Summer Raindrops

War criminal in Asia

2008-05-03T00:55:00.003+08:00

This is so true. I always remebered what my grandfather and grandmother said about them. They were brutal and utterly evil. But all of sudden, japan becomes this democractic "peace loving" nation (today, their navy and their air forces are the largest in asia), that possesses a so called, "self defence force". No weapon on earth is ever "self defence" in nature. Given the might of their blue water navy, it doesn't look self defence at all.

I always had to endure the senior japanese man whom I attended the airfix modelling course at a shoppping complex off Selegie road. He kept blowing that japanese forces were really doing good and they are really the real victims. Sometimes I just cannot bear to listen to his crap that I walked out of his shop to take a breather. His ideas are weird and crazy, but what was even more unbearable was the two local gundam/anime craze jokers that barked and cheer him on his stories and skewed opinions. Usually, they will end up whacking Chinese or Koreans.

Finally somebody from the US decided to speak up for a lost generation that were victimized. The US is the least expected place that I can think of to stand up for the wrongs that were done to my grandparents's generation and my own people.

As for me, more japanese anime? Nah! I believe in the years to come, we will do better. Already the Koreans films are so much well received by our local housewives and aunties than japanese ones.

Be a Benevolent Conqueror

2008-04-30T12:05:00.003+08:00

These days, so many things happen that keep me on my toes and increase my tensions. Some challenges seems huge and troublesome, but these fires are really from the mind and can be half extinguished in the mind, before systematcially going on to put the real fire out, which by then, would have been half-strength.

I got some inspiration in the morning, and proceed to write a email which is really for my beloved one and myself. And even sent it via FutureMe to an undisclosed date in the future, less that I had forgotten the encouragement in the current and future sea of troubles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please be strong. Don't be weak in thinking and don't think weak of yourself, your capabilities, your determination, and your body and health state. The body is a powerful engine and your mind is a super strategist, and your spirit is from the Lord God.

Have a can-do attitude. A not-worry-about getting feet and hands dirty attitude. So what is there is sand in between the toes? A little water will eventually wash it away... so what is there is mud on the face or even into the mouth? It doesn't affect the soul and spirit. Aspire to take over and control things (eg, house, bill, relationships) and situations (eg, crisis, sickness, and different stages in life). Be the one that uses the hands to bake after thinking of baking. To do it after planning, to mould the dough, shape it, beat it, and then to put it in the oven. Never letting the hot parts of the oven frighten you or prevent you from doing so, and rather to conquer the oven. They are but, just external parts in the equations. You control everything. If you want to bake, just bake it irregardless of things and situations.

Adopt a positive outlook as it will changed everything and give every difficult situations with a new flavour. Turning yourself from a petty and narrow minded 3rd world country into a benevolent and generous superpower.

Life in a capsule

2008-04-09T00:57:00.003+08:00

Wah, I haven't really written anything here since last august. In fact previous few posts were just anyhow linked stuff that I thought might be interesting. Still it is interesting to suddenly received comments here and there on some of the long long ago articles I had blogged.

Anyway had been busy doing and feeling puzzled over my current job. In Singapore, this little piece of rock with reclaimed soil around the central core, yo do nothing but work and think about work, and think about if tomorrow there is work for you or not. Why is that so? Cause lifestyle in the "rich" citystate of Singapore is only about a constant blur and furries of worry about debts and whether can you pay for debt later on, and can you pay about even more debts when you have your children in the future. The system seems to lock the people into it, much like the matrix. You are forcefully "born" into this little capsule designed for you, and then have the surrounding painted and render to stimulate you to... work more and then produce the next offspring to do exactly the same. After some time, one will just forget about the life out there, and be locked into the great system of system.

Well cut long talk short. This is by far the most stragnest job that I had ever held. Everybody seems to be doing absolutely...... nothing. Nothing worthwhile at all. Really. Orders are push down from some emperors of cheif enunch wannabes, and it gets circulated around everybody, with each one attaching more comments and enquiries to it. Task are never solved, things are never really done. I can't imagine how such an organisation will really survive (luckily this is not a private company). Every morning I went to work, I had to drag myself there, unmotivated, and still puzzled over what I am suppose to be doing, even though it is almost 2 years. since I started my contract with this place. I drag myself down to my work place to do.... absolutely nothing worthwhile, everyday.

But to be fair, once a while, something interesting comes along, but so far, most jobs can easily solved be in 1 weeks time in this place. Where I used to do on average 3 projects in one day in my previous workplaces, this is practically quite a good place to rot (if one prefers such jobs) for a while to - recharged the batteries; feed the horses; sharpen the blade; drink some tea and eat some pao at the local teashop; talk some cock to the management so that they will sing some song to their management; before riding out again with the golden or blue horde to try to take some more land.

Besides getting to experience "interesting" work scope, I seen amazingly fantastic dinosaur kind of people that probably won't last a week in the fast pacing industry outside. Well for one, I really feel that my boss operates like a slightly defective router. He simply collects a whole load of crappy data from the higher management, or the server, and distributes it without any form of processing to the guys below him, including myself. Most of the time, information is distorted (either purposefully or not) and dateline is distorted as well (this timeline kind of data I guarantee, is distorted purposely.... bringing the dateline forward to create buffer zone for covering of backside, etc etc...). After interfacing to people like my this manager boss, I think people working here and seeking to climb will eventually reach a finte state of IQ and EQ whereby the signal curve damps off, must like the inverse of the exponential curve, always approaching 1, but never reaching it. Using this small analogy, I think my bosses may eventually hit one in his skills, only when the x axis (showing time) hits infinity.

Maybe I am being sensitive or panicky(I always feel that I am a kan cheong spider), but I feeeeel the slowness and sluggishness of of the working culture. A really high energy, siam-ing (avoiding), cc email to boss, kind of culture, where we take pride in being slow and yet never steady. Everyday at my office, I seen this particular "talent" from china drawing a incredible pay of 8k per month, doing pieces of work that requires 2 weeks for him, and 2 days for the typical freelancing polytechnic student.

.....
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Anyway, I wrote quite a huge load of rubbish here...., because simply I don't know what else to write at this moment, apart from work. I will post more of my personal stuff there and will shift all my technical, design, and project management stuff over to www.workingtribe.com, where as expected, it had also been "neglected" for some time. Time to revive it then, and put up all my artworks. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks thanks for reading my this very long winded article. :)
More to come .....

Yeah! Lemmings!

2007-08-20T22:05:00.000+08:00

When the first series of Lemming hits the stall, basically every show PC in front of department stalls and computer stores in Sim Lim were ablaze with Lemmings on their.

Lemmings is such a simple game, easy to play, easy to figure out, and really satisfying when you finally put the tribe into the temple where they thank you and go onto the next level. On the other note, Lemmings is really easy to develop. With no AI (yes, Lemmings are dump), and 2D sprites graphics, any multi-media student worth his diploma or cert can do a Lemming clone using Flash and actionscript today.

However, what really helps in Lemmings gameplay is actually the ultra catchy background music. You simple CANNOT get it out of your head after a few hours of Lemmings. Every music tune is for a few levels, and each of them have their own way of making their way into your senses and emotions.

Here is a medley of Lemmings music tunes done by Xky Rauh. I found it on the Lemmings Universe site. I really love the first tune! I think it is for the first 5 levels if I am not wrong. This tune is really great for animation. I wonder if any company has any rights to the original Lemmings music.

Human Tetris

2007-07-07T17:57:00.000+08:00

This is damm funny.

Actually anybody can clear through the obstacles easily, but the pressure of limited time before the wall hits the players gives them pressure and actually affect their thinking.

Looking at the shapes, one does not need to position one's body to conform to its shape, but just to squeeze through the shape will do.

Closer.

2007-06-02T01:08:00.000+08:00

My favourite song, meaningful leh. Just let it play along as we go through the text.

Yar, it can be pretty difficult to live with a depressing person. Then again, we may have to get used to this fact, as I now realise that there are many who are living in this little red dot, that has some kind of depression, or a gloomy outlook in life. I had counseled many, in all forms and state of depression, and had successfully ignite some of their fire in their cold and forgotten stove, hopefully the fire will keep them warm throughout their life. For a person suffering from depression, everything seems to be gloomy and doom to end up in one final sad state, a sad nothing, and every issue seems to be a reason to cry on, or to be sad and take pity on oneself.

Depression basically sucks you dry, and leaves nothing behind except a distorted pair of spectacles, by which you will probably put it on after you had finally grow tired of crying and wiped that last burst of tears away. Then only to see a distorted pity patty sad world, with a great grey overcast sky and a lot of pricky grasses which you stepped on, and they make you cry again. That in a nutshell, is depression...

How do I know it? I had a period of unhealthy dose of all this before of course..., in the earlier part of my life that is. And a significantly long period that covers almost most of my teen years. Much damage had been done, with the greatest being... lost opportunities. That is, lost of the time (teen years) that should had been invested in building up oneself, and of course, to take up one-in-a-lifetime challenging endeavours (for example, entrepreneurship? flying? backpacking? etc etc).

But to date, I had managed to overcome it. One will never be able to overcome it unless one catches a glimpse of what is in life, or the purpose of life, or what life has to offer, or what you can offer to your own life. Well, be it though religion, or through self-learned principles of life. Depression can be cured by having a purpose in life. Huh! I'll say it again. Depression can be destroyed, or a better word will be, to render it useless (and thus no longer depressing anymore as you basically come to terms with it), when you know what you want to do with your life. Basically what you like your life to be. How it will be like. And what you want to see and experience in life itself, and how this may affect the people surrounding your life. Of course to MOST people in this little red dot, knowing what you really want is a task that is more difficult than the ERP system lowering their charges during peak hours. But then again, if you were to tied everything with symbols and analogies (I'll talk about analogies in the next few articles), nothing is really difficult. On a higher and simplified order, it is like the counter girl asking what flavour of ice-cream you want to go with your brownies.

"Sir we have mango, vanilla, chocolate chip, ... ".

So how do you decide on this? You basically imagine the taste of mango flavour, vanilla flavour, etc, ice-cream melting in your mouth, and then extrapolating that to the feeling that comes with it, and then, you tell the girl what you want. Walah! You just made a decision. That is the same as choosing a purpose for your life style. And of course, flavours can change with the seasons. Even though you maybe choosing vanilla flavour all your life, you may switch to try a new flavour halfway down your life, say when you suddenly discovered rum 'n raisin, or get introduced or psycho-ed to some revolutionary new flavour of lifestyle, maybe some curry flavour ice-cream (Why not? there is wasabi flavour right?)

Ah! By you can then argue that this is you and your own battle... right? Yes, of course. Settling your own issue, on your own terms, and in your own time frame, is certainly much easier.

But to constantly be with a person that has depression? Or worse, a person that is stricken with the well of depression for so long that he or she had already forgotten the colour of the evening sky...
Believe me it is not worth the experience. It drains you of everything that you believed and hoped in, and it pissed on every fire that you light to keep warm in the darkness.

Living and trying to help a person with depression is really a depressing and emotionally demanding task. It is worse than losing something dear in your life. Anyway, me and my wife just lost our 6 weeks child. It was a difficult experience and leaves me in a great state of puzzle and sorry for most of the time. Don't know whether to cry or to think of explanations. Anyway I do feel better after hiding in the toilet and cry over the lost, during those draining periods of time.

Arrrhh.. I shall not end with a gloomy ending. These recent few posts seems to be rather gloomy in nature... and this blog should be refreshing raindrops in a warm summer mid-day.

How do you then overcome this? Or how should I go about helping and providing emotional first aid to such a person, especially when all means of consoling and problem source tracing had all been performed and the person is still choosing to wallow in that pity patty sad state of his or her? Well, I'm not a psychiatrist, and am certainly too drained to be a counselor anymore. But I will still forked out my common sense and say, there is no way I can help. There is no way a person can help a sufferer apart from providing physical, emotional, and spiritual care and support to the sufferer. It is up to the person to see his or her follies, and picked himself or herself up, and MAKE a decision to understand himself or herself better, so as to be able to start tracing to the source of the depression. The sufferer can choose to continue to wallow in a muddy pool or self pity and tears, or to bravely do a recapped and review of his or her life, much like that of an anti-virus scanner, to catch and quarantined those suspected area of his/her life for removal latter. Only by making a decision to understand and an effort to try, and at the same time, accepting the support from people who are there to help, can the person improves and understand more on his or her situation, and then later... figure out life, and much latter, to recall and laughed at his/her once depressing state.

We got to move closer to what we really are ...

Tunnelling

2007-03-25T01:03:00.000+08:00

This article is so unlike the other articles in this blog. This is a negative piece, as I am feeling so low now.

These few weeks had been so difficult for me. So many people trying to heap abuses in my direction. Not verbal abuses, not physical abuses, but mental and emotional abuses. Uncaring thoughts, insensitive meanings, selfish purposes, all trying to swallow and trap me into a bag of darkness of guilt and selfish expectations. Expectations to serve and to pleased endlessly, and nothing else. Supported by tongue that judge and cuts, and calculated insensitive eye that moves and track, purposely shut to not see the hurt that is caused. Just because they came from broken places, and therefore are broken today, seeks to impose their brokenness on others.

What more is needed? I felt as if I had been bled dry, and still being squeezed for more. I was once an overcomer, a fighter and high soarer. A care giver, a supported. A counsellor that provides a listening ear to the needy and low, and actively aids and provide advice. How much had gone by. I had even lost the One that I love and worship...

