MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED NEW YEAR AHEAD.

Share with you this cute pic i got from a fellow EDMW.

Today's P7 paper was tough... in the sense that a lot of weightage for marks, but cant think of so many points to write...

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

Though im not a big harry potter fan, but i would sure like to see this movie.

ROOM REVAMPED

BEFORE

AFTER

Now my room is airy, brighter and neater. Must thank God, Uncle Beng, Aunt Karen & Uncle Alan and My parents for the help while undergoing the ratification works.

Singapore Power explains increase of tariffs in Q4

SINGAPORE:

The uproar began slightly over a month ago when SP Services announced that electricity tariffs would increase 21.5 per cent in the last quarter of this year.

Consumers, already burdened by record inflation, saw red and pointed to profits of S$1.086 billion that SP's parent company, Singapore Power, made last year.

How would the poor cope, and why couldn't Singapore Power use some of its profits to absorb the cost, many asked in newspaper and Internet forums.

But the company remained largely silent, leaving market regulator, the Energy Market Authority (EMA), to respond to news coverage and readers' letters.

On Friday, Singapore Power broke the silence and launched a spirited defence against public anger. "We have nothing to hide," said group chief executive officer Mr Quek Poh Huat in a media briefing helmed by top management.

The key message was this: Blaming SP Services for high tariffs is akin to shooting the messenger. "If I'm the lorry driver (delivering) goods to your house, and you ask me how come the (price for) a bag of rice has doubled, I can't explain to you," said chief financial officer Yap Chee Keong.

SP Services does not generate electricity; it transports power from the generation companies (gencos) to end-users, selling to households without any price mark-up. The transmission charge, together with the fee for billing and reading of meters, makes up 17 per cent of the tariff.

Over the last six years, Singapore Power has reduced transmission charges by 24 per cent through higher efficiency. The remaining 83 per cent of the tariff – or 25.13 cents out of the current 30.45 cents per kilowatt hour – is paid to gencos.

EMA sets the formula for tariffs, which Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Sylvia Lim asked to be revealed in Parliament last month.

Singapore Power's profit from the regulated electricity market here was S$423 million last year, representing a 6 per cent return on total assets (ROTA) – a "reasonable" rate compared to other countries.

In Australia's Victoria state, for example, the ROTA is 9.6 per cent. The rest of its profit was from sale of investments and its Australian operations.

In the briefing, Singapore Power also tackled other thorny questions: How far in advance can consumers know of next quarter's electricity prices? Why can't investments in infrastructure be postponed? Why not ask the government for funding? Tariffs for Jan to Mar 2009 will be based on October's average forward fuel prices, said SP Services deputy managing director Jeanne Cheng.

The gencos will convert the average forward price to Singapore dollars and use it to set the tariff's fuel component.

"By the end of November, we would submit to EMA for approval the tariffs for (next) quarter. EMA would require time for checks, but I believe EMA is trying to work to shorten this period to have an earlier announcement," she said.

SP Services had announced this current quarter's tariffs two days before they kicked in, but notice of up to a month is possible, said Mr Quek. When contacted, EMA said: "We are working with SP Services to shorten the turnaround time, but ultimately, due process is needed to compute, check and confirm the figures.

" Singapore Power will invest S$5.1 billion in infrastructure over the next five years, with funds coming from operational cashflows and external borrowings.

It has borrowed S$9 billion from the international markets this year for further investment, said Mr Yap. It would be unfair to ask the government for funding because that would mean taking from taxpayers, he said. "We can take the easy way out, but S$10 billion from the Budget would mean S$10 billion less for the rest."

Mr Yap added: "Energy has a direct correlation with gross national product. If you believe Singapore will grow, then you need to plan forward. It's like the airport – you have to build it before planes will come.

" Singapore's major industries like the banking and pharmaceutical sectors also require high quality power grids with minimal voltage fluctuations, and "just to maintain the same standard, you have to invest", said Singapore Power's chief operating officer Ong Boon Hwee.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/386840/1/.html

Well, i believe everyone who lives in Singapore would be lamenting on the sudden hike of a whopping 21% in Electricity Tariffs.

Many angry residents have complained and demanded for explanations in Straits Times Forums as well as many other independent blogs and forums island wide.

Sudden increase of 21% is really a lot, if you take a household of 4 person (mine for example), before would be around $180 and now its at $210++. Though the amount $30 increase to some may be insignificant but to some, it may meant a weeks worth of lunch or maybe 2 weeks worth of public transport fees.

Couldn't there be a gradual increase like say an increase of 3% every quater? one matter that i couldn't quite agree with Singapore Power (SP) is that they say that blaming them is akin to shooting the messenger (See Bold).

Why i disagree? Here is why:

1. if you are just a messenger as in Singapore Power, then why do we need you as the middle man? Aint the fees we pay you also has a factor of your so called "Salary" in it? Dun act as if you are not involved.

