On the brink of 2009, I cannot seem think of anything to blog about. Ok, maybe I shall just say Happy New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai! No, that doesn't seem appropriate for the ang moh new year. Who cares, who doesn't want to be prosperous and wealthy?
The first decade of the 21st century will come to an end soon. People like your friends and family would say that 2010 is a new year. But to me, it is a new decade, a new era, like the 70's, 80's, 90's and of course the current 00's or what do you call that? A new society awaits us, a new sense of fashion will conquer the whole world, a new way of living can be foreseen, all in the next ten years
Another financial crisis will occur, new celebrities will pop up in the TV, world records in sports will be broken, new technologies that nobody has ever thought of will be invented, all within the new decade
Imagine that you are ten years older. From now till then, what will change and how should you change to improve yourself? Think of how you want to be like in ten years' time. Then start working on it from the first day which is tomorrow
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
TOP 10 PEOPLE 2009
On the eve of new year's eve, I have come up with a list of the top ten people of 2009. They do not necessarily have to be world leaders or someone I know whom impacted me this year. Just people who are, you know, people of the year, get it?
Number 10
Taylor Swift
I don't know why am I posting her name here but she is one of the first few names that came to my mind when writing this post. My cousin who will be a secondary one student next year is mad about her. Taylor Swift pictures flooded her room when I last went to her house. Local teenage girls, mostly the ang moh kind, worship her after throwing away Pink and Avril Lavinge
Like her album's name, this country pop singer is fearless, clinching numerous awards this year. Even the legendary Michael Jackson was not her match in the 2009 American Music Awards's Artist of the Year category. She also won other awards which include Favourite Female Artist and Favourite Country Album during the show
On September 13, singer Kayne West went up stage and snatched the microphone from Swift during her acceptance speech for Best Female Video and claimed that Beyoncé "had one of the best videos of all time". The audience jeered at him and fellow singers like Kelly Clarkson and West's rival 50 Cent condemned him for the incident. Even former US President Jimmy Carter was in the list
It was from this incident or rather accident that I started to notice Swift for the first time. Previously, I had never heard about this singer before, let alone her songs. The only Taylor singer that I know was the grey-haired Taylor Hicks. Speaking about which, I only know one of Swift's songs-You Belong to Me
When I hum the rhythm or casually belt out a few sentences of the song, people will always ask me where did I heard it. My standard reply to them would be "I heard it while I was in a Guardian pharmacy and I think it's nice". I especially like the phrase "a typical Tuesday night". It's a combination of country style plus city buzz
There you go, Taylor Swift for number ten. A promising young girl who has a bright future ahead of her. From my perspective, I think that she was the one who brought country pop back into the music scene after years of hip-hop domination and 2009 was the year when she did it
Number 9
Magicians
Magic has become popular once again. Thanks to the Taiwanese variety show, Big Brother Variety, which has a magic competition. It attracted aspiring magicians from all over Taiwan and wowed viewers from all over Asia
Professional magicians like Liu Qian, who is one of the judges in the show, also shot to fame. More and more people started to learn magic. TV programmes about magic also started to appear on by one
If 2009 was a year where magic was popular, then 2010 would surely not be an illusion because this trend will continue
Number 8
Aunty Lucy
So embarrassing!
Although she (or he) is a fictional character, I still consider her (or him) as a real person. It is because she (ok we'll stick with female) shot to fame in less than two months since the variety show Paris and Milan started airing
So who is she? She is just a commoner like your mum, aunt, neighbour etc. She symbolizes the ordinary Singaporean aunty who goes to the market, spots a permed hairstyle, wears very "aunty" clothes and loves gossiping
The fact that this character seems so real and natural makes thousands of people especially students become overnight fans of her. It has been a very long time since Mediacorp last produced such a classic character since Ah Bee, Bobo, and Ai Yo Yo
Even a movie was created using her as the main character this year. Now how many people can shoot to fame, become a household name and star in a movie as the lead all in less than one year?
Number 7
iPhone users
Without them and their support, the iPhone would just be an ordinary smartphone. Fortunately, that is not the case. The overwhelming global interest in this Apple product has made the it the king of smartphones
When you think of a smartphone, you would think of an Apple iPhone first, followed by HTC Hero, BlackBerry Storm and other brands and models. If Apple's launch of the iPhone was a milestone for the company, then the users' enthusiasm would be a breakthrough for the presence of smartphones in the market
We see long queues of kiasu people when a telco company launches the iPhone, we see people discussing with each other the different apps they had downloaded. We hardly see or hear anyone talking about any other smartphones. Even non-iPhone users like myself are able to talk about this gadget with their Apple fanatic friends
In a nutshell, iPhone users created a world phenomenon with their support of this smartphone. Without their presence, iPhones or rather smartphones would not have been such a hit this year
Number 6
Yukio Hatoyama
He followed the footsteps of Barack Obama to bring change to his country. In September, Hatoyama who is also the President of the Democratic Party of Japan was elected as the Prime Minister of his country after decades of Liberal Democratic Party domination
The 62 year old politician represents a new hope for Japan and its people. He has been seen as the person who will bring a revolution to the land of the rising sun. Like his unusual hairstyle and big eyes, he is quite different from the ordinary world leader
The Japanese were courageous enough for once to vote for the opposition (as in majority of them). They wanted a change in their country, maybe because of Obama's influence during his election campaigns last year. They voted for a new guy to lead them as they believed that a change was necessary
If only Singaporeans were as brave as them
Number 5
Roger Federer
From a dismal 2008 that saw him winning only one Grand Slam title-US Open and losing his world no. 1 ranking, Federer has since bounced back this year to live up to his reputation as the best tennis player ever in history
He finally won his first Roland Garros title this year to become the sixth man in history to complete a career Grand Slam. He also defeated long time rival Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final to set a world record for number of Grand Slam men's singles titles
Most importantly, after his win in Wimbledon, Federer was back at the top as the world no.1 pushing Rafael Nadal back into second spot. He also secured the year-end number one ranking for the fifth year at the ATP World Tour Finals. Although he finished this season with a loss to Juan del Porto in the semi-final, it was still a great year for Federer to celebrate
On 22 December, Federer was named as the 2009 world champion by the International Tennis Federation for the fifth time in his career
It was a year where he won his first French Open title, set a new record for Grand Slam wins and was ranked the world no. 1 tennis player again. Being able to make one of the greatest comebacks after just one year is no easy feat. It all boils down to perseverance and determination
That is what I call a real athlete with sportsmanship
Number 4
Barack Obama
From my perspective, he has performed as expected in his first year as America's president
At the start of a new journey in his political career in January, he ordered the US military to plan for withdrawal of troops from Iraq and requested the closing of the Guantanamo Bay camp. Although a military judge rejected the request on January 29, a Presidential Memorandum was issued on December 15 to formally close the detention center
In the economic area, he managed the financial crisis with a stimulus package that helped create economic growth which was praised by economists. He took a hand in the automotive industry crisis with renewed loans for GM and Chrysler to continue operations while reorganizing
He tried making a change to foreign relations with European nations including Russia. On June 4, he made a speech in Egypt calling for a new beginning in relations between the Islamic world and America. Only one word can be used to describe his foreign policy. Change
Never mind that his health care reform proposal was met with a considerable number of criticism, he won the Nobel Peace Prize award in October which more than made up for it. He is the first US president in his first year in office to receive the award. Obama was also rated as the most popular world leader from a poll in May
He hasn't changed the world but he changed year 2009
Number 3
Nancy Pelosi
Holding the highest post that no other woman has ever got in US history, the speaker of the US House of Representatives has more power than any of her precedors
She utilized that power to pass every single thing on President Barack Obama's agenda. They ranged from the No Child Left Behind Act to conservation programs and development of new technologies to Medicare and Medicaid benefits
Her unquestionable leadership gives people the impression of her as a stern woman with unconventional strictness. People whom she fought with over the years have mostly been banished
Her disciplined image may make her look firm but she still projects a calm and approachable appearance. It is her style and 2009 is her year
Number 2
H1N1 medical staff
I salute you people. Without you guys, what would the world be like? A big thank you to all of you for your courage, care and determination
and the number 1 is
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You
Nobody decides your fate, only you have control over your own destiny. Give yourself a pat on the back, without yourself, how would you be able to survive yet another year?
