Minutes to Midnight

Well, here we are. Last day of 2008. Nope, I am not going to do any New Year resolutions. I never have the discipline to follow them anyway. I hope that everyone will make it through the round seas and the clock will move back to more comfortable levels.

See ya next year!

My "Christmas" Gift

This is cool! Got this in the mail from Angie's AIA friend last Friday. A great "X'mas gift" for me. :P

The Bear Looks Happy...

Looks like from the Command hook series by 3M. And nobody notice any problems with the design? Courtesy of Banned Toys

Sweet Chocolate

Actually, they are not sweet at all. These are made from dark chocolates and another new addition in Angie's armory of recipes, which she learn from a colleague. Yummy...

Singapore Non-Flyer

I say, the Singapore Flyer stopped moving and trapped 173 passengers on Tuesday. Damn sway man, just 1 day and 1 week before the big payoff. Many people especially couples will be celebrating X'mas eve and New Year's Eve on it.

For some who are trapped in it, judging from their reaction, they are really enjoying it. Of course they do, as one forummer in EDMW puts it,
"In fact it’s a value for $$ ride, usually is 30mins, now its for hours, with free food, transport home, compensation."

Yeah, plus coming down in a safety harness drop from the Singapore Flyer. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. ;)

These people are really enjoying themselves

Christmas Eve Celebration

My sisters suddenly thought of organizing a Christmas Eve party at my parent's home. So they proceed to order some Christmas food from Gaint@IMM. I am on half day and when I left office, I call up Jasmine to check if she needs any help in collecting the order. Turns out she is already at IMM and erupting her volcano because Angeline, who is supposed to accompany her to collect the stuff, is not there yet.

"Shit, are we going to have a Or-Been Christmas dinner?” I thought.

Thank god, the fire was put out when they reach home. Only casualty reported is one Giant staff who tried to con Jasmine of her cranberry sauce with a bottle of mustard. :P

Did I mention that they order some food? Ok, I realize that "some" is a big understatement. It's a whole lot of food. We have turkey ham, sausages, ribs, salmon sashimi, broccoli and mini carrots etc. Our uncle and his family even bought a big box of Kueh Lapis. Yikes! How are we going to finish all that?!!

Nevertheless the 9 of us sat down to eat our dinner. We chit chat ove rthe course of the dinner. Uncle talks about his recent HK vacation trip while showing the photos taken. At the end of the dinner, we only managed to finish half of what we have. We have to help out in taking some of the food back. At least we now know what we should order next time.

Oh... the Kueh Lapis was spared... :P

Last Minute Work

It must be some kind of prank. Every time, just an hour before knocking off, something must cock up at work and I am force to work OT.

Dammit! Can't they choose a better time?

Some days, I can sit here doing almost nothing. When you thought it is almost time to go home for that nice dinner, something/someone came up with some critical issue and you are forced to stay back. Timing is so zhun (accurate) meh?

Another Draw At The Top

Three of the Big Four of the English Premier League dropped points again after drawing their respective match. Woohoo...

That leaves the remaining Big Four team, aka Manchester United, a chance to catch up since they were not playing this weekend.

Hopefully, the win at the World Club Cup competition will galvanized the Red Devils to start scoring and win games rather than playing well but losing or drawing the game.

Got Ambushed During Lunch

I was sitting in the canteen "chopping" seat while my colleagues buy their lunch. Along came this pretty lady who wave at me and proceed to sit next to me.

"Hi sir, would you like to sign up for our credit card service?" -_-"

Times are really bad for these credit cards promoters. Calling up your mobile is no longer effectively as people like me will not pick up unknown numbers call. Now, they will appear everywhere just to get you to sign up for them.

Is Greed Is Good?

"The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good." - Gordon Gecko (Wall Street, 1987)

Ever since the fallout of the US economy, it's been one bad news after another. First it was the sub-prime failure follow by the fall of the big financial institutions. Even a country (aka Iceland) goes into bankruptcy. And when Lehman Brothers name no longer exist, so do all the savings of those who invested in their mini-bonds. As America is praying for some bailout plan for the three US automakers, it is hit by news of the Madoff fraud.

How did it end up like this? The answer is greed. When the economy is booming, the lure of easy money causes people to let their guard down. Checking of reliability and soundness of investment plans and packages has becomes “leh chay” and considered to be slowing down the road to riches. Everyone is blinded by greed over the obvious risk.

It is only when the bubble burst and the well runs dry, will people realize the faults and mistakes they made. History has taught so many times the pitfalls of greed. Yet every time we managed to crawl out of a hole, we managed to dig ourselves into another one. Back to the post title above, is greed really good? Yes, not only it is good, it is also perfect…

…for self-destruction.

Who to retrench first - PM vs Labour Chief

Courtesy of TheOnlineCitizen (TOC). Maybe our labour chef should double check with his boss before making any speeches in the future.