2. Don't give the stupid blatant excuse as if the general public are uneducated, where you think you can fool us with some lame excuse like u did. What you mean you dunno... with the position and title you hold, i reckon you better know what is going on and how are the tariffs charged and how to justify the 21% increase is. I seriously think you should resign, being the CFO, you can proudly say that you dun know how such calculations are done, and even give a stupid parable on the delivery man who does not know why the bag of rice increase, ofcourse he knows why, its just that he doesn't want to tell you that the increase is due to his salary increment and his year end big fat bonus.

3. The Govt have been telling a lot of companies and busniess not to rise their prices and the salary of employees to help curb inflation, and then Electricity prices and transport prices keeps on increasing. Shouldn't there be a curb of increase on these neccessities as well? especially these are used almost every ticking second.

4. why are the electricity price pegged to that of the oil futures prices? (See Bold) in such a case, the company is always in a win-win situation. Whether it gain or losses in the futures market, it will always charge it back to the users in the electrictiy tariffs. Should the risk be borned by the company instead of the users?

My Butter prawns!!!

I was reading my friend's blog where she cooked up some butter prawns and it has interest me so much that i decided to cook some to try. The process is rather simple, i got some help from her and then off i went to cook.

The taste is really very similar to those restaurant. Buttery flavour with added spice and chili taste. Ingredients and cooking method is rather easy. I shall cook it this sunday to all Grandma, Aunt, Uncle, Cousins to eat.

I shall not reveal the ingredients yet.

BIRTHDAY PHOTO

We were at our grandma house on the 14th of Sep, which is my Grandma's english birthday. My sister bought a cake for my birthday! so touched!!!

This is the pics with my sister, my Brother (Sister's Husband) and my cousins. Not forgetting Bobby.

Was at Sim Lim square last week where i decided to check out the flea market just opposite Sim Lim Tower. you can really literally find anything there, from old clothings to broken records, Laser Disc, CD, VCD, fake Rolex (They really look very very real until you turn to look at the back of it).

Its like a mini pasar Malam...

Oct 14, 2008

Workers are human, too Integrate, not segregate: That should be the way as their numbers grow

By Lydia Lim, Straits Times.

WORKERS were summoned and human beings came. That was how Swiss author Max Frisch summed up the situation in post-war Germany.

In the midst of a reconstruction boom, 1950s Germany recruited tens of thousands of manual labourers from the poor countries of Europe and the Mediterranean coast.

The Germans called them gastarbeiter, or guest workers, for guests were expected to leave after a while.

Today, booming city states like Singapore are doing the same.

There are now 577,000 foreign workers here, excluding maids. They, too, are guest workers, here for the short term to oil the engine of economic growth.

A third of them, or about 180,000, do construction work. Others staff factory lines. Yet others are cleaners.

As a nation, we are painfully aware of our economic dependence on these workers. But we also seem to have reduced them to mere factors of production.

We seem to have lost sight of the reality that these are human beings and like us, they have human needs.

The recent furore over the conversion of an old and vacant school building in Serangoon Gardens into a dormitory for foreign workers makes that patently clear.

The Government announced last week that it would go ahead with the dormitory but to appease residents, it would seal off the entrance that opens out into Serangoon Gardens to both vehicles and pedestrians.

The 600 workers to be housed in the dormitory will only be able to enter and exit via a new, built-to-order 400m slip road that will lead into the Central Expressway and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1.

So even though these workers will live temporarily within one of Singapore's more mature and pleasant housing estates, they will have no direct access to its shops, parks or eating places.

They will be fenced in and kept apart from the estate's other residents.

A request was also made to Member of Parliament Lim Hwee Hua for shuttle buses to ferry the foreigners - not to Serangoon Gardens of course - but to areas like Bishan and Ang Mo Kio Central on weekends.

We as a society need to ask ourselves if that is an acceptable way to treat fellow human beings.

Why do we feel we have a right to deny foreign workers the good things we ourselves enjoy, including a chance to walk about freely and mingle with others?

Imagine if you or your son or daughter were to go to another country to work and be at the receiving end of such treatment. How would you feel?

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan stressed last month that segregation cannot be the way forward, not at the rate the foreign worker population is growing.

Their numbers swelled by 102,000 last year alone, double the jump of 55,000 a year ago. And with major construction works lined up, a let-up is unlikely.

Singaporeans, Mr Mah said, must 'be prepared to see them and share with them our common spaces'.

But actions speak louder than words. And in the case of Serangoon Gardens, the Government's response to residents' complaints has been to provide precisely what Mr Mah spoke out against - segregation.

One issue that merits closer examination is the extent to which Singaporeans take the cue from the Government, which has one policy for foreign workers and another, contrasting one for foreign talent.

While there is an economic rationale for such a two-tier approach to regulating the entry and exit of different types of foreigners, such policies also shape people's attitudes.

There is little doubt that as a result, some locals feel distinctly inferior to foreign talent, while others seem to believe they have licence to treat those here on work permits as a lower class of beings.

Any right thinking individual knows that there is no basis for such feelings of superiority.

