Aiden Learning to Flip

Dylan has started flipping over by himself and his neck is getting stronger. As for Aiden, he is still lagging behind, so we are a bit concern about his development. But man how wrong he has proven to us. Angie went to NTUC and I play with Aiden while the maid looks after Dylan.

The little boy kept trying to flip over himself. He tried 4 to 5 times without any success, every time rolling back to his back. All these time, he did not cry nor throw tantrums. He just kept going and going with me beside him encouraging him. It's like as if my encouragement gave him strength. When he finally succeeded, you can see the sense of joy on his face. I am so touch and proud of him.

Oh, now that he found the trick to flipping, he has been doing it nonstop. We have to have someone to jaga Him and Dylan to make sure they dun hurt themselves.

Boiled Ginger Coke

First heard of this strange concoction while reading Sheylara's Changpin trip, where you contracted a terrible flu. Did a research and found that it is a common remedy used in Hong Kong to treat the common flu. Will sure try this next time I had a flu attack.

Distance / Time = Speed

"the Public Transport Council (PTC) revealed on Thursday that travelling time - and not just distance - is also used to charge train commuters under Singapore's distance-based fares system."

Huh? So is it a distance based fare or time based fare? Why call it distance based fare when time factor is taken into consideration? So I expect the petrol or maintenance part of the equation will take effect at a later date lah. Hmmm... probably after the elections.

Interview Woes

For me, going for a job interview is a frightening experience and it is even worse when it a job interview with a knowledge test. I don't know is it my low confidence or a previous bad experience, I am scared that I will screw up and get reprimand by the interviewer.

I just went for an interview recently and was put through a 45 mins technical test follow by another one and a half hour of "interrogation" where I was ask to explain how the I2C protocol works. This is the 21st century and I don't understand why people still uses technical test during an interview. Information is readily available on the net, so what if I know what a linked list is or cab recite I2C protocol. I believe that a person working experience, character and attitude is more important.

And don't they know there is a thing call the Smartphone? I can search for the answers for the questions using my iPhone. (Yes I did that), which make the whole test process redundant. This is one reason why I don't quite like to go for interviews especially the ones which involved technical test.

Seen Or Heard

You will never read or heard this on Channel News Asia or Straits Times. All these are in the net where the government has no way to censure it

1. Flood News Blackout
So flooding is considered a norm in Singapore so much so that CNA or ST dun even bother to report them. Maybe they just want to cover all negative news before the YOG. Rather than feeling moody about the flood at Jalan Besar, this guy took the opportunity to kayak around. Sure save the trip to the beach. To add further insult, the PUB chairman is awarded the National Day award of the Distinguished Service Order, for solving Singapore’s perennial flood problems! The committee that decide the awards must be living in a hole for the past few months.


2. The Army Serve Better Food Than This
Wah! And I thought the food they serve during my national service was bad. This is the food, provided by official caterer Singapore Food Industries (SFI), for the YOG volunteers in return for the volunteering work they provided. If it wasn't for the massive outcry in cyberspace, SFI will not even bother about it and the poor volunteers will still be eating this (Not as if there is much improvement after that). No sauce, no chilly, I spend $2.70 to buy their own mixed vegetable rice also better than this. Not that we are choosy, but at least show some respect to these volunteers who sacrifice their time to help out. On the contrary, athletes and officials were given three daily buffet meals befitting of a king by SFI. As the Cantonese says, really bor dou chu mean.

Dylan Snoring In His Sleep

Turn up the volume to listen. Like father, like son... :P

I Hate YOG

The recent Youth Olympic Games (YOG or "why orgy" as chillycraps puts it) is making me sick. Everywhere I go, everywhere I turn to, I am flush with YOG news, banners and images. The way the government is going out its way to make it a success is a little too much. All the things they do to accommodate the athletes at the expense of inconvenience to the Singaporeans are pissing us off. And they still question the lack of support for YOG. All the things the MIW did to please the foreigners only will make us hate YOG more and boycott it. In fact, there is a "I Hate YOG" Facebook group, that is growing. Goes to show how much we hated it.

When they exceed the initial budget of $105 million for the YOG, did anyone in government raise any issues? No! They just continue to spend and spend until it hits $387 million, then tell us that they are "a bit naive with our initial estimates" WTF!