Sorry, no pictures for number one because everyone look differently
Number 10
Taylor Swift
I don't know why am I posting her name here but she is one of the first few names that came to my mind when writing this post. My cousin who will be a secondary one student next year is mad about her. Taylor Swift pictures flooded her room when I last went to her house. Local teenage girls, mostly the ang moh kind, worship her after throwing away Pink and Avril Lavinge
Like her album's name, this country pop singer is fearless, clinching numerous awards this year. Even the legendary Michael Jackson was not her match in the 2009 American Music Awards's Artist of the Year category. She also won other awards which include Favourite Female Artist and Favourite Country Album during the show
On September 13, singer Kayne West went up stage and snatched the microphone from Swift during her acceptance speech for Best Female Video and claimed that Beyoncé "had one of the best videos of all time". The audience jeered at him and fellow singers like Kelly Clarkson and West's rival 50 Cent condemned him for the incident. Even former US President Jimmy Carter was in the list
It was from this incident or rather accident that I started to notice Swift for the first time. Previously, I had never heard about this singer before, let alone her songs. The only Taylor singer that I know was the grey-haired Taylor Hicks. Speaking about which, I only know one of Swift's songs-You Belong to Me
When I hum the rhythm or casually belt out a few sentences of the song, people will always ask me where did I heard it. My standard reply to them would be "I heard it while I was in a Guardian pharmacy and I think it's nice". I especially like the phrase "a typical Tuesday night". It's a combination of country style plus city buzz
There you go, Taylor Swift for number ten. A promising young girl who has a bright future ahead of her. From my perspective, I think that she was the one who brought country pop back into the music scene after years of hip-hop domination and 2009 was the year when she did it
Number 9
Magicians
Magic has become popular once again. Thanks to the Taiwanese variety show, Big Brother Variety, which has a magic competition. It attracted aspiring magicians from all over Taiwan and wowed viewers from all over Asia
Professional magicians like Liu Qian, who is one of the judges in the show, also shot to fame. More and more people started to learn magic. TV programmes about magic also started to appear on by one
If 2009 was a year where magic was popular, then 2010 would surely not be an illusion because this trend will continue
Number 8
Aunty Lucy
So embarrassing!
Although she (or he) is a fictional character, I still consider her (or him) as a real person. It is because she (ok we'll stick with female) shot to fame in less than two months since the variety show Paris and Milan started airing
So who is she? She is just a commoner like your mum, aunt, neighbour etc. She symbolizes the ordinary Singaporean aunty who goes to the market, spots a permed hairstyle, wears very "aunty" clothes and loves gossiping
The fact that this character seems so real and natural makes thousands of people especially students become overnight fans of her. It has been a very long time since Mediacorp last produced such a classic character since Ah Bee, Bobo, and Ai Yo Yo
Even a movie was created using her as the main character this year. Now how many people can shoot to fame, become a household name and star in a movie as the lead all in less than one year?
Number 7
iPhone users
Without them and their support, the iPhone would just be an ordinary smartphone. Fortunately, that is not the case. The overwhelming global interest in this Apple product has made the it the king of smartphones
When you think of a smartphone, you would think of an Apple iPhone first, followed by HTC Hero, BlackBerry Storm and other brands and models. If Apple's launch of the iPhone was a milestone for the company, then the users' enthusiasm would be a breakthrough for the presence of smartphones in the market
We see long queues of kiasu people when a telco company launches the iPhone, we see people discussing with each other the different apps they had downloaded. We hardly see or hear anyone talking about any other smartphones. Even non-iPhone users like myself are able to talk about this gadget with their Apple fanatic friends
In a nutshell, iPhone users created a world phenomenon with their support of this smartphone. Without their presence, iPhones or rather smartphones would not have been such a hit this year
Number 6
Yukio Hatoyama
He followed the footsteps of Barack Obama to bring change to his country. In September, Hatoyama who is also the President of the Democratic Party of Japan was elected as the Prime Minister of his country after decades of Liberal Democratic Party domination
The 62 year old politician represents a new hope for Japan and its people. He has been seen as the person who will bring a revolution to the land of the rising sun. Like his unusual hairstyle and big eyes, he is quite different from the ordinary world leader
The Japanese were courageous enough for once to vote for the opposition (as in majority of them). They wanted a change in their country, maybe because of Obama's influence during his election campaigns last year. They voted for a new guy to lead them as they believed that a change was necessary
If only Singaporeans were as brave as them
Number 5
Roger Federer
From a dismal 2008 that saw him winning only one Grand Slam title-US Open and losing his world no. 1 ranking, Federer has since bounced back this year to live up to his reputation as the best tennis player ever in history
He finally won his first Roland Garros title this year to become the sixth man in history to complete a career Grand Slam. He also defeated long time rival Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final to set a world record for number of Grand Slam men's singles titles
Most importantly, after his win in Wimbledon, Federer was back at the top as the world no.1 pushing Rafael Nadal back into second spot. He also secured the year-end number one ranking for the fifth year at the ATP World Tour Finals. Although he finished this season with a loss to Juan del Porto in the semi-final, it was still a great year for Federer to celebrate
On 22 December, Federer was named as the 2009 world champion by the International Tennis Federation for the fifth time in his career
It was a year where he won his first French Open title, set a new record for Grand Slam wins and was ranked the world no. 1 tennis player again. Being able to make one of the greatest comebacks after just one year is no easy feat. It all boils down to perseverance and determination
That is what I call a real athlete with sportsmanship
Number 4
Barack Obama
From my perspective, he has performed as expected in his first year as America's president
At the start of a new journey in his political career in January, he ordered the US military to plan for withdrawal of troops from Iraq and requested the closing of the Guantanamo Bay camp. Although a military judge rejected the request on January 29, a Presidential Memorandum was issued on December 15 to formally close the detention center
In the economic area, he managed the financial crisis with a stimulus package that helped create economic growth which was praised by economists. He took a hand in the automotive industry crisis with renewed loans for GM and Chrysler to continue operations while reorganizing
He tried making a change to foreign relations with European nations including Russia. On June 4, he made a speech in Egypt calling for a new beginning in relations between the Islamic world and America. Only one word can be used to describe his foreign policy. Change
Never mind that his health care reform proposal was met with a considerable number of criticism, he won the Nobel Peace Prize award in October which more than made up for it. He is the first US president in his first year in office to receive the award. Obama was also rated as the most popular world leader from a poll in May
He hasn't changed the world but he changed year 2009
Number 3
Nancy Pelosi
Holding the highest post that no other woman has ever got in US history, the speaker of the US House of Representatives has more power than any of her precedors
She utilized that power to pass every single thing on President Barack Obama's agenda. They ranged from the No Child Left Behind Act to conservation programs and development of new technologies to Medicare and Medicaid benefits
Her unquestionable leadership gives people the impression of her as a stern woman with unconventional strictness. People whom she fought with over the years have mostly been banished
Her disciplined image may make her look firm but she still projects a calm and approachable appearance. It is her style and 2009 is her year
Number 2
H1N1 medical staff
I salute you people. Without you guys, what would the world be like? A big thank you to all of you for your courage, care and determination
and the number 1 is
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You
Nobody decides your fate, only you have control over your own destiny. Give yourself a pat on the back, without yourself, how would you be able to survive yet another year?
Sorry, no pictures for number one because everyone look differently
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Singapore Idol 2009
Taken from http://blogs.todayonline.com
Congratulations to Sezairi Sezali! You won the the third season of Singapore Idol and you made me win five bucks from a bet with my cousin
Now it is a hat-trick for this reality TV singing contest. Three Malay male winners for all three seasons
Sylvia Ratonel, you have come so far by being the first female finalist, that's good enough already
Females winning singing competitions in Singapore? Wait long long
This is real evidence of male domination
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Poem Singapore 2009
I am trying my hand at poetry. Please rate how well or lousy it is, so that I can improve myself. Whether it's a good or bad comment, just bring horse over lah!