The Bible had put it as :

Proverbs 30:14-16 (New International Version)

14 those whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are set with knives
to devour the poor from the earth,
the needy from among mankind.

15 "The leech has two daughters.
'Give! Give!' they cry.
"There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, 'Enough!':

16 the grave, [a] the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, 'Enough!'

This is a fast pace world that is changing at almost an average of every 3 days. Goals changed, hence, battle plans will change. When plans change, past decisions and responses will change as well. And this will cause the once well thought-out resource allocation plans to become obsolete and be subjected to diversion or change. Hence a cooperative and co-existence spirit is the most important of all. A Spirit of Trust and Belief is enriching and can help to overcome the most difficult of battle.

Where is my angel that had once, built me up and trust in me. The one who quickly laughs when I fall, so that I will not see the pain,... and instead dwell in the uttered words of confidence and healing. Seeking to build me up and thus feeling happy just for it.

The angel had gone away.

But still... my motto is still set at :

Proverbs 24:27 (New International Version)

Finish your outdoor work
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.

Celaka! Very Good local flavour Machinima Animation

2007-03-23T23:09:00.000+08:00

This is very good. Ang-mor look and feel with local flavour.

Everquest 2 animation is really lifelike and fluid. Fantastic.

Ovulation Calculator

2007-03-21T23:03:00.000+08:00

This is super informative. The Ovulation Calculator. From the Babycenter site.

My wife finds it really useful. Simply type in your last menstral period and cycle duration, it will estimate the next ovulation period for you.

Seems like a simple underlying mathematical algorithm, yet when applied to such useful scenarios and use-cases, it will be a great help to many. Great work.

To Dream again... On Your Mark

2007-02-08T00:52:00.000+08:00

I stumbled on this anime clip accidently. The person who compose and post it is indeed creative. I find it really fascinating, especially the part whereby the girl lifts off slowly from the car, with the guidance of the two leads. The scenes flowed along and the song, "On your Mark". I like this song very much... in fact, it was my favorite song when it came out during the uni days. I was dreaming of composing a sci-fi animation with this song. To date I had forgotten about all these dreams, a timely reminder as I stumbled on this clip with this song.

I love to tell stories, create worlds, and storyline, of far away places and parallel universe. Songs like this inspires me to no end, with ideas popping up to create gigantic storylines, and triggers cameras scenes flying around my head.

Sure, I'll put something together in the coming future. Maybe a sci-fi/fantasy storyline, but based on local settings.

Beauty of Paper Cutting and Effects

2007-01-29T10:19:00.000+08:00

This is really nice. Paper Cutting at its best.

Wind Powered Machines

2007-01-19T00:48:00.000+08:00

This is rather fantastic. This person seems to be an artist, creating sculptures,... innovative ones that can move by themselves simply by harnessing the wind. No man-made energy power needed.

Great. I wonder will he be able to craft out a real machine or vehicle for this purpose. I guess it takes a huge amount of wind to power the invention, hence it explains why he choose to demonstate his machine at the beach. But then again, I guess a small servo motor is all he needs to power his robotic vehicle.

Truly brillant.

If you can loop faster than your opponent ...

2007-01-11T00:34:00.000+08:00

I always feel that Rabbits are not quite the smart kind of animals. They spent most of their waking hours nibbling on grasses and hiding in their smelly little burrow. In most documentaries, almost any encounter between the rabbit and other creatures or predators, will normally see the helpless rabbits ending up as the losers. One can almost expect and predict the typical documentary scene of the rabbits, fleeing away at high speed, at the slightest disturbance of the scene by a probable predator, and sometimes losing their life after a short chase. I mean rabbits seems to be born losers. They look cartoonish and don't even utter a single roar, growl, or at least, a meow, to protray or at least, try to disguise themselves as a mean creature of the wild.

However, it seems that not all rabbits will prefer to be on the receiving, and losing end. This rabbit seems to be fed-up with being a loser in a conflict relationship, and goes on the offensive. And boy, when it attacks, it really attacks. Never mind if the opponent is dangerous, and extermely venomous, seems cunning, a probable experienced veteran hunter. The cute little bunny is hell bent on raising his point and protecting its turf.

This rabbit seems to bring to us, a couple of points worth our consideration in any conflict realtionship.

It doesn't really matter if one looked stupid and passive; sterotyped to be the nice, tamed, obedient and quiet guy next door, bounded by contstraints and people's expectations to live with the invisible behaviour markers, etc, etc. It seems that the actual creature, the true self, is really powered by what goes on the inside... and most people (or in this case, creature) had their insides in a constant whirlpool of emotions, which affects and changes their perception and outlook of the current situation. In other words, in a showdown, a sparring partner may exhibit the same physical appearance, or even body language; but within the body, the mind probably is a few step ahead, and the previous state of emotions that is associated with the current physical appearance and body language, may had been refined and changed. This may appear to the spectator as some kind of a rare occasion where the person or creature seems to experience some kind of snap in their brain, and suddenly takes on another mental and emotion posture, exhibiting characteristics and capabilities that one will never think possible.

When the time comes for one to go on the offensive. Simply be dumb and just attack. Upon hitting sufficient considerations and reaching a comfortable consense within one's decision making system, why continue to worry and be burden into a endless cycle of analysing, considering, and brainstorming on the old decision again? Simply carry out the execution of the task at hand and analyse, consider, and perceive the next step. Note, the next step, and not the previous, executed step. In other words, don't worry about what was executed, and how well it fits into society's and people's perceived expectations of your previous and current step. Simply look at the situation, the target, the opponent, and react to it. React to his counterattack, analyse his train of thoughts, and extrapolate on what he will do in the next step. Then refined your position, your posture, your chain of thoughts, your energies and center of gravity, and throw your attack again. If one is above to perform the above cycle much faster than the opponent, pretty soon the opponent will be forced to react to your directed attacks, like a losing tennis player running left and right of the court just to catch the ball. One will be able to bleed the opponent dry of energies, resources, and the will to fight.

This seems to be what was happenning in the Vietnam war, and is happening in the current Iraq invasion and occupation by the US. In both situations, we see a giant constantly reacting and losing resources and enegries. Rushing around and bombing empty jungles and civilian buildings. Making mistakes as it rumbles around. Depleting the armory, treasury, and the emotions to fight. It will be just a matter of time before the towel is thrown in.

Huh, the little rabbit certainly summarises the way of the world.

Article is also available at workingtribe.

Inflatable Privates - The Japanese are crazy as ever.

2007-01-03T00:47:00.000+08:00

This is such a crazy product. So crazy that I got to buy a box to inspect closer. It is sold at the Daiso at Vivocity. Hmmm... not sure if they got it in the IMM branch.

Apparently, it is some sort of inflatable "penis" that is shaped and look like a swan's head. There is an sticky double sided tape at one end, for one to position it errr.... on one crotch. (Ok you dont like to place it on your crotch as in the pictures? There is no stopping you if you want to place it on your forehead like a unicorn.)

Upon pasting the product in the desired position, all you need to do is to squeeze somewhere near the balls position (please take care to squeeze the correct ball). And the next thing you know, the swan inflates by itself! And gets erected in no time! Good for those who are desperate or ladies who are in need of such experience. Hmmm....

Besides this innovative product, there is also another equally cute product as well. A set of inflatable breasts! Yes. The instructions at the back of the box has a couple of drawings of a smiling man putting two egg like pad on to his breast. And when he is in the midst of his colleagues, he just squeezed them, and walah! They inflate, and he surprise his colleagues with his newly "implanted", air bag breast.

Not bad for those ladies who wants to "show off" for a short duration, eg, party, that D&D, etc...

Happy 2007 New Year !!!

2006-12-31T23:54:00.000+08:00

SUMMERRAINDROPS wish everybody out there, a very Happy and Blessed New Year.

All the best to your family life, your health, relationships, career and progression. Stay happy and healty in this new year, and more good years to come. :)

Close Encounter with a Foreign "Talent"

2006-12-08T23:20:00.000+08:00

These few days, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with a great foreign "talent" from the other department. This "talent" came from the stormy and annoying little island that had once colonised us during the days of my grandfather. I must admit, I am really impressed with him and his way of putting himself and his experiences across to people he met at the seminar, and the ability to turn a one way, downright exploitation of our work for his credit to his boss, into a joint research and collaboration between the two side.

We were supposed to work together in this collaboration project for a particular seminar to be held sometime next year, and to share the fruits of the project together. Till yesterday, I was highly confused about what was going on, and his intention, role and contribution in the venture, and I was impressed this morning, when I saw through the scam and smokescreen he had put up. Damm... the clever way he hid his lack of knowledge and ignorant of the local situation, and the way he presents himself as a willing partner to us, and the chief with the idea to the exterenal parties, is pretty impressive. He doesn't have a single clue on how we do our work, and go about in collaborations.

I was pretty pleased when in the end, he found a ready made solution on the net and decided to purchase it of the shelf. Hence terminating the prospect of both sides working together. I nearly laughed out loud when he was elaborating how the termination of the collaboration wil affect me and my department, as we need him and the project to work together. Please lah Ah Zhek! We have tons of things to handle. Your project is kiam cai (salty vegetables) in the Bak Kut Teh to us. (Don't understand? Then spent some time to understand us.) In other words, it is fucking unimportant and an additional cost to us. Don't put yourself on the pedestal just because some of us (unfortunately) think that that opportunitist by the name of raffles is to be worshipped in this land. Why we even put up his idol somewhere along the river. Why not Parameswara or Cheng Ho?

This reminds me of an article I had read that was written by a historian on the Royal Navy of the Second World War. Their white washed ships looked nice with their highly polished guns and elaborately painted emblems, crewed by sailors in sailor-moon outfits. The ships spent most of their pre-war (period between both the world wars) training hours on endless naval review for their majesties, and showing the flags to the natives in their colonies, and sailors in naval drills and some silly activities like that. Whilst all the time, the Imperial Japanese Navy was expanding, learning and experimenting, adopting and investing in the latest in naval warfare, ocean going aircraft carriers and their carrier battlegroups employment, and sailors of all ranks spent most of their waking hours training hard in all aspect of warfare. Carrier pilots were practising and practising with little safety margins flying their aircraft in pitch darkeness and attacking with life ammunition. The result is hardly surprising. The Royal Navy was an embarassment and was trashed in Asia, and will remain as trash to this day, in this region.

In the future, I will not give a thought to any foreign "talent"'s "skillsets" and "experiences", if they choose to come and work in my home turf, without attempting to treat us as equals, or the very least, making an effort to understand the local situation. The sun had, and has, set for them, and their empire days. They will continue to look nice and some may attempt to scare the primitive among us with their big guns and clean cut presentation, but most will hardly put up a fight, and will sank like a stone when challenged.

Three out of four negative examples so far. I hardly look up to them anymore.

Vader goes to Japan

2006-11-30T09:42:00.000+08:00

Recently there seems to be a flood of home made short clips and movies featuring Darth Vader in funny roles and situations, onto the internet. It seems that Vader has lost his direction and is aimless wondering around and re-building his goal in life. We see Vader as a supermarket manager, a father, etc...

These 2 hilarious clips features Vader in a japanese police station.

The Love of the Cross

2006-11-23T11:53:00.000+08:00

This is really touching and good. The music flows with the scene.

Dear frens, I can identify with that big robot. Having someone close that is dying slowly, it is heartbreaking and extremely painful. It affects my soul and bone, and eats away at everything I had created and save up for. It becomes unbearable when you finally understand that there is nothing you can do to save the situation. Day by day, bit by bit you see everything melting away. Until memories are left.

Memories too can become diluted, when the waves of time finally washes whatever markings and treasures from the sand.

Only the maker of the world is permanent and all-loving.

Jnana

2006-11-11T00:45:00.000+08:00

There is a new and interesting software in town, by the name of Jnana. According to the description at its offical website, Jnana offers non-programmers to build applications that provide guidance and advise online. This is actually tapping into the power of congregated expertise and putting them in consultant booths online for greater accessibility by the general public. Everybody is an expert in something, some in C++ development, some in accounting, book keeping, cooking pasta, baking cookies, sex, hitching a ride, kung fu, sweeping the floor, ballet dancing, complaining to your credit card company, cars, dogs, reptiles, etc, etc. And by allowing such individuals to create applications that web sufers can called-up and tap into, this will really bring the internet into a higher level of content provision.

Now what makes this all the more interesting is that Jnana is now available in Second Life! Yes! That is great news to us Second Lifers. According to the this writeup of the Second Opinion newsletter, Jnana in SecondLife will allow players to build virtual booth, selling real life products and providing advices and research to buyers. Taking a quote from the article in Second Opinion newsletter :

"Let's say you're advising someone who wants to buy a digital camera in your store in Second Life," Fred says. "They're trying to decide which camera is right for them. As it happens, you're passionate about digital cameras and have done copious research in the process of purchasing your own." Jnana allows you to upload your own research as an interactive questions/answers system which then prompts visitors with questions related to your topic.

In the case of the digital camera store, Jnana asks your new buyers questions such as: "Will you be using the camera for business or personal photos?", "Will you be taking photos mainly indoors or outdoors?", and "Will you be filming action sports or still-life?". All of those questions help identify the right kind of camera for the person making the purchase decision. So that individual benefits from all the research you've done. It's like a personal recommendation coupled with expert knowledge, which is what makes it so valuable."