Most Singaporeans only have to look a generation or two back to realise that the only thing that separates them from foreign workers is the good fortune of having been born in a wealthy and developed city state.

To be sure, Singapore is not unique in its handling of migrant workers.

Compared to some countries in the Middle East, the treatment that foreign workers receive here may seem civilised.

In Dubai, for example, where more than 80 per cent of the work force is foreign, labourers from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan who toil to build skyscrapers and luxury hotels live out of sight in temporary labour camps in the desert.

But is that the direction we want our society to head in? I think we can and should do better.

Some residents of Jalan Kayu and their MP Wee Siew Kim have demonstrated a more humane way forward.

After 6,000 foreign workers moved into the neighbourhood, grassroots leaders and police officers roped in 38 workers to help them patrol the area.

They organised a walk-a-jog around the foreign worker dormitory, so residents and workers could get to know each other better.

Our society needs more such community events, so Singaporeans can see for themselves that most foreign workers are just ordinary, hard-working folk like them.

The Government also needs to step up to the plate. It should review regulations that lend credence to the belief that foreign workers matter less.

The Land Transport Authority's refusal to ban the transport of foreign workers in lorries' cargo decks, for example, signals that these workers' lives are, to quote MP Halimah Yaacob, 'worth less than equipment'.

Let us remember that treating others with dignity is a mark of a civilised society.

(Source: Straits Times, Page A2, October 14 2008.)

After reading this article by Lydia Lim, i cannot help but agree fully with her that we should treat all foreign workers humanely and not carry a skeptical, prejudice and bias attitude towards them. As if everyone of them are criminals or would be criminals.

On the Government's decision to build a worker's dormitory at Serangoon Gardens, residents were unhappy, and many suggested that the govt build it at Tuas, Changi, Jurong etc. Citing reduction in property value if they were to be build there, crimes will rise, peace to be disturbed etc...

If i were to live there and having spend millions to buy a private house and wanting peace and serenitiy around my neighbourhood only to learn that in a years time, some 600 - 1000 foreign workers will come and live in my neighbourhood and traffic will be high due to the ferrying, i will be some what pissed. But to give suggestion to have it build at some other parts of Singapore, i will never suggest it.

What gives you the right to think that residence in some other parts of Singapore would be happy and joyful to having a Worker's dormitory just beside their house. Just so because you can afford the $2 million house gives u the right to feel that way and not others who are living in a $200k home?

They even have the cheek and no shame to even suggest that they be ferried to places like Bishan and Ang Mo Kio on weekend. Have they no shame? i cant believe they even suggest that, it only shows how low can they be when they have only their own interest to care about. Then what would the residence of Bishan and Ang mo kio think? What about the workers? dun they have a freedom or choice to make?

Because of them, they cant even visit the shops to buy neccesities as they are being blocked off. And because of their suggestions, taxpayers have to cough up another extra $2million to build a new route to the dormitory as the main gate have to be sealed off.

I came across a worker's dormitory at Yishun which entrance is facing the HDB ard and on week ends, i see workers enjoying themselves by sitting at the open field or gardens around their dormitory eating and chatting away and at night, going for their favourite Bollywood movies at Yishun Cinema. And all this happened without any fuss.

Kudos to the Singapore Government for not relenting to the request of those bias, selfish and Racist residence to build a dorm in other parts of Singapore.

SINGAPORE INVESTORS STAGE PROTEST AT SPEAKERS CORNERS.

Held at Speakers' Corner, the only outdoor area where public meetings can be held without a permit, the crowd included several people who were sold products in July, when there were already concerns about Lehman's health. -- DESMOND WEE/THE STRAITS TIMES

ABOUT 600 investors in Lehman-linked derivatives held a public meeting in Singapore on Saturday to protest about the way banks sold them the investment products and to discuss ways to get compensation.

Held at Speakers' Corner, the only outdoor area where public meetings can be held without a permit, the crowd included several people who were sold products in July, when there were already concerns about Lehman's health.

'They never told me the issuer was Lehman and I told the manager I was afraid of American banks,' said Ms Lin Ling, who bought S$60,000 worth of Lehman-linked 'Minibonds' from a Singapore finance firm that had marketed the structured notes as a safe alternative to fixed deposits.

Ms Lin said she was persuaded to buy the notes when she went to renew a fixed deposit account. She and other investors showed brochures printed by the finance company which did not say the products were structured by Lehman.

A few elderly investors broke into tears saying they had lost a large portion of their retirement savings. 'I didn't know it's Lehman. There's no Chinese explanation,' said a lady in her 60s who identified herself as Madam Lee. 'I don't want interest, I just want my deposit back.'

Investors in Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia have over the past month complained the bond-like products they purchased from banks were actually complex derivatives and that they stood to lose most or all of what they had invested.

Both Singapore and Hong Kong have rules that say banks must ensure that clients purchase investment products that were consistent with their needs and risk profiles.