I feel that we are just being made used by the IOC to find out if a Youth Olympic is feasible. The truth is as long as the Singapore government tries to organize any big events at the expense of its people, it can never be as successful as it can be without the support of its people. No matter how they want to put it, the YOG is considered a failure before it has even begin. Everyone in the world knows it, just that no one in the government wants to admit it.

Updated: By the way, someone found this news article. According to PM Lee in 2007, he has stated that our nation "may not be ready in 2010 because we're just building the Sports Hub. There will be time and opportunities later." In other words, he feel that Singapore is not ready to host such the YOG. Why the turn around along the way and end up with this mess?

Going For A Dip

The boys try out their new swimming pool for the first time ^_^.

Click on photo below for more photos

Is This All A Dream?

Send my car for servicing over the weekend and went to catch the movie Inception rather than waiting aimlessly.

Man, the movie is really incredible. It's a breath of fresh air from all the sequels, remakes and slasher movies that populate the cinemas these days.

I will not dwell into talking what is the story about, as google will do that. Christopher Nolan truly defines himself as THE great director of recent times. There was never a bored moment in the film and explanations are clear and well integrated in the storyline, exploring the realm of sub-conscious manipulation.

The whole experience will be even better if I have not went to read the spoiler for the movie earlier. It kinda reduces the gloss, as I knew what is going to happen next :( Nevertheless, I believe Inception will have the same impact like how The Matrix did minus the cheem theories and philosophies.

The "Increase Price" Solution Again

Once again, our first world government solved problems by increasing the cost and passing that cost to us. Is that the best they can do? Can't they be more creative? No enough parking lots for residents with season parking tickets? Increase the price of overnight parking coupons. Roads too congested? Increase ERP.

They still don't get it, people will still pay for it and the problem will still persist. It makes no difference. Only thing that changes are the wallets of the government will get bigger and our burden will become heavier.

My Heart Sunk When I Saw This

This link at the end of the post will show some disturbing pictures especially if you are a dog lover. The relating of the poor animal's plight to that of Singaporeans' is of little importance.

My heart is filled with sadness and rage when I read the news below. I cannot comprehend what drive a man to do such sick and evil acts to perform such brutality on an innocent being. The only comforting thought from the story is that the poor dog, Xi-Xi, at least has passed away peacefully and found comfort in the heavens and no longer has to go through the pain he is suffering. As for the bastard or bastards who inflict the pain on the poor dog, I hope what you did to Xi-Xi is bestowed on to you when you reach hell on the 18th level. For retribution will come, it's just a matter of time, be it to you or your loved ones.

There was a little dog in Foshan [Guangdong province] named Xi Xi whose fate (of being brutally abused) have caused the strongest and meanest character of men to buckle and weep.

When I first saw Xi Xi, his two eyes were gouged out, his genitals were cut off, and his body was covered with holes cut with knives. Yet Xi Xi still tenaciously / tediously supported his seriously injured body roaming around the neighborhood for food. No one knew who tortured the poor Xi Xi nor did anyone gave food to him.

A kind volunteer called the city’s officials and Xi Xi was sent to an Animal Hospital for treatment. While Xi Xi was being taken to the Animal Hospital, he desperately bit at the rope that tied him, probably because Xi Xi was afraid of being hurt again. This goes to prove how strong Xi Xi’s will to live is.

After examination by the Vets, Xi Xi suffered external injuries all over his body from knifing abuse, and because he did not receive immediate medical attention, his wounds were infected and leukemia developed, causing white blood tumors in his body.

Further observation by the vet found that it is very exerting and painful for Xi Xi to urinate and defecate, leading to a part of his intestines being expelled during passing motion.

Apart from that, Xi Xi keeps retreating to dark corners. Those who have raised pets and have some experience will know that this is what dogs (and other animals) do when they know they are about to die and want to find a peaceful place to leave the world, and leave Xi Xi eventually did after 2 days at the Animal Hospital. Many of our hearts died with Xi Xi that fateful day.

Link

No More Freak Flood III

I mention a while ago that 50 years on our country still remains socially even though the outlook looks different. This is even more so today as proven by the flooding in recent weeks. The following comment is seen on Temasek Review.

Anyone has PM Lee’s national day rally speech or video in 2008 or 2009? He showed some pictures of a kid playing in the flood back in the 50s or 60s in Singapore and he was saying how lucky we are to be living nowadays without any flooding. What this shows is that Singapore has gotten worst.