Two thousand and nine
I held a glass of wine
and walked to the balcony
with thoughts in my mind
It has been a long year
the place where we're living here
is still pretty much the same
but some events happened here gained fame
A mass replacement of ez-link cards
Singaporeans found doing it very hard
waited for the final few days
before making a move
brainless that's all one can say
Pioneer and Joo Koon were opened
people working in Tuas cheered
Boon Lay was no longer the terminus
some still didn't realize it isn't
Geyland Serai temporary market
mass food poisoning that left two dead
more than a hundred were affected
an islandwide news sensation erupted
Circle Line opened on May twenty-eight
but only five stations started to operate
From Marymount to Bartley
this orange line made many happy
Singapore Cable Car closes down
Tourists and locals started to frown
Upgrading was the real reason behind
let's wait and see what we can find
Ion Orchard finally opens
people flooded the area like headless chickens
branded goods were all there man
it's just how much you can spend
APEC'09 was held in November
the venue was filled with ministers
it was a success as expected
as our country has hardly failed
China will loan us two pandas
they will only come in a few years
so for now don't get too excited
Two thousand and nine
I held a glass of wine
and walked to the balcony
with thoughts in my mind
It has been a long year
the place where we're living here
is still pretty much the same
but some events happened here gained fame
A mass replacement of ez-link cards
Singaporeans found doing it very hard
waited for the final few days
before making a move
brainless that's all one can say
Pioneer and Joo Koon were opened
people working in Tuas cheered
Boon Lay was no longer the terminus
some still didn't realize it isn't
Geyland Serai temporary market
mass food poisoning that left two dead
more than a hundred were affected
an islandwide news sensation erupted
Circle Line opened on May twenty-eight
but only five stations started to operate
From Marymount to Bartley
this orange line made many happy
Singapore Cable Car closes down
Tourists and locals started to frown
Upgrading was the real reason behind
let's wait and see what we can find
Ion Orchard finally opens
people flooded the area like headless chickens
branded goods were all there man
it's just how much you can spend
APEC'09 was held in November
the venue was filled with ministers
it was a success as expected
as our country has hardly failed
China will loan us two pandas
they will only come in a few years
so for now don't get too excited
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Sale of citizenships
Dr Amy Khor has encouraged Singaporeans to embrace PRs and new citizens to make them feel at home in Singapore
"The worry at the individual and ground level really is about locals seeing new immigrants coming, applying for the same jobs, same schools and housing and they fear crowding out and competition, although at the intellectual level, many understand there is a need to augment our population with new immigrants to grow the economy and to increase the number of jobs level"
"And we got to continue to assure them that - be it in terms of sharpening the differences between PRs and citizens, as well as appealing to them to have open hearts and open minds to understand that even for new citizens, they have actually taken a big step forward, given up their birth rights in their own country to set up home here.
“By and large, most of them are wanting to start afresh here, build up their home and future here and our locals must give them a chance and welcome them and together forge a new identity with them so that together, we can build a good future for Singapore as a united people. We need to continue to do that"
Taken from a Channel News Asia interview
OMG...not again
I comprehend that foreigners are needed to fill in the voids in occupations which locals are not willing to take up. However, at this rate of increase in our population by handing out blue and pink ICs to foreigners, the government looks more like having a sale of citizenships
The recent one extra ballot entitled to citizens for primary school application proposal is just a "passer-by". The whole objective of the ruling party and its plans appear to be the same
Singaporeans should not be misled because foreign talent is still the lead actor. The long term investment in foreign talents is a reality. But how long more can true blue Singaporeans with pink ICs last before being outnumbered by "new" pink and blue IC holders?
"The worry at the individual and ground level really is about locals seeing new immigrants coming, applying for the same jobs, same schools and housing and they fear crowding out and competition, although at the intellectual level, many understand there is a need to augment our population with new immigrants to grow the economy and to increase the number of jobs level"
"And we got to continue to assure them that - be it in terms of sharpening the differences between PRs and citizens, as well as appealing to them to have open hearts and open minds to understand that even for new citizens, they have actually taken a big step forward, given up their birth rights in their own country to set up home here.
“By and large, most of them are wanting to start afresh here, build up their home and future here and our locals must give them a chance and welcome them and together forge a new identity with them so that together, we can build a good future for Singapore as a united people. We need to continue to do that"
Taken from a Channel News Asia interview
OMG...not again
I comprehend that foreigners are needed to fill in the voids in occupations which locals are not willing to take up. However, at this rate of increase in our population by handing out blue and pink ICs to foreigners, the government looks more like having a sale of citizenships
The recent one extra ballot entitled to citizens for primary school application proposal is just a "passer-by". The whole objective of the ruling party and its plans appear to be the same
Singaporeans should not be misled because foreign talent is still the lead actor. The long term investment in foreign talents is a reality. But how long more can true blue Singaporeans with pink ICs last before being outnumbered by "new" pink and blue IC holders?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Last Christmas
Well, you know, during the festive season each year, you will hear numerous Christmas songs. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Here Comes Santa Claus, The Twelve Days of Christmas etc. But there is one certain song which I especially like and feel that it sounds a bit contradicting
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
Yes, it's the song Last Christmas originally sang by British duo Wham! and "re-sang" by others like Ashley Tisdale, Cascada and many more
I like the song very much but I feel that it sounds a bit weird to hear the singer singing the same sentence every year. Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
Walau eh, how many Christmases do you need before you can stop giving your heart to the wrong person? Then hor, this year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special. But next year you will still be singing the someone special gave your heart away
Aiyah, who cares? As long as it sounds nice can already
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
Yes, it's the song Last Christmas originally sang by British duo Wham! and "re-sang" by others like Ashley Tisdale, Cascada and many more
I like the song very much but I feel that it sounds a bit weird to hear the singer singing the same sentence every year. Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
Walau eh, how many Christmases do you need before you can stop giving your heart to the wrong person? Then hor, this year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special. But next year you will still be singing the someone special gave your heart away
Aiyah, who cares? As long as it sounds nice can already
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
STI
The Straits Times Index closed higher today at 2841.56. This means that Singapore shares ended higher today up by about 17 points
Thinking back on what I predicted previously, I think that my forecast of the STI breaking the 3000 points barrier by this year is still a long way ahead. There are only five more working days left in 2009 since Christmas is a public holiday
It seems impossible that the Straits Times Index will rise by 160 points in five days. Many so called analysts and experts predicted the same thing as me, guess all of us are wrong after all
Thinking back on what I predicted previously, I think that my forecast of the STI breaking the 3000 points barrier by this year is still a long way ahead. There are only five more working days left in 2009 since Christmas is a public holiday
It seems impossible that the Straits Times Index will rise by 160 points in five days. Many so called analysts and experts predicted the same thing as me, guess all of us are wrong after all
Monday, December 21, 2009
Holidays are really boring
Holidays are really boring. I feel like I am like out of all the buzz and movement
I'm still sleeping like a log when people are squeezing in MRT/buses during the morning rush hour
Ok, at least sleeping is a nice thing to do and I think I wake up early, much earlier than many other people
I'm happily playing badminton when people are busy working at ten in the morning.
But I'll be having muscle aches for the next two days as I'm too lazy to do warm-up exercises
I can read newspapers at anytime of the day anywhere I like in my house while others can only do it on public transport or during their lunch break
Hmmm, but reading papers at home while shaking my leg just doesn't suit me somehow
I can afford to eat lunch as slowly as I like because I don't have a class or other activities after that
Unfortunately, I eat very fast. No, make it super and ultra fast. Seriously
I have the privilege of going out anywhere because I am not binded by classes or work
Going out means spending money, working means earning money, studying means a path leading to earning money. So in short, going out sucks
I am entitled to an afternoon nap if I felt sleepy from the heavy lunch which I consumed. People who are working obviously can't do that
But ten out of ten times, I am never able to sleep well in the afternoon. You will see me tossing non-stop if you installed a CCTV in my room
I can do things which I never had the chance to do when I am schooling/working. Example, looking at my fishes or sorting out miscellaneous documents
The bad news is I always don't know what to do so I end up doing nothing
I have no excuse not to blog now because I am free all day
So I decided to write this post for today, hope you enjoyed it. At least I don't hide the fact that I'm free unlike other people who always try to act like they are busy with something
I'm still sleeping like a log when people are squeezing in MRT/buses during the morning rush hour
Ok, at least sleeping is a nice thing to do and I think I wake up early, much earlier than many other people
I'm happily playing badminton when people are busy working at ten in the morning.
