10 misconceptions learnt in school

what the...
http://edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/photos/520214/10_misconceptions_learnt_in_school.html
~

27 more hours...

counting down...

Some suggested apps from AsiaOne

http://www.digitalone.com.sg/multimedia/photo/multimedia/580
fyi...

Foreign is better

It offends me somehow, though it's none of my business.
When some men speak of how docile foreign wives are, I think, are they buying livestock?
Are you sure your lady friends are as mercenary, demanding and willful as you labeled the female half of the population to be?

12 more days

=)

Bryan's wedding tomorrow

Bryan's wedding tomorrow.  The first after the hiatus after Cheryl's wedding many years back.  Morgan cried foul, claiming the coming weddings to be a conspiracy to get married before the end of the world.  For me, the day couldn't come fast enough.

Work die us

Just realised that I have been so busy with work, that I have not explored new flash games for some time.  It's toning down now, and time to get busy.

All I Want For Christmas lyrics

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you.

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
You baby

I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click
'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
You

All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need
Won't you please bring my baby to me

Oh, I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh I just want him for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is
You

All I want for Christmas is you baby
All I want for Christmas is you baby.

Are COV prices really coming down?

Whenever I mention my oncoming purchase, people are sure to comment on the steep Cash-Over-Valuation.

"I hear prices are already coming down" (I've heard that prices have gone down)

"Are they?"

These are the median COV values posted by HDB.  They're amazing low, considering how most units I've visited, got sold for more than $60k. Nevertheless, even if their maths is flawed, as long as they are consistent in their calculation, we have a picture.

Compiled by yours truly,
source: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10321p.nsf/w/BuyResaleFlatMedianCOV?OpenDocument

This graph is from HDB site
source: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10321p.nsf/w/BuyResaleFlatResaleIndex?OpenDocument#Weights

Sheets of rain

Why do you have to fall?  I had plans for this week!

Preparations

We've found the flat we're to live in.  Just some more paper work, and lots of money, and we'll be done.

Who are we trying to convince? Ourselves?

Why are we repeating things to ourselves, as if they're true?
Does that make them happy?
Maybe yes; maybe no.

Childhood was...

doodling on the walls...
playing with real dough...
running around the neighbourhood...
playing hopscotch...
lying on the bed...
lying on the floor...
bouncing the ping pong ball against the wall...
going to the playground...
staring at the ceiling lights, till they get imprinted...
staring at the rain...
launching paper boats in the drain...
tapping into private radio channels...
turning the living room into a "snow-field"...
play out imaginary adventures with my toys...
construct a lego town and stare at it till dusk falls.  Set a torchlight behind it as night falls and stare at it some more...
read the entire collection of ladybird books at home (again)...
dream of a house filled with train tracks...

Ironman goes japan

http://www.animeseason.com/iron-man-episode-1/
prime universe, but movie storyline
Ironman goes japan

Eat, Pray, Love

*Warning: Mild spoilers alert*

Watched the show with ST last night.
Supposedly based on a true story, the movie contains some like-able and inspirational characters. It took its own sweet time to tell the story, which was fine with me.  Julia Roberts put up a good performance and the lines were pretty good, most of the time.
What didn't smell right was that despite the loving attention given to the preparation, cooking and eating of food; not a single bit appealed to me.  For all the mediation she had done; I don't feel her becoming more spiritual.  The love part? Eye contact; hug; sex.  Pfft.

Over the years, I've learned to be less of a critic and accept these kinda of movies as a weekday show.  The good performance by Julia Roberts and two old men made it passable.  A wonderful companion made the evening wonderful. =]

Scary dream

Had a scary dream.  Was back with my army mates, carrying stores and washing ourselves at a common bath-pool.  Foo was worried that the water I fed him was dirty, but I pointed out that he was in it anyway.  Then we were told that we're going to have keep the stores we've drawn, cos we're NSMen.
Woke up with a shiver.  That was scary; I didn't want to keep those stores.

Joe the doc

Joe got to serve X number of scheduled patients of day.
When he does his rounds, patients call to him, he has to attend them.
Sometimes their wounds fester, he has to attend them.
At the end of the day, he couldn't meet his target and resolved to work harder.
"I must serve X number of scheduled patients today"
But the same thing happens.
And again.
And again.
What is Joe to do?

Sianz

Not fulfilling

This is called, wth?!

We signed our OTP with our agent on the evening of 28th Sep.  This was made known to the seller party.
They updated their unit for sales, presumably on the afternoon of 28th Sep.

