Help Find The Killers!

What kind of animals would do this to these 3 poor Shih Tzus? And what kind of system that allows dogs can be micro-chiped but not registered?

SINGAPORE: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said three dogs which were apparently abandoned at Pasir Ris have died. It is appealing for information on the dogs that were found by a member of the public at an open field in the Lorong Halus Road/Pasir Ris Farmway area. Despite a weekend of intravenous feeding, the two female and one male Shih Tzus died on Monday. SPCA said that the dogs were weak and had heavily-matted fur and long nails when they were brought in on December 2. They were also suffering from cataract or glaucoma. SPCA said evidence suggests they were breeding dogs that were microchipped but not registered in any of the three main databases in Singapore: the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, SPCA and PET-CALL. The micro-chip numbers are: 981 098 101 093 394, 702 033 330 000 634 and 458 098 500 068 445. Those with information can call SPCA at 6287-5355 extension 9 or email to inspector@spca.org.sg

DBS New Secuirty Token

Why can't DBS just use the phone for receiving the security pin rather than make us carry that secuirty token around? ANd to make matter worse, they have now increase the size of that token. Now I have to find a bigger space to carry this chunk of thing around. Hiaz....

SINGAPORE: Banks in Singapore are getting added security for online banking. DBS will replace its existing security tokens for online banking with a new device which is more secure. The new device comes in the form of a keypad. Pressing the bottom right button on the keypad will initiate a security function similar to the current token. But, come the third quarter next year, new capabilities will be activated. For high-risk transactions like transferring large amounts of money, users will key in the account numbers on the device. That improves security, because the device receives the numbers and not the computer as it is now. The device, though more secure, is more complicated in some ways. Sandeep Lal, managing director and head of Consumer Banking Group eBusiness at DBS Bank, said: "Right now, there are several steps that users will have to take...if you do a third party payee addition, you have to wait for the SMS, you have to register your SMS, etc. "In some ways, this (new device) is easier. It's one device, you put it in and you get a one-time password (OTP), which is linked to the third party payee addition... You do need to press different buttons, but we will be educating customers on that and making sure that it is very intuitive." DBS will issue the new device to nearly 1.7 million users this month. Currently, DBS has 165,000 logins and half a million Internet banking transactions every day. Its mobile banking now has nearly 380,000 users after being launched 20 months ago. DBS said the cost of creating the infrastructure is "into the millions." Despite the price, technology analysts said going online is more cost-effective for banks. Walter Lee, CEO of e-Cop Group, said: "It's actually very economical from the perspective of saving costs for the bank. Every time someone goes to the bank, they take up 10-15 minutes of the bank teller's time, which is cost to the bank. As more customers go to the physical bank office and bank branches, their cost goes up dramatically." Other local banks UOB and OCBC said they will implement transaction signing by next year in line with MAS requirements.

Cats In The Cradle

This song was played on the radio on my way home from late night work. I heard the song before but never bother with the lyrics until that night. It connected with me as I feel I'm in the same situation as the singer. Due to my work commitments, I have spent very little time with Dylan n Aiden. It just scares me that they may be getting further from me as they grow up. I believe this is situation with most parents in Singapore. our work eat up most of the time and whatever is left is shared between our children n tending to life issues, which is also one of the reasons for the lack of update on here. Those so called gurus always say just managed and plan your time. Hell yeah, it is always easier said than done. Well I have said enough, if you don't mind, I like to go and spend some time with my boys now.

Finally Got My Gingerbread

Finally manage to upgrade my Galaxy Ace to Gingerbread 2.3.4. For all of Samsung's boasting of the ability to upgrade their phones with their Kies PC suite, turns out it only works for phones bought from Singtel (Another reason to consider switching to the red umbrella). Made a big complaint to Samsung and their answer is ask me to go down to their service centre to do the upgrade. Huh... Siow, waste of time.

Luckily, some dudes over at HardwareZone forum found a trick to switch the phone from M1 or Starhub to Singtel, allowing the upgrade to happen. Only downside is the process will factory default the phone. So I did that and got my Gingerbread, lost quite a few data (Dammit) and have to reconfigure everything again (Shit...). The phone looks more responsive now, but will monitor the battery usage for any improvements. 