The products included Minibonds which were sold in Hong Kong and Singapore and DBS Group's High Notes 5 series, which would lose most of their value should anyone of eight underlying firms, including Lehman, go bankrupt.

These structured notes offered modest returns of between 4 and 6 percent per annum. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said about 9,700 people had bought Lehman-linked structured notes worth over S$500 million. Hong Kong authorities meanwhile said they have received more than 7,000 complaints from investors alleging banks improperly sold them Lehman-related investment products.

MAS has said that while it can impose fines and suspend the licenses of financial institutions found to be in breach of its rules, it does not have the power to order banks to compensate investors.

According to Mr Tan Kin Lian, one of the protest organisers, Saturday's gathering was to allow investors to meet and organise themselves so that they could get take collective action against the sellers or petition their Members of Parliament. -- THOMSON REUTERS

(http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_288734.html)

WHOS AT FAULT?

The people who purchased the bonds pointed their fingers at the banks for not informing them about the high risk and volitality of such products when selling them those bonds. They furthered that such matters are always in small fine print and included jargons that a non-financial person would not be able to apprehend. Such matters are made worst when they are only being told of the benefits and not the risk that comes with it.

In my opinion, i strongly think that there are bank agents (i use bank agent because of the different title that banks assign to their sales person) who will, on the need to hit the minimum target of sales per month, use unethical methods to push and sell their products even though their clients do not know what and where their money are going.

On the other hand, im quite surprise that such bonds holders are retirees, chinese speaking old folks who obviously cant understand those english description of the products and house wives alikes. Isn't this the same as trying to sell magical stones to the old lady walking down the street?

I was watching CH8 News where this old lady who can only speak fluently in cantonese told the news reporter that her entire $400,000 life savings are invested in the bond, and was told that it is safe and wont be lost. On seeing Lehman Bro bankruptcy in USA, she called the bank agent and was then told that she might lose her entire $400k investment...

My my, wat a tragedy, $400k maybe peanuts to some bank executives/agents during the high times when they earn this amount in like less than months/years? but this old couple may had taken 20 - 30 years to save this amount for retirement?

On the other hand, part of the blame have to be taken by the people who invested in the bonds, as the interest rates are too high to be true and not to be any high risk attached to it, some even claimed that they are being told that it is principal protected. Yes, it is principal protected provided the co. issuing the bonds do not go bust.

Both Singapore and Hong Kong have rules that say banks must ensure that clients purchase investment products that were consistent with their needs and risk profiles.

This is 1 patricularly grey area. How do you define people whose needs and risk profiles matches those bonds issued by the banks?

You may say that the auntie or uncles sipping coffee at the coffee shop every morning reading news paper are not suitable to invest in high risk bonds or they don't need it. But how would you know if maybe they rely on such products to make a fortune?

At the end of the day, once you put ur signature on the line to sign up for the bonds, you are taken to understood every single word that is in the contract. Its just too bad that these investments went bad and that it is unknown if they will ever get back their investments. However to ask for compensation for being misinformed about the product is as good as asking the casino to refund you back your money because they did not stop you from over gambling. if ever such compensation is returned, then can listed co. return shareholders money for the lost in value of the shares?

On the other hand lets see what is happening in HONG KONG...

DBS Bank in Hong Kong has said it will offer full compensation to customers who bought mini-bonds issued by Lehman Brothers. Customers only need to prove to DBS that DBS staff misled them during the sales process (0:23).

http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.02bb4e979f5e08d5df646910cba0a0a0/?vgnextoid=a5a3dce60f1ec110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=teaser&ss=Blogs&s=Home&type=Audio


http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2008/10/break-news-minibond-holders-in-hk.html

Read on, if you have interest.

GIFTS FOR UNO!

This ball is specially for him, he used to have a few which are hard or otherwise soft which he always chew to pieces. He seems happy with this one though.

I threw it at him asking him to "go get it", and he just looks at me silly.

My camera aint fast enough to capture him chasing the bouncing ball.

He is trying to do a ferrari logo by jumping up in the air to catch the ball.

As a threat, i bought him a Korean Dog Chicken Snack, which he likes very very much.

I went to Hereen today and was stopped by a chinese man who asked me what is the name of the building we are at. Straight away i knew he was a tourist, though he doesn't look like one, i told him its He Ren. He asked me if it has a chinese name, i was like -_-'''...

Anyway, i went to Hereen wanting to buy a leather strap for my wrist which i can use as a fashion tool, the one that Pierre Pang wore in the Ch8 Drama at 11pm. Didn't find any thing thats close, so off i went to HMV and came across this DVD, which i heard of many rave reviews.

Since i have a dog at home, i wanna see what kinda promises that this person made to her dog... Though i always promised Uno that i will bring him to Sembawang Beach early in the morning to watch sunrise.

Ok, im a fan of Steve Carell, i love his movies like 40 Year old Virgin, The office and Get Smart, didn't catch this last time round, and thought it will be a nice movie.

IT scored a 60% ++ For its review at www.Rottentomatoes.com

I've been reading this book which is some sort a continuation of the 7 ancient wonders which i read some time ago.