Here is the video with the flood picture at 11 mins 30s. The more we change, the more we stay the same.

Seen Or Heard

1. So much for being vigilant. Commuters are still wondering how the hell this lady managed to push a NTUC shopping cart into the MRT station and onto the train. It's a fucking damn trolley, not some shopping bag. The thing is so fucking big. Where are all the MRT security and staff? Can catch you drinking water on the train but not a lady with a big trolley. Where's the logic?

2. Saw someone post this comment @ Temasek Review.
"Singapore should employ a team of 100 Paul the Sotongs to replace the 82 Goondus and the 500 Perm Secs of ministries, CEOs & MDs of stat boards and GLCs. Instead of wasting $1 Billion of tax-payers monies & National Reserves every year to pay those jokers, we just need to buy a few ikan bilis and see-hums for the sotongs.

I’m very sure the team of sotongs can provide better answers to questions like:
1) Should we invest our blood national reserve $$$ into Bank of Americam, Merril Lynch, Barclays and UBS?
2) Should we allow more than 100,000 foreginers into S’pore in 2010?
3) Should we ban foreigners from buying HDB?
4) Should we impose minimum salary across the board, applying to both foreigners and citizens?
5) Should foreigners pay “national service” tax that pays as extra bonuses to NSF and reservists?
6) Is the Marina Barrage a major contributing factor to recent floodings?"

YOG = IMF 2010

Today reported that Singaporeans need to be more supportive for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games (YOG). After wasting so much of the taxpayers' money and implementing stupid rules like the YOG lane, they expected us to just turn up and show our fucking "Four Million Smiles"? The entire YOG smells of IMF Part II to me.

Why the government must do so many unnecessary things? All these are so 虚伪, just to "por" the visiting athletics and give a false impression how wonderful they are. The Give Way sign in CAPS on the YOG vehicle just scream of "Get Out of the Fucking Way!". For starters, they should at least add a PLEASE in front of the "Give Way" sign to show some basic courtesy.

FYI, some Singaporeans are praying for flood to jam up the YOG vehicles. ROFL

It's Friday!

Both the boys woke up quite early today and look very cheerful especially Aiden. Must be be because it is Friday

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dog Beating Owner Given Stern Warnings

I glad that the AVA went to check on the dog in the video below and issue a stern warning to the owners. Yes, the dog misbehaves and bites the cushion and need to be discipline. But do you have to hit it so hard and so many times on its head? What if you miss and damage its eyes? The way she discipline the dog is equivalent to giving someone the cane punishment for littering. I say serve the owners right. As I commented on a friend’s Facebook who posted this video, not only the lady should be slapped. The one taking the video should be too for standing there and not stopping the lady inflicts so much pain on the poor dog.

Memory Loss Due to iPhone

Overhead on the radio the other day that a reason that our memory is getting poorer due to our over-reliance on technology. I have to agree especially as I am finding my memory is getting poorer and poorer. I have been storing a lot of info in my phone and as my memory gets poorer. With my memory degrading, I relied more of my phone and computer to keep track of the things I need to remember. The situation has worsened when I got the iPhone. Hence, the more forgetful I becomes, the more I store on my phone, which makes me even more forgetful. I believe this does not apply to me only and with the rising popularity of the smart phones, more people will end up like me. Think I will become senile before I hit 60.

No More Freak Floods II

So they finally admit it. After three floods within a month or two of them happen in Orchard Road, they have decided to improve the drainage in major canals and drains at flood-prone areas only. So our dear Minister of Environment and Water Resources have changed his explanation from freak flood in 50 years to flash floods is a challenge faced by cities around the world. As usual, it's so and so country has floods too, so don't expect that we don't have.

Actually, they shouldn't just limit it to flood prone areas. Nobody expect Orchard to be flooded initially and look what happen. We can't just patch the cracks only when they appear. They should review the entire island drainage system.

Bedtime Chitchat With Aiden

No More Freak Floods

From it's no more freak flood that occurs every 50 years to don't expected there is no flood in Singapore. What a quick turnaround in giving excuses. The drains should be cleared of all obstructions. Why flooding still occur? Like I said, problem is our drainage system no longer can handle the increase in rain fall due to the change in weather condition.
By the way, it's no longer nice to stay in condo or private properties as you may find your car become a submarine when you wake up in the morning. Well at least the flood manages to solve the rat problem. Hehehe