Android 2.2 Froyo features

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_%28operating_system%29

On 20 May 2010 the 2.2 Frozen Yogurt (Froyo) SDK was released.Changes included:

* General Android OS speed, memory, and performance optimizations
* Additional application speed improvements courtesy of JIT implementation
* Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine into the Browser application

* Increased Microsoft Exchange support (security policies, auto-discovery, GAL look-up, calendar synchronization, remote wipe)
* Improved application launcher with shortcuts to Phone and Browser applications
* USB tethering and WiFi hotspot functionality
* Added an option to disable data access over mobile network
* Updated Market application with batch and automatic update features

* Quick switching between multiple keyboard languages and their dictionaries

* Voice dialing and contact sharing over Bluetooth
* Support for numeric and alphanumeric passwords
* Support for file upload fields in the Browser application

* Browser can now display animated GIFs (instead of just the first frame)
* Support for installing applications to the expandable memory
* Adobe Flash 10.1 support

A common enough tale

source: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_582713.html
Someone had their BlackBerry stolen.  They message their own unit to appeal for a return.  All they got was a smiley before being deleted / blocked.
Why do people theive when their bread and butter is not at stake?

Kiasu?

Kiasu?
that's too broad a brush.

there's greed - to the point that they must have all the comforts their money paid for
there's selfish - no one else shall have it
there's rude - no one shall separate me from their heaven bestowed gift of a seat.

Almost secured

Hindsight will tell if we made the smart move, but nevertheless, I'm happy that things are going ahead.

One of the most sensible civil servant

Cheers to our CJ.

No jail for French m-cyclist
mr brown's article: http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2010/08/the-chief-justice-gets-it.html#more
original ST report: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_571605.html

Updates

It has started.
We've made our offer on our 3rd unit.  Keeping fingers crossed.

Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.2 update coming in September

read more: http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s-android-2-2-update-coming-in-september-708120

Samsung has announced the Galaxy S will be upgraded to Android 2.2 next month (Sep), and will land on all networks.


This means we won't see a repeat of the staggered firmware release that is currently plaguing the HTC Desire update.

Catious mood prevails?

My foot...

"Let me think about it"

Then the day after, he sold the pancake we're interested in, to someone else at a higher price. =(

WTFs/m

The measurement of a good code, with permission from Thom Holwerda.

Progress

I'm happy that things are finally moving.  Onwards!

Six degrees of separation

Clicking randomly among Chinese-looking friends of my friends, I found that many of them are linked to me in some way.  Either I have too many Facebook "friends"; or my friends have too many links; or Singapore is just too damn small.

Development charges to go up - a cooling measure?

Our press has always been supportive of our government; the news they publish will be in tune with our leaders' wish to improve the mood of the people, or to caution them against overspending.
In the recent flurry of feel-good reports, I noted a curious article.  It says that as a further move to curb spiraling prices, development charges will go out.  The article went on to say that as a result of the recent changes, developers will hold back new projects.

Come on.  Seriously?

Cooling down of housing prices

We shall see.

Cookie and Milk

Can't go together.  Sad =(

On Ramly Burgers

wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramly_Burger
one Malaysian's opinion on Ramly burger: http://www.waisikkai.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=141&Itemid=52

more well known in SG: http://sg.88db.com/sg/HTML/en-us/indexmkt/iRecommend/ramly_burger.html
JW: On this, opinions vary.  Most seem to say, "Malaysia better".  That's beside the point.  We're talking about SG only.  If I'm in Tiong Bahru and let's say there seves the 2nd best Char Kway Tiao in SG, you don't come tell me, "Bedok's one best".  Sheesh; I'll just eat whatever's best in that spot, thank you.  Btw, I've no idea on where the best Char Kway Tiao is, nor what the ranking is.

New moon

Tired, stressed, overworked, depressed and not meeting deadlines; I'm in such a mess.  So tempted to call it a stop.  Wondering when it'll end...

I hate chopsticks!

Grrr...

Housing price in future

This... or that?

Honda The Incredible Machine

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LE-VKkv-AQ



most of it is filmed real: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cog_%28advert%29
Rube Golderb machine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine

What's my value?

=(

Disheartened

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade_%28poem%29
~

Ellen Page (Inception)

Thought she looked familiar..

from Wiki:

She is also known for her starring roles in Hard Candy, Inception, Smart People and Whip It, and as Katherine "Kitty" Pryde in X-Men: The Last Stand. In addition, Page received attention in Canada for award-winning roles in Pit Pony and Marion Bridge, as well as television shows Trailer Park Boys and ReGenesis.

image from: http://www.starpulse.com/Actresses/Page,_Ellen/gallery/CWP-001771/

Pullouts

How much value is placed on a social date?  Is it irrevocable?  Does it warranty punctuality?  Can it be skipped in view of something more important?

When pulling out, do you consider your word?  Will the gathering or event still be able to function?  Are you letting down anyone?

COV showdown

image source: http://theonlinecitizen.com/

“It’s in the interest of buyers to have low COVs, but it’s in the interest of sellers who own the flats to have high COVs… So, between these two groups, we must let them fight it out… The Government prefers not to interfere.”