But I'll be having muscle aches for the next two days as I'm too lazy to do warm-up exercises
I can read newspapers at anytime of the day anywhere I like in my house while others can only do it on public transport or during their lunch break
Hmmm, but reading papers at home while shaking my leg just doesn't suit me somehow
I can afford to eat lunch as slowly as I like because I don't have a class or other activities after that
Unfortunately, I eat very fast. No, make it super and ultra fast. Seriously
I have the privilege of going out anywhere because I am not binded by classes or work
Going out means spending money, working means earning money, studying means a path leading to earning money. So in short, going out sucks
I am entitled to an afternoon nap if I felt sleepy from the heavy lunch which I consumed. People who are working obviously can't do that
But ten out of ten times, I am never able to sleep well in the afternoon. You will see me tossing non-stop if you installed a CCTV in my room
I can do things which I never had the chance to do when I am schooling/working. Example, looking at my fishes or sorting out miscellaneous documents
The bad news is I always don't know what to do so I end up doing nothing
I have no excuse not to blog now because I am free all day
So I decided to write this post for today, hope you enjoyed it. At least I don't hide the fact that I'm free unlike other people who always try to act like they are busy with something
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Turning 18
What's the big deal about turning 18?
Like myself, all 1991 babies will be celebrating their eighteen birthday this year. As the year comes to a close, most would have already commemorate this special occasion by now. I don't find it special at all
I only remembered that back in April, I stepped into Singapore Pools and made a bet for the first time on my own less than fifteen hours after my birthday. Turning 18 means that I can enter a Singapore Pools branch without fear
Most people think differently from me. They would say that you can finally drink, club, watch M18 films, drive a car, oh yeah and smoke and do many other things legally
I still believe that being able to bet with the legal lottery operator is the only thing worth celebrating. Being able to calmly walk into a branch, grab a piece of paper and scribble on it with a pencil while squeezing with a couple of uncles and aunties, that is what I call growing up
At last, you are part of the society, you have already registered yourself to be a member of it. Going to Zouk or Zirca only gives you the opportunity to mingle with the young and it is only a portion of them, the portion which is crazy about nightlife. Everyone who wants to strike it rich will consider Singapore Pools as their destination
Driving a car might make you stand out among your peers but it is pretty useless too. One day, they will also get a driving license and everyone will be on par again. I don't understand why people who just turned 18 can't wait to head down to a driving centre to learn this "skill". Is it really so urgent? Do you even own a car in the first place?
Then what about smoking? I guess I shall not elaborate on it. Is it up to you to make your own decisions in life. Just don't ruin it. But, I can tell you that Marlboro Iceblast is a good choice after I did some market research and analysis. It is sold out at many places so you have to be quick to get a pack. No, make it two
By the way, I don't smoke, I am just looking at the market for potential future businesses. I am still 18 only, give me some time
Like myself, all 1991 babies will be celebrating their eighteen birthday this year. As the year comes to a close, most would have already commemorate this special occasion by now. I don't find it special at all
I only remembered that back in April, I stepped into Singapore Pools and made a bet for the first time on my own less than fifteen hours after my birthday. Turning 18 means that I can enter a Singapore Pools branch without fear
Most people think differently from me. They would say that you can finally drink, club, watch M18 films, drive a car, oh yeah and smoke and do many other things legally
I still believe that being able to bet with the legal lottery operator is the only thing worth celebrating. Being able to calmly walk into a branch, grab a piece of paper and scribble on it with a pencil while squeezing with a couple of uncles and aunties, that is what I call growing up
At last, you are part of the society, you have already registered yourself to be a member of it. Going to Zouk or Zirca only gives you the opportunity to mingle with the young and it is only a portion of them, the portion which is crazy about nightlife. Everyone who wants to strike it rich will consider Singapore Pools as their destination
Driving a car might make you stand out among your peers but it is pretty useless too. One day, they will also get a driving license and everyone will be on par again. I don't understand why people who just turned 18 can't wait to head down to a driving centre to learn this "skill". Is it really so urgent? Do you even own a car in the first place?
Then what about smoking? I guess I shall not elaborate on it. Is it up to you to make your own decisions in life. Just don't ruin it. But, I can tell you that Marlboro Iceblast is a good choice after I did some market research and analysis. It is sold out at many places so you have to be quick to get a pack. No, make it two
By the way, I don't smoke, I am just looking at the market for potential future businesses. I am still 18 only, give me some time
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Small Ocean Games 2009
As the 25th Small Ocean Games comes to an end, three citizens from the smallest country in the region decided to discuss about this biennial event held in Wiang Chang
Ninja Assassin: wahsey, our country really like the Chinese proverb, tiger head snake tail
Storm Warrior: exactly, we're only good at swimming, water polo and ping pong
Navi: no lor, even for ping pong we didn't even secure all seven gold medals
Storm Warrior: oh ya, well as the saying goes, nothing lasts forever
Ninja Assassin: erm but our water polo team can prove it wrong
Navi: yes, they have been the gold medalists for dunno how many consecutive years oleidi
Storm Warrior: they can only do well in the region, once it is the whole continent they are nothing, let alone the Only Pigs
Ninja Assassin: talking about Only Pigs, I realized that our paddler Xiao Wei is really something
Navi: which Wei?
Storm Warrior: there is only one Xiao Wei in this year's competition, the other one is busy taking care of her baby
Ninja Assassin: she clinched the gold medal in the women's singles after beating compatriot Ah Gu
Navi(laughing): hahaha, that old lady? she looks 20 years older than her retirement age
Storm Warrior: don't be mean. anyway, I think Dreamy Rain and Bei Sqaure did a great job in the doubles final
Ninja Assassin: yeah, our women paddlers are actually all on par in terms of skills so we have a very strong team
Navi: it was the men who let us down
Ninja Assassin: it is always the men that let down...
Storm Warrior: ok let's change topic, I think if sailing was included, our country, Lion state, would have added a few more golds to the medal tally
Navi: Lauz like a bit play cheat leh, they added swimming cos they believe they will do well in it
Ninja Assassin: hey guys, u all know about that ang moh pool player who became our country's citizen, he finally triumphed at the Games
Storm Warrior: we need foreign talents like him or Lion state would be nothing
Navi: walau we lost to Filip state in the women's 9 ball final. !@#$%^&*
Ninja Assassin: well, we have to admit that they've better players like "Ronny Volcano" who won the 8 ball final
Storm Warrior: he thrashed his compatriot 7:1 man
Navi: other than sailing, there are many other sports missing too like basketball, fencing, hockey etc
Ninja Assassin: well, at least athletics was included where we won two golds in the triple jump and discus finals
Storm Warrior: the discus guy is a hero, I salute him
Navi: Badminton was sibeh disappointing. only two lousy bronzes from the team events
Ninja Assassin: we have to start recruiting some players from Divine Land like what we did for ping pong, only then can we beat Tiger state and Red-White state
Navi: red-white state? you mean the one whose capital is eat potato(jiak kantang)?
Ninja Assassin: yes and their football team was a total let down man
Storm Warrior: speaking about football, I still can't stop laughing at the way Tiger State won the gold medal match against V Republic
Navi: own goal!!!
Everyone burst into laughter
Ninja Assassin: haha, Lion state managed to defend their bronze against the hosts
Navi: luckily lor or sure kena bomb one when they return
Storm Warrior: I think that Lauz as the host nation should have larger stadiums to accommodate the fans
Ninja Assasin: ya la, only 20000 seats and they claim it as very good already, siao!
Navi: but look us, our one want to tear down, for three years still haven't tear down. Some more can host a match with a famous English club
Storm Warrior: when the next Games in 2011 is held in red-white state, I believe it'll be more exciting than this one
Ninja Assassin: agree, they have more funds and facilities so more sports will be included for sure
Navi: our country say want to host 2013 one then now back out again for the third straight time
Storm Warrior: well, our stadium won't be ready by then and we can't possibly be playing games by the riverside on that stupid floating field right?
Ninja Assassin: lots of people are saying we can host the youngster's Only Pigs Games next year but can't even host the Small Ocean Games which has about ten nations only
Navi: what to do? our government want to angkat bola the whole world, a tiny little Small Ocean Games is nothing to them man
Storm Warrior: we are small but we are always the smartest
Ninja Assasin: Lion State all the way!