If you like archaeology and ancient myths and legends like the Prymids, Stone henge, Lost city of Aztec, the Maya etc... you will love this book.

Its like the Indiana Jones but a bit more out of the world which gadgets and vehicles that are out of this world.

Economic Recession, here in Singapore!

Today is a day to remember 10/10/08... for a not so good reason as Singapore is slowly and surely sipping into Economic recession. Heres the hottest head lines around the world:

ICELAND ON THE BRINK OF BANKRUPT

Can you believe a country going bankrupt? I wouldn't be surprise if its a country who you dun get to see except during world cup qualifiers or the Olympics. But ICELAND? a country in Europe (they lie just north of England), Producers of famous footballers like Ediur Gudjohnsen (Chelsea and nw Barcelona)... Now their Icelandic Kroner has been wiped out from the face of the earth, and on the brink of extinction? (can they be bought by another country???)

RICHARD FLUD AND HIS HALF BILLION DOLLAR WAGES

It seems that the US do not learn even though they have the SOX to back them up and clean up corporate governance bad practices. Richard Flud was thought to earn almost half a Billion US$ since year 2000.

Wanna know hw many zeros? US$ 500,000,000, thats how much he has taken and lead the Lehman Brothers to bankruptcy. Lehman Brothers have weathered so many hard and bad times, namely the 1930's World wide Economic Depression, WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, Asian Financial Crisis, Dot Com Bubble, just to name a few, and now it lies ruined in the hands of the man who earned $500 million in wages.

So what it is like to have $500 million in Singapore?

I sat down and thought for a while, it is like, u can buy the whole range of Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, Maserati, Aston Martin, Pagani, build a mansion with like 5 storeys with 20 rooms in it, sauna, swimming pool, jacuzzi, a bar with all the liquor and wine cellar with the world's collection of finest wine, a cinema, a recording room, archery, a stable with horses and the wildest imagination you can have, have a 9 hole mini gold course, a yatch, a private Jet and maybe a helicopter in your backyard?

I think with all that, you can still have some spare change that most singaporeans will never dream of earning in their life time.

AIG RETREAT

Ok, here is the biggest dissapointment, i have a few policies and i believe many have and that makes you a stake holder in the company.

Here comes the blatant truth, right after being rescued by US Fed with a US$85B rescue package, they splurge on a Co. Retreat that cost $440,000. No big deal you might say, as it isn't even a percentage worth mentioning compared to 85Billion. But its the attitude here.

Why in the world would you go for a retreat just when things are not being repaired e.g. your reputation and just when you are being rescued doesn't means you can lay back, get a big fat pay check and sipping Martini on a float at the poshest hotel's resort's pool.

it really gets more blatan when some American Democrats say that it is to retain their higher ups and keep them together.

I really cannot see any co-relation between spending $440k and getting together and keeping them.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/08/politicians.meltdown.aig.ap/index.html

KTV TIME!!!

Ok, i know its uber late that i post this... sometime last week (correct?) my friend Jo organised a KTV session for us all at Crystalbelle (Hope i got it right). The place is rather small, but overall a friendly place to be.

Heres the group of peeps that came together for the KTV Session. Can you spot the TCS Star among us?

TA-DA! Hes the one, no prizes if you guessed correctly.

If your wondering and cant help feeling familiar with his face, he is often casted in the Ch 8 Comedy Nite (Gao Siao Xing Dong) with Jack Neo and Mark Lee. He is always casted as the "Xiao Lao Ban" (Small Boss) of the coffee Shop segment. (Mark Lee acted as Char Kway Teow Boss and Macrus Chin as the fish ball noodle boss)

You can bet that he is as funny in real life and on TV.

Heres some photo taken that nite:

With Jo...

With Kody (middle) and Jo.

Had a very fun night singing all along. Cant Wait for the next outing!

KING OF FIGHTERS XII



For all you KOF Fans here, there is a new upcoming KOF XII coming soon to the nearest arcade near you. Watch this video demo, really am very impressed by the graphics and the effects. I must say that the previous KOF venture that uses 3d "like that of Virtual Fighter" was a total failure, many of the gamers still prefer the KOF 99/02 versions. Having played most KOF series (im no good at it) i must say that for fighting games, it will be best in the 2-D perspective, with a few exceptions to games like Tekken and Virtual Fighter.

NEWCASTLE UNITED SACKS KING KEV!!!

What the hell is wrong with Mike Ashley and his Cronies(friends who are holding positions in the board)???

Too dissappointed with the way NUFC is being runned.... Damn, if i have the resources, i'll buy NUFC and make it the next big thing....

Finally got my PSP White!!!

So Happy with my PSP White!!!

I dunno what overcame me as long ago, i always manage to resist the temption of buying one whenever my friends whip out one. But ever since i got so bored while taking trains to and fro school, i decided to buy one.

Initially i thought of purchasing a Nintendo DS Lite... but while i was at the game shop, looking at the games, i thought, maybe PSP would offer better games.