Mah Bow Tan, Today, 26 July 2010

The culture of being defensive.

PUB has done it.  Apple has done it.

In recent events, both had came out strongly to say they were not at fault, only to have reports and actions proving otherwise later.  Is this what they teach top management?

[PUB / Ministers]
1. (Defensive) Jun 18. Blocked drain was the cause: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20100618-222731.html
2. (Retraction) Jul 19. Capacity is wanting: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_555341.html

[Apple]
1. (Diversion) Jun 25. Don't hold it that way: http://newslite.tv/2010/06/25/apple-iphone-4-dont-hold-it-li.html
2. (Diversion) Jul 2. Apple claims that reception problem is due to error in calculation: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/07/02appleletter.html
3. (Diversion) Jul 21. Competitor phones have antenna problems too: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/apple-reframes-touch-of-death-as-gorilla-grip-of-death/9004
4. (Retraction) Aug 2. Apple drops competitor antenna criticism: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/apple-drops-competitor-antenna-criticism-from-website/16857

A simplification that turned out to be an obfuscation

He was so resistant to hardcoding the mapping, that he developed a convolted method to simplify it. Then finding out its shortcomings, he started patching it.
Now how am I gonna clean up this mess?

Why?..

..is work ever so demanding?

..do people think their flats valued at $300k, can command $55k COV?

Hasegawa Valkyrie VF-1A/J/S Model Kit 1/72

For hardcore modelers.  Hasegawa, has added many fine details to the Vaklryie, producing a authentic looking model.  However, as realistic models go, it is not easy to assemble.

source: http://www.collectiondx.com/toy_review/macross_robotech/hasegawa_valkyrie_vf_1a_j_s_model_kit_1_72

Star Wars Subway Car

From: Raymond
source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5gCeWEGiQI&feature=related

Moody

Lost my handphone pouch.. =(

Speaking up

Today, a family of 4 stole my allotment of the tables and I was too slow to speak up.

The manager made a mistake and the family happily took the chance.  I stood up but they were already inside.  The son stole a glance at us but said nothing.  On clarification, the manager admitted she made a mistake.

I was damn pissed off because it was a deliberate steal - there were only us and them.  Then the fact that I let them get away.

If we don't speak up, then the cycle continues and we are just blowing hot air.
~

Dang gui

read more: http://www.vitaminstuff.com/herbs-dang-gui.html

picture source: http://www.pacherbs.com/archives/852

Info courtesy of ST.
~

Bolt-action Lee Enfield sniper rifle (lego) and others

Bolt-action Lee Enfield sniper rifle: http://kotaku.com/5561645/lego-the-first+person-shooter


Other lego gun recreations by Jack Streat: http://www.mocpages.com/home.php/13860

Courtesy of Melvin.
~

Holy crap-- somebody just went and TORE MY FREAKING USB CABLE IN HALF while it was still attached to my laptop!!!

How to make a Sawed-off USB Key: http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/usbkey
Courtesy of ST.

30 months anniversary

30 months.  How time flies.

On Saturday, we went to a choir concert with ST, Ian and Henry.  I couldn't catch the words but the voices seemed good.  After the concert, we were joined by Ekee Ngee and a lady friend of theirs, and we had prata.

On Sunday, we had dinner with my family at Golden Mile Cinema.  The place was crowded, the place so-so and the price wasn't that worth it.  Still, whatever makes Father happy.
After dinner, ST and I went Bugis.  Out of curiousity, we stepped into the branded Chinese Herbal Shop - Eu Tong Seng or something, Baby bought me herbal jelly, for my heaty condition =]  Later, we caught "Toy Story 3", it was pretty hilarious.

On Monday, I picked ST up from work.  We went to Prego to have dinner, it was where we had our 1st year anniversary.  Didn't expect ourselves to watch a world cup match.  After dinner, we went to Intercontinental hotel to have drinks; nothing to fanciful, just mocktails and tea for us.

Happy 30 months anniversary, baby. <3

Nendoroid Mickey Mouse Previews

Nendoroid Mickey Mouse Previews.

source: http://wcloudxkumo.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/nendoroid-mickey-mouse-previews/

Pineapple salad

Macross - Episode 18 "Pineapple Salad"

During a raid, Roy Fokker was critically wounded.  However, instead of seeking medical help, he went to his girlfriend - Claudia's apartment to have the pineapple salad he ordered earlier.  He played the guitar calmly when she was preparing and died there on the sofa.

When I first read the novelisation, I thought that it was a stupid way to die.  Why didn't he seek medical help?

Though these days I'm inclined to think, that might be a nice way to go.