My guess is that this will open up more business opportunties to business who wants to exploit virtual active worlds, and Second Lifers who wants to cement their virtual assets to real world operations.

Of course, in my next login, Limkopi will be flying down to the Jnana Island for a look. Hopeful I can fixed up a booth of some sort and start my operations.

A Lack of Time and Breathing Space.

2006-11-09T23:35:00.000+08:00

It had been such a busy time for me during these few months. Except to post a few interesting YouTube videos on this blog, I have had the time to sit down and run proper articles. I don't even have the time to write articles for the now 2 month old site www.workingtribe.com .

So much had happen within these months. Here in Singapore, we were sadden by the man who jump down the MRT (subway) track, killing himself, so that attention can be thrown on him and his family's plight. Apparently his family were suffering from extreme poverty, with sickness and much emotion distress. When all efforts on seeking help proved to be without avail, the man decided on the ultimate sacrifice and end his life in a rather terrible manner to bring the society's spotlight to his family. This man really broke and touched my heart. His love for his family put him in the number spot for any heroic fatherly figure position.

One the other side of the scale, a rather immature Wee Shu Min made the headlines (at least on the net, not the mainstream news) when she shot a rather arrogant reply to a heartlander, Mr Derek, who was commenting on some of the difficulties of maintaining a living in modern Singapore, where the standard of living is rising rapidly, and job security is dropping the other way down the axis. In her reply, she bombarded Derek, mocking him and picturing him as a whining lazy creature, with the language in her article reflecting her thinking as an "elite", rich, and on the high side of the local society. What made the matter worse was when her Minister father declare in the local newspaper an apology, and also that he "stand by her view". This placed the local blogosphere into Defcon 1, with retaliation from almost every single major and popular, local blog account. People seemed to be more taken back by her father's reply and stand rather than his teenage daughter's blog article.

On the international scene, North Korean had detonated a nuclear explosion, almost putting the North-East Asian backyard into a cauldron of high blood pressure responses. Even long time ally, China, was rethinking on their position and some news even reported that China had dispatched additional troops to their border with North Korean. Apparently more concern with an influx of refugees, should the regime implode, rather than to create an invasion threat.

Finally we have the mid-term US elections. And boy oh boy, the evil gang of grouchy old men, the so call neocons, finally have their power broken. Many of these powerful, rich, and heavily backed figures were from the "secret society" like (at least in terms of idealogy and thinking) organisation, The New American Century, which avocates militarisation and turning the US into a hyper-power, and putting down all threats and nations in its path, through military, economical, or political means. The organisation thinks that american leadership is good for the world, which seems to put them on the same nut-case mentality as the Emperor in the Star Wars series. Fortunately, with the vast and almost total swing of votes to the Democrats side, the senate is now finally secure by moderates, and the world can now finally breathe and hope for a much saner, fairer, and peace-oriented US foreign policy to kick in. Puppet figure, George W Bush, can finally detached himself from his puppet masters, and shift into a more moderate gear.

Ha, so much for writing about current affairs online. Now to find the time to write some inspiration articles ...

Corgi

2006-10-31T00:59:00.000+08:00

Adorable little puppy.

A Corgi breed. This is a little lazy puppy.

Away on an Overseas Vacation

2006-10-13T21:28:00.000+08:00

Going on an overseas trip. :)

Coming back on the 24th. Will blog about that in mountainpath.blogspot.com . :)
Till then, please visit the forum at www.workingtribe.com .

Have fun. :)

End of Sesame Street

2006-10-10T12:15:00.000+08:00

This is amazing funny.

End of Sesame Street I guess.

The sense of Objectivity

2006-10-05T01:04:00.000+08:00

Objectivity, seems to be a commonly abused word in the professional working environment. What is to be objective in your work? Putting yourself in neutral position and to always focus on reasons and facts? Putting objectivity into relationships at home and in the workplace simply means to always focus on reasons and facts? Really! Can anybody do that perfectly? Can anybody withstand that onslaught of emotional baggage and invisible psycho-matic energy, that beg you to throw reasons to the wind, with the onslaught gradually weighing your heart down, pinning it so that every beat is with much effort.

What is objectivity? And how can you survive in a place where people are no longer objective in what they do, but are charged and motivated by emotional energy and circumstances?
Firstly, let us look at the definition of objectivity. The Little Oxford Dictionary that I have with me here states that Objectivity, or to be objective, is to have feelings that are external to the mind, actually existing, dealing with outward things, not thoughts and feelings. In other words, to have a zen like mindset, throwing all emotions to the wind, only looking at what is happening in the external world and dealing with them one at a time. In The Last Samurai, Tom Cruise was badly beated in the simulated samurai duels each time he engage his fellow swordfighting classmates, until a Japanese friend told him to be, “no minds, no minds!”. In other words, to be without a mind seems to be without thoughts, fears, confidence, thoughts on past experiences, other people’s opinions, or even your own opinion on yourself. And only attempting to take the next step of the matter and try to solve it.

While I do agree that this is a rather good way to do your work, or to deal with matters concerning work planning, operations, support, and certainly it will be an invaluable capability to cultivate a clear mind in a competition and do-or-die environment. I feel that it may be quite impossible to be in this kind of an “objectivity” mindframe when one is dealing with people in matters concerning relationships in both the home and the workplace, or any other matters revolving around the human factor. When dealing with people, one cannot help but to adopt a certain “emotional” state as the default emotional state at any one time. Especially if things accelerated into the emotional highway and starts to eat into the mental processing decisions. Nobody can pretend not to be affected and stay objective and be void of all feelings throughout the way.

How then can one hope to be efficient and objective when it comes to dealing with people who are emotionally charged up? The essence, I feel, is not to try (or pretend to be trying) to adopt a “zen” like mindframe, empty of all emotions, when dealing with a situation. Rather, it is to have a clear minded engine or decision-deciding-unit in the mind, for deciding what emotional state one is to adopt in the next cycle of interaction. And to be able to analyse how that emotional state will affect the end result. Thus one transit from one emotional state, to another state, much like what a computer AI brain will do, in the process of deciding for an action. Of course, this deciding process will always be dictated by how much contribution the potential “next step” emotional state can bring one closer to the desired end result.

In simpler terms, it simply means to adopt and train your mind to operate in a disciplined manner, selecting what emotions and thought patterns to adopt at any time and in the next stage. Bearing in mind that every single small state of emotional feeling must contribute and move one’s position closer to the much desired, ultimate victory. This shall ultimately raise your confidence and affect how you feel and perform in the next battle.

Article is also available at http://www.workingtribe.com/articles/the-sense-of-objectivity .

Hokkien Driving Ringtone

2006-10-04T23:25:00.000+08:00

Interesting song forwarded to me.

This will make a great hokkien ringtone, guarantee to turn heads on the bus or MRT. Approximately about 2.5M. Do a Save As from here for faster respond.

And this is the MTV :

WorkingTribe Launched!

2006-09-30T23:58:00.000+08:00

I just set up a website at www.workingtribe.com .

I intend this to be an online portal whereby the working professionals can gather the latest events happening around us, articles on career and working life, and most importantly, to engage one another in matters of career and the work place.

Do come in and join in the forum. I intend the forum to be a place whereby people can inspire and advise one another in matters relating to work, and career. A platform to provide some form of peer support group. Hopefully this can be really useful for those that are lost or facing a corner at the workplace, and desperately need some listening ear or support and advise.

His First Time

2006-09-25T21:20:00.000+08:00

This is very cute.

Very realistic. He must had learned all these techniques in his mother's womb.
Somemore he had it in his little car. So cute.

Augmented Reality on the Roads

2006-09-15T18:07:00.000+08:00

Haha this is good. Holographic Augmented Reality used on vehicles.

This video is obviously a fake. But then this can be done using off the shelf device, not difficult.

I bet if this is used in Singapore's road, there will be lots of Hokkien phrases.

How Lord of the Ring should have ended.

2006-09-03T14:24:00.000+08:00

This is quite good. A logical idea.

For more of such alternate endings, refer to How-it-Should-Have-Ended.

Good Web-based Telephony Service : Jajah

2006-08-17T18:44:00.000+08:00

This is really a good service, giving the Telecom operators a run for their money finally! Whith this Jajah Service you can call overseas without extra charges!

By entering your telephone number + country and your calling party's number plus country, the service will firstly calls you up at your number, and once you answer your phone, the service proceeds to call the other party at the given calling party number. All connection is done through the internet.

Try it. It is fantastic. A throughly killer application.

Video Recipes Online

2006-08-15T21:01:00.000+08:00

The new technology enabled, new media certainly brings new good stuff to the world. Recipe books and documents are from times gone by.

With YouTube, you can have online video recipes, as you like to watch it on TV.

Also check out these recipes, Chinese Sweet Garlic Ribs, Baked Apples, Carrot Salad, Split Peas Soup, Croatia Cheese Puff Pastry, Banana Bread, Curry Coconut Chicken Stir Fried, Red Basil Curry, Cheesecake, and how to cook rice!

I am hungry...

Amazing architecture

2006-08-14T18:54:00.000+08:00

This looks like a toy house. A product of one afternoon.

I think this may be totally impossible architecturally. But anyway, it looks great. Thought I had not put up the railings for the 2nd floor, and a staircase to the 2nd storey from the rear.

There are ample windows on the 1st floor to coll down the temperature.

Add some barricades, staircase, and fill it with furnitures, plus a swimming pool, and this can be a personal retreat.

Food! Glorious Food! : Authentic Hainanese Curry Rice

2006-08-06T23:27:00.000+08:00

People living around Tiong Bahru should have noticed this pretty old store, tucked away right at a corner of Tiong Bahru old town, is this lone coffee shop of the 60s or 70s.

The coffee shops seems to be dominated by a one and only curry rice store, which probably due to business considerations, not only limiting themselves to selling curry rice, but every other dishes that you can find in any typical zi cha stall.

Of course being an authentic curry rice eater, naturally we ordered some curry rice, as well as the fantastic, sore throating-saving, refreshing lime juices to counter the weight and might of the curry.

The curry is served in these big plates, with fired cutlet style chicken on top. Let me tell you, the chicken is fantastic. There has got to be some secret recipes that they used to season the chicken. It is fantastic even without the curry.

The curry tasted quite good and is totally not hot. Typically hainanese style, whereby the curry isn't really that hot, or even not hot at all, and serves is role as a kind of cross between soup and sauce for the rice. The curry is fantastic! You will never taste such curry at any other places. Not Indian, Chinese, or Malay style curry. The taste must be due to the little herbs that dot the curry. Little mint like leaves scattered and well mixed all over the curry.

Fantastic. You got to try it. And that lime juice of course.

Winter Wonderland

2006-07-31T23:00:00.000+08:00

Huh! Finally the scene is up. A Winter Wonderland.

Quite a nice place. It will be good if I can leave this stress-pok of a place and stay in here for a few days, I mean night. Here in the artic or antartica, there is no day or night (literally no day and night living). The sun is always there and the skies are criss-cross and patterned with aurora.

But first I got create some furnitures and a bed. The sled is useless as well as there aren't any husky dogs to pull it along. A bbq pit will be a nice addition to go along with those benches.

Ok I shall build this into my small plot of land in SecondLife.

Back to the 3D World

2006-07-25T18:45:00.000+08:00

Finally, after so long, I finally got the chance to returned back to my hobby. Exploring and doing some 3D modelling and animation.

3D software are getting more and more powerful. I got the chance to model and render a bench. I'll try to re-create many things in the coming days.

Happy Planet Index

2006-07-17T22:35:00.000+08:00

Hey! I'm so surprise to see this. A friend had pointed this link out to me. Singapore is ranked as one of the most unhappy places in the world. Almost right at the bottom tier of Asia. Wow, that is incredibile.

For quite some time, I had noticed that many people (both I knew and don't) around me are unhappy. Ever since I took a trip to China and Europe, this great difference in attitude to life becomes more and more obvious to me. Most people I met on the streets, at work, at crowded eating joints during lunch hours, at shops, service personels, hotel personels, seems to be having a bad day from the look of their faces.

Pulling on a long face, they either look tired, or hectic, or anxious, or sad, or frustrated, etc. Seldom have I come across a happy face. During most conversations, negativity seems to be the main flavour, and key ingredient responsibile for the bitter or sour taste in any conversing topics. Taxi drivers, working professionals, office professionals, the janitor cleaning auntie and uncles, the overloaded students, the frustrated parents, etc etc. The ratio of unhappy people seems to far outweigh the happy ones.

Hmmm... perhaps I look like that as well.

Unhappiness Around Us 1

2006-06-23T00:23:00.000+08:00

These days, so many people it seems are unhappy, or remain unhappy, throughout a majority part of their lifes. If given a chance to do an audit, most people should have a score that reflects unhappiness, taking up a majority of the pie.

Walking down the streets, one will see people with tense faces, racing around sidewalks rushing for time and deadlines. Tired and worn-out faces on the trains, almost everyone in a daze, lost in thoughts, some asleep, some attempting to sleep their way through, some intending to keep asleep and never awake. Complaining voices and perturbed souls, firing away on their mobile phones.

It seems to be really difficult to find somebody that is genuinely happy, well watered, contented and hopeful of what the future will present. Nobody on the train, on the rushing sidewalks, in the unfriendly office blocks, in the freezing malls, posting a real smile that warms the heart, breaking into genuinely laughter that tells of hope arriving in the coming seasons.