My first game was Finan Fantasy Crisis Core, bought it at a discount of $59. This game really brought back memories of my FF7 days. (must buy!)

I must say that the shop, Funz Center is a really nice, clean, honest and friendly shop, the guy who served me is really attentive and there are no extra charge or last min charges like those shops who does dishonest services (being reported in the newspaper). Its located at Ang Mo Kio, here is their website (http://www.funzcentre.com/).

I went back to the shop that sells the 4 leave clover and got myself this limited edition Walt Disney Dale. Hope the lucky charm will enable me to win my games in the PSP. These 4-leaf clover accessories are purchased from C3 Shop available at Parco Bugis Junction lvl 1 (near Ajisen) the other shop is at Plaza Singapura (if im not wrong).

NEW YORK NEW YORK!!!

After purchasing the PSP, it was dinner at New York New York! Im really impressed at the concept of using chic names and bright dual colour tone for the business concept. Looks clean and fresh.

Though first impression was impressive, i must say their menu items aint that much impressive. Their main dish consist of Chicken in Herbs sauce, in cheese, in Latino sauce. There isn't much of a variety to choose from e.g. chicken cutlet, chicken chop, lamb chop etc. Comparing with stores like Breeks and Cafe Cartel, they dun really stand out and there is no "WOW" factor dishes.

Day in the park!

Whenever i brought my dog Uno for a walk in the park, and we pass by those colonial houses along the way to Sembawang park, there is one particular house that has a few Schnauzer. They will all rush out when they hear Uno's Dog tags clinging sound. Today, theres only 1 that came out to greet Uno, can u see him?

While on the way back, i noticed that there was a lot of rippling in the water and saw this snake wading through the canal. it stopped for a while as a school of fish was swimming in the path, and its stance was like it was ready to strike anytime!

19 August 2008

4-Leaf Clover

Recently i've been to a pretty interesting shop that sells the lucky 4-leaf clover (aka Shamrock or irish Clover) in key chains, handphone straps, pendants etc.

What is it?

Popular Irish folklore tells of Lady Luck Growing the 4-leaf clover in the Garden of Eden.

One leaf is for FAITH... The second for HOPE...
The third for LOVE... And the fourth for LUCK!

In Irish tradition the shamrock or Three-leaf Clover represents the Holy Trinity: one leaf for the Father, one for the Son and one for the Holy Spirit. When a Shamrock is found with the fourth leaf, it represents God's Grace.

History of the four leaf clover:

The four leaf clover is a universally accepted symbol of good luck with its origin ages old.

According to legend, Eve carried a four leaf clover from the Garden of Eden.
"The clovers also occupied a position in the cultural life of early peoples. White clover (T. repens L.) in particular was held in high esteem by the early Celts of Wales as a charm against evil spirits." Clover Science and Technology". N.L. Taylor, 1985.

Druids held the 4 leaf clover in high esteem and considered them a sign of luck. In 1620, Sir John Melton wrote: "If a man walking in the fields find any four-leaved grass, he shall in a small while after find some good thing.

The mystique of the four leaf clover continues today, since finding a real four leaf clover is still a rare occurrence and omen of good luck.
(source: http://www.fourleafclover.com/4fact.html)

They can be pretty expensive to buy and there is a chance that you will end up buying a fake if its too cheap to be true. I tried several attempts to find one clover leaf at the grass patch near my house and had no luck, all i could find was a 3 leaf clover. (maybe you can try your luck to find one)

I'll tell you how to identify a fake and a real 4-leaf clover later on, but first just to show you some of my purchase from the shop i mentioned.

Both of these are limited editions key chains that are from Walt Disney. i like the "Mickey Mouse" one particularly(because of the shape of the leaf) and these 2 really caught my eyes when i was browsing through the shop. I bought these 2 at an offer of buy 2 get 1 free.

I had this customised with a laser engraving at the back.

How to identify a real 4-leaf clover from a fake?

According to sources, there are about 3 - 4 species of plants that has 4 side leaf, and they are not the 4 leaf clover that is described above. These are actually Pepperwort or Water Clover (Marsilea Quadrifolia) or Oxalis (Oxalis deppei or Oxalis tetraphylla) plants that produce all four leaves.

One of the way to identify a true 4 leaf clover is that 3 leaf will be of the same size and 1 leaf will be particularly small. How true? Since clover leaf are normally 3 sided, the abnormal growth of an additional 4th side of the leaf often leaves it small. If you take a look at the "mickey mouse" key chain, you can see how exactly it is described.

My key chain and the Winnie the pooh key chain doesn't have wat its described, is it a fake?