Tussils from baby

Sick today and had an itchy throat.  Baby bought me some Tussils.  Happy =]
~

New entry on blog-roll: Free Public Transit

Continuing the environmental slant; here's a blog I found informative - http://frepubtra.blogspot.com/
I've added it to my blog-roll.
~

Quantum Cryptography: Privacy Through Uncertainty

(Released October 2002)
by Salvatore Vittorio

source: http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/crypt/overview.php

The purpose of cryptography is to transmit information in such a way that access to it is restricted entirely to the intended recipient, even if the transmission itself is received by others. This science is of increasing importance with the advent of broadcast and network communication, such as electronic transactions, the Internet, e-mail, and cell phones, where sensitive monetary, business, political, and personal communications are transmitted over public channels. 

1.5 days of madness left..

Counting down..
~

I keyed in my PIN but I can't get through the door..

..then suddenly realised it's daytime; just flashing my passcard will do.  What does that tell you?  Sheesh.. -.-"
~

What happens when oil runs out?

Scary food for thought.
What if oil runs out in our generation? Can you imagine the anarchy?

Lighter read: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/world-oil-supplies-are-set-to-run-out-faster-than-expected-warn-scientists-453068.html

Heavier read: http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

She's gonna blow!

source: http://members.fortunecity.com/colorbook/colouring4/ghostbusters4.gif

Back...

..from Hong Kong.  Now for a last week of mad work. =)
~

12 hrs more..

..n I'll be on a cab to the airport w a lovely gal; can't wait.
For now, it's OT! Oooo, the smell of work! 8)
~

Don't push it

>:|

Dilbert 2010-04-29

source: http://www.dilbert.com/2010-04-29/

Things worth knowing about your beverages

20 things worth knowing about beer - http://theoatmeal.com/comics/beer

15 things worth knowing about coffee - http://theoatmeal.com/comics/coffee
~

Kiwi

What lengths would you go?
source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdUUx5FdySs&feature=related

Schedule so tight...

... yet I'm expected to absorb new tasks that needs 1-2 days.
"I got no gap!"
"Find some gap", they say

That's easy to say, when I've already committed my weekends to my current task.  Sucks.
~

Silviu Ionescu getting detained, also can be a whacking point

Amazing isn't it?  I think even if a leaf falls from the sky, people can say that's because the Government is so and so; and LKY did this and that; and it's all their fault.
Come'on.  Whack only when the topic is relevant!  Sheesh!
~

You're coughing at 3am in the morning...

and declares that Strepsils work better than Pi Pa Gao...
~

Cats

17 things worth knowing about your cat: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/cat_know

How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you: http://www.catswhothrowupgrass.com/kill.php

~

Modem handshake iPhone ringtone

for nerds..
If I have a decent handphone, I might get it too.. :p
http://leonward.wordpress.com/2008/12/08/modem-handshake-iphone-ringtone/
~

Telecast rights and the end of the week

Enough about the World Cup!  Enough is enough!  Why are people thinking that because we're damn rich as a nation, it's a disgrace not to have telecast right?  Why is it a reason to vote for opposition? Stop.

Have been ot-ing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  If work doesn't kill me, my baby will.  No later than 7.30 pm tonight...

Bad mood

Bad mood

If you believe in what you wish for

But wishing does not make things turn into reality la...
~

Putting the best foot forward

After a month or two, of favouring my right knee whenever I navigate stairs, I could walk properly most of the time now.
The trick is, to walk "normally".

When I favour one side, I take to take a slow excruciating step with my left foot, then land heavily on right foot.  Pain will strike at random, despite the care I took.
Now, with some recovery and knowing the limits between acceptable discomfort and actual pain, I could try to walk without favouring one side.  By doing so, each step is kept quick and light.
So haste trumps caution, some of the time.

Blog Maintenance - FY10

+seen
+read
-commentary

JW: all my post are my comments, so why do I need a tag for commentary?
~

A mini food run

ST caught some video segments on razor, introducing food around Jalan Besar; so I proposed having it for tea-dinner.
link: http://www.razor.tv/site/servlet/segment/main/lifestyle/46714.html

1st stop - Vinegar Pork Knuckles
Street: Beatty Lane, or 24 Foch Road
Coffeeshop: ??
Stall: Cheng Mun Chee Kee Pig Organ Soup

JW: Vinegar was fragrant, meat was soft.  However, the taste didn't quite soak through yet.  Still, one of the better Vinegar Pork Knuckles commercially available (home-cooked is still the best).

2nd stop - Hakka Beef Ball Bee Hoon
Street: 45-48, Syed Alwi Road
Coffeeshop: San Lee Eating House
Stall: The Beef House

JW: Soup was surprising light and fragrant.  Much as I hate parsley, I had to admit that it contributed to much of the fragrance.  The other flavours in the soup seemed to be beef and salt.  The bee hoon soaked up the soup well.  However, the beef balls are tougher than the usual deal.  On closer examination, they taste more beefy than the rest, so it might be an acquired taste?
~

Binge Drinking

Kinda dumb..
~

Micro sleep

I was holding a bowl of soup in my hands and...
Time to go to sleep!

