10 million Toto draw

10 million Toto draw tonight. So? Do you really think you stand a chance of becoming a millionaire, let alone a billionaire?

Of course, being a normal person with a normal mentality, I won't be so dumb to queue up for half an hour to make a bet. I didn't bet at all. I have not bet for almost five months

Let me tell you how dumb are those people who betted on tonight's Toto. First of all is the time one's takes to queue up. With all the kiasu uncles and aunties in full force, the betting centre is bound to be flooded with people, or rather dumb people

Why waste time at trying your luck at something which has a probability of one to a thousand to even strike four numbers?

Secondly, even if you really strike group one, chances are you will have to share the pot of prize money with at least five other winners. You only pocket about a million plus? The feeling inside is neither happy nor sad but it surely doesn't feel too good

After betting, you will be thinking about the draw all day. I believe those people will imagine themselves as the winners for at least three times after they betted.
Then it is all back to reality when the winning numbers are announced. There goes your dreams and your money. You can call that a double blow. What to do? Who ask you so dumb?

Slide Tackle

I'm too lazy to type today so I shall post a video for your entertainment. Ouch!



More updates coming soon

22 Feb

I didn't realize that the Budget Statement was delivered yesterday until I saw the news in the evening. Never mind, every year you will see the Finance Minister talking and talking in parliament in the day. Then you will see people talking and talking about his talking the next day. This has been the case for many years already and I am quite "sian" from it

I think that there is almost nothing radical about the speech but just numbers, percentages and calculations regarding the country in the past few years

The mainstream media will be discussing about the benefits and new measures while the critics in the cyber world would be attacking at the proposals rolled out. Nothing new, this is just part and parcel of life

Ok, exams are coming. Bye bye

Creed Media

Scroll down and look at the left side. Saw something new? Yes, its the new games section which I had added on this blog in an attempt to make this site more interactive

Please click on them to try playing and if give some feedback if any. They were taken from www.creed-media.com. If you are interested, you can visit their website for more information and also post games on your website, Facebook, blog, twitter etc.

School fee hike

According to the news, school fees of polytechnics and ITEs will be increased when the new academic year begins in April to "sharpen the distinction between citizens and non-citizens" as claimed by The Straits Times

Singaporeans taking polytechnic courses will have their fees upped by fifty dollars a year while those in Nitec and Higher Nitec courses will pay an additional ten dollars a year

On the other hand, PRs studying in polytechnics will have to fork out between $480 and $800 more while international students will need to pay up to a thousand dollars more

The institutions have assured that there will be adequate financial assistance to make sure that everyone has a right to pursue an education

Mathematically, it looks as though the big losers are the Cheenas, Jakars and Indies. However, if one can see the big picture, it is just another move by the government to attract foreigners to become citizens

Break down the $480-$800 a year into days and it will equal to just about a couple of dollars a day which is not a justifiable amount to differentiate locals and foreigners

Moreover, the institutions are making use of this opportunity to earn more. If there really is a need for differentiating, then why adjust the fees of Singaporeans? Just leave it as status quo and increase those of PRs and foreigners

Come this April, Singaporeans will indirectly be "sponsoring" the foreigners' scholarships and financial assistance schemes. Even before this lousy tactic by the government, there are already bursaries dedicated solely for foreign students so they need not worry about this latest news

Our government has always come up with ploys like these. They don't solve problems or satisfy the citizens

Fellow Singaporeans, we are the real losers!

CNY Special 3

This is the third and final of the three-part story about the flawed and hidden side of CNY. Read the first and second posts first if you haven't before reading this one to understand the story

***

As a girl, I was definitely not the first one to finish eating even though I was very hungry. Moreover, there were countless slices of Calmex brand abalone in front of me

Leon and his dad finished first. Soon, a few more males started standing up and carried their plates to the kitchen. That's good as it "frees" the ladies to have more space for activity

Lunch was the only thing that kept me entertained at first uncle's house. I decided to play with my iPhone while resting on the sofa

"Natalie jie jie, can lend me play"

It was my seven year old cousin, Bryan

"oh ok, what game you want to play"

"I choose myself"