But what exactly is - to be happy? We can attempt to answer this by trying to define the opposite, to be unhappy. Negativity seems to be easier to be defined rather than its opposite. When one is unhappy, one may be experiencing the followings :

Anxiety, expectation, feeling of anxiousness over something, someone, some events that is upcoming.
Sorrow, lost of something dear, something precious, some opportunity that may not back come again.
Loneliness, feeling of dispair, sour feeling in the heart, feeling that nobody will ever notice you, even if you were to depart this world, nobody really cares or even took notice.
Depression, dispair, sense of sorrow. Sorrow about life. Life's negative points are magnified greatly and look bigger than it actually is. Whereas the positive points seems to be drowned out by the negativity.
Loss of direction, boredom, feeling that life is empty, life offers one an empty white plate. There is nothing to look forward to in life, nothing cute to amuse, nothing big to amaze, nothing captivating to belong to. Don't really know where to go.
Overwhelmed. Over taken by events, people, expectation. So many expectation to address to, so many people to pleased and kept satisfied.

What can't people be say, by default, happy? Could it be our world? Our time-lacking, hard deadlines, expectations to be expected and met, environment? Or could it be that we are taught, or even trained, to incorporate a larger portion of negativity and sense of gloom into our daily emotions, from young, by our careless society? Believing that it is better and more appropriate to be negative and to almost always forcast a conservative gloomy outlook in one's life, and deciding to act that way, since our society, the general herd that is, seems to be moving in that way. In a way, I noticed that everybody is influenced by one another. If one is unhappy, pretty soon the rest of the souls in the barrel will be damaged.

But how should we address this? We can look at this point by point, one by one, and try to trace and route the unhappiness to the source or the cause. As in traditional Chinese medicine, going for the source will be for effective for identifying and discerning the actual causes and frustrations, before marrying any plans with some follow-on actions.

We shall look at some of the possible unhappiness that most people are facing in the next post.

Old with New

2006-06-22T23:29:00.000+08:00

This is a finest example of how traditional musical instruments can be used to complement and support modern songs.

Rimi Natsukawa performance

I have always liked traditional instruments. Chinese, South-east Asian, Irish, Japanese, etc.
What provides them with a new lease of life is to adopt and embedded such instruments into some of the modern songs.

This is a very nice piece. Enjoy.

Boom goes your chair

2006-06-20T21:48:00.000+08:00

This is really funny. Especially the last guy on the rocket chair.

The japanese are really crazy.

The Wedding Banquet

2006-06-11T00:45:00.000+08:00

Wow wedding is really tiring. Moving around, to and fro between my house and her house, for the entire early half of the day, till late afternoon,... eventually dashing to the hotel for a quick bathe and change of clothes, follow by a series of dry runs, briefings, and coordinating with the other helpers for the wedding banquet. Wow... One maintains a attitude of high tempo and high energy, picking on everything and all things, checking on this schedule and that detail, to ensure that nothing will go wrong for the wedding banquet, and before you know it, the first guests starts to streak in.

The Typical Wedding Banquet

I had always attended wedding dinners and to a certain extend, felt that wedding dinners comprises of a lot of waiting. Arriving at the scene, one's first mission is normally to scout for friends or other "not that familar but still can strike a conversation with" people to group and start conversations with. Nobody will ever want to be caught in a situation whereby the poor person arrives too early and ends up as the only lonely soul sitting at the assigned table, sipping wine or tea alone, while eagering awaiting for some fellow table mates to arrive and blend in with. No way.

Then it is the long long wait for the wedding couple to march in, and finally, ah... one can open the flood gates and let off the much deprived gastric juices and go all out for the opening dishes. Normally the timing of the first few dishes seems to be quite well spaced out.

By the time of the 2nd march in by the wedding couple, the guests should be pretty well familarised with the other familar, and unfamilar, faces sitting at the same table. At that moment of the 2nd march in and toast to the couple, the attendant should be serving either the 4th or the 5th dish, depending on the speed of the banquet. The tempo of the wedding dinner will by then, slow down considerably. And most of the guest's appettite should be satisfied to a certain extend by then. Not so much for me actually. By that time, normally my apettite should be just kicking into the 4th gear.

And by the time of the 2nd last dish or the last dish, everybody would have turned rowdy, "social ettitque" or table manners (if there is any to begin with) will by then, be reduced to a small puddle that one can hid under the tea cup. Nobody will be worrying about saying the wrong things or yelling at the top of their voices, cracking hoarse jokes about each other, or toasting each other in a never to be seen manner. There shall be napkins on the floor, and beer and wine splashes all over the place. Somebody from every table will be trying to toast the couple with all sorts of mixed up liquor cocontion when they turned up at the table with the normally, highly experienced photographer, for their pitiful turn to take a photo shot with the guests at the table. The highly experienced photographer shall by then de able to detect any traces of danger coming from the guests from the next table and initiate a flanking maneuver to another route.

Such is the familar ritual that I had gone through for countless times, at some other people's wedding.

On the Other End

And I finally have a chance to savour the once-in-a-lifetime chance to sit on the other end, playing the role of the much tire-out couple. We were kind of worned out by the time of the banquet, but nevertheless we still enjoy ourselves pretty much.

When you are the one doing the planning and rehearsals, time seemed to fly by pretty fast, and before I had the time to turned around for a sip of refreshment to calm my nerves, the first stream of guests starts to arrive.

Entertaining the guests is quite a memorial experience. You get so happy and excited to see your friends and relatives coming in and sharing your big day with you. Naturally, the parents and the in-laws were pretty hyped up and excited as well, and everybody played the host pretty well that day. :) Coordination between everybody was superb.

It seems so fast, but halfway through entertaining the guests and friends, I received the prompting from the banquet manager, 90% of the guest are here. Time to get started. Wow! Time really flies. I went up to fetch the bride and we stand by the door, and got ready for the march in....

We were so happy that day.

Wedding Video

2006-06-01T14:30:00.000+08:00

This is one of my Wedding Video.

You can find the link here as well. Celebration of Love Video

Yes, I am getting married soon. Next week to be exact. :)

Spore! A revolutionary game.

2006-05-27T12:54:00.000+08:00

This is really good. I'm totally fascinated by it. It allows you to experiment and play around, creating creatures and seeing how they adapt to the envirnoment.

SPORE video By Will Wright, at the E3 Forum

The level and quality of gaming is really taking on a new twist now. I'll be waiting to buy this to create my own species to slug it out with my friends online.

Hmmm...and I had always been thinking how the teddy bear sitting in the showcase of my cupboard can survive in a hostile environment...

God's Love Letter

2006-05-27T11:53:00.000+08:00

This is good. I had forgotten most of the words from the Bible... and am totally delighted to hear this again.

God's words touches deep into your heart. It touches your soul. It reaffirms you and reassures you that everything will be ok. It tells you about God's love for us. He called us his offspring, and is planning goodness in our lives. When we passed away from this world, he will be throwing the biggest party ever in Heaven for us. Waiting for us when we come home.

The biggest indication of his love being Jesus, who is God himself coming down to Earth as a human being. His love is a demonstration of the wonderful, and endless love that God has for his children, that is us.

Are we living with Dollars and Cents?

2006-05-25T01:23:00.000+08:00

Everything in this world seems to revolve around money. Never mind that sometimes people conjured up phrases like "love conquers all..." or "money is not everything...". It doesn't really matter, cause after all these feel-good statements are over, everything gets back to reality, and it seems to be dollars and cents again.

Thinking about it aloud, everybody seems to be demanding for more to be added to their pockets, and in any possible way. Nobody seems to have enough, and nothing that cannot make money is tolerated. Every transaction has to be money oriented, money driven, and profit catered. Beyond this, anything else is rubbish and considered to be a time waster.

Who can bang his/her fist on the table and declare aloud that he/she is not materialistic? Face it... this world is materialistic to the core, everybody has some form of leaning towards some material (or status) possession. A good hefty sum, and a trash load of material goods provides that sense of "feel-good" security that most individuals yearn for.

So face is it! This world, that you and myself are living in, is a money oriented, materialistic society. It is the same almost everywhere in the world.

... unless of course ... you are not part of this world.

My Very Own Fish Tank

2006-05-24T13:47:00.000+08:00

I had always wanted to start a fish tank. Decorate my tank with sand, stones, limestones, seaweeds, and all sort of corals and anemonies.

I will love to keep a school of small fishes. You know, those fishes that swim together in beautiful, tight formation that one will normally see in documentaries in Discovery or National Geogaphic. Some bright Nemos and Dorys will be good. I thought of keeping a few doctor fish as well. Those swift, light neon blue sleek arrows, whose main preoccupation is to shadow other fishes and creatures in the tank, nimbling at their dirt spots and infection, therefore "healing" them.

Of course, right at the bottom, I'll have a squadron of shrimps, who will be tasked to scavenge and dig up the leftovers, (as you know, fishes aren't clean eaters, they make a mess out of everything) so that my tank will be spick and span.

But alas, this will always be a dream. I'll never be getting a fish tank... why?

Firstly, keeping a fishtank is time consumiing. These days, I do not even have the time to sleep well. My lack of time will probably be harmful to the inhabitants of my aquarium. Fishes needs to be cuddle too. Yes, cuddled like someone's pet dog and cat. You can always tell the difference between an "abandoned" fish pet with a happy one that is well lavish with attention.

Secondly, setting up my own aquarium will probably be too much $$. Nowadays, everything is taxing on my single source of income. If I do ever lose my single source of income, that is my highly shaky job position, everything will probably grind to a halt in no time. Hmmm... I rather put my available, precious, time into sourcing for an alternate source of income. Maybe ebay may be a good option, or this blog, or my SecondLife venture. :)
Hmmm... if my fishes can produce $$, I'll defintely setup a aquarium in no time. Haha

AND lastly because.... I feel that keeping live fishes in an enclose area is really cruel. The poor fishes will have nothing to look forward to. Swimming around the same space. For me, I'll go mad. Who knows most of the fishes inhabiting the fish tanks in the living rooms are berserk to a certain degree. That means the luohans are probably mad fishes.

Thus.... This will be my aquarium. :)

I found this as I was scavenging around the shopping cople below my office block. Heheheh cheap sale. Only cost me $5. Haha, I bought one, and follow by another the next day. I am now the proud owner of 2 aquariums, with a total of 4 fish + 2 jelly fish.

Heheheh... and I don't even need to feed them.

Just need to add water, and batteries, and "poof", my own underwater eco system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHDM_Yb6AFo

No time for Airfix

2006-05-23T22:40:00.000+08:00

Wah bombers! Those tikam kit finally has bomber aircraft. Steady!

I always loved World War 2 bombers. Armed to the teeth, with guns all over the fuselage, they flew high and in flocks like birds, deep into enemy territories.

I bought 2 box of the bombers. Hopeful I am able to get at least a B-24J Liberators. I like those liberators. Big, metallic, heavy, ugly, but still, the workhorse of the 8th air force at that time. The workhorse does not really have to be the most pretty entity around. As long as it works, able to carry out its job well, returns again and repeat the whole process, then everything else is considered secondary. Such is similar to the workplace as well. The prettiest, sweetest, well spoken person in the office may not neccessary (and most of the time) the person the workhorse of the team.

And how lucky I am. I got the best possbile combination of what I can get from these 2 boxes, a liberator, and a jap type 24 bomber. Heheheh! Both are so beautifully done! Well assembled, it looks like a painstakenly moulded, assembled, and airbrushed, 1/144 scale airfix bomber! I had in my collection, warships, fighter jets, tanks, world war 2 fighters, trains, buildings, and even a cake shop. Today these 2 bombers shall be commission ino my fleet...

Looking at the planes, I recalled a few years ago, I was learning airfix modelling from a Japanese guy who started his own model shop, selling kits at rockbottom prices, much to the dismay and frustration of the other model shop owners. Now, it seems that with the evolution of tikam style toys..., into full fledge, highly detailed, superbly factory painted, ready to assemble kits, everything in the hsitory and meaning of airfix is gone. The airfix market has seen a major revamp and revolutionary change. From kits that requires one to assemble and paint, to kits that are fully painted and detailed and only requires one to plug in the wings and wheels into the fuselage, and walah...! You have a detail airfix kit to grace your desktop.

This revolution in the concept of model kit design is in line with many of our "advances" in life. Every single product line and merchandise seems to be facing some sort of revolutionary shake-up, and ending up as a simple to have and built product which requires little to no maintainace. Well suited and targeted at our busy lifestyle.

So who has time to assemble the airfix and mix the paint and thinner for the airbrush?

Quest for the rest - Flash Game

2006-05-14T01:51:00.000+08:00

Wow, this is good.

I got a feeling that it is from the same creator as the guy who did Samoroast.
The look and feel is almost the same. :)

The greatest "Samoroast" look alike is the fox on level 2. I think I had seen it somewhere before in Samoroast.

Anyway have a look at it. This is great game with a fantastic soundtrack. A great eye candy as well.

Hospitalised

2006-02-11T23:59:00.000+08:00

Looking at the bright side...

I just had an experience of staying in hospital and sampling their food. SGH this time! I was only hospitalised once previously, back when i was still in the Army. That was in NUH.

Strange, I can't seem to breathe properly, with phelm stuck in my throat, and my heart beat hitting an all time high. It was rather scary.
My kind colleagues rush me to the hospital, where the run many tests.