Non-Newtonian fluid

Maybe I'm stubborn, but perhaps if you just ask, or maybe just grumble, I would have have done it for you. Since you chose to do it the Singaporean way, then meet corn starch.

Tu na

ST brought me to a Chinese physician yesterday. My knee had pains after a gym injury a few months back, so she was a bit insistent on it. His skills were fine, but he could improve on his compassion for pain.
Eg:
"This leg where got painful? The right leg should hurt more"
Massages right leg, while someone howled in pain.
"Correct, right? That's cause the right leg had to take over the weight bearing. So it hurts more even though it's not the injured leg..."
~

The Pacific - Episode 3: Leckie-Stella romance

Sheesh, it isn't real...

In real life, Leckie never had a great romance with a Greek-Australian girl and her family (he mostly spent his time Down Under having affairs with a variety of women), and you can kind of tell. (I suspected it was fictionalized even before I started reading up on Leckie.) There's a difference between compressing events (or assigning moments one character had in real life to another character in the film) and inventing things out of whole cloth, and it sticks out in the middle of a production that's largely so committed to fidelity. 

source: http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2010/03/the_pacific_part_three_medals.html
~

The best laid plans..

..were dashed by a late call last evening.  It was a bug report and I spent the next 2.5 hours dealing with.  It looks set to upset my plans on Monday as well.
I have been hitting my targets for this week till this happened.  So... more buffer zones, doing "nothing" ?
~

(2007) Girl who blogged about fatigue and breathlessness, died 3 days later

This happened in 2007.  Kinda sad.  Then there are those people who think we can simply walk away from our worklist.  He rightly deserved to be flamed.
http://pinkmayflower.multiply.com/journal
~

Protest vote

The argument is sound, in fact.
"Let one MP fall, so that the ruling party shall know fear".

Most people who read the "alternative news" would probably agree with this.
Problem is, do you want *your* district to bite the bullet?  To vote in the jokers they call the opposition?
~

Anti-Social behaviour Part 1: Damaging books

Was sitting in Starbucks today with ST and I was reading Discovery Channel magazines.  I was interested in one of the feature articles and jumped directly to it. 

"Hmm.. it's at page 71".
Flip, Flip.
"Page 60.  A pinch of pages shall do it."
Pinch.
"Page 80?  Ok, I'll go back."
Pinch.
"Page 60?  What the?..."

On examination, I found out someone tore out pages 70-79.  Okay, so you like the article, but the magazine isn't yours!  Ownership issues aside, I wouldn't destroy a publication like that.

Over the years, I noted that browsers in bookstops tend to take very little care of books.  They flip the pages without care; they load another heavy book on top of the one they had just opened up to read.  Are these book lovers?

In libraries, books suffer from being deliberately dog-eared, highlighted, noted on, cut out, torn out.  It puzzles me; it upsets me.  Lack of morals?  Or a lack of appreciation of books?
~


What knowledge and skills are worthwhile learning? What are the goals of education? - An old teaching.
~

Genuises

The minds of past genuises, like Maxwell and Pascal, are astonishing.
~

Fun with figures

How things can look rosier or gloomier with the manipulation of scales.
Pictures are stolen from.. elsewhere.

Govt figures:

1999 - things look good

2000 - still ok..

2001 - not so rosy

2006 - things are turning for the worse

 

July 12, 2007 Baghdad airstrike

On 12 July 2007,  2 US Apaches fired on a group that they claimed were insurgents, killing 2 Reuters reporters.  Later, Wikileaks posted a video online and caused international interests.

From the video, it looked that the US Army had mis-identified the cameras as weapons and opened fire.  The footage contains people being killed by the M230 Chain Gun.  If this discomforts you, please do not watch the video.

Site hosting the video: http://www.collateralmurder.org/
Wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_12,_2007_Baghdad_airstrike
What is Wikileaks?: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikileaks
What is a M230 Chain Gun?: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M230_Chain_Gun

Doubts about the video: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/07/military-raises-questions-credibility-leaked-iraq-shooting-video/


~

Soldier Story US Army FCS ACU Version Preview

Soldier Story 1/6 scale 12-inch US Army Future Combat Systems soldier.
http://toyhaven.blogspot.com/2009/09/soldier-story-us-army-fcs-acu-version.html

~

Unit testing

I lost it a little by sending a terse email to the vendors today.  Reason being they perform little or no zero unit testing.  Crap.

Another hit and run doctor..