I don't know about Singtel phones, but according to those who did upgrading through the service centre, their M1 or Starhub phones are factory default. Feels like it's a way to turn off users from getting new firmware. I hope this is the first and last time I am upgrading this phone. Restoring and re-configuring it can be a drag. 

Things I Learn Today: Watch Before You Sit

Check the toilet bowl cover before sitting on it. A cracked toilet bowl cover can be a real pain in the ass.

Stay Hungry Stay Foolish

RIP: Steve Jobs

It came as both shocking and surprised when news of Steve Jobs passing away was announced, especially one day after the announcement of the iPhone 4GS. When I first saw the news, I thought is this some kind of sick joke. Then the news start flowing in... I believe the internet will be flooded by tributes about the man by now, so I shall try not to add anymore to that statistic and keep my thoughts about him simple here.

Hate him or love him, you got to agree that this guy more or less recreate how the way we live. Never an inventor, more like someone who take other's ideas, improving and simplifying it and making it user friendly. Removing all the geeky or technical stuff, so that anyone who is clueless in tech stuff can pick up the gadgets and use it without much problem. "We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas," Jobs said in an interview for the 1996 PBS series "Triumph of the Nerds." Most important of all for me, he make it look cool to own an Apple product. 

Recent events have indicate Steve's health has been detoriating. Stepping down as CEO of Apple and handling of the role to Tim Cook, as his choosen successor, is the most obvious hint. But the world never expect it to come this fast. There is a suspicion in me that the release of the iPhone 4GS is sort of a parting gift to Apple charismatic leader. A dedication to the person who transform the company into the today's  leading brand. As my colleague put it, iPhone 4GS stands for iPhone 4(for) Steve. 

How Apple will march on from now is unknown, but the world will miss the "one more thing" phrase from the annual Apple MacWorld Conference. You can find out about Jobs from his Stanford commencement speech from 2005 here.

Where is the iPhone 5?

 

Where is my iPhone 5?

Update: Wake up this morning and found out that Apple visionary founder, Steve Jobs, have just passed away. How irony that he passed away right after iPhone 4GS was announced.

So much for the long wait. After all the speculations and delays, we more or less got back the same thing. If you still don't get what am I hinting at, I am talking about the release of the iPhone 5 iPhone 4GS. Yes, there is no iPhone 5, just 4GS. Looks the same externally without minor upgrades internally, making many to feel that the S in 4GS might stand for Same. Oh... Siri too. Are we that brainless that we need a phone to advice us what to do? 

The new iPhone makes me wonder, has Apple start to slacken? Are they moving down the usual path? The path where once a company becomes too successful, they start to be less innovative and make minor upgrades to keep the business going? Just look at Motorola, they once riding on the waves of their successful Razr phones. But their lack of effort to come out with better products, concentrating on little changes in every new releases, led to their downfall. Motorola is still around, but no longer the No. 2 mobile phones maker in the world. Just making phones using OTHER people's platform. 

I say for all the secrecy Apple like to have on their new products, this time it backfires on them. Nevertheless, the iPhone 4GS will still be a hot seller. As for me, I'm at a crossroad of whether should I upgrade to iPhone 4GS when my contract ends next March or wait for iPhone 5, if it will ever come out, and continue to use my Galaxy Ace. 

Showing Their Musical Side

My One Week Trip of HK

Just came back from a trip to Hong Kong with my side of the family. Yes, it’s a trip rather than a vacation or holiday for me. A tiring trip if you ask me. The weather is hot there, even worse than in Singapore in my opinion. And who say it's cooling in Hong Kong this time of the year?

Carrying two boys, weighing 8kg each, around is no joke. On top of that, we still have to backpack their milk and diapers. Not that we did not bring a stroller. But the stroller unfriendliness of the Hong Kong MTR and environment make the stroller almost redundant. In the end, the stroller acts more like a trolley for our backpacks.