NTUC Chief Lim Swee Say
LABOUR chief Lim Swee Say wants companies to put Singaporeans at the end of the queue when shrinking the number of their rank and file workers. Mr Lim believes the way to go in the current downturn is for firms to let non-Singaporeans go first, by not renewing the contracts and work permits of their foreign workers. ( Straits Times – 5 Dec 2008 )

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
If we just send away the foreign workers now, it will do us harm. For example - companies which are already in difficulty and they hire half foreign workers and half Singaporeans and you tell them that foreign workers must go out. And when you take Singaporeans, his cost will go up and the company may close. And if the company closes, even the half who have jobs may lose their jobs. ( Lee Hsien Loong, 8 Nov 2008, CNA )

Mirror's Edge

Once a while, there will be a game that revolutionize the gaming world. Makes us sit up and say WHOA! Currently, that game is Mirror's Edge.

Ok, I maybe a bit WOLS here but I saw this game a few months ago and did not really pay much attention on it until now. This is a First Person Shooter (FPS) game, but unlike regular FPS, guns are hardly used here. The game innovation is based on using the art of Parkour to move around.

I am a big fan of Parkour as well as free running and Yamakasi. Only the French can create of something this graceful. The way the movement is executed is pure art form. Till now, every time I watch the traceurs (Parkour practitioners) perform it in free flow still kept in awe. And now they have a game that is based on it, which you can perform those very same movement. Couple with a cool soundtrack (Still Alive by Lisa Miskovsky), this is one kick ass game. Only worry thing is it will give you a bigger headache that regular FPS games. Let's start running

Real Life Parkour by its creator, David Belle

Cut Pay or No Pay

Just when hope gather pace that the Detroit's Big Three might get a bailout (thanks to the latest high employment readings), it came to a crashing stop when the United Auto Workers reject swift wage cuts.

They are facing the prospect of going jobless and yet still so ya-ya negotiate this and that. So unlike Singapore. When there is a pay or CPF cut, they just cut without any resistance. We just go back to our cubicle to cry and complain over the internet :'(

Coming back to these unions, by doing this, they will only hurt the company more. Don't they know that by accepting the pay cuts, they are not only helping the company but themselves as well?

No to pay cut? How about no pay at all?

A Visit to The Farms II - Kok Fah Technology Farm

NOTE: This is the second part of my farm visits over the weekend. As usual, my laziness cause this entry to be posted now. :P

According to Angie, there is a farm in Choa Chu KAng (CCK) selling fresh vegetables from the local farms. After our Saturday adventure, we decided to go down to take a look with my in-laws.

After much searching and driving around CCK area, we finally found the place. The place is actually not very difficult to find, it is just that I did not see the signboard pointing the way. Typical male driver, right? :P

Finally we found the place!

When we reach there, the place is crowded. It sort of like a mini marketplace except it sells vegetables only. The place is filled with elderly folks and the road outside is parked with buses. I guess they must have join those farm tours organized by the Community Centres.

Look at the crowd!

Judging from the color, the vegetables sold there are really very fresh. It's like they are just pluck right out from the farms. In terms of price, they are no difference from those sold outside in supermarkets. Given the freshness of the vegetables, this is ok.

We took a walk around the farming area and look at the vegetables grown there. Some of the vegetables growing on the fields look like fake due to its freshness. See the photos below for yourself.

We left the place with bags of vegetables and some fruits in tow. For the freshness of the things on offer, it will be a waste if we go back empty-handed.

Other than vegetables, the place also sell plants/flowers and aloe vera.

A Visit to The Farms I - D'Kranji Farm Resort

Due to my laziness, this entry is only put up today. :P

Last Saturday is Mum's death anniversary. My family and I went to her resting place to pray and give our offerings to her. After the prayers, I drove my family to the D'Kranji Farm Resort for a short outing.

Both dad and Angie look so excited after we reach the place. We tour around the place and check out the facilities there. We were quite surprised at the crowd there, the news of this place on the television lately definitely pull in quite a number of curious people like us here.

You can rent motorized bicycle here!

There is a seafood restaurant there and dad's sharp eyes spotted two helpers carrying a gigantic fish to the back of the restaurant. He quicken his steps and lead us just in time to watch in horror one helper hitting the fish with a mallet before killing it with a chopper. Argh… That was one unpleasant sight. Behind the restaurant are tanks of seafood for public viewing. The various strange seafood on display at least make us forget the horrific scene we just saw.

Look at the size of this fish!

We walk around the resort and visit some of the stalls there. As usual, dad bought various tibits to try. We came across a gaming room and ended up playing pool there.

Even my aunite is occupied herself with the arcade machine (No coin inserted, she thought she is playing when the machine is running the game video)

Take That!

Too bad we spent quite some time at the pools that by the time we walk to check out the villa, it started to drizzle. As dad looks tired, we decided to go back. It was a fun outing and we are thinking of booking a villa to stay one day. Mum will be glad to see how happy we are.