Im no expert when it comes to identifying 4 leaf clover. However, the leaf from the "Winnie the pooh" key chain is just too small to identify. While i did measure the "customised" key chain, it is indeed that 1 side of the leaf is shorter than the other 3 by 1mm

"Papaya Soup Pork Chop Noddles"

I have never heard or tried Papaya soup noodles before, so i decided to try it since when i saw it on the menu. I had thoughts of how "weird" or "disgusting" its going to be like when the dish arrives, but i was all wrong as it was indead very tastey and "healthy" (papaya as soup base should be healthy rite?). It taste just like those "fried fish soup noodle" that you can buy at the coffee shop, but this one is definitely better in quality and doesn't leave a salty and MSG after taste. The pork chop was wonderful as well.

BLACK ANGUS STEAK HOUSE

I am a huge Steak fan and have tried many different restaurant for their steaks. Sadly, non left a deep impression that i could associate with serving "excellent quality steak". Well, i found one, though its 20 - 30% more than the others, i am sure you will find worth in every cent.

Before coming to this restaurant, i would often order Sirlion(most often) with the exception, Fillet mignon, Tenderlion or T-Bone. The abover 3 cuts are very different, with Sirlion being very rough and gets overcooked when served on a hot plate. Fillet Mignon and Tenderlion are basically similar cuts, tender and very minimum fat are serve in a chunk (like a potatoe). T-bone on the other hand is very big but thin, good for BBQ but i feel it doesn't make good steak on a hot plate.

On the other hand, i seldom order the Prime rib off the menu as i often find it unappetizing and unappealing from the pictures in the menu. My idea of a perfect steak is one where it is crispy on the outside and tender rare on the inside.

Well, im so so wrong now. after trying out the Black Angus Prime Rib, Prime Rib cut and Rib eye cut has quickly taken over my favourite cuts.

This is their in-house special, the prime rib (stongly recommended by the waitress, had wanted to order the Filet Mignon). Roasted as a whole chunk and sliced off to serve. Really really tender, flavourful and tasty. I ordered medium-rare(this is the recommend doness for prime-rib) and was at first greeted with a raw and unappetising piece of steak. But ever since i placed the well-marbled slice in my mouth, i was taught the meaning "never judge a book by its cover". It was a felling of euphoria with every slice in my mouth as in the movie 'Ratatouille' where the judge was brought back to his childhood days, while mine was brought to a state of contentment that i never felt before.

This is the fillet mignon that i mentioned, looks very very tasty rite? yes, indeed its crispy on the outside and tenderly rare on the inside.

All courses comes with a side, in which i ordered the whip potatoe and the Beef stew. You've got to try the whip potatoe yourself as words can describe it, while the Beef stew tells you that it isn't a recipie from the locals, its just so wonderful. And i think the beef stew lacks noodles as well. (watch the "Assasination of Jesse James by the cowardly Robert Ford")

Conclusion: Its really every cent well spend, every steak fan out there: you've got to try this steak house.

Thank and Praise God

ACCA exams results are due on the 18 of August 2008, and i've been nervous all morning anticipating the results:

F8 SGP Audit and Assurance: 69
F9 Financial Management: 55
P3 Business Analysis: 55

Thank God for granting me favourable results. Though not very high, but at least it allows me to proceed on to my last 4 papers in the December exams.

My Thoughts on the results:

F8 SGP Audit and Assurance -

As i've had nearly 2 years of experince working in the audit industry, it may seem easy and straight forward at first. But do not be fooled by it, A&A in theory is much more than meets the eye. Its not absoultely easy, but having hands on experince, it makes wats being taught easier to apprehend.

The paper in June has always been touted as being tougher than December exams as the examiners are fresh for a challenge for the new year, while in December they are preparing for Christmas and didn't have time to crack their brain for a tougher paper. How true? Very true though, as this F8 paper is as tough as it was expected to be, i must say im quite fortunate to get 69 marks as it is only upon exiting the examination hall that i realise i left out certain key points and made some silly errors.

Im quite relief that i cleared this paper though.

F9 Financial Management -

This paper is a killer for a start, if you thought this paper is all about NPV, WACC, CAPAM and calculations calculations and more calculations, think again. Its approximately 55% theory and 45% calculations. The problem is, there is a formular sheet given. As with all exams, if there is formular sheet, it will be a tough calculation part required from you.

i was stunned during the examination as i literally left question 2 (25 marks) out with only a few calculations here and there to score measly marks (question 2 was about Merger & Acquisition and market capitalisation which i wasn't taught!). I was not really prepared for those theory questions as i went all out for calculations and formulars, and those theory questions really left me breaking out in cold sweat. On the calculations part, i had to be very meticulous and very focus for any chance to pass. Thank God i did not forget those important areas.

55 marks was just like yesterday's match between Manchester Utd vs Newcaslte Utd, hard fought and well deserved as i really studied very hard for this paper, though i was a little dissapointed not to gain something like a 70+ for this paper as i initially aimed for. The moment i opened the paper i knew it wasn't going to be an easy 3 hrs paper.

P3 Business Analysis -

This paper is really syllabus intensive with loads of things you got to learn. Apart from thanking God, i must really thank my friend Christine (her revision notes), her lecturer Andy Tan(for giving her the lecture notes) and not forgetting Mr. Dominic (my actual P3 Lecturer who taught me the e-marketing 6 I) for all their contribution. Studying for this exam was really a painful experince that is not easy to forget, so many tools to use and memorise and so many topics to revise.