As for the trip itself, it is a roller-coaster ride. We hop to Macau and Zhuhai in between. In Macau, we visited the famous St Ruins to take some been there done that photos, buy some almond biscuits and egg tarts and that's it. After all, it's a gamblers' paradise, nothing much for non-gamblers like us. We have lunch at an authentic Cantonese restaurant that serves steam egg with fish intestine, a dish where Mum used to cook for Dad and me. Nice memory for the father and son ;)

We hop over Zhuhai from Macau for a one day trip. Nothing exciting to talk about from me. I can see Angie obviously enjoy the shopping there at the famous underground shopping center. Much better than Shenzhen I say. Not so sleazy and much cleaner. They also don't smoke in the shopping center, making the air more breathable. Oh, the seafood feast at the end of day trip is really worth it. $150 RMB and the dishes kept coming in till we can't take it anymore. Really worth it.

Back at Hong Kong, we did not go to Disneyland or Ocean Park. Sons too young to appreciate it. We took the cable car to Lantau Island to visit the Big Buddha statue. Shop a bit at the famous Woman's Street night market. Best moment is the breakfast at 妹记 porridge. The porridge is solid and the fish skin dish is really a nice surprise.

Overall, there are not a lot of enjoyable moments for me. It's a good experience and nice opportunity for my side of the family to be close to the boys. One final note, must better estimate the amount of milk powder to bring in a kiasu way.

Who Will I Vote For President?

A simple analysis by my sister-in-law, which I agree.

1. Dr Tony Tan: Too PAP extreme
2. Tan Jee Say: Too Opposition extreme
3. Tan Kin Lian: Too suspicious :P

That will leave with? On second thought, I might throw in a blank vote. 6 more days to decide.

IBM Reveal First Generation of Skynet

IBM today reveal a CPU that mimics the human brain. First we have the BigDog, now this. Life mimics friction? When the CPU gets self-aware, will it be the beginning of the end of mankind? Or the next evolution?

Pain In My Ace

Unless you are planning to buy their top end flagship mobile phones, don't ever consider Samsung brand. Their low and mid-tier product totally sucks big time. Build is crap and support is total non-existent. I recently a Samsun Galaxy Ace as my iPhone 3G is slowing to a halt due to IOS4 (Thanks Steve Jobs, great idea of forcing iPhone 3G owners to buy your new iPhones). Turns out it's a totally different set of nightmare, maybe slightly worse. The battery life of the Galaxy Ace is downright horrible. X-p

Imagine this, I went home at 7pm with my phone fully charged. Once I got home, I left it on my desk until next morning. In the morning, it shows battery level is less than1 20%! WTF! What is it doing at night? Share its idle power over the internet to do folding calculations? A check on the net shows that I'm not the only one experiencing this. And damn Samsung don't even bother to look into it Android Gingerbread has been out for so long and there is no update of the Ace to it. So far, only Samsung Galaxy S phones have this upgrade.

This is not the first time I have experience poorly design phones from Samsung. My father-in-law used to own one that SMS to the wrong people even though the input contact name is correct. -_-" And when I brought the phone back for service, they don't have a software fix for it. Major FUBAR! This is my last time getting a Samsung phone. Once iPhone 5 is out and my bloody M1 contract is up (that's another pain), I am switching to Singtel and back to become Steve Job's bitch.

Moments That They Really Brighten Our Day

The Little Things We Have To Give Up

No more lazy afternoon naps
No more quiet meal times
No more waking up at 11am on a Sunday morning
No more dashing out for late nite supper or movies

These are some of the little things we have to let go from our lives. Gone are the days when we can go ahead and do whatever we like. Now whatever we do, we have to put the two of them into the equation. Not that I'm complaining, somehow every now and then we do yearn for such things. But then again, when you look at them, you know everything is worth it

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Learning to Throw Rubbish

The boys are learning more and more day by day. Came back from work today and they show me that they know how to throw rubbish and understand the meaning when their mother told them so. Ok, it may not be a big deal for some but it's a milestone for us. Arm with this new skill, we will no doubt have more things to watch out and take note of, like checking the rubbish bin when we clear it to make sure there are no "invalid" items in it. ^_^

Too Small Also No Good

Whoever the creators/designers are, why do they want to create the Micro-USB connector? It is so damn difficult to connect to a Micro-USB port. I recently changed to the Samsung Galaxy Ace Android phone after my patience ran out on my iPhone 3G (yes the one without the S) sluggish performance with IOS4. The problem now is Samsung handphone uses the Micro-USB connectors which is damn difficult to plug in. I always end up trying to figure the orientation and alignment. Yeah, I am that stupid. Yes, it's small and slim but at least they should make it in such that there is a clear distinguish between either side mah. I am so afraid that one day I will damage the connector.

