NYJC students went over to place his order. I went over as well and was queuing behind him. Let's name him "A".

After he placed his order, he was whispering to his friend "B" over at the next counter. The cashier was waiting for "A" to pay before proceeding to collect the order.

I was also waiting rather impatiently. Couldn't "A" wait till everything is over before talking to "B".

That is when I realised "A" was actually borrowing money from "B". The order was $5. "B" took out $4 worth of notes and was struggling to come out $1 worth of coins. But finally "B" manages.

And "A" went on to give to the cashier. The cashier counted and realised that it's only $4.90.

But then, "B" has already taken his order and has walked away.

"A" decided to ask "C" who is still waiting for his food for 10cents.

"C" struggled and finally came out with 2 5cents.

This is too disturbing on many counts.

• You have to F%^! borrow money to EAT MACDONALD!!
• A JC student do not have any money with him, not even 10 cents and he F#%! want to eat Macdonald!!
• If you have to F^#% borrow money to eat Macdonald, you order the cheapest possible which is a chicken burger at $2, and not a $5 set meal!!!
• I only have $3 in my pocket and 2 of these students have a total of $15. (all three of them ordered $5 set meals) 5 times more than what I have?!?!?!

This is too disturbing.

there's something about ..... naming your kid

If only naming your kid is as easy as what nicole kidman did. She simply named her newborned daughter Sunday .

Interestingly the baby girl was borned on Monday.

Currently myself and my wife are thinking about names for our second child coming in August.

It's not as stressful as the first. You simply either followed the first letter of the elder's name or you follow along something that sounds similar.

I always thought Jeff's naming of the 2 kids is very clever. Elder girl is called Ella. Second one is called Emma. Even if you follow the alphabet sequence, "m" comes right after "l". So smart.

I tried using that approach for my son's name and it didn't quite turn out that way.

During my first kid, I joked about getting a random name from Straits Times, and I almost named my son "Paul", "Justine" and "Gerard"

I think I will continue with that formula to see which other names I can derive from Straits Times. If this failed, I can always fall back on the day he is borned. I like Monday and Friday.

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

It was an eventful trip to Chinatown.

I went into this Giordano section and they were clearing stocks at clearing price. I didn't want to waste time and I asked the salesperson if they have jeans that are baggy.

This salesperson must be a part-timer. He don't seems to know the products very well.

He hold out a jeans for me and said "I think this is quite baggy".

I obliged and took it from him.

Of course it's baggy.... it's F#$% 38 inch waist.

At least he tried.