Ninja Assassin: wahsey, our country really like the Chinese proverb, tiger head snake tail
Storm Warrior: exactly, we're only good at swimming, water polo and ping pong
Navi: no lor, even for ping pong we didn't even secure all seven gold medals
Storm Warrior: oh ya, well as the saying goes, nothing lasts forever
Ninja Assassin: erm but our water polo team can prove it wrong
Navi: yes, they have been the gold medalists for dunno how many consecutive years oleidi
Storm Warrior: they can only do well in the region, once it is the whole continent they are nothing, let alone the Only Pigs
Ninja Assassin: talking about Only Pigs, I realized that our paddler Xiao Wei is really something
Navi: which Wei?
Storm Warrior: there is only one Xiao Wei in this year's competition, the other one is busy taking care of her baby
Ninja Assassin: she clinched the gold medal in the women's singles after beating compatriot Ah Gu
Navi(laughing): hahaha, that old lady? she looks 20 years older than her retirement age
Storm Warrior: don't be mean. anyway, I think Dreamy Rain and Bei Sqaure did a great job in the doubles final
Ninja Assassin: yeah, our women paddlers are actually all on par in terms of skills so we have a very strong team
Navi: it was the men who let us down
Ninja Assassin: it is always the men that let down...
Storm Warrior: ok let's change topic, I think if sailing was included, our country, Lion state, would have added a few more golds to the medal tally
Navi: Lauz like a bit play cheat leh, they added swimming cos they believe they will do well in it
Ninja Assassin: hey guys, u all know about that ang moh pool player who became our country's citizen, he finally triumphed at the Games
Storm Warrior: we need foreign talents like him or Lion state would be nothing
Navi: walau we lost to Filip state in the women's 9 ball final. !@#$%^&*
Ninja Assassin: well, we have to admit that they've better players like "Ronny Volcano" who won the 8 ball final
Storm Warrior: he thrashed his compatriot 7:1 man
Navi: other than sailing, there are many other sports missing too like basketball, fencing, hockey etc
Ninja Assassin: well, at least athletics was included where we won two golds in the triple jump and discus finals
Storm Warrior: the discus guy is a hero, I salute him
Navi: Badminton was sibeh disappointing. only two lousy bronzes from the team events
Ninja Assassin: we have to start recruiting some players from Divine Land like what we did for ping pong, only then can we beat Tiger state and Red-White state
Navi: red-white state? you mean the one whose capital is eat potato(jiak kantang)?
Ninja Assassin: yes and their football team was a total let down man
Storm Warrior: speaking about football, I still can't stop laughing at the way Tiger State won the gold medal match against V Republic
Navi: own goal!!!
Everyone burst into laughter
Ninja Assassin: haha, Lion state managed to defend their bronze against the hosts
Navi: luckily lor or sure kena bomb one when they return
Storm Warrior: I think that Lauz as the host nation should have larger stadiums to accommodate the fans
Ninja Assasin: ya la, only 20000 seats and they claim it as very good already, siao!
Navi: but look us, our one want to tear down, for three years still haven't tear down. Some more can host a match with a famous English club
Storm Warrior: when the next Games in 2011 is held in red-white state, I believe it'll be more exciting than this one
Ninja Assassin: agree, they have more funds and facilities so more sports will be included for sure
Navi: our country say want to host 2013 one then now back out again for the third straight time
Storm Warrior: well, our stadium won't be ready by then and we can't possibly be playing games by the riverside on that stupid floating field right?
Ninja Assassin: lots of people are saying we can host the youngster's Only Pigs Games next year but can't even host the Small Ocean Games which has about ten nations only
Navi: what to do? our government want to angkat bola the whole world, a tiny little Small Ocean Games is nothing to them man
Storm Warrior: we are small but we are always the smartest
Ninja Assasin: Lion State all the way!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Person of the year
Taken from wikipedia.com
So for year 2009, Time Magazine's Person of the Year went to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake. He was an surprise winner as I did not expect this beardy man to claim the title. I thought Nancy Pelosi would have been the winner or maybe Barack Obama will defend the title he won last year
However, it was not a bad decision by Time to name Bernake as Person of the Year. He bailed out Wall Street, knows the economy inside out and talks about it all day. His creative way of leading assisted to set America's economy on a path of hope and light
Well done Beardy Ben, you deserve it
Maybe I will write a post about my Person of the Year, if I have the time, ideas and mood to do it. But, you can expect to see some posts about reviews of year 2009 soon. Stay tuned
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Winning and losing
Taken from www.mcdwin.com
His name is Peter La and he is the $50000 winner of the McDonald's Monopoly contest. I believe that I should be the one standing in front of the camera smiling instead of him. I admit that I dislike him but how can I like him when he is the biggest winner? Anyway, most of the times, the biggest winners always look "qian bian" in a way or another
Sometimes, the winner also loses something while the loser does wins something. Only by drawing then will it not be game over for everyone
Monday, December 14, 2009
Changes in Climate Change
Seems that every single thing that we do nowadays is not environmentally friendly. Buying 4-ply toilet paper, driving to work, eating a plate of chicken chop or just the expulsion of gases from your body (if you get what I mean). These things that we do every day look guilty in an era when everybody is blaming one another for not saving the earth
Whenever we do something, we would ponder whether it is beneficial to our earth but before we can answer ourselves, we have already completed doing that thing. Therefore, this is why saving the earth is such a tedious chore to do. However, this does not mean that we should be irresponsible earthlings and not care for our home
We should at least have some knowledge of it just in case. For example, if someone asks you about climate change and stuff like that, you should not just use old-school terms like global warming or chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs), I bet you had forgotten about the latter
Instead, you should say more bombastic words like anthropogenic effects, Kyoto Protocol, tropospheric ozone or, to play safe, just mention Copenhagen United Nations Climate Change Conference. The other party would either be scared off or continue talking more in-depth issues with you since you seem knowledgeable
All talk and no action is useless too. So we need to do something to show that we are keen on being clean and green. So what are some things that inflict little or no harm on the environment which we can do?
Using candles
It may sound very 1960's but I can assure you that it is the "in" thing to do if you want to play a part in saving the earth
Imagine doing your homework in front of a solid block of wax lighted up in a dark room. You will be ninety-nine percent focused on the notes since the source of light only covers the area of the top of your study table.
You will not be procrastinating and taking your own sweet time to complete it since the wax will be melted completely after a period of time. You will not be thinking of whether should you head down to Ion Orchard or 313@Somerset for Christmas shopping. You will not be distracted by other objects around you since you can't see them clearly. You will be at your best studying
You can save a whole lot of electricity and money by using candles. Moreover, there is something called candlelight dinner right? Candles are also used to create romantic atmospheres. So why not have a candlelight dinner every night to build a good relationship? Isn't it killing two birds with one stone?