Still Can Get $2.50 Meal?

I would like CASE to show me where can I get $2.50 mixed vegetable rice in Singapore, as claim in their report. Currently place I know is at my office canteen at Ang Mo Kio industrial area.

SINGAPORE: Food at hawker stalls was still affordable in April, according to a survey by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).

The survey, which covered 611 stalls in non air-conditioned coffeeshops and hawker centres, focused on chicken briyani, chicken rice, fishball noodles, roti prata, and mixed vegetables rice based on the cheapest single portion available. It showed 54 per cent of the stalls sold cooked food at S$2.50 or lower.

CASE also encouraged all stall owners to display the prices of food items prominently so consumers can make informed choices.

Two stalls had inconsistent pricing with what was displayed on their signboards. One charged S$4.50 for chicken briyani when the signboard had displayed a price of S$4.

Another charged S$5 for the same dish when the price displayed was S$5.50

When Is The Bus Coming?

One of the first app I download on my iPhone is the SG NextBus. It uses the SBS Iris NextBus system to tell us the arrival time of various buses at a particular bus stop. As it gets more and more popular, similar apps sprang up to follow its success.

Lately, all such apps are unable to work. Turns out SBS has installed a measure to prevent automated scripts from grabbing the bus timing info from their system. For this, I have thanked SBS or Comfort Delgro. Firstly, you gave us a lousy website that only allows us to check for one bus service at one bus stop. When people devise a more efficient way to make use of this, you block them from accessing it, forcing us to use your new but poorly written app. Rather than upgrading your server hardware to handle the increased load, you went with the bully way by blocking and rejecting without reason requests to access the database. Once again, you have shown us what a world class public transport service you are.

Oh, between using your new crap that you called SBS Transit Iris app and going back to waiting for the bus without knowing when it is coming, I am choosing the latter.

Seen or Heard: How Come It's My Fault?

"Mas Selamat ran away. But PM Lee said that Wong Kan Seng was not at fault and should not be punished in any way. The reason being that Wong Kan Seng personally did not do anything which allowed Mas Selamat to escape.

Strangely, if your maid runs away, it IS your fault and you SHOULD be punished. Even if you did not personally do anything to let her run away (apart from giving her a day off)."

Good discussion on maid responsibilities posted on CNA forum regarding the recent news of the body of a maid found in HDB watertank.

Quick Reactions to the SIngapore General Elections 2011

1. Oppositions lost Potong Pasir SMC but gain a GRC. Is this a good results for the oppositions? Worker's Party maybe. Though I'm happy that a GRC has been won. Prove that GRC is not a sure win bet for PAP anymore. I am sad that Potong Pasir is lost.
2. Overall winning margin for PAP is down compared to last elections. Still a strong mandate?
3. Who care about George Yeo? Chaim See Tong is the one we should feel sad for. Goodbye Mr Chaim, it's nice knowing you, thanks for the sacrifice and good fights you gave out. I feel sad that you gave your all for the people of Potong Pasir and they betray right at the end. For those 242 void tickets voters, WHAT THE FUCK are you thinking?
4. From the oppositions' results, it looks like Worker's Party is the de facto leader of the oppositions as their candidates all score better as compared to candidates from other parties.
5. With the WP A-team in parliament, there will be a lot of debates in future parliament sessions.
6. Most number of opposition members in parliament. Lowest overall winning margin since independence. One small step at a time. Their powers are eroding.

The Day That Will Define Our Future

This is it. Today will mark down in our history as the date that will change our country's future. For better or worse, I don't know. For the past 9 days, we especially the residents of Aljunied has been threaten, tempted, given the sympathy card and even apologized. I don't know about the others, but I am sure not convinced by all this. Even Angie, who usually don't bother about such things started to read up on this elections. This is after I told her this election is not about us but about our boys' future and how we can determine it.