The doctors diagnose the breathlessness as hyperventialation. But since I never get such breathing difficulties ever in my life, they wondered about the causes and after a long series of tests and they still can't find the problem, they credited the bout of attack to work stress.

Hmmm... elimiation process theory. Most of the medical problems can be proven through tests. But not issues such as "work stress". Maybe it is natural to elminate, one by one, medical problems through the negative test results, and in the end simply credit the unknown cause to the one thing that cannot be proven by conducting rounds of medical tests...

I certainly hope they know what they are doing.

Intuitive Economics

2006-02-06T01:00:00.000+08:00

This is good.

http://hyperstition.abstractdynamics.org/archives/006815.html

Good analysis by Southern Pearl

2006-01-30T13:56:00.000+08:00

Sorry no time to write lots of comment and analysis on this these days. So busy! But this is really good.

http://testbitch.ubersportingpundit.com/archives/000003.html

Have a look.

Habitat Online soon

2006-01-22T14:03:00.000+08:00

Yeah, my house almost complete. Just need the contractor to come and do a bit of touch up here and there... and everything will be up.

My wife suddenly express a great interest in mopping the floor. It seems that she had never mopped the floor in her life, and this is the 2nd time she had started mopping.

And she likes it!

That's good news. She will be the Mopping IC now.

Heheheheh

Happy Birthday to Me!

2006-01-14T22:47:00.000+08:00

Today is my Birthday! 32 this year. Kind of old is it? No Lah! 32 consider old? Crazy...
It is just I had moved beyond my teenage years.

Oh ok. I had moved beyond my sweet 25.

Ok ok ok... I had grauated from my Twenties.

So? That is considered old?

Hey anyway who came up with the topic on old anyway.

Anyway, my dear wife brought me to my favourite, or rather, one of my favourite places to eat. Prego at Raflles Place. Very nice food they serve there. I like the fresh, hot, white bread that they serve as appetisers before your meal. You dipped it in this olive oil so clear that it probably can be used to power a jet fighter. Good place.

We ordered these 2 dishes. Nice right? A fish dish and a lasegna, so filling. Our waistline probably grows by a few inches after this meal.

We lived in an unhealthy world these days.....

Going Australia : Boom! Happy New Year!

2006-01-02T15:06:00.000+08:00

This is the last leg of tour of Australia. Melbourne! We went around Melbourne, yes the place where many of my friends had choosen to immigrate to and spent the rest of their lives in.

A beautiful place! Melbourne is good! A city bursting with commercial activities, and yet able to retain its charm and a very australian flavour.

Melbourne is a place that seems to packed everything into one spot. City life, shopping arcades, endless streets of restaurants, hotels, living spaces, natural landscape on the outskirts, etc etc.

Me and my wife, we tried the famous vietnamese beef noodles at downtown Melborne.
Shopped around, bought quite a couple of items.

We went on a tour to the famous Great Ocean Road. Beautifully scenic place. Those houses by the side of the side of the road looked so cute. I want one badly. I can use it as a sort of retreat, for hiding or getting away from the hectic city life.

We had our lunch at a small town along the coastal road. The famous Fish and Chips. Good.

We came back to the city just in time to watch the fireworks at the city center. The firework event was by itself, a showcase of the population living in the city. We were so amazing to see so many Asian, or a good mix of different races, from all over Melborne converging on the city center train station.

Going Australia! : Surfers Paradise

2005-12-27T21:10:00.000+08:00

Following yesterday's frantic ROM, me and my darling are going Australia!

Yes! A much awaited trip aboard... away from this little fishtank. Heheh this is my first time to Australia! My friends, families, colleagues had all been there so many times that they can spell it backwards, and some had gone over there to live permanently. :) But I have not been there before! :( I gotta go there and have a look.

We took the Qantas flight to Brisbane, follow by a minibus to Gold coast, Surfers Paradise. The whole place look so cool, so relaxed, as if every weekend, the locals (both native and immigrants) drove their boats down to the beach and spent the day lazing around the deck, somewhere along the coastline waters. This kind of life! So different from that back home! No wonder so many of my friends had decided to leave for Australia for good!

We spent 3 days moving around Gold Coast. Going to the artificially created Dreamworld, Movieworld. We had the chance to hike from the Harbourtown shopping arcade to the Australian Fair. Walking past numerous rows of houses, parks, traffic junctions, etc. Experiencing the community in Gold Coast. We also spend time touring around the thousands of shops and restaurants, flacking the coast.

The place struck us with unbelieved at first, as it looked so Asian! Everywhere we turned our heads, we see asians! Chinese, Hongkongers, Koreans, Japanese, Malaysians, .... So many restaurants by Hongkongers and Malaysians. Asian languages can be heard almost everywhere. I totally don't have that feeling of being in an alien land (like that feeling I had when I was in Salzburg), and feel right at home.

We went for a fanstastic night tour at the Natural Bridge nature reserves. We saw many glowworms (which were the main attraction for the tour) around that area. Unfortunately didn't get to see the Natural Bridge in the day. I'll defintely plan to come back to Gold Coast. That time, I shall opted to stay in the mountains. There are lots of beautiful sights and scenes in the mountains. I shall resume my favorite hobby of hunting waterfalls... and adding them to my new geopad. :) (errr.... its still a secret now lah.)

On the 3rd day, we decided to try something astonishing different. We shall cook our own dinner. :) Our hotel room was really well equipped and stocked! Each room comes with its own kitchen piece, complete with microwave oven, plates, utensils, and even a dishwasher! Not to put such facilities to waste, we went to the supermarket downstairs and bought fried rice and hotdogs.

Microwaving them in the oven, we prepare our very own, homemade, dinner. We ate our dinner at the balcony, overlooking the beach and much of the skyline of Surfers Paradise. So romantic...

I'll leave for Sydney tomorrow... and then Melbourne. Will continue from there again. :)

ROM loh

2005-12-23T22:15:00.000+08:00

Today (23rd December 2005) I ROM! :)

ROM at the Registry of Marriages at Fort Canning.

We booked that package by Love that Bind, that involves makeup and hairdressing services from Coverlooks. Coverlooks sits beautifully on th 2nd storey of Stamford building, which is just below Fort Canning hill.

I first rush to Masako flower shop at Delfi to get the flowers. Aren't they lovely! And the proce is fantastically reasonable! With the services warm and top rated! I got the lobang from my good friend Ulysess who ROM 2 weeks before me. Hahaha! I highly recommend them to you.

We arrived there early, my wife had a makeup and hairdo done, all for almost 3 hours! Mine is only about 5 minutes! Right at the end of her session. Just got my hair styled and my face simply brushed my the beautician's cosmetic brush.

We then had a rushed photo shoot. And rushed up Fort Canning in a taxi, 15 minutes before the due time! It rained some more! Preventing us from walking up the hill. How funny. The Bride and Groom coming up the hill in a cab! Haha...

My another friend, Alan, also ROM today! Hahaha. Talk about concidence! His ROM time is just 1 hour before me. We even took combined couple shots a the ROM building! Hahaha.

My girlfriend of 4 years is now my wife. :)

Think about it... so amazing. :)

Last night of Single and Available

2005-12-22T23:00:00.000+08:00

Today is the last night that my status is Single. Tomorrow I am going to the Registry of Marriages, to register for marriage with my girlfriend of 4 years.

Strange feeling for these few weeks. Especially today and yesterday. The feeling is rather strange. Kind of an anticipanting feeling, yet somewhat anxious about it.

But now, I am just feeling sleppy. Felt asleep on the keyboard a few times...

Ok update again on my ROM day tomorrow.

Tintin and his resident.

2005-12-20T02:19:00.000+08:00

Author's note. As I was writing this article, I remember I was struggling to keep awake. I felt asleep several times. Heheh. Hence the poor, broken English. After I finish with the writing, I didn't even bother to re-read and check for mistakes. Heheheh that shows how tired I was. Any I don't really bother to proof read now. Just leave it as it was, in the original, half awake and asleep state. Hahaha.....

Wah Tintin's website! Nice.

It is all about Tintin! The stories, where they happen and what timing. This is so interesting. Many people feel that Tintin is kind of a racist, and there are some "politically wrong" material inside the series.

Anyway Tintin IS politicaly incorrect! From the first episode, it is already political! Tintin was produced in Belgium, and right when the author wrote the series "The Shooting Star", Belgium was already German occupied territories. Thus Tintin sail in the ship, the Aurora, which has a german seaplane (Yes, the arado model plane, similar to the one used on the Bismarck), and a whole load of scientist from Axis powers. Why there is even a Japanese scientist!

Anyway, on the other ship (the enemy), the Peary, they were protrayed as a low tech (which looking at the funnel on the ship, yes...), cunning and shrewd enemy to Tintin. The ship flies a "Star and Stripes" flag. Once they even played cheat and tried to gun Tintin down. Of course the americans are protrayed as the bad guys...

Real Life Need for Speed - Racing through Paris

2005-12-19T02:09:00.000+08:00

Wah lau! This guy is a shit head. A typical race-car driver wannabe, siao ting tong!

French filmmaker Claude Lelouch, mounted a camera on his Ferrari and lend it to his friend to race through the streets of Paris.

The video shows exciting, high speed racing (Need for Speed style), through the heart and streets of Paris. As I watched the video, I noticed my hand tighten on the mouse. The movie looks as though it puts you on the front seat together with the crazy driver. He sweaved like siao to avoid hitting pedestrians, incoming vehicles (yes he drove on the opposite lane too), vehicles in front, on the sidewalk, and quite a handful of vehicles moving in the right-left / left-right directions at traffic junctions (as in all action pack movie car chases, you defintely see at least one scene with big trailer trucks crossing from left to right or right to left at traffic junction, suddenly blocking the road ahead, and the hero sweaving [and swearing] like siao to avoid hitting the truck).

If you like to see how Paris looks like in the morning, or want to be reminded of your glorious days of racing through the street circuits in Dayotona or Need for Speed multiplayer game, that this video is for you!

First house cleaning :)

2005-12-17T22:31:00.000+08:00

This is the first time me and my girlfriend do a clean up of our new home. :)

Yes, our new home is still being renovated, and there are sand and dirt all over our nice clean floors. Yes, there will still be sand and dirt all over our nice floor after we had cleaned it up as next week will still bring the workers back for more fixed up.

But nevertheless, we still proceed with our very first clean job. :)

Firstly, I proceed downstairs to the market to buy some cloth, a pail, a mop, a waterproof broom for sweeping wet floors, and a soft broom for sweeping dry floor.

And then we proceed to do the cleaning! How fun it is, to be able to clean your first house. It feels different when you clean it. Haha, it is simply great!

Here is my girlfriend. This is the first time she is handling a mop! But once she mastered mopping the floor, wow just look at her go! She is a pro! The moment she holds on to the mop, she never lets go! She enjoys it! This is a good sign! That's the way! I hope she will continue to enjoy it all the way!

Baidu vs Google

2005-12-15T15:53:00.000+08:00

Haha, this advertisement is good. Creative!

Only make senses for those who understand Chinese. Very creative twisting of the words. :)

Dong Fa Bu Pai!

Inspiration by Benitez

2005-12-11T13:39:00.000+08:00

I read my friend, Zhigang's blog space, and was so impressed and inspired by one of his blog entry on an inspiration piece on a comment by the coach of Liverpool, Rafa Benitez.

Benitez, a coach from Spainish F.C. Valancia, was the best coach I have known in this world. I was deeply impressed by one of his comments on an excellent coach: "Calm down yourself, and put you into a thinking state; then the details of all aspects will come to your mind; the details will be determinative to your success; now your thoughts and experiences will guide you to control these deatils; finally, you may find that you can change the history." Such a concise and powerful sentence let us feel a great confidence on self hard work.

Further, the great Coach Benitez believes in the romantic matter of "the indeterminism of every match". Let the the past man-made rules go!!! Everything has no need to repeat the past, so a belief toward a fixed so-called "rule" is nosense. Since you put enough hard work, you will get successs undoubtedly. Maybe some bad luck will be accompanied with you, you will still get brights after these bad luck's gone away.

.....

I learned two things. First, we should put enough wise hard work on everything. Second, we should believe our wise work can change a destined history.

(as from Zhigang's blog entry)

This is so motivational! We can all learn something from this. :)

Window Blinds

2005-12-08T16:13:00.000+08:00

This is very good. Download the free application. It allows you to customised your window desktop, menus, dialog box, etc etc.

Quite good, if you are sick of the typical Windows interface.

Steady.

How Wonderful

2005-12-08T16:08:00.000+08:00

Here I come wondering if You’ll be there
How was I to know
You were waiting there for me
Now I know
Your love is stronger than my fears
You came running to hold me in Your arms
To wipe away my tears now I can live again

How wonderful is Your love
How beautiful is Your voice
How marvelous the promises are true
You deserve all the praise
You deserve all the honor and glory
Holy is Your name

Holy Holy Holy is Your name (x 6)

Apple Games!

2005-11-30T00:08:00.000+08:00

This is really great! Apple 2 Games! Going back in the 1980s! The Apple 2 and Super 64 machines!

Back in those days computer games were picking up. Of course they do not have fantastic graphics like the XBox and PS2 type of games, but the storylines for most of the games (apart from those no-brainer types like pacman or space invaders) were fantastic! Some of the storylines and concept were so good that their "great-great grandchildren" versions existed today.