Be a vegetarian
Everyone knows that practising vegetarianism is a wonderful thing be it lacto, ovo or lacto-ovo. But, most people are unable to do it on a regular basis. I am one of them
Vegetables? How am I going to live by consuming them? You might be asking yourself this question now. Meat! I need to eat meat! I must eat McDonald's, ba gua and Ah Beng's fried hokkien mee. You might be answering yourself now. Most of us have a mindset similar to this
Let's think positively. Herbivorous animals usually look kind, gentle and pleasant except for the iguana. Rabbits, koalas and elephants all resemble the good characters if the animal kingdom was a movie whereas tigers and cheetahs are always the baddies
See? Being a non-meat eater makes one a better person. You don't get agitated easily and look more amiable. You will not have evil intentions that pollute your mind. Most importantly, a vegetarian diet is the healthier choice
So have you made up your mind to be a vegetarian? If yes, then I suggest you eat less onions so that you won't let out too much gas from your body and attract unwanted attention
Recycle
Sounds too archaic that you cannot be bothered to do it? Well, I will tell you what does it mean by really recycling. Those activities shown during campaigns and in the press are all partially fake
Anyway, most products are designed without recycling in mind. Many "good" people will tell you that making paper from recycled paper uses less energy than making them from wood. I tell you it requires more energy to make recycled products than to throw them in the overall process
So what can we recycle? For example, you enter a toilet in a hotel. Amidst the shiny floor and wall tiles lays a box of napkins. Your first reaction tells you to take one. That is not enough. You should take at least three more. You see, the second, third, fourth person who enters will probably take one too since it is free
However, you cannot guarantee that all of them use it for a good purpose. By taking a few more pieces, you are sort of guarding them to ensure that they are not misued. You are saving the earth! You may argue that this is not recycling but I tell you it is
If you don't believe me, then you can try doing it next time when you are in a hotel. Just make sure that there is no one else in the restroom to see your kiasu actions
Ok, I shall end since the candle is about to melt completely
Whenever we do something, we would ponder whether it is beneficial to our earth but before we can answer ourselves, we have already completed doing that thing. Therefore, this is why saving the earth is such a tedious chore to do. However, this does not mean that we should be irresponsible earthlings and not care for our home
We should at least have some knowledge of it just in case. For example, if someone asks you about climate change and stuff like that, you should not just use old-school terms like global warming or chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs), I bet you had forgotten about the latter
Instead, you should say more bombastic words like anthropogenic effects, Kyoto Protocol, tropospheric ozone or, to play safe, just mention Copenhagen United Nations Climate Change Conference. The other party would either be scared off or continue talking more in-depth issues with you since you seem knowledgeable
All talk and no action is useless too. So we need to do something to show that we are keen on being clean and green. So what are some things that inflict little or no harm on the environment which we can do?
Using candles
It may sound very 1960's but I can assure you that it is the "in" thing to do if you want to play a part in saving the earth
Imagine doing your homework in front of a solid block of wax lighted up in a dark room. You will be ninety-nine percent focused on the notes since the source of light only covers the area of the top of your study table.
You will not be procrastinating and taking your own sweet time to complete it since the wax will be melted completely after a period of time. You will not be thinking of whether should you head down to Ion Orchard or 313@Somerset for Christmas shopping. You will not be distracted by other objects around you since you can't see them clearly. You will be at your best studying
You can save a whole lot of electricity and money by using candles. Moreover, there is something called candlelight dinner right? Candles are also used to create romantic atmospheres. So why not have a candlelight dinner every night to build a good relationship? Isn't it killing two birds with one stone?
Be a vegetarian
Everyone knows that practising vegetarianism is a wonderful thing be it lacto, ovo or lacto-ovo. But, most people are unable to do it on a regular basis. I am one of them
Vegetables? How am I going to live by consuming them? You might be asking yourself this question now. Meat! I need to eat meat! I must eat McDonald's, ba gua and Ah Beng's fried hokkien mee. You might be answering yourself now. Most of us have a mindset similar to this
Let's think positively. Herbivorous animals usually look kind, gentle and pleasant except for the iguana. Rabbits, koalas and elephants all resemble the good characters if the animal kingdom was a movie whereas tigers and cheetahs are always the baddies
See? Being a non-meat eater makes one a better person. You don't get agitated easily and look more amiable. You will not have evil intentions that pollute your mind. Most importantly, a vegetarian diet is the healthier choice
So have you made up your mind to be a vegetarian? If yes, then I suggest you eat less onions so that you won't let out too much gas from your body and attract unwanted attention
Recycle
Sounds too archaic that you cannot be bothered to do it? Well, I will tell you what does it mean by really recycling. Those activities shown during campaigns and in the press are all partially fake
Anyway, most products are designed without recycling in mind. Many "good" people will tell you that making paper from recycled paper uses less energy than making them from wood. I tell you it requires more energy to make recycled products than to throw them in the overall process
So what can we recycle? For example, you enter a toilet in a hotel. Amidst the shiny floor and wall tiles lays a box of napkins. Your first reaction tells you to take one. That is not enough. You should take at least three more. You see, the second, third, fourth person who enters will probably take one too since it is free
However, you cannot guarantee that all of them use it for a good purpose. By taking a few more pieces, you are sort of guarding them to ensure that they are not misued. You are saving the earth! You may argue that this is not recycling but I tell you it is
If you don't believe me, then you can try doing it next time when you are in a hotel. Just make sure that there is no one else in the restroom to see your kiasu actions
Ok, I shall end since the candle is about to melt completely
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Multi Tasking
Ok, I am currently talking to six different people on MSN. It is a slow death but I won't be killed easily from the constant switching of windows. One moment I am talking to Galvyn about office matters, another moment I am discussing the outing with Jason and then in another, negotiating a football bet with my cousin
I forgot to say that I was surfing five different websites at the same time too. My mouse would definitely have complained to the SPCA for computer mouses (if there was one) for non-stop abusive clicking
See? I am a multi tasker. A self-proclaimed one. Few people can match my ability to do several things at the same time and still do them well. In the past, I could watch Kids Central on TV, talk on the phone, have a meal and play Pokemon on my Gameboy simultaneously
I am way past my prime now, as I get older, my movements and reactions have since slowed down. Looks like its time to do some primary school assessment books to regain my youth. Hey wait, I am youth right? Or am I?
I forgot to say that I was surfing five different websites at the same time too. My mouse would definitely have complained to the SPCA for computer mouses (if there was one) for non-stop abusive clicking
See? I am a multi tasker. A self-proclaimed one. Few people can match my ability to do several things at the same time and still do them well. In the past, I could watch Kids Central on TV, talk on the phone, have a meal and play Pokemon on my Gameboy simultaneously
I am way past my prime now, as I get older, my movements and reactions have since slowed down. Looks like its time to do some primary school assessment books to regain my youth. Hey wait, I am youth right? Or am I?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Together
"wǒ xiǎng zǎo diǎn dāng wǔ nǚ"
Recognizable? If the above sentence rings a bell in you, then you had probably watched yesterday's episode of the Channel 8 drama serial, Together. Or at least heard of it from the trailers
After watching about 8 minus 1.5 episodes (due to exam preparation commitments), I can conclude that it is not as bad as what I thought it would be. You cannot blame me for thinking that way at first though since the scriptwriter was the same as the one from The Little Nyonya
The scenes, dressings, props and everything else were all quite realistic. As if Jeanette Aw and co. had really went into a time capsule that brought them back to a time when television was a sacred thing
Although it is not the best drama of 2009, I am sure that it will be better than The Little Nyonya. By the way, it was only until yesterday did I realize that half of the six main characters were from China
It is clear that the TV station wants to groom Zhang Zhen Huan since he was presented with a lead role in favour of Yuan Shuai who only given a cameo appearance in the drama
Jeanette Aw appears to be a favourite for blockbuster dramas. Zhou Ning can start knocking on the door for a place among Mediacorp's seven princesses with a strong display in the show. Talking about the seven princesses, I can't help but think of Fiona Xie
She has left Mediacorp, for good. Will there be a new number seven to fill in the void left by Xie? This question seems a bit unanswerable at the moment. Fiona Xie was actually poised to play the role of Jinhao which was later given to Eelyn Kok because the former had some reasons
To find out more, grab a copy of the latest i Weekly now. Wow, I am doing some free publicizing for Mediacorp!
Recognizable? If the above sentence rings a bell in you, then you had probably watched yesterday's episode of the Channel 8 drama serial, Together. Or at least heard of it from the trailers
After watching about 8 minus 1.5 episodes (due to exam preparation commitments), I can conclude that it is not as bad as what I thought it would be. You cannot blame me for thinking that way at first though since the scriptwriter was the same as the one from The Little Nyonya
The scenes, dressings, props and everything else were all quite realistic. As if Jeanette Aw and co. had really went into a time capsule that brought them back to a time when television was a sacred thing
Although it is not the best drama of 2009, I am sure that it will be better than The Little Nyonya. By the way, it was only until yesterday did I realize that half of the six main characters were from China
It is clear that the TV station wants to groom Zhang Zhen Huan since he was presented with a lead role in favour of Yuan Shuai who only given a cameo appearance in the drama
Jeanette Aw appears to be a favourite for blockbuster dramas. Zhou Ning can start knocking on the door for a place among Mediacorp's seven princesses with a strong display in the show. Talking about the seven princesses, I can't help but think of Fiona Xie
She has left Mediacorp, for good. Will there be a new number seven to fill in the void left by Xie? This question seems a bit unanswerable at the moment. Fiona Xie was actually poised to play the role of Jinhao which was later given to Eelyn Kok because the former had some reasons
To find out more, grab a copy of the latest i Weekly now. Wow, I am doing some free publicizing for Mediacorp!