We don't want any change of government, we just want an alternative voice in parliament. Someone there to ensure that responsibilities are taken and policies are made with the people, not the country's growth, in their mind. The speech by Sean Pean below in the movie Fair Game holds true to our situation now. The responsibilities of a country is not in the hands of a privilege few. It should be our responsibilities. I do hope my fellow country will the right thing.

Seen or Heard: Equating Singaporeans as Prostitues

Posted in the comment section of a MrBrown post.

They equate Singaporeans as prostitues. With a little difference. Prostitues got paid, after being screw. Singaporeans got paid, before being screw. Prostitues got paid every time they are screw. Singaporeans continuously screw for 5 years.

The World Needs More Men Like Chris Medina

Not a fan of American Idol and I don't know who this Chris Medina is until I heard his single on the radio yesterday. Turns out that Chris is an aspiring singer, who is engaged with his girlfriend, Juliana in 2007. They had planned to wed two years after getting engaged, but shortly before they could walk down the aisle, Juliana suffered a brain injury in a tragic car accident, leaving her almost paralyzed and severely brain damaged. Some guys will walk away since they have no obligations to take care of the girl (they are not married, remember?). But rather than doing that, Chris stay on. As he puts in his interview on American Idol, "What kind of guy would I be if I walked out when she needed me the most?" Well Chris may not have won the singing competition (he didn't even make it to the Top 24), but he has won my support. Below is the video of his American Idol audition as well as the lyrics of his single. If only the world have more men like Chris.

Anywhere you are, I am near
Anywhere you go, I'll be there
Anytime you whisper my name, you'll see
How every single promise I keep
Cuz what kind of guy would I be
If I was to leave when you need me most

What are words
If you really don't mean them
When you say them
What are words
If they're only for good times
Then they don't
When it's love
Yeah, you say them out loud
Those words, They never go away
They live on, even when we're gone

And I know an angel was sent just for me
And I know I'm meant to be where I am
And I'm gonna be
Standing right beside her tonight
And I'm gonna be by your side
I would never leave when she needs me most

What are words
If you really don't mean them
When you say them
What are words
If they're only for good times
Then they don't
When it's love
Yeah, you say them out loud
Those words, They never go away
They live on, even when we're gone

Anywhere you are, I am near
Anywhere you go, I'll be there
And I'm gonna be here forever more
Every single promise I keep
Cuz what kind of guy would I be
If I was to leave when you need me most
I'm forever keeping my angel close

Too Smart For Her Own Good

Proof that intelligence cannot be measured by how many certificates you have...

A SINGAPOREAN lost RM240,000 (S$100,290) at a casino when she tried to win back the RM500 she had previously lost, Sin Chew Daily reported.

The woman, who is a professional with a double master's degree, said she tried to win the money back by using all her savings as well as borrowing from others.

She is now looking for someone to give her a loan to pay off her debts as she does not dare disclose it to her family.

'I am worried that my husband may divorce me if he finds out,' she said

Seen Or Heard: Perfect Response

"He has the right to say that, but I was brought up by my parents to show modesty." Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke

Another Doomsday Event?

First it was the Y2K bug, then the asteriod hitting our planet. Lately the popular one is the catastrophic environmental changes. Meet the latest end of the world scenario. With all communication channels gone, you will have *hold breath*... no access to Facebook. That definitely will bring fear to some people. ;)

Learning To Drive?

Disturbing KorKor When He Is Sleeping

Look at Aiden cheeky face.

Manchester United Celebrate Chinese New Year

Who says Man Utd only care for English fans? Touched and impressed.

Handing Over

How times fly. Time to say bye bye to my good friend, Mr Tiger, who will hand over to Mr Rabbit. Seeya in 12 years time, my friend.

*Sigh* Another year older, getting nearer to the big 40. Yet my sons are still so young. I can understand how Mr Brown feels when he wrote the quote below. I just hope the boys will stay healthy and everything to be 顺顺. Happy Chinese New Year!