And he snatched the black device from my hands. And I am bored again

I decided to direct my attention at the TV which was switched on to create some noise in the house when it is already so ear-popping. I realized that I was the only person in the living room watching it. Rain was on the show so it wasn't that bad after all

"eh, jie jie, you got one message"

"oh let me see"

And I snatched it back from him

"So how is CNY, did u miss me? any more visiting at nite? if not den i come pick you up for Valentine's Day later?-Anthony"

Oooo, now I am not bored anymore. I took some time to think before replying him

"yes yes I miss you, I XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX"

A few minutes later, it was angbao giving time. I received about five of them. Some were quite thin while others contained many notes. I placed them in my bag and secretly went to the toilet where I, ok you know what right?

"hey Natalie, are you ready? I need to use the toilet"

My mum was waiting outside. I quickly stuffed all the dollar notes into the biggest angbao as I forgotten which angbao they belonged to and placed them in my bag

"why are you carrying your bag into the toilet?"

"huh? no lah, 'cause I think like got a bit dirty so bring in to wash with water lor. Aiyah, next time don't buy white colour already lah, so easy dirty"

She believed me

When we finally left together with other relatives, I softly asked Melvin a question while we were waiting for the lift

"yours how much"

"sixty-two only, last year still got sixty-sixty leh"

"wah, you still remembered last year's amount? And why is yours always more than mine?"

"then you leh?"

"fifty-eight"

I wondered if I had dropped four dollars into the toilet bowl while counting the money just now

I sms-ed Anthony while we were in the car on the way home

"meeteu at 5.30 ltr, come pick me up under my block"

I waited patiently for his reply while looking at Melvin play his Nintendo DS

"what do you all want to have for dinner later? I am not cooking, there's nothing to cook anyway" Mum said

"Just order KFC"

"Calvin, that's very oily, you've already been eating a lot of bak kwa"

I was still waiting for his reply

"I want to eat KFC, I want I want!"

"See? Majority wins, even Melvin also wants it"

"How about you Natalie?"

"Erm, I might be going out with Anthony tonight"

"Oh, didn't heard you mentioned that earlier"

"It's still not confirmed"

When we reached home, it was already half past three. I threw myself on the sofa. I saw the tin of pineapple tarts and decided to have a few of them

Actually, why do we have to buy so much Chinese New Year goodies as a form of treating our guests when we, the owners, are the ones who finish them all up?

I closed my eyes and thought of that question while lying on the sofa. An hour later I was awoke by an SMS to my iPhone

"hi sorry for the late reply...ok sure, c u ltr, wad do u wanna have for dinner?"

"KFC!" I replied

The End

CNY Special 2

This is the second of the three-part story about the flawed and hidden side of CNY. Read the first post first if you haven't before reading this one to understand the story

***

"You look so red today"

It was Leon, my cousin, who is one year older than me

"Of course, Chinese New Year is the perfect excuse for one to dress conspicuously!" I replied while trying to sound like a confident young lady

"Oh yeah..."

Leon walks away towards the kitchen. By the way, he was dressed in a black shirt. Everyone seemed to be talking to someone else while waiting for lunch to be ready

The first day of Chinese New Year has always been the same for me for the last ten years or so. Same food, same gambling activities, same questions asked (I hate this one), same amount of ang bao money and the same kind of discipline I must tell myself to have not to offend anyone

I looked around the living room and decided to approach one of my younger cousins. It is always easier to talk with children

"Hello Bryan! Show jie jie what are you doing"

"This is Bumblebee the Transformer, I want to make it into a car, you can help me?"

"Errr, you try do it on your own lah"

Wrong timing. Then as I was about to enter one of the bedrooms to see what's happening, someone called my name

It was my grandaunt. She took a good look at me from head to toe when I turned around. I knew what was going to happen next

She spoke in Mandarin as everyone knows that my Cantonese is atrocious

"now in sec what ah?"

"errr, JC2 liao"

"wow, so fast already ah?

I thought you just asked the same question last year?

Well, I am sick of all these questions that relatives ask their younger generation. It is because they had really forgotten about it or what? If they had really forgotten about it, then it shows that they were not serious when listening to the answer so why bother to reply them every year?