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
M1 and Starhub launch iPhone
Due to the (slightly) overwhelming response, I have decided to return to action one day earlier from my leave
As recently as just one day ago, iPhone fans and potential fans of this what's so good gadget are spoilt for choice. The only-verbally-emphasizing customer service M1 and the loser of the EPL broadcasting rights war Starhub have started selling the Apple product since yesterday
Naturally, people believe that prices will drop since competition has increased. I discovered that Mobile 1 has the lowest subscription price at $36 per month after doing some research
Starhub's plans are a bit more costly than M1's one with $38/month as its cheapest deal. Singtel's least expensive package comes at $39 a month. Looking at the deals from all three telco companies, I can conclude that the orange and green players offer more amount of data than the red one
Although, the Singtel-dominated iPhone market has finally become history, I don't think there will be a sudden iPhone craze among local consumers here. There are several factors we can consider
Firstly, if a person is a mad and insane iPhone fan like Korean actors' supporters and their idol, he would have already bought one for himself a long long time ago. Will he wait for more than a year to do it? Probably not unless if he is really insane. Singtel has already wooed many customers to jump ship since it launched iPhone
Secondly, Apple is slated to release a newer version next year. I think it is in June. Launching iPhone during this period is not a very wise choice by Starhub and M1. Consumers who have yet to make up their minds might end up waiting until next year before purchasing one
Thirdly, people who are "half-fans" of the iPhone will have already decided whether to buy this smartphone by now. Either they have already signed up with Singtel because of the positive comments they heard from friends and family members who are users or they decide on a no due to negative feedback
Clearly, it will be difficult for M1 and Starhub to lure this group of people to be one of their subscribers. Overall, Singtel is the real winner although many people can argue about this point
So have you made up your mind? If not, how about a useless cooling-off day to calm yourself down?
As recently as just one day ago, iPhone fans and potential fans of this what's so good gadget are spoilt for choice. The only-verbally-emphasizing customer service M1 and the loser of the EPL broadcasting rights war Starhub have started selling the Apple product since yesterday
Naturally, people believe that prices will drop since competition has increased. I discovered that Mobile 1 has the lowest subscription price at $36 per month after doing some research
Starhub's plans are a bit more costly than M1's one with $38/month as its cheapest deal. Singtel's least expensive package comes at $39 a month. Looking at the deals from all three telco companies, I can conclude that the orange and green players offer more amount of data than the red one
Although, the Singtel-dominated iPhone market has finally become history, I don't think there will be a sudden iPhone craze among local consumers here. There are several factors we can consider
Firstly, if a person is a mad and insane iPhone fan like Korean actors' supporters and their idol, he would have already bought one for himself a long long time ago. Will he wait for more than a year to do it? Probably not unless if he is really insane. Singtel has already wooed many customers to jump ship since it launched iPhone
Secondly, Apple is slated to release a newer version next year. I think it is in June. Launching iPhone during this period is not a very wise choice by Starhub and M1. Consumers who have yet to make up their minds might end up waiting until next year before purchasing one
Thirdly, people who are "half-fans" of the iPhone will have already decided whether to buy this smartphone by now. Either they have already signed up with Singtel because of the positive comments they heard from friends and family members who are users or they decide on a no due to negative feedback
Clearly, it will be difficult for M1 and Starhub to lure this group of people to be one of their subscribers. Overall, Singtel is the real winner although many people can argue about this point
So have you made up your mind? If not, how about a useless cooling-off day to calm yourself down?
Saturday, December 05, 2009
I will be on leave from 6th to 9th December. During then, there will be no updates for this blog. I will be back in action on 10th December, Thursday. Feel free to continue tagging. Well, you know, it is coming to the end of the year, so people are starting to clear their leaves
Oh yeah, and who says bloggers are not entitled to anuual leave? We are also humans and work for almost the entire year thinking about what to blog for you people to have an enjoyable read
Do not miss me. If you do, then I suggest you dig up those older posts in the archive to read them again
Oh yeah, and who says bloggers are not entitled to anuual leave? We are also humans and work for almost the entire year thinking about what to blog for you people to have an enjoyable read
Do not miss me. If you do, then I suggest you dig up those older posts in the archive to read them again
How does the outside world look like?
This morning, I looked out of my kitchen window and saw three workers painting the opposite block. My neighbourhood is having some upgrading works currently for your information
I looked at them doing their job and for that moment, I could sense their hardship. Leaving their homeland for a foreign place to provide a better life for their families. This made me ask myself, how does the outside world look like?
I have never been out of Singapore for the past eighteen years and eight months of my life since I was born. My passport is still waiting for its virgin stamp and it is still waiting patiently after expiring for more than two years. The furthest place which I have ever been to away from my home is Pulau Ubin
I have yet to travel overseas in my life so far. Not an easy feat to achieve considering that I live in an era where budget airlines are a reality and travel agencies come up with affordable holiday deals every now and then
Looking at those workers, I told myself that although I was more lucky then them as I was born in Singapore, I have something which they don't. The experience of physically in a foreign country
Ironically, I am in the top three among my Facebook friends in the Geo Challenge game but people still think that I am a lousy liar when I told them about the 18 year record I hold. I don't feel ashamed about it, instead I am proud that not many people of my age can match this record of mine
I have to hear from a Filipino friend that Malaysia had extremely big paos and learn from a Chinese classmate that Langkawi was a beautiful place. I can only read about these places in the papers and look at them on TV
Zero. I have been abroad for zero times. However, I have no intention of breaking this zero currently. I hope to preserve this magnificent zero at least until I complete my National Service. But I can't even guarantee if I will be posted overseas during my two year stint
The only fascinating night scene which I can think of is Marina Bay. My impression of markets are wet, "a bit dirty" and run down although many others around the world are of a complete difference. I take security for granted because the police here never fails to protect us
I still love my country of course but there is still one unanswered question. How does the outside world look like?
Friday, December 04, 2009
Cooling-off day
Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong has come up with a cooling-off day-an extra day before polling day itself during which campaigning will be disallowed for voters to calmly make an informed decision
Will cooling-off day really make voters cool down? No.
Will it be fair to the opposition? No.
Will it benefit the PAP. Yes, and of course.
The only thing opposition parties can do during the cooling-off period is to cross their fingers, and even then they have to pray that the PAP does not use the mainstream media to "campaign" by announcing government news as an excuse
PAP has always target a high standard for itself at every election. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew once described it as a freak result if the ruling party was unable to win at the 82 of out 84 seats it currently has in parliament
Using the state media to crush their opponents is a routine that never fails to happen in every election. This latest introduction by the government cannot be thought of as merely just a day for voters to reflect and ponder
Mass rallies and displaying party logos in public are not allowed but news reporting on the election in the mainstream media will not be banned
The People's Action Party might be afraid that the charisma of enthusiastic speakers at rallies will move the neutral group to vote for the opposition. An extra day of cooling-off may work in PAP's favour as they can attempt to "re-influence" these neutral voters
Even the Prime Minister's son admitted that the opposition rallies were more exciting during the 2006 elections
Another area which may be pivotal to the addition of the cooling-day is the internet. New media did not play a major part three years ago but with the emergence of Twitter, the growing popularity of Facebook and the high viewership of Youtube, we should not underestimate what change it can make during the next election
PAP's presence in cyberspace is still not yet really felt. However, articles on the internet from bloggers could help the opposition in some way. Whether the internet will also cool down of cooling-off is still a big question mark
The one part which I find it most puzzling is that why only one day? One day or rather twenty-four hours won't make a difference for those who have already made up their minds long ago. Obviously, cooling-off day is proposed to cater to those who stand in the middle of nowhere
You do not use one day only to decide where you want to buy a flat at or determine which course you want to study at an institution. The group of people who have not decided their votes are usually those with less knowledge about the happenings. In the end, they may still choose the PAP after using one day to think and have a mindset that the ruling party is more reliable
The pressure will be on PAP. Anything less than status quo (82 seats) will be disastrous for them. The media will haunt them, people will lose faith in them, the opposition will have more confidence and I will be laughing out loud like a wild fire
Only when it is not cooling-off day, of course
Will cooling-off day really make voters cool down? No.