Many of my peers belong to the category of being married late and having children late in life. Friends in their late thirties and even forty are just becoming moms and dads. I don't know how we are all going to keep up with our kids as they grow up. Part of my reason for getting back in shape is being able to kick the football around with my son when he is in his tweens and teens. And having the reflexes to still play digital football with him too.

Spend Some Time For Your Parents

After watching this video, I should spend some time for my dad. :'(

Seen or Heard

Taken from an article at Temasek Review

Singapore aspired to be the Switzerland of Asia , in which it turned out to be a place with the Swiss standard of cost without the Swiss standard of living, education , wages and training and even respect

Under One Roof

Came across Google Reader through one of my colleague. Blind me, where have I been all these time? It allows subscriptions to all your favorite websites and update itself automatically with the latest entries. So rather than going to each website to check, you just need to log into Google Reader and everything is under one roof. How convenient.

Speaking of under one roof, iMerlion introduce another great app (I'm a sucker for iPhone apps), NewsApp Singapore. Much like Google Reader, it combines the feeds for Zaobao, Channelnews Asia, Today, the Straits Times and the Business Times. So rather have multiple apps for each news house, one will do. One apps to rule them all!

Foam Puzzle Mats Are Toxic

Angie just inform me of this scary piece of news. Shit man, my boys are chewing on their foam mat all these while. Damn, nothing is safe for our children these days. Can we have a safe environment for our kids to grow up in?

France is also banning the mat

Bubbles!

A Surprise Discovery

A surprise I found at the place where my sister in law held her solemnization last Saturday, one of the projects that I did at my first company. How fast times pass while you are slogging away through it. 10 years coming to 11 in the workforce.

Touching Video by Sony

This is so touching. I wept after seeing this. I hope I won't end up like the old man.

Even Maids Get a Pay Rise Now

Maid also get pay rise now, when is it going to be my turn?? Wait a minute, HK$650 = S$107, TW NT800 = S$35. How come is pay raise then?

SINGAPORE : The salaries of new Indonesian foreign domestic workers will soon rise.

17 major employment agencies in Singapore will increase the monthly salaries for the workers from S$380 to S$450. The increment will take effect by this week, they said.

Over the years, the supply of Indonesian maids in Singapore has been dwindling.

Employment agencies indicated that the shortage was due largely to demand from places such as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The agencies recently met maid suppliers from Indonesia to try and resolve the issue. One solution is to provide better salaries.

Desmond Chin, group director, Nation Employment, said: "All the suppliers, they're facing difficult conditions to recruit. They are requesting us to match the maid's salary to HK$650, to match the salary to T$800, which is right now impossible.

"Maybe, we can do it step by step. So right now, we have agreed with the Indonesian supplier for the salary of S$450."

Many employment agencies in Singapore support the move.

The higher salary will not benefit the agencies or the suppliers, as there will be no change in the foreign placement fee.

Employment agencies said the change can help remove unhealthy practices among the agencies.

Tay Khoon Beng, director, Best Home Employment Agency, said: "If we don't have enough supply to applicants in the first place, eventually more and more agencies will poach one another's maids and offer 10 and 20 dollars increase in salary and transfer these helpers among Singaporean employers and this is even a worse scenario for us."

Employment agencies said it is up to employers to increase the salary of existing maids. They are also wary of the possibility of a small group of maids who may try to terminate their contracts so that they can be re-employed with the better salary.

Some employers feel any salary increase has to be gradual.

Samuel Teo, an employer of an Indonesian maid, said: "The other thing is that I also feel that, of course, when you pay more, you're expecting a very high quality from the maid. Will the maid be able to deliver?"

More than 70 per cent of maids working in Singapore are Indonesians and employment agencies said demand for these maids is still strong.

With the proposed salary increase for Indonesian maids, employment agencies also hope to increase the retention rate, giving them the incentive to work longer in Singapore.

Makeup Act

I am still trying to understand why some women like to put out their makeup when they are on the public transport, be it train, bus or cab. holding a sharp eyebrow marker so close to the eye in one hand with the other hand holding a shaking mirror is not considered a safe act if to me. Other than the risk of blinding yourself, there is also the chance of drawing a big fat clown lips when the bus suddenly brakes (surprisingly I have not see that happen yet).