I decided to kill time by sitting down in the bedroom looking at my younger cousins playing masak-masak. There were two other cousins around my age there too. One was Leon, he was one year older than me while the other was Mandy, same age as me

However, the three of us hardly talk ever since we entered upper secondary. We used to be as crazy and lively as our younger cousins who were masak-ing but things do change. At most, we just greet each other "hello" when we see one another so that our parents won't pester us why we don't talk

"Eh, time for lunch"

Someone's voice flooded the entire house and everyone flooded the dining room

I was waiting for my dad's instruction to where I should sit while he was observing the "situation". In the end, I sat next to him and in front of me was a plate of abalone. Not bad, I thought. At least I don't have to stand up and stretch my hand if I feel like having a few more slices

Then almost everybody except Mandy and I were telling one another to eat as a form of mannerism. I find it lame, or rather very fake

It was a huge dining table with huge plates of food. Same old food because of the same old Chinese New Year traditions

My first uncle broke the ice by starting a conversation. It was in Cantonese but I could understand

"Ah Leng, the soup like a bit too salty already"

My second auntie "played along" and replied "oh I think I placed too much salt in it"

Of course it's salt, or not sugar is it?

It was always fish maw and cabbage soup. But at least it tastes good and I love eating fish maw

The adults together with my grandparents continued talking while the younger ones just ate slowly and listened. I was so engrossed with the abalone until I heard

"Natalie, are you in JC now?"

Oh no, not again

To be continued...

CNY Special 1

Starting from today while it is Chinese New Year, I will be posting a three-part story about this annual occasion and discuss about the hidden and flawed side of it in the modern day

***

I walked up the stairs slowly and unwillingly. Dad and Mum were at least two floors above me already. Melvin did not fare any better, he was behind me

"Quick Natalie, Melvin, we're already late"

"Late then late lor, who cares"

A long and awkward silence followed. The only sound which was heard were the footsteps of me on my high heels. I turned around to make sure that my younger brother was still behind because it was odd not to hear him make some noise. I turned my head back and decided to double my speed by taking two steps a time

"Jie, wait for me"

Upon reaching the fifth floor, I self-checked my dress to ensure that I look presentable and worthy of a challenge to my other female cousins. Melvin was panting as if he had just scaled a mountain. My parents were waiting for us

"Why are both of you so slow?"

"I'm wearing high heels ok?"

"Mummy, why can't we just take the lift?"

"Boy, remember what Daddy said? Pu pu gao sheng, we should take the stairs today to be auspicious"

Lame lame lame, what are Chinese so particular about everything? Don't they find life to be so tedious with all these restrictions? Only naive people will believe in all these things

"Have you got ready the oranges?"

"Yes Calvin, I've placed them on top of the bag"

We walked towards the last unit at the end of the corridor excluding me, I dragged myself there. "Ok Natalie", I told myself, "it's time you put up another good show like a professional actress when you see your relatives in less than ten seconds, be demure, polite and sociable"

The gate of first uncle's house was unlocked. Mum stepped in first as she was the first to take off her shoes. I was taking mine off as I heard greetings of "happy new year" in front of me. I took a deep breath, rose up and saw my first uncle smiling at me. I reached out my hand to gesture a handshake

"Happy new year uncle"

"Ho ho ho, happy new year to you! Wow she has grown prettier already"

The second sentence was directed at my parents even though his eyes were looking at me. I replied humbly "lose to your daughter lah". I think I deserve an Oscar nomination for this

"Uncle gong xi fa cai"

As expected, Melvin and his bootlicking tactics, all at a tender age of eleven. Must be the genes he got from his parents. Luckily I did not inherit it. I looked around the living room and many eyes looked back at me, waiting for me to acknowledge them. One by one, I greeted the seniors

"Natalie"

I turned around

"You look so red today!"

To be continued...