Will it be fair to the opposition? No.
Will it benefit the PAP. Yes, and of course.
The only thing opposition parties can do during the cooling-off period is to cross their fingers, and even then they have to pray that the PAP does not use the mainstream media to "campaign" by announcing government news as an excuse
PAP has always target a high standard for itself at every election. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew once described it as a freak result if the ruling party was unable to win at the 82 of out 84 seats it currently has in parliament
Using the state media to crush their opponents is a routine that never fails to happen in every election. This latest introduction by the government cannot be thought of as merely just a day for voters to reflect and ponder
Mass rallies and displaying party logos in public are not allowed but news reporting on the election in the mainstream media will not be banned
The People's Action Party might be afraid that the charisma of enthusiastic speakers at rallies will move the neutral group to vote for the opposition. An extra day of cooling-off may work in PAP's favour as they can attempt to "re-influence" these neutral voters
Even the Prime Minister's son admitted that the opposition rallies were more exciting during the 2006 elections
Another area which may be pivotal to the addition of the cooling-day is the internet. New media did not play a major part three years ago but with the emergence of Twitter, the growing popularity of Facebook and the high viewership of Youtube, we should not underestimate what change it can make during the next election
PAP's presence in cyberspace is still not yet really felt. However, articles on the internet from bloggers could help the opposition in some way. Whether the internet will also cool down of cooling-off is still a big question mark
The one part which I find it most puzzling is that why only one day? One day or rather twenty-four hours won't make a difference for those who have already made up their minds long ago. Obviously, cooling-off day is proposed to cater to those who stand in the middle of nowhere
You do not use one day only to decide where you want to buy a flat at or determine which course you want to study at an institution. The group of people who have not decided their votes are usually those with less knowledge about the happenings. In the end, they may still choose the PAP after using one day to think and have a mindset that the ruling party is more reliable
The pressure will be on PAP. Anything less than status quo (82 seats) will be disastrous for them. The media will haunt them, people will lose faith in them, the opposition will have more confidence and I will be laughing out loud like a wild fire
Only when it is not cooling-off day, of course
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Thank Zhiteng
Today was a productive day. Thanks to all the walking and talking I did. Thanks to Zhiteng for making me flex my leg and mouth muscles so much today. He and his typical...I can't think any noun to fill in the blank but well here's what happened
He needed to print his movie poster for the IWGD module. He borrowed Melvin's thumbdrive to copy his file over for the others to help him burn as a softcopy is also required. Melvin and co. thought that Zhiteng only wanted them to burn for him and assumed that he will settle the hardcopy part by himself
Zhiteng also assumed that Melvin and co, will print his movie poster for him since they were going to print theirs out too later. So both parties had their own assumptions and communication broke down
While Zhiteng and I were having lunch at the foodcourt later, Melvin and co. arrived and were holding the printed out and laminated designs of their movie posters. Zhiteng thought that one of those was his
Alice and I browsed through them and Zhiteng realized that none of them looked familiar. Upon asking Melvin/Nicholas (can't recall who was it), the truth was unveiled and I really wanted to laugh at Zhiteng
Never mind, Zhiteng decided to borrow the thumbdrive and print it by himself. However, Melvin told us that the printing area had no lamination service while the place that has a lamination machine does not have colour printers
We decided to go to fourth level of the library where there was both printing and lamination services. But we stoned in front of the computer at the printing zone because we don't know how to use it and no one beside us bothered to lend us a helping hand
So we walked all the way from the library to Foodcourt 3 just to print that piece of damn paper and had to wait for about ten minutes for the three morons dressed in formal attire over there hogging the computer to finish their nonsense before it was our turn
Plugged into USB drive, opened folder, clicked on the file and print, scanned Ez-Link card for payment and waited for the printer to "vomit" out the paper
Then we went back all the way to Foodcourt 2 for the lamination thingy. The auntie working there used to be at T15. Finally, the the paper was laminated and we had to again walk back to Foodcourt 3 where our class was
Oh, I forgot to mention that while walking to and fro around the school, I was complaining about my weariness and scolding him about his attitude, well, in a friendly manner of course which explains why I flexed my mouth muscles so much
Thanks Zhiteng for making me do some rigorous exercise today. or should I blame him?
He needed to print his movie poster for the IWGD module. He borrowed Melvin's thumbdrive to copy his file over for the others to help him burn as a softcopy is also required. Melvin and co. thought that Zhiteng only wanted them to burn for him and assumed that he will settle the hardcopy part by himself
Zhiteng also assumed that Melvin and co, will print his movie poster for him since they were going to print theirs out too later. So both parties had their own assumptions and communication broke down
While Zhiteng and I were having lunch at the foodcourt later, Melvin and co. arrived and were holding the printed out and laminated designs of their movie posters. Zhiteng thought that one of those was his
Alice and I browsed through them and Zhiteng realized that none of them looked familiar. Upon asking Melvin/Nicholas (can't recall who was it), the truth was unveiled and I really wanted to laugh at Zhiteng
Never mind, Zhiteng decided to borrow the thumbdrive and print it by himself. However, Melvin told us that the printing area had no lamination service while the place that has a lamination machine does not have colour printers
We decided to go to fourth level of the library where there was both printing and lamination services. But we stoned in front of the computer at the printing zone because we don't know how to use it and no one beside us bothered to lend us a helping hand
So we walked all the way from the library to Foodcourt 3 just to print that piece of damn paper and had to wait for about ten minutes for the three morons dressed in formal attire over there hogging the computer to finish their nonsense before it was our turn
Plugged into USB drive, opened folder, clicked on the file and print, scanned Ez-Link card for payment and waited for the printer to "vomit" out the paper
Then we went back all the way to Foodcourt 2 for the lamination thingy. The auntie working there used to be at T15. Finally, the the paper was laminated and we had to again walk back to Foodcourt 3 where our class was
Oh, I forgot to mention that while walking to and fro around the school, I was complaining about my weariness and scolding him about his attitude, well, in a friendly manner of course which explains why I flexed my mouth muscles so much
Thanks Zhiteng for making me do some rigorous exercise today. or should I blame him?
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Gold
Gold price has hit a record high. It is now above $1215 USD per ounce. The precious metal's value reached the $1215 mark just a day after crossing the $1200 mark for the first time ever
According to the media, gold has broke numerous records for the past weeks because of fears about inflation and the increasing moves by central banks to diversify assets away from the dollar which has since weakened against Japanese yen and the euro dollar
So, in a nutshell, if you have any gold jewellery which you do not/cannot/cannot be bothered/think is too old fashioned to wear, bring them to a jewellery shop to sell them at a high price. I suggest People's Park Complex, anyone?
According to the media, gold has broke numerous records for the past weeks because of fears about inflation and the increasing moves by central banks to diversify assets away from the dollar which has since weakened against Japanese yen and the euro dollar
So, in a nutshell, if you have any gold jewellery which you do not/cannot/cannot be bothered/think is too old fashioned to wear, bring them to a jewellery shop to sell them at a high price. I suggest People's Park Complex, anyone?
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Questions
Today I thought of a question. A few questions. A few difficult questions. Questions which seem un-answerable. They are all related actually
If someones screams in a deserted place and nobody is there to hear, is he considered making noise?
Or if a tree falls in a jungle and no one is there to hear it, is it considered causing a loud sound?
How about the phrase "wasting your time"? If you played video games for the whole day but managed to achieve a high level or high score, is the time used considered wasted when you could have done something else like house chores?
If a person jumps into the water and swam for three seconds before stopping and just float himself in the water, is he really swimming?
Let's see if you can answer them
If someones screams in a deserted place and nobody is there to hear, is he considered making noise?
Or if a tree falls in a jungle and no one is there to hear it, is it considered causing a loud sound?
How about the phrase "wasting your time"? If you played video games for the whole day but managed to achieve a high level or high score, is the time used considered wasted when you could have done something else like house chores?
If a person jumps into the water and swam for three seconds before stopping and just float himself in the water, is he really swimming?
Let's see if you can answer them
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