Don't understand the logic here. Why can't they put on their makeup at home, make sure everything is ok before stepping out. Are they in such a rush or late for an appointment? If it is, they should prepare earlier (oops, I forgot they spent all those time selecting the dress that does not make them fat). Hiaz, they are right the men and women are really from different planets.

P.S. At least I'm not the only one who felt this way.

Katy Perry - Firework

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper-thin
Like a house of cards, then blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you?
'Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the Fourth of July

'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "ah, ah, ah!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "ah, ah, ah!",
You're gonna leave 'em all in down-awe-awe

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane, comes a rainbow

Maybe the reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it's time you know

You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the Fourth of July

'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "ah, ah, ah!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
You're gonna leave 'em falling down-awe-awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time you let it through-ooh-ooh

'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "ah, ah, ah!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
You're gonna leave 'em all in down-awe-awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

Dylan Learning To Walk @ 8 Months

Don't ask me, I have no idea what is he saying. ^_^

A Quote to Remember

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson from her book, A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Japan's Santa Claus

Amid all the selfishness and cruelty we seen lately, it's heart warming to know that there is still kindness and compassion in this world.

TOKYO - Japan has been enthralled by the mysterious comeback of a 1960s manga comic book hero that has sparked a nationwide wave of gift-giving by anonymous donors to underprivileged children.

The spate of donations started on Christmas Day, when presents were left at a children's welfare centre near Tokyo, with a note saying they came from "Naoto Date", the alter ego of professional wrestling character "Tiger Mask".

The widely reported gift struck a chord with Japanese who fondly remember Tiger Mask -- an orphan-turned-fighter who helped other parentless children -- and has sparked more than 30 copycat acts of generosity since, Kyodo News said.

Bags with presents, ranging from the initial leather school bags to stationery, toys, robot models, cash and food, have been quietly left by anonymous people at shelters, orphanages and centres for the disabled.

In one case, an envelope with 100,000 yen was left at a shop selling school supplies, with a note saying: "I'm a copycat. I think Tiger Masks are everywhere across the country. Please use this for children."

Japan's Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Ritsuo Hosokawa declared himself "deeply moved" Tuesday by the snowballing acts of kindness, as TV stations and newspapers kept close tabs on the latest appearances of Tiger Mask.

In the original cartoon story -- a manga book series in the late 1960s, followed by a TV anime show -- Naoto Date himself grew up in an orphanage and was initially recruited by an evil syndicate of villain wrestlers.

In the story Date however decides to help other orphans instead, dons a mask of a tiger -- still a staple of popular pro-wrestling matches in Japan -- and fights the villains to donate his prize money to the children.

Yoichi Miyata, 38, a manager at the Iwate prefecture shop that received the 100,000 yen cash gift, said: "Naoto Date is an iconic children's hero. He takes many of us back to our childhood, including myself."

Blabbing Blatter

Biggest proof that you don't need brains to be head of a big organization. Any idiot can sit in that position.

The Year In Review: 2010

Wooh! And I thought 2009 pass by fast, 2010 was even faster. So fast that it just zooms right pass without me even noticing. It's seems like only a few weeks ago when I reflect on 2009. Now I am doing it for 2010.

Ha, 2010. It will forever be a memorable year for us. Angie says it was a fulfilling year for us. To me, it is a big eventful year for us. It hails the arrival of the two important persons in our lives. Our lives are taken away now. ;) No longer have we had to think of ourselves. All efforts now are focused on the two of them. Though they sometimes drive us mad, their little smiles and laughter will dose off any fire in our eyes.

Never a firm believer of new year resolution cause I always believe no matter how well I plan it, shit happens to me, I am going to make some now for the sake of my sons. Hope I achieve them or at least one around this time next year.

1. Shake off the lazy bones
2. Be more patient with boys
3. Try not to scratch when eczema itch
4. Find a better paying job
5. Be more careful & less screw-ups. At least not to boil someone's blood too often. Hehehe :D

P.S. Unlike last year, I spend the early hours of the new year woken up by Dylan's cries for milk and getting frustrated with him for not finishing it. Hiaz...