Karateka
The fabulous and steady Karateka. Upon finishing the game so many times, I start to explore how to killed the princess. But everytime she seems to kick first. Anybody playing Karateka before will know what I mean.
The first unarmed combat game that I ever seen. I never knew playing a fighting game on PC is possible until this game. Very very good.

Aztec
Steady pom pi pi, its Aztec! The fantastic adventure game. I spent years playing this game. Very good and exciting! You pulse quicken everyime you fall into a trap, adn the walls starts closing or a dinosaur sudenly appears running towards you
A typical level. Move around in the dungeon, crawling with all sorts of monster, plus some barbarians at the lower depths, as well as a jellyfish or carnivorous plant at the lower levels. Get a dynamite, machette, pistol, bullets, etc. This is the grandfather of all the first person shooters.

Archon and Adept
Archon! The famous game whereby 2 sites were pited against each other. I thought the game concept was very very good! When I played this, this was the first ever game that I knew of tha feature such gameplay. Till today, games still follow this game play.

Adept is the 2nd part of Archon. Apparently, the gameplay is changed as the troops are now summon out of nowwhere and control is only focus on the 4 wizards. Good game.

<<>>

All pictures were from that website (linked) by Axel.

Solid! Highly tempting to get the emulator, although I'll probably not use it on my machine.

Let it snow.

2005-11-18T01:32:00.000+08:00

My first flash application! It is snowing!

Click on it to start a snow storm..., click on it
again to let it snow normally.

It is snowing once again...

Office Action Figures!!!

2005-11-16T23:29:00.000+08:00

Not that I am a geek. (I am not!)

But this is steady pom pi pi! Finally somebody came out with office action figure toys! Those toys makers and designers should target that area,... there is sure to be a market. And a healthy one too! Think of all your customers being office executives and professionals.

Anyway, offices are where all the actions are! Shogun armies collborating and forming coaliations of the willing and unwilling, engaging in frontal attack, deliberate attack, hasty attack, flanking attacks, pre-emptive strike, securing beachheads, coastal defence, deliberate defence, fortification and entrenching defence, etc etc etc....
Ninjas and assasins flying over rooftops at night and in the dark, gathering intelligence, spreading rumours, stealing documents from printers and photocopier, backstabbing, peeping at other colleague's salary figures and pay raise etc etc...

The list goes on! I've seen so many of these things. Will write a novel using some of the stories from some of the most dramatic actions that I may be able to recall.

Selling at ThinkGeek under GeekToys

Haha... anyway I think I am going to buy a set of these.

My Video Services...

2005-11-08T21:16:00.000+08:00

Great! I had successfully tested and deployed some videos to YouTube.

My videos can be found here... and it will definitely grow in size.

I had found this video blogging service by chance and is really impressed by the simplicity of use it offers. Not only can you download and share videos, it provides the HTML code snippet for the embedded player for use in your blog. Nice!

Added some pictures of my tour trip. I never expect some viewer ship on some of my clips. Haha, this seems to get 4.5 stars. So steady.

Now can start my own video broadcast service liao. :)

Good Home-made Video : dancing man

2005-11-06T03:15:00.000+08:00

Hi! I had set my my video services! With my very own YouTube account.

Very soon, I'll be able to bring good documentaries to everybody.

But firstly, I discovered this video. Cool, this guy has been dancing all over the place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=PaluLFfv0EI

I wonder what does he do for a living. A reporter?

Lip Sync Video Episode 4

2005-11-03T00:07:00.000+08:00

Lip Sync video of the 2 Chinese students. Episode 4, complete with the making of some of their scenes. This is really funny!

If you can wait, simply click on the stop button adn let the video load full, then play it altogether. The S.H.E. scene right at the end is very very funny.

Lip Sync MTV on Tong Hua and making of scene

I want it that way MTV

2005-10-31T01:20:00.000+08:00

This is funny. And very very well done.

2 students from China, doing the "I want it that Way" MTV.
They move in sync and the effect is so good!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6739710473912337648&q=chinese&pr=goog-sl

Something to ponder

2005-10-30T23:59:00.000+08:00

I was, and am still, pondering about some words someone had left for me... I'll like to shared it as I believe it is one of those "wise" or logical words that applies to many areas in life and should be of relevance to many.

Today I manage to travel to a part of Singapore that I had seldom gone before, Balestier Road, to look for lighting for my new house. Yes, I had seldom been to Balestier Road! In fact, you probably can count in with your hand. And the stady thing is that, I even got to eat the bak kut teh! Yes, the bak kut teh stall with all the photos of celebrities, both from local and overseas, visiting and dining at the shop.

Anyway, my house designer/contractor bought me to this lighting shop along Balestier. Manage to bought some cool lights. Quite steady.

The contractor/designer I got is quite good (up to now). Sure, all contractors do cheat their cilents here and there, and all their proposed renovation schedules are worthless papers, as they never, ever, dever, meet their stated schedule (come to think of it, most projects in IT are the same). But on the whole, this one is pretty alright. An old and experienced designer/contractor.

But what is enriching today is that he hinted, or para-phased, or comforted, or hua zhong you hua, to me. I mean this guy is a pro. A pro in his line... he had been a designer for ship interiors, shop and offices, and had since moved into designing residential houses. A father of 3, with a supporting wife. This guy seems to have a happy marriage and a healthy family.

Being with him today is like talking to a gypies with his crystal ball. In the shop he suddenly advised that sometimes in the future, I might have to carry-on on decisions that I might not have the heart to do. I take it that he meant carry on with decision for the greater good. A very shrewd people observer... I mean he should had seen some problems I had been facing, or some discouragement that I had been going through, and was able to interpret them. What made it so obvious that he had "just gone off point from the lights buying consultation" and had moved into trying to "hint" something to me might help in life, is that he keep repeating the words, "do you understand", so many times. And so awkwardly.

And then during dinner at the famous shop, he suddenly mentioned a story that he claimed is real. He talked about a woman that he admired tremdeously. Admire as in respect and probably saluting her. Apparently, this malaysian woman started quite well off, married and have everthing possible in life. But unfortuantely, she lost everything, and that was also the time that her kids were young. She lived in a house that was unfit for anybody to live in. Back then, she slogged and try as much to provide for her young kids. Today, her kids had grown up, and she is now a wealthy and successful woman in malaysia.

The designer/contractor then emphasied that in life, there is no ascend or upmoving all the time. The peak will be reached and from then on, the journey will go downwards. To the lowest possible valley. But like the woman, you just need to continue to move on, and after one had gone past that stage, that valley, it will be uphill again. You will see victory in the end. What powerful words! The way he put it, the way he emphasied on the correct points in his story, at the correct time. Again it is so obvious he is para-phrasing again. This time trying to provide comfort. This guy is very steady!

It was quite a refreshing drizzle that he offered to me. I think these words might be able to help others too.

Hosaywood!

2005-10-27T09:57:00.000+08:00

Hosay studios, a local production has produced a local movie clip on street soccer that can be downloaded over the net.

Link at : Hosaywood : Tak Giu

This is really well done. Very local in flavour. With more of such setups, the local content arena will not be so dull anymore. :)

Will be anticipating more great works from them.

Returning to the management series

2005-10-26T21:37:00.000+08:00

Aw... it had been sometime since I last publish the management series. So busy these days. Got a urge to continue and to maintain the steady rhythm of articles on managment mindset and strategy.

Latest article on Fortress Mentality .

Will defintely keep up the steady stream of articles.

Stop them from Storming our Fort

2005-10-08T01:29:00.000+08:00

This game very good! Flash game.

Stickman soldiers coming to atack your fort. Defend your fort! Shoot them, buy rifleman, artillery to stop them. Very good and addictive.

After some time it gets soooo difficult. You will be so kan cheong trying to defend your fort here and there, reloading your rifle.

Very well done. Any stickman animation, game, is always really nice to play.

Maybe Sad

2005-10-05T23:04:00.000+08:00

I've felt loneliness for most of my life. The silent, warm, night light that cast itself on me. Nobody to speak to, nobody to share with. None that really can smile at me with gladness, nobody that really is so proud of who I really am. None that really understands and touch, none that really offers to help, or lighten my breath.

I suspect I will feel loneliness for most of my life. Maybe a continuous stretch here and then, maybe pockets of loneliness scattered over many different instances. Who knows, maybe even burden and heartache, that I had grown to avoid over the many past years. Maybe a majority part of one's life is to be spent alone, even though one is in the midst of people you know. Not much people that you know, knows you. How ironical, people "that you know". And yet you feel that nobody knows you. Just a shadow under the stars. Stars provide light, but yet never enough to cast away the shadow. They are there for you to know that they are there, yet never came down low enough for you to touch.

Maybe it is society's fault, maybe it is the fault of our hectic lives. We don't even really see our friends and loves ones, just an empty sms that is always black and white. With a pathetic emoticon face icon that is 90 degrees rotated to the left. All the best to ubiquitous computing, although this is what that interest me now. Most of the time in our days, we only get to see that half smile in that scheming colleague's face. And one had to make do with convincing ourselves that the colleague is really sincere in all that is said. When I was at school, my friend told me he talked to his shadow, cause he got no one to talk to. I think it is society's fault.

I had so much to share, but no one to share with.
To talk about the little caterpillars that will try to cross the pavement, and then the road, and then pavement again, to get to the other side. Most get squashed along the way, never knew what had gone wrong. Still every morning they try. Contently crawling over the payment amidst your shoes and the high heel shoes of the running passengers, trying to catch the bus that is about to arrive at the bus stop. I think the rate of success on Sundays are higher, cause not much human traffic trying to catch the bus to rush to work.
How God care enough to make the trees such that they crown together, turning those trees along the road and over at the hill, into crowns of golden tops, in the evening sunlight. The scene is majestic and once everyday. You don't get to see this in the desert, or in the city. I don't even see this in Shanghai, just cold, grey, leaves on almost botak trunks.
The little children that played at that little playground, surrounded on all 3 sides by the 4 storey block, and the other side by a badminton court. They think the playground is the biggest theme park of all. Running the entire breath of the playground probably takes an effort, as compare to us who look at the playground with disdain, having seen much bigger playground anytime, anywhere. This will always be etched into their memories, the biggest playground of all, here, even after they grew up. What do I say so, cause I feel this way too. The biggest playground I had seen is in Pandan. I had to cross the sand moat, the concrete, a patch of grass, the width of a concerte path, another small patch of grass, a sand moat, then I reach the swing. My small legs would carry me across from the slide to the swing.

Oh God,
please tell the stars what happened today. Please carry the sms of my heart to them that I care and am looking high and low for another to share. Or am I also a star to them as well. Then let me have propulsion so that I may be able to cruise the space. To visit the milky way and the milo way that had yet to be found. To visit the different stars and be a blessing to them. But how good if I were to have a star for companionship and cruise together in our mission, to heal the various stars and comets, in our endless galaxies.

I missed my soul very much...

Majulah Limpeh!

2005-10-04T00:58:00.000+08:00

Yeah! My pet nation, The Empire of Limpeh, just grown to 7 million strong! Haha, start to build police and military liao. So happy, the description describes my game nation's government type as social democrat. At least not dictators like most of the nations listed on the site.

I saw on the forum, got people design warships and aircrafts, although it is not part of the game! I shall read more about it. Don't quite catch it.

NationStates! My very first virtual nation!

2005-10-02T02:54:00.000+08:00

Hahaha! This is really a great game! Tired of playing virtual pets? "Tamagotchis wannabe" online? Try this! NationStates !!! Now you can be the government for a virtually created nation state! You grow it, make policies, establish foreign relationships, liased with industries, enrich the economy, invest in your military (unfortunaely no war option) and make your little virtual nation successful!!!

Come, and visit my beloved nation, "The Empire of Limpeh". Search for my nation under "The World". A new nation basically starts in the Pacific region and I'll have just moved to the Singapore region! (There's a Singapore region!) Let's be allies!

There is even a Singapore country nation inside inside it! Hahaha, I wonder who created it! National animal, hamster! Reading its national description makes me laugh. Lol....

"I Would not Quit" He Said

2005-09-30T00:56:00.000+08:00

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality...
I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.
In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. "I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...
But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high!"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story.

Beautiful Bamboo image taken with permission from Roger Lewis Sr.Lewis Bamboo Inc. www.lewisbamboo.com/favmoso.html

Away To Austria

2005-09-21T03:21:00.000+08:00

Away to Austria! Yes, the land of "The hills are so alive!"!

See Austria!.

This is my first time in Europe! Aiyoh, so suaku. In fact this is my first time to an ang mo country. But Europe so strange, all the shops close at 7pm! And on Sunday!! That's the most important time for businesses. So un-enterprising! I can't even buy mineral water... hmmm...

Anyway this Austria very nice. The air is so clean! And the weather so cool. The ang mos really don't care about asian crouching on their territory. At least not much discriminate problems here (as in other European country).

Anyway, I attended their conference and tutorial and workshops, and I realised one thing... They are really similar to us! I mean, they can look different, and kept referring themselves to Europe (Eg: "... now in many parts of the world, unlike us in europe..." ), but they still think the same way as us, minus the different in culture. I mean the way they approach a problem, trying to tackle a problem, and the way they try to give ideas (mostly simple, surface level ideas), really are no difference to us.