13 Feb

For the first time in N years, I will not be having steamboat for reunion dinner. We will be having chicken, duck, fish etc this time. It is considered a breakthrough after years of steamboat domination on the dining table

Does anyone still remember the abalone tactic which I talked about last year? Speaking of which, there will be no abalone this year. Is it considered a breakthrough too? I wanted to reuse my tactic when I was having dinner with relatives from my mum's side last week but it was mission failed, or rather mission unattempted. Reason being there was no abalone present

Last week, I ate sushi for the first time in eleven years and it is only the second time in my entire life that I ate this Japanese food. I first tasted it when I was in Primary Two and the taste sucks. I promised myself that I will never touch it again and managed not to break the promise for a period longer than when George Bush was President

And I tried sashimi for the first time. Another breakthrough you can call that. Didn't want to look "gas leak" at the dining table so I grabbed a piece with my chopsticks, dipped a bit of wasabi and stuffed it down my throat. Tasteless, that's all I could say

Ok that's all for today

CNY and V Day

Chinese New Year falls on the same day as Valentine's Day this year. So well you know like, these are some things which might happen (some really happened) during the festive season. Please continue reading to find out more

Teacher and student
Teacher: Chinese New Year is coming
Raymond: cher, we go your house lah?!
Teacher(laughing): oh you want angbao is it?
Raymond(thinking): abu then? just testing you only to see your reaction
Teacher never answered yes or no but the answer is obvious

Raymond and the flower stall owner
Raymond: so what kind of flowers are more "hot" this time?
Owner: both type also hot but Valentine one easier to sell
Raymond: aiyah of course lah, valentine one only a few stalks, CNY one is one pot leh!

Romeo and Juliet
Juliet: oh Romeo, shall we celebrate Lunar New Year this year together with the annual Valentine?
Romeo: huh? we are ang moh ok? we celebrate new year on 1st January leh
Juliet: but we should be multi-racial, multi-cultural...
Romeo: this is Italy, not Singapore. Our elopement to Singapore made you become so local ah?
Juliet: you then local, you are speaking Singlish

Beng vs. Seng
Ah Beng: eh want go casino for CNY this year?
Ah Seng: aiyoh, play underground can already lah, easier and more economical. And we don't have nice shirts anyway. And and we got no zhar bor accompany also

Music CD shop war
Shop A: dong dong dong chiang, dong dong dong chiang...
Shop B: when I fall in love, it will be forever...
Shop A: gong xi ah gong xi, fa ya fa da cai
Shop B: or I'll never fall in love
Shop A oldies plus Shop B punkies: eh diam lah!

Dinner tonight
Xiao Ming: eh I think we'll have to eat fast food for tonight's candlelight dinner
Xiao Mei: why?
Xiao Ming: cos all the stalls are closed on CNY

Reality
Principal sends an email to Group-everyone: Everyone, teacher or student, will receive an angbao from the school as a celebration for Chinese New Year
Raymond replies to all: wait long long lah

A thief's dilemma
Thief A: hmmm, its high time we return to the pickpocketing arena to fill my stomach
Thief B: then where should we go this time? The crowded Chinatown with many targets or the quiet and deserted Labrador Park?

Husband and Wife
Husband: see? I've got you the biggest bouquet this year
Wife (thinking that it's nine-nine-nine roses): oh really?
Husband: here, a big pot of chrysanthemum flowers, it symbolizes longevity!
Wife: ...

Raymond again
Raymond: oh Febuary 14 is also V Day, I almost forgotten about it. Aiyah, CNY more important, got money to receive, V Day must spend money only, burn a hole in my pocket
Random guy: lucky CNY with V Day, at least I can use the angbao money to cover back my losses on that posh restaurant I brought my zhar bor to

A girl's problem
Girl A: should I wear the red qipao for my granny to see or the black gown for him to look at?
Girl B: just remember to wear red underwear can already

Nerd and his nerdy stuff
The nerd: While celebrating the first day of CNY and V Day, we should forget that the day after, Feb 15, is Total Defence Day

*Takes a deep breath*

The nerd: Total Defence Day is actually to...
Majority: shuddup lah!

Happy (advanced) Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day to everyone!

Random Pictures

Random pictures coming up, or rather coming down as you have to scroll down
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The Santa Claus of the East has touched down on our shores


I was sitting alone at the back of the bus and felt bored so...


Ok, here's the plan, later we go Toa Payoh splash paint followed by Ang Mo Kio then Woodlands and end at Jurong East


No racism or disrespect here but you just have to admit that it's funny