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_506151.html

[excerpt]
ONE of two cyclists knocked down in Clementi on Sunday night by a suspected drink-driver died in hospital on Wednesday from head injuries.
Freelance writer Benjamin Mok Chee Kong, 35, never regained consciousness after the accident.
The 62-year-old suspect, a general practitioner, could be facing more trouble as he is under investigation for a hit-and-run offence.
[/excerpt]

Emo. Targets slipped.

Why do I fail my deadlines?
I don't know. I just feel I have endless things to do.

Three kinds of lies

Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
- Mark Twain's Own Autobiography: The Chapters from the North American Review

source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Statistics.html

Replacement of camera

Time to replace my fujifilm f60fd.  (see old blog post)

I've more or less settled on Canon S90, based on this review - http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/s90.htm

While the review was glowing, when compared to my f60fd, it doesn't seem that impressive.
Canon S90 spec
Fujifilm f60fd spec

It has a lower megapixel count (10 compared to 12) and a lower shutter speed (1/1600 compared to 1/2000).  It has a pop-up flash which I dislike.

However, I'm most likely to give it a try, on the merits of its control rings and a higher optical zoom.

Updates coming soon.






pictures from: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0908/09081906canons90handson.asp

Got a wrong number...

12:46am

[rings]
JW: "Hello"
Rude: "blah blah blah"
JW: "Hello?"
[pause]
[disconnect]
JW: (sms) "No manners to say sorry?"
JW: (sms) "Still no reply.. Guess you have no upbringing after all. Night.."

---

I'll probably get a lot of nuisance calls over the next few nights, but hitting back at these people is worth it

---

Usual blues

Feel unappreciated. haiz.

Summer Wars

JW: The colours were clean.  The scenes were detailed. The background was beautifully painted with pastel colours.  The fluid animation of the characters gave rise to realistic motion and a chatty body language.
Good use of story telling techniques with a good contrast, trying to tell 3 stories concurrently.  I felt that this was too ambitious; somehow, it managed to stay afloat.
Recommended.

Alternative news

I know that the mainstream papers are at best - too timid to write negative about the government; at worst, government bootlickers.  Still, I generally accept whatever statistics they throw out.
Till some logical fallacies challenged my faith in the accuracy of official propaganda.
1: HDB flats are affordable
2. Foreigners are not the cause of rising COV prices.

It appears that HDB reviewed the median salary range of applicants and found that the prices were affordable.  The fallacy is that those who apply, are the very people who can afford them.
HDB then threw out statistics to show that PRs pay the same COV as residents; so they were not to be blamed.  However, doesn't their participation increase demand?  Wouldn't citizens have to match the amount offered by PRs?

What kind of crap analysts do we have on the government payroll?  With that, I'm finally swayed to seek alternative news sources.  Take these with a huge pinch of salt though.  As a friend pointed out, these are non professionals, so their writings are far from desirable.

Stargate Studios' Virtual Backlot Reel 2009. Music: "Lion Heart" by Emancipator

The amount of green/blue screen usage.  Madness! O_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clnozSXyF4k

Love; Friendship.

Love is an emotion; it makes you say, "I'll love you forever".
Friendship is an attraction; it makes you say, "I'll be your friend forever".

Love is a pact; you expect that the other will love only you in return.
Friendship is an understanding, you expect the other will never betray you.

Love is a companionship; you say, "Let's go for a walk", and be happy at that.
Friendship is a companionship; you say, "Let's go for a beer", and be happy at that.

Opposition grows to gay sex ruling

Excerpt:

NEW DELHI - A LANDMARK court ruling that decriminalised gay sex between consenting adults in the Indian capital Delhi is facing fresh opposition with new groups joining religious leaders, a lawyer said on Sunday.
.
.
.
The July verdict led to a volley of protests from Hindu, Muslim and Christian religious leaders who jointly denounced gay and lesbian sex as 'against God and creation.

read more: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_493097.html

JW: I guess some age old taboos are more unifying than world peace...

Toxocariasis

What can crawl on your eyes n brains..
http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Toxocariasis.htm

The wedding litany

1900: Cocktail party
1930: Guests invited to sit
2000: JW fumed at the lateness of the other guests
2015: Photos of the couple were shown
2025: Couple march in
2030: Food paraded in

First comes the cold dish.
Next comes shark fins' soup.
Third comes the fish.
Fourth the poultry.
Fifth comes the veg.
Next comes the prawns.
Seventh is the mee.
Last is the yam.

By the second dish, the couple disappears.
By the third dish, they reappear and the toasting ceremony begins.
By the fifth dish, they start photo taking.
By the seventh dish, guests start disappearing.

How dreary.

Winter Wonderfest 2010: Limited edition Macross and Mospeada items

http://www.collectiondx.com/news_item/02082010/winter_wonderfest_2010_t_rex

It's time to say goodbye, after 13 long years.