Anyway, I booked a hotel that looked like a typical, countryside, European, inn. So nice and so cute, the decoration. Very traditionally German, countryside home. I've always been so facinated by logos, yes logos and insignias. And this little hotel's logo is a bird!

That's the entrance to the bar counter. The grill so country..., one big bird on the grill. Because the logo for the hotel is a bird. A dove actually. So you see lots of bird logo around. On the other hand, sharing the same block, the hotel by the side of this is "The Wolf" hotel. The logo is so nice! I shall take a photo of it tomorrow. A howling wolf, superimposed on a white round moon. So nice!

This is where I am checking my mail, and doing my write up now. :)
Heheh an ad-hoc command post, this it.... as you can see, I pluck out their wireless (with permission of course) and use on my laptop.

Hiaz... just as I was about to ciao, now a group of ang mo (an old man, an old lady, and a talk-non-stop man) come into the little internet room and cow-pei-cow-bu. Talk non-stop in loud german like negoitating. So cuckoo..., time to disconnect, go back and sleep, before more of them comes in.

Feelings from stepping into your very own new habitat.

2005-09-08T23:47:00.000+08:00

My new House! Not renovated yet, as we don't need to move in so urgently. We take our time to choose a good designer/contractor and to exhaust all designs and possibilities from the many design company that approaches us. Most just ask us to pay a lump sum upfront, in the first meeting, so that they can "process our application" and proceed with the designing. If in the end, we don't want their services, the sum of money can be turned into cash to purchase some of their merchadise that they are helping their suppliers to peddle.

An age old trick! Who would believe that! It is so fake actually. But that time, when one reject their service, one will probably get the cold shoulder from them, and you'll probably get a lousy piece through your money from these lousy companies. Typical sales person doing a sales.

One designer even funnier, a young girl, like ah lian. Her manicure is so long, and well painted, with diamond ornament on the fingernails. She claims that she is both the designer, and the contractor! I mean take about seeing through her cliams. How can a girl with such fine manicure handle homogenous tiles and talk about laminate wood and such. How can she even pick up a piece of tile and show it to the customer? Her pretty and delicate manicure might break, or her makeup might be stained by the worksite. Who will feel safe, giving such a ah lian like designer control to renovate your home, where you be staying for at least the next 5 years? Such designer is probably just sales personal, doing sales. Draw a bit here and draw a bit there, and there... your house is complete! Renovating work? Not my problem, ask the workers over there.

But anyway, as I walk around trying to picture how it will look like when the house is fully renovated, fully complete, fully filled up, I came to the trusty bathrooms. Heheh, tearing open the protective covering of the common bathroom in the kitchen, I had a good release.

I will want to say, being the first to use a toilet (especially your own toilet) for a big release for the first time is simply.... priceless!

This felling of using something, starting a chain reaction, moving into a new realm, is simply amazing! I will definietly want my little girlfriend (my future wifey) to experience this feeling too. The Kai Mu Dian Li, the pioneering feeling. Therefore I leave the bedroom toilet for her to be the first to use. That will be use only after the renovation work is completed.

She will then have that... Priceless... feeling.

The Little Girl who was Forgotten by Everybody

2005-09-06T23:00:00.000+08:00

This animation clip was quite well done. I'm quie touched by it. The little girl looked so sad. The part on wishing to the star for a friend brought back so much memories. It was so touching.

The Little Girl who was Forgotten by Everybody

Thanks to A Crunchy Green Apple for the link. Found the link at your wonderful blog.

Online Game

2005-09-05T23:20:00.000+08:00

There seems to be an increasing amount of free online game on the web these days. I have received so much links from my frens and colleagues. I decide to write an account to link to all this game sites.

MMORG Game site

The ever popular runescape! An online, 3D world RPG, with numerous mission quests whereby you built your own character and riches. Fantasic game. Free for all, unless you want to access the members only areas and quests.
www.runescape.com

Flash Game Detective/Mystery

Samorost. One of the best game! Created by a very creative developer. The graphics is stunningly matched and stiched together. Look at those textures! How the developer stitch those textures together is fantastic! The idea also very good. Gives you a out of the world, in a strange land, "Myst" like feeling. 2 thumbs up!
http://nlp.fi.muni.cz/~xsvobod4/amanita/samorost/intro.swf

11 Somerset. No not Somerset MRT. This is a TV series, detective settings, sometimes eerie, but very interesting gameplay. First mission sees you hunting down the parts of the top secret PDA that some professor had built and assemble the PDA for the subsequent missions. The missions sees you taking pictures with your state of the art PDA, as analytical samples for evidence to solve the mystery. Recommended.
http://www.11somerset.com/jeu/

The Goat and the Grey Fedora. This game very solid. The characters and objects are 3D rendered. With good animation scenes all fit expertly into the flash game framework. Very good game. Can even save and load. But currently I am stuck, seems like no walkthrough on the web yet.
http://www.otterarchives.com/bounty2/index.html

Dr Stanley House. Chinese game. The mystery house game. The graphics are drawn, but I find the movement a bit disorientation, and keep cliking the direction to go back. I am stuck at the dog there.
http://www.atfriday.com/GameZone/200549203002/20055149302449945.swf

Crimson Room. Steady Pom Pi Pi! This game really good. This guy very steady. The graphics is simple, but the game play is very good. You basically got to figure out everything yourself. Including your goals and why are you there. The music will put you on suspense mode. Very good. Somemore I complete liao!
http://www.fasco-csc.com/works/crimson/crimson_e.php

Viridian Room. The 2nd part off the very steady Crimson Room. This one is slightly scary. With the music that gives you the suspense and scary feeling. Very good! Again I complete liao!
http://www.fasco-csc.com/works/viridian/index_e.php

Flash Game Arcade

Sobics. Amazing Korean game! Tetris like, but better! And very very addictive. I want to stop at round... errr... 5 or 6. But ended up playing 3 more rounds then stopped. Very very good. You should try when you are bored or stressed up at work, and don't want to crack you brain solving mystery games or scare yourself by playing horror games. Please try a few rounds.
http://sang.trap17.com/g4m3s/sobicsschool.htm

Flash Game Horror

The House. Most eerie game that I had seen. Good setting, good sound, good atmosphere. Scary to the extreme. The only game that is so real, so scary. Gives you the creep. Don't play alone and at night.
http://members.thai.net/sinthai/thehouse.htm

Stones of Amara. Si beh scary. But not as scary as The House. Again the haunted house type of game. I quit halfway. Too much suspense, anyway I tried it a bit only. But think it is quite good.
http://www.dragongamez.com/stoneofanamara.htm

Exmortis. Horror game. The you-are-lost-and-sees-a-rundown-house-in-front, type of game. Scary and good effects. Good eerie sound. Quite scary. Good story line.
http://uploads.ungrounded.net/189000/189227_exmortis.swf

I can cook : Fish Porridge

2005-09-04T12:47:00.000+08:00

I can cook. Besides cooking instant noodles and cup noodles, and a failed attempt at frying an omlette, I had tried fried bee hoon, with the supervision of the chief cook, my mother. It was quite successful.

I was on MC on 1 September actually. As the evening comes, I went on to prepare my first solo dish, fish porridge.

Steps on preparing the fish porridge...

1) First the ingredients were prepared. Namely fish slices.
2) I filled 3/5 cup of rice and pour in into a pot of boiling water, about 3/4 of the cooking pot.
3) I cut 2 slices of ginger and threw them into the rice with water as they boil together.
4) As the solution starts to boil, I prepare the fish slices, cutting of the bones from the fish slices.
5) After a looong looong time, when the rice was cook and starts to turned soggy, I threw in the fish slices. Plus, a prawn (the temptation was there to throw in lots of other stuff apart from the fish.)
6) I sliced and threw in a takpok as well. Mistake! The taopok starts to break up and goes all over the porridge.
7) You have to keep stirring the mixture so that it does not stick to the bottom of the pot. I threw off water and replenish water as well.
8) As the mixture starts to become soggy (Like a fish porridge now). I switch off the fire and put in the fish sauce (heu lor). I stirred and taste and put some more till it tasted just now.
9) Next I dump in lots of pepper, plus some olive oil.
10) Tada! The fish porridge is ready! The porridge tasted really sweet (sweet as not in sugar, but as in the taste of fish) due to the extermely generous amount of fish slices that I had used in the fish porridge.

Girl's Third Dish

2005-09-04T12:38:00.000+08:00

A belated publication of my dear's third dish.

My girlfriend had prepared her third dish. A salad mixed with potatoes and beans (the heinz baked beans that was once adopted by the army combat rations). Sunflower seeds and eggs. Quite nice. I ate nearly everything. The lectuce and the salad was a bit soggy, due to the syrup sauce from the baked beans.

But everything was quite good. \(-_-)/

She'll be a good cook as her kungfu keeps on improving. :)

Beloved

2005-09-04T01:09:00.000+08:00

Us, busy Singaporeans, worked a lot. Most of the Singaporeans men and women I know of have work demands that takes up almost all of their time on weekdays. Unless a couple is staying together, most of the time, chances are that the couple will not be able to find the time to be together on weekdays.

Today I had a good time wth my dearest girlfriend. I went to her house again as usual, when we were out together in the western area. We had some good time in each other's company. I took on as her armchair (with hands and legs on both side of her, and her leaning on me) for her to lean on as we read a book. She always like to lean on my tummy cushion.

When it was time for me to catch the last taxi home before the extra after-mid-night charge, she turned around and kissed me on my oily face so much.

I suddenly felt so loved. I feel so fortunate. Somebody loved me so much. All the hurts and stress in life seems nothing much and even meaningful as I feel loved. It is such a wonderful feeling. So delicate, so cherishable, so warm and mellow, so nice and adorable. So meaningful and fortunate.

Thank God for my cute little girlfriend. In the Bible, it says that a good wife is from the Lord. That means a good partner is actually a gift from our loving God. God loves us so much that no words can ever described it. He gave each of us partners in our lifetime, to walk together through high and low, as He guides us like a lamp in the dark. Like 2 trees planted on high ground, collecting sunlight and rainwater together. Growing taller and sprouting much leaves and fruits as time goes on. I pray that God will bless us, and all couples forever.

Scariest Flash Game

2005-09-02T01:23:00.000+08:00

Wah lau! I kia ka lau sai (actually I yesterday diarrohoea, so MC) when I played this game. Not only that I sent it to all my frens and colleagues and they all quit halfway, only 1 guy manage to go through all.

The House is a flash game. A mouse point and click game like the Myst series. This is very well done. The atmosphere, the music, the black and white with occasional white speck gives a look and feel of an old movie.

Try it. I think it is great. You got to click it a few times, or sometimes repeat a move a few times for the game to trigger forward.

5 Star : +++++

The Chronicles of Know : Chapter 1

2005-08-31T00:43:00.000+08:00

Once upon a time, in a white space somewhere nearby, at a time frame not long ago, there lived a stick man known as Know. Know was a typical stick man, in that he had a circle as his head, a stick as his body, and 4 more sticks as his limbs (now we shall not cover any other additional stick, any additional ones are beyond the scope of this Chronicles...heheheh).

Know led a very active life. He went backpacking up the shadow mountains, he practised kungfu, he ran marathons, he skydived, and he even blogged!

But Know was not happy. It seems that there was something missing in his life. Something that he should have done but he hadn't did it yet. Something that he should be, but he wasn't yet. Something special, perhaps not big, perhaps not significant to the world around him. But something that will be precious to him. Something that only he, could understand its true value. That when revealed, will tell him everything he wants to know.

To be continue...

Are Singaporean men weak?

2005-08-28T22:42:00.000+08:00

Is the average Singaporean (Sgp) man a weakling? A smart, but low confidence, low self image guy who prefers to either be with himself alone, or to wash his low self with lots of superficial friendships and relationships here and there, so as not to faced up to the low self image problem?

Why would I say that sgp men are weak?

Smart, but afraid to show

True, I understand that most of the average, man-in-street, Singaporean men has good to impressive intelligence and education level. The average sgp man is smart, adaptive, and really hardworking. When called upon to do a job, or to perform an almost impossible task, the sgp man normally is, careful at the initial phase, test the water here and there, and then test once or twice to test his concepts, before putting his foot into the task and exploring, and adjusting for the best pace to take in and run the race. Once in the race, the sgp man will be the most hardworking of the lot, working rain or shine, and even when he is sick.

Unfortunately, given all this impressive qualities, the sgp man has a weakness. He doesn't really feel comfortable to articlate his qualities, his findings, in public. Yes, he may be good at showing and proofing it to his frens and immediate superiors, and even a whole boardroom of skeptic executives, but not to a world wide audience. He lack the charisma, the politics needed in charming the world, the strength to go on when his team members, or fellow support group, or even his boss, decide to pull out and leave halfway (which happens quite a number of time). Faced with his counterpart from the US, China, India, the sgp man will lose out in this round (That's why you don't really see inventions and new breakthrough coming from sgp, but hey most of the concepts that took the world by storm were already thought of by many Singaporeans.).

The beaten down underdog

This has got really to do with our culture here in sgp. The average, man in the street, sgp man is beaten down by the demands and authority, that weighs so heavily on him.

Right from the start of his life, the sgp boy is impressed with the I-expect-you-to-do-as-you-are-told expectation. This way of operating in life, the fixed path that the sgp boy should go, designed by some others right from the start, who might not necessary be the best intentions for him. The teacher is right, even though the sgp boy got wrongly punished; the parent is right and is never to be blamed; the society's perception of him and what is expected of him, and what is not expected of him, as a school student, must always be taken into account; the inflexible boss is right and should never be said 'no' to. The society's perception of him as an employee is crucial, and its expectation and red tapes should never be broken.