The Tiger's Words of Wisdom

"Buy what you need, not what you want. Spend on what you can afford now, not on what you can pay back later." ;)

This is the way we should spend our hard earn money. Sadly, this is not the case for the younger generation. Today, the youngsters only concern about catching up to the latest fashion and getting what they want by signing credit cards or as the Chinese says, using future money.

"We are the generation that saved and only bought something if we could afford it. Today's generation is one that borrows" - An elderly man outside Northern Rock when the bank goes under.

Games I like to Play

As Sheylara said, "Too many games, too little time to play.". For me, it's "Too many games, NO time to play!" :'(

Still, here are some of the games I like to play. Oh btw, I usually buy second hand games to play as it's cheaper and not illegal.
1. Crysis, maybe Crysis Warhead
2. Gears of War 2 - Does not own Xbox360 :'(
3. Fallout 3
4. Dead Space
5. Far Cry 2

Speaking about games, when newly owners of the recently release Red Alert 3 tried to install the game, they realized that the last character is missing from the 20 character CD key. This result in a lot of angry gamers to which the company come out with a "creative" solution.

Detroit, You Got A Problem

This week will be where the decision will be made on whether to bailout the three US automakers GM, Ford and Chrysler.

In my opinion, I say just let them go under. The US auto industry has been on the down turn way before the current financial crisis. The crisis only speeds up their demise. It is ok to save the industry if they are doing well all along. But here, we see that the three companies failed because of mismanagement and an obvious lack of ideas to challenge the Japanese car manufacturers.

Sales of US cars are down these past decades because all they can come out are expensive, big and gas-guzzling cars while their competitors are focusing on mid-size and fuel economical cars. If they are unable to stop the slide all these time, what makes them think they can correct the mistakes and improve their sales in a few months after getting their bailout?

And what pisses me off is the way the companies CEO is threatening the US government with unemployment and dragging down a whole lot of other industries should they go kaput. HEY! You are begging for money here, aren't you suppose to be humble about it. If they are so concern about the jobs of its people and welfare of the economy, they should have buck up in the first place to prevent such things from happening.

In addition, the way they are clueless on their operations of their company and the failure tom come out with a well devised plan on how they will spent the money if they get it shows much bad mismanagement.

So I am against bailing out the US auto industry. Yes a lot of people will lose their jobs, I sympathize them and may put the country into more financial turmoil, but it is something they are not good at anymore. Rather than wasting precious resources in saving a dying industry, why not focus them on other areas to save their economy. The pail is leaking badly, what make them think it will stop it from emptying by pouring more water into it?

Courtesy of YoungJedi

To the Semis We Match On

The Carlito Show

Yes, Manchester United has match their way into the Carling Cup Semifinal by thrashing Blackburn side 5-3 with a reserve team.

I say the movement and passing by them in the match is much better than the first team. The buildup for the last 2 goals, we simply cut through the blackburn defense like a hot knife through butter.

The only sore point of the match is the team conceded 3 goals. Not a very good sign given that we are playing at home. Can't relied on scoring more than we concede to win matches like that.

And for all those critics of Giggs being over the hill, the man answer them with a solid performance in assisting a couple of goals. Some younger players like Gibson, Possebon and Rafael show they can step up to challenge for the first team spots.

As for Tevez, banging in 4 goals in the match is a big shout to start him for the next match. After sitting out on the bench for most of the matches this season, he shows he has lost none of his sharpness.

Personally, I prefer Tevez than Berbatov in partnering Rooney up front. With Tevez and Rooney up front, our attack seems to be more fluid and deadlier. Maybe Sir Alex can revert to last season pairing up front but I believe he knows what is he doing.

The View Is Clearer Now

Big is Good!

Finally, I get to upgrade my PC display to a 22" LCD monitor, a Benq G2200W. I have to brave through the crowd at Sitex yesterday to get it at a low price of only $219. Bo bian lah, IT show usually last day will have big price slash :P

I love my new LCD so much. The images are so sharp and clear. The color is so brilliant plus so much display room. Wanted to upgrade it since last year and watch the price drop from $400 plus. I say it was really worth the wait.

As for Sitex, I went there at 11am, the time when the "exhibition" starts (I am not kiasu hor, there're people standing by the door even before it has open). Not many people compare to previous IT shows last day experience. Maybe it's because of the economic downturn, most people are just walking around checking out the prices and cautious about their spending.

Wanted to check out the netbooks (one of my targets for next year. Hehehe) but there are some many promoters surrounding the booth that I can't even get a chance to go near a netbook without being pester by them.

Speaking of booth, I also notice the exhibitors are cutting cost. There are no booth babes walking around distributing brouchers. One less reason to visit IT shows now :(

After I got home, I help out in doing some housework (must do something to keep wife happy before playing my toys mah :D) before doing the changing of guards with my PC display.

Angie reward me with a nice bowl of Pulut Hitam, another new item in her ever expanding menu. Quite tasty on her first try. Yummy. *slurpp*

Pulut Hitam