It's time to say goodbye, after 13 long years, as all things must come to an end. Goodbye, my lecture notes. Goodbye, my textbooks. T_T

Running debate: Bare or in shoes?

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Study: Runners with shoes experience collision two to three times their body weight
• The study has sparked buzz amongst runners -- both praise and skepticism
• Podiatrist and scientist: Ease into barefoot running or risk injury
• Another study suggest walking heel-to-toe is most efficient

read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/12/barefoot.running/index.html?hpt=C2

Pinhole glasses

Sold in Guardian - Singapore, these glasses claim to improve vision over time, citing the application of Bates method.








JW: The Bates method has little scientific proof of its successes and some principles are perhaps harmful, IMO.
The Pinhole glasses works one of the two principles, depending on who you believe:
1. by reducing the light, forcing you to squint your eyes, thereby improving the image.  The belief is that long time usage will strengthen the ciliary muscles which will improve vision in the long term.
source: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/the-truth-about-pinhole-glasses-1253113.html
2. the beams of lights reduces the circles of confusions and improve the depth of field.  This is optical principle.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinhole_glasses

The molest video

I finally watched it.

The girl in the video was trying to get away.  So much for her enjoying it, huh?
And why are all the pple standing around, video-taping the incident with glee?  Too afraid to act, huh?

link: http://www.razor.tv/site/servlet/segment/main/news/41872.html

Spineless coward

I understand we might never be able to punish the lying, irresponsible driver overseas but I want an admission of guilt at least.  Spineless coward.

Workaholic JW

Why do people think that people who OT have a choice? Do they think we enjoy hitting 60 hrs work-weeks?

Have some trust, please

Without trust, who can you bond with?

“Ahpunehneh” is not a proper word

A frustrated SG Indian rant about the attitudes of locals.
http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?t=17396

Yummy saturday

23 Jan 2010, Saturday.

[Lunch]
Just had lunch at Suju Japanese Restaurnt @ Mandarin Gallery. They were having a soft lunch so the options were limited to 2 sets, 2 bentos and 2 desserts. I ordered the most expensive item - a premium set $68. It consisted of 4 appetisers, a sashimi set, a teriyaki sauce grilled black cod, rice, miso soup and a dessert.
I liked one of the appetisers - medium rare beef with mashed potato, served cold. The sashimi had pretty good tasting tuna. The scallop had a soft texture but was too tasted too "fishy" for me. The cod fish and rice were decently good and enjoyable. The dessert was a tiny slice of ice cream cake coated with toasted caramel on top, accompanied with strawberry, mango and pineapple.
Overall a nice surprise though I wondered if I'll get the same quality if I ordered a "normal set". As other netizens pointed out, the current standards can largely be due to the Japanese chefs they currently have on board. I hope they can retain it in time to come.

[Dinner]
Dinner was at T.G.I.Friday @ Heren. I ordered a black-Angus New York Strip at $39.90 while ST ordered a Chicken Fajitas. Food was pretty slow in arriving, about 30 minutes or so. Upon arrival, the staff asked me to cut my steak into half; I verified that the done-ness was on the mark. The wild mushroom sauce, combined with the fats from the steak made a good sinful combination. The meat was soft was tasty and I made a note to ask for medium-rare in future.
ST's chicken was tastefully grilled. However, the wraps provided tasted like over-thick cooked flour. That's as unflattering as I could go as they certainly killed any enjoyment by sticking to the roof of my mouth. If you're eating Fajitas, please go for Cafe Iguana.
I lost the toss to ST, so she paid for dinner. Thanks dear. =)

Congratulations to Yuna

Congratulations on your safe delivery =]

Getting a bf/gf

Thought I should save this down since I spent 20 minutes composing my answer.

Facebook status.
Eula asks... which would u choose, a life with gf/bf, and not get to do all the things u want to do or buy, or no gf/bf, and be able to do or buy almost everything u want?

Comments.
Raca depends on individual's needs & wants in life.

for me, i'll choose a life with bf yet cant do everything i want. (of coz mostly are those things one SHOULDN'T do when he/she is taken).
having to meet the love of my life and having my own family is one of those dreams that will complete my life.
so i definitely wont choose to have no bf and do everything i want. kinda meaningless in life, in a way.

JW a gf shouldn't be seen as a shackle to your freedom and a drain on your finances. you should be together with one, because of the way she makes you feel.

for every door that was close; another one opens. some things you do alone. some things you do together with friends. some things can only be done as a couple.

if you feel that the benefits are not worth the sacrifices, then don't get attached. There's no right or wrong here. people can be happy, as long they have their loved ones with them. be it a guy, a girl, family, a pet, faith, or perhaps money.... See More

If you do find someone, simply ask yourself, "Is she more important than anything else?" If you answer yes, then we'll give u a virtual beer here on facebook, a pat on the back and a knowing smirk on our faces.