With all these weighing down on the poor guy, how can the sgp man think of lifting his head up in life? It is like prison to the sgp man, it restrict his actions, then limits his thoughts, and burden his life. The frustrations of not able to tell the emperor (in this case, refers to these needless burdens) off, not possible to shake off the stupidity of having to live life in a preset path, at a preset pace, that was presribed for him. But rather, for the sake of survival, and to stay in line with society's narrow viewpoint, to continuously apraise the emperor (feed more fuel to these needless burdens), even though the emperor is really not wearing any clothes.

Not Aggressive to live life or to live against other people

The typical sgp man is afraid of living a life for himself, or living it up to his satisfaction. It is the if-you-are-happy-then-you-are-not-serious-enough attitude that is embedded onto him in the early years of his life, by in general, the society around him.

The society seems to dwell on this silly, narrow viewpoint, that associate personal enjoyment, satisfaction, or ven just to lead a happy life, with not being serious about life. A person that is happy everyday, will be viewed with suspicion and skepticism.
The average skeptic will say : "... perhaps he is not working hard enough? Playing a fool... can't be trusted with real serious work... immature... childishness... no responsibility... not willing to suffer like us who are alway so perturbed, so stressed out, so negative."

Most sgp man that I know of, will have, on at least a few occassions, faced up to such skeptism, rudely and inappropriately slapped onto their backs. To be labelled is one thing, but to be rejected and cast out by the society through sterotyping, using the typicall narrow field scope, is really disheartening

Hmmm... a long post, I didn't realise there can be so many points to ramble about Whatever it is, this is a new generation, a new era. Lead forth by people, who dare to dram, dare to venture, and dare to live (yes, I have also seen the change beginning to kick in). I hope One Day, this yoke on the Sgp Man shall be broken, and he can have the confident to spread his wings and soar high and far in life.

This Wedding Even Nicer

2005-08-21T01:00:00.000+08:00

As I was moving around the island yesterday, I chanced upon somebody's

wedding, or rather, somebody's setup for a wedding. It was on this huge ship!
And right at the top deck, near the pool, is this wedding setup. I decided to
take a short with the wedding cake.

And yes, I've found a school girl outfit and had dressed the avatar in the outfit.

Both cake and avartar look so beautiful...

New Blog! Kopi Reporting Live!

2005-08-15T01:10:00.000+08:00

Yes, I'll just started a new blog. The adventures of my character in SecondLife.

I'll have decided to use my character as a broadcasting journalist, reporting life of the events and conducting some interviews of the fellow players inworld. Heheheh, this will be fun.

Hmmm... but I ma not sure if I have the time.....

IKEA Hotdog!

2005-08-13T14:30:00.000+08:00

Went to IKEA to look at their furniture, naturally, I am drawn to
their crowded hotdog stall after the stint.

IKEA's hotdog! Simply the best!

The hotdog is so soft, so springy in texture, that is irresistable!
The first bite is so soft, and the hotdog is so springy in the
subsequent chews. The bread is soft, white and fresh.

Plus you can help yourself to the mustard, chilli, and tomato ketchup
squeeze at the counter.

Wow!

Overall effect : Priceless feeling.

Turf Fight

2005-07-31T12:46:00.000+08:00

I never failed to enjoy a slient laugh, a chuckle, within me when I see groups of people fighting over one another, in territorial and turf disputes.

Years ago, when I was slightly younger, I lived in the central part of the island, in an area know as Bukit Timah 7 mile. As a young teenager then, I was kind of an observant person of the things of the world, happening around me. One of my hobbies seems to be looking and analysing and brainstorming and predicting, on what goes on in the minds of people, and why they do things.

Bukit Timah 7 Mile
Now Bukit Timah 7 mile, is a wonderful place. A town in the middle of everywhere. It used to be a strategically located Chinese village, where farming was the order of the day. It sits in the middle of the road, connecting the Northern parts to the City, right in the South. To this day, the little town still serves this purpose, though much to a lower extend, as highways connect most corners of the island. The little town had sprawn into a hub connecting the housing estates of the west, as well as being a middle to higher income residential area itself.

Now one particular building that I used to walk by everyday, on the way to the bus stop downstairs, is the old shop/residential building next door to my block. A kind of run down, 1980s building, with old fashion white mosiac covering the exterior, and limited private residential on the 3rd and 4th floor. Right on the first floor was the typical toto (lottery) betting shop, aah beng car repair and modification shops and coffeeshops full of ah sengs. A typical building where "hooligans" and street roughs of all sort seems to frequent and gather, with the place typically crowded with people hanging around the urine smelled corridors and walkways; and cars honking each other as they compete for limited carpark space; in the hot, bright, windless, typical noon day in Bukit Timah. The temperature rises drastically at noon, and is amplified by the white broad concrete walkways around that building.

Cat Territory
Now I notice that the area boost the record number of cats in Bukit Timah. These felines, are the culprits for the urine smelled corridor that one will catch as one descend into the dark stairwell at the lowest floor, as one walks pass the occasional flower pot/ flower bed, etc.

These cats, marked their territories with their urines and faces. The smell meaning to other cat groups, that "they own the place". Seeing groups of these ahbeng and ahseng cats, lingering around the place seems to be the norm of the day, with the occassional sight of a rotting dead cat killed in the latest brawl.

Living there, I witness and heard countless cat fights, screaming a high pitch meow as they charge into one another, sometimes many to one, sometimes many to many. Noisly and yet sensational at night, as I used to study till the late hours through the night. It is common to see a cat taking off at full speed, dashing across the empty road at night, with half a dozen other cats chasing at breakneck speed.

I concluded then that Bukit Timah 7 Mile was a prized turfland for the cats.

Gang Fights

As I was in an average, neighbouring, but fast declining school, with a growing bunch of students being recruited into secret society gangs then, naturally, I'll have 1 or 2 schoolfriends who are in gangs and are even in rival gangs. A friend once told me that the building seems to be the headquaters to a local secret society gang whereby the gang's "CEO" and his "board of directors", did their everyday business. It is common to catch a glimpse of section group leaders reporting to battalion group leaders at the coffeeshops while waiting for the bus, and sometimes even seeing some of my frens following their leaders on illegal money extortion activies at the shops around the area.

Once I heard a rival secret society had invaded the area. Staging a takeover, much like what bush and his merry man had done to Iraq. The whole area was fortify as the gang people rush to and fro, like the crew of a destroyer during battle stations, as they prepare for war with the invaders.

Naturally I would pressume that "special forces" and "double O sevens" from the invading gang would be conducting recon and pathfinding operations for the main force in that area.

Fights were then common in the area. With the police increasing their patrols all the time.

I concluded then that Bukit Timah 7 Mile was a prized turf for the gangsters.

Politician Fights

Then came one of the year (I can't remember which) whereby the election was held, and Bukit Timah was contested. The whole place was literally turned into a fairy land with political parties banners, photo potraits of politicians, banners, and why-you-must-vote-for-us-campaign marketing publications. Politicians with the typical flower garland walking around for the first time shaking hands with puzzling people as they compete fiecrely with each other for Bukit Timah.

Again I concluded that Bukit Timah 7 Mile must be a prized turf for the politicians.

Analysis
Strange yet funny! Puzzling yet ironical! Over this piece of urine smelled, hot, stinging polluted air, with old fashion buildings, vulgar mouthed ahbengs, and half-developed plots,... so many souls were locked into combat with one another, planting flags and claims, and fighting for control. So much money, sweat (or urine) and time had been poured into the area, with little "return of investment" to be extracted out from it.

And the amazing thing is that these turf fighters are only after the throats of their counterparts, in their same tier! Cat fight cat; gangster fight gangster; politicans fight politicians. Heheheh, the rival cat gang, will in no way go against whichever secret society gang that is coming into control of the area, and the gang wouldn't give a damm which cat ahbeng is hanging around their area! Amazing!

I then decided then that when I grow up (finish with my studies and go into the workforce that is), I'm going to put my life goals, my values, time, etc, etc... into areas and activities that is based on more significant values, tangible and rewarding returns, which will ultimately contribute to the goal of a well meaning and abundant life.

Modern Day Scarecrow

2005-07-30T14:41:00.000+08:00

Yah the blog is armed with a Urine Detector. Don't play-play.

Everytime one took a lift, one will sure to see this sign, "haiz"... so sad, another one of the failed restriction gadget. The scare system thing, that will fail over time, as people (in this case, little kids) will understand and outsmart the system.

Well but at least it does cut down on such urinal cases in the lifts...

Anyway, the lifts at my block are always flooded with urine and rubbish, at least a few times in a month.

Sound the Bugle

2005-07-29T01:41:00.000+08:00

Inspiring song by Bryan Adams. From the motion anmiation
Spirit, Stallion of the Cinammon

"Sound The Bugle"

Sound the bugle now - play it just for me
As the seasons change - remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on - I can't even start
I've got nothing left - just an empty heart

I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me - lead me away...
Or leave me lying here

Sound the bugle now - tell them I don't care
There's not a road I know - that leads to anywhere
Without a light feat that I will - stumble in the dark
Lay right down - decide not to go on

Then from on hight - somewhere in the distance
There's a voice that calls - remember who your are
If you lose yourself - your courage soon will follow

So be strong tonight - remember who you are
Ya you're a soldier now - fighting in abattle
To be free once more -Ya that's worth fighting for

You Hua Zhi Suo

2005-07-28T00:46:00.000+08:00

You Hua Zhi Suo at Suntec city lobby, outside Carrefour.

Girl's Second Dish!

2005-07-28T00:43:00.000+08:00

Wah my girlfriend just cooked her second dish for me! :)

Is a cereal mix with milk and eggs. A great improvement so far! The first dish was a plate of instant noodles, with half the packet of seasoning.

Top View : Doesn't it look great?

Perspective View : Steady. Can smile, smile a bit.

Jump Boat

2005-07-27T00:32:00.000+08:00

Sian, I am only 3 months into my new job. A contract position in a prestigous organisation. Just got a prospective new path with a company. To do 3D stuff. I like that job, and somemore the post they offer is a long term permanent employment, of course no such thing as long term these days (read my earlier articles), but seems to be better.

Don't know if I got the opportunity, should I jump boat after 3 month since that job is a long term job. Now I have to consider all the housing loans and future family cost that will commence pretty soon.

Working and trying to live in Singapore, certainly has a lot of liabilities.
Ties you down so much that you barely have any resources left to live a meaningful life. No wonder so many people migrate.

Sian.

London hit by terrorist again.

2005-07-21T22:21:00.000+08:00

Shit man, the news just reported that London was hit by terrorist again.

There were 4 bombs this time.

Yahoo UK news.

This is sad.

We are Family

2005-07-21T02:00:00.000+08:00

Tong Xing Yuan or what?

Racism in Japan

2005-07-20T22:15:00.000+08:00

Japan, the modern hypercity of cheap inventions, innovative food, crazy fashion, anime, and the tikam type of toy in the box..., is actually one of the most racism society in the world.

True, true, there have been many reports in recent times, about the dark side of their society. Behind the "aligato", the smile and bow, is the ugly, pretentious, gossiping, status conscious, apettite to shun and look down on other races, die-hard attitude.

Most friendly write-up by a foreign exchange student on the racism.

Most Asians, and some Westerners will realised that the Japanese viewed themselves superior than the other races, on this 3rd rock from the Sun. In domestic dealings, in business deals, in treatment, in government services, the gaijin (or unwanted barbarians) are always undercut, treated badly. This is especally even more true for fellow Asian races.

From the Second World War to the modern day, Japan is unrepentant and had never admitted that they are in the wrong. They killed kids and babies, subject civilians to chemical and biological tests. In fact, if Bush wants to talk about Weapon of Mass Destruction and can't find them in Iraq, Japan has it all. Yet they murmur and raise voices about atomic bombs and the hardship their population faced when they were subjected to fireboming. Silly and really Hypocritical! And they "couldn't understand" why the populations of fellow Asian countries held protest against the Japanese policies.

This Japanese expatriate that I learn hobby-kit modelling from, still has the cheek to say the Nanjing Massacre is a communist fabrication, and without Japan conquering Asia, Asia will still be backward and under the angmos (westerners). Freak! The current People's Republic of China weren't even formed when the Nanjing Massacre happened back then. And how about the Massarce in Singapore? Those are live people! Somebody's father, somebody's sons, somebody's wife, somebody's monther. Are they impling on that the average Asian is stupid and couldn't stand up? They are Asians too! That means they are stupid? The peanuts conspiracy again? Give peanuts attract Monkeys?

Globalisation in Japan? Yar they have the placement and the technology long time ago... but what is it you say...? Globalisation?... global-isation... global-realisation...!

Well in the current society context... it is still a long long way for them. Definitely way after China, Korea, ASEAN, etc. And in this upcoming "Global Realisation" (much like cooperation without borders kind of deal), they will be left behind, until they really are able to understand that all races and civilisation are actually on an equal footing. It is only Opportunity that presents herself to different people at different time. And when they failed to grasp it, Opportunity will probably have left their doorstep and moved into other's courtyard.

My dear Aligato-san, Every runner starts at the same straight line.