Congratulations to Gnel

Congrats.  Finally =)
It was also good to finally meet some ex colleagues too.

After the wedding, we had to run off.  More on that later.

Thick headed

There are some people who refused to believe that climate warming is a fact.

There are some people who refused to believe that itis a problem to get a flat in this country.

Dream on 10 Jan 2009

Had a series of unrelated dreams in the morning of 10 Jan 2009. One particular one was memorable because it woke me up at 7am.

[dream]
My maternal grandmother was alive and my dream self did not know she had passed away. She gave me a kiss. Then something happened and she had difficulty breathing and the extended family was gathered away her and giving her a kiss. I took my turn.

The crowd disappeared and I was alone with her. Told her I was going to marry ST. She in her kid like moment, gave me a kiss.

Scene suddenly switched and I was in some video game competition with 2 other teammates. A nagging thought was that I should return quickly.

Went back and I found.. -[scene deleted for private reasons]-. Mother walked in and casually told me she's dead. She also said the body doesn't matter anymore. Dream self gave a horrible wail.
[/dream]

Woke. Did my parents hear me? They were already up and awake in the kitchen. My face was dry.

This was a dream most grounded in reality and therefore saddening. 13 months. I guess late is better than never.

Intolerance

Recently, some alleged molestation sparked off little wars in blogs and forums.  Most called for banning for a certain ethnic group from future public events.  Few pointed fingers at those who took delight in video-taping the incident.
Not far away, a court of law decreed that one of the names of God could be used by other faiths. The next day, there were attacks on places of worships of these other faiths.
These events showed how scary such bigotry can be.  Scary because someone who is polite, gentle and mild-tempered could be one.  They frighten us with their intolerance.  To oppose them is to show intolerance.  Such events are hugely divisive.
Yet how can we stop them?  By nipping them in the bud, they'll only fester in the hatred.  We had 40 years of nation building and what we had to show will be classic lines like this. (taken from Gaga's blog)

Status update:
[Dneirf]
can’t believe his luck is so down that he had to be stuck in a transit flight chock full of blackie peasants, wailing black babies and an incredibly fat black guy who kept eating on one side and another grumpy gramps sitting on the other! NO MORE COLOMBO FLIGHTS FOR ME EVER AGAIN! :(

Comment:
[tano]
I can fully understand yr plight! It’s like putting u in e same train cabin packed wif no one else but all e stinky banglas! Hopefully u’ll nv experience it ever again! Cheer up!

[agag]
omigod … cannot be so racist la! how come all my friends becoming so intolerant.

[agag]
btw tano.., those ’stinky banglas’ probably sweated so much building the house you are living in or laying that cable so you can surf your FB. have some gratitude.

[tano]
I guess some ppl just can’t seemed to relate to e analogy I’m creating! Being tolerant is one thing, putting urself in an uncomfortable situation is another! I guess I’m tolerant, otherwise I’ll be kicking their ass whenever I see one! Unless some people enjoy being in e comfort of being uncomfortable, then all e best! And I wouldn’t mind admitting being racist against them for all e good reasons n bad influence they have brought along to Singapore when ur so call their contribution to our society! I would rather they keep those values to themselves n not start polluting my area either with physical rubbish or mental torture!


-(taken from Gaga's blog)

Crows...

are visible along Geylang again.

Top Ten Astronomy Pictures of 2009

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/12/15/top-ten-astronomy-pictures-of-2009/2/

Adjusting; Stress management

Got over the emo period but the workload is still as heavy.  Stress management talks?  Bah!  They advocate prioritisation, which is just a nicer way of saying do-the-most-important-stuffs-first.  The doesn't mean the less important stuffs don't need doing.  All tasks grow in importance.  They'll explode in your face when you least expect them.
Ops and CRs take out 70% of my time during daylight hours.  TL expects me to spend 70% of my time on CRs only.  MGR expects me to spend 70% of my time on my project.  What can a poor IT Worker do?   Put on blinders and charge ahead!  :p

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
  Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
  Rode the six hundred.

-the charge of the light brigade

Night Cycling #2

Had an enjoyable night cycling trip on 2 Jan. The event was organised by Ian, one of ST's "gang".
We started from Tampinese, through the park connecters, along Chagni Airport, back via ECP-Macdonalds, Bedok and back to Tampinese.
Thanks for the experience, everyone.

Lame bombings

It seems that there's a bombing every other day and someone gets killed.  The favourite toy of those who see themselves as underdogs.  Since ancient times, men had learnt the concept of Total War.  Yet when used on bystanders of other countries, sometimes on humanitarian missions, what grounds do you have?

New Year's countdown

Why does an event need to be in the crowd?
What matters is who is there with you.