The paper question 1 was easy (as in straight forward), but the 2 out of 3 questions were not! It is really divine interventaion and help that i got a 55 marks for this exam. i wasn't really expecting anything from this paper. During the exam, i just wrote whatever i thought of an kept writting on. Guessed that helps.



Overall, i went into the exam full of confidence especially for F9, but did not get the results that i desired. Now its the final run in with 4 papers in December 2008, this shall be the boaster to set me up for the final run in(sounds like olmypics hor).

Pray for me!

What are your scores against the Zombies?

http://www.newsandentertainment.com/zFzombiequiz.html

Go on take the test and see how you will come out of the test.

Ever since we placed the sofa near the windows, Uno has been sitting on it very frequently and watching the world pass him everyday. Maybe he is thinking of his hometown in USA or maybe where his mum and dad are...

Jokes for the day!

Age Cruise

A man and his wife, now in their 60`s, were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. On their special day a good fairy came to them and said that because they had been such a devoted couple she would grant each of them a very special wish. The wife wished for a trip around the world with her husband. Whoosh! Immediately she had airline/cruise tickets in her hands. The man wished for a female companion 30 years younger... Whoosh...immediately he turned ninety!!!

Big Balls

A tourist is in Spain, and goes to a fancy restaurant for dinner. As he looks around, he notices a diner being served a beautifully garnished dish with two gigantic meatballs in the middle. When the waiter asks him for his order, the man asks him about the meatball dish. The waiter explains that the meatballs are bull's testicles, and when the bull loses the bullfight, the bull is brought to the restaurant, and this beautiful dish is made. The diner tells the waiter that he wants the bulls testicles for dinner, but the waiter tells him that only one bull a day is brought to the restaurant, but he can have it tommorrow. The diner agrees. The next day the diner goes to the restaurant, and orders the testicle dish. When his food is brought out, he notices that the meatballs are extremely small. He mentions this to the waiter, and the waiter replies, ''Well sir you have to understand, sometimes the bull wins''.

Wife who wants to be 6 again

A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday. "I'd love to be six again," she replied.On the morning of her birthday, he arose early, got up, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms andthen took her off to the local theme park.What a day! He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was.Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. Right away, they journeyed to a McDonald's where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate shake.Then it was off to a movie to see the latest blockbuster, a hot-dog, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M M's. What a fabulous adventure!Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, "Well, dear, what was it like being six again?"Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed."You idiot, I meant my dress size!"

The moral of the story:Even when a man is listening, he's gonna get it wrong

Sad Day

POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN!!! as you can already guess from the paper and the chicken, this is Popeye's Chicken Restaurant, which made its name in New Orleans/Illinois. You may wonder for a moment, that some how somewhere you have seen it before... in a commercial? dun think they had one... in the magazine or newspaper?... dun think they advertise yet... ahhhhhh Charles Angels! Drew Barrymoore was holding a tub of Popeye Chicken! Now i remember!

They have currently 3 stores in Singapore, namely Singapore Air Port T1/T3 and Singapore Flyer. We went to the Singapore Flyer store.

Basically, they serve mainly Fried Chicken(guess you figured that out already.) and they only have 2 flavours (KFC also have only 2 types of flavour) which is Mild and Spicy. Menu ofcourse made up mainly of chicken meal in which they have the bone and the boneless version (chicken Strips) and some other salad and burger meals.

Meal is from $6++ - $8++ we order the spicy meal and the whipped potatoe.

Chicken is not oily, 3 piece meal comes with 1 drum stick, 1 chicken wing and 1 breast meat. i must say its still hot when we ate it, was crunchy, tender and juicy. However, the taste was nothing spectacular... i still prefer our good old KFC, original receipe. 3/5

Spicy pepper fries... now this i remember very clearly you can get it at NTUC... it has a mild spicy and pepperish taste... crunchy and a i must say pepper and spices complements the fries very well. 4/5

This whip potatoe ranks one of the best i've ever eaten! topped with Cajun bbq sauce, the whip potatoe is not e watery type u ate at KFC but very thick instead. simply love it... 4/5

The place is spacious and very clean and neat. you can sit there for hours chatting away comfortably, though there were a few kids running around and screaming at their top of the voices.

KBOX! Singing at Kbox with a group sure was fun! you get to sing and hear your close ones unwind and sing songs! so FUN!

The famous F4 Gal version!

My Dad surely enjoying himself.

We sure have a great time on a sunday afternoon lunch time... Though it comes out to almost $20/Person, we got to sing 4 hrs and it comes with 1 set lunch from Suki Sushi and 1 drink... we got additional 2 jugs of Honey Lemon which explains why its $20/person.


Im sure that recently there have been a few cases of reckless drivers whose reckless driving has caused death on the roads. Though i personally feel such cases are bound to happen given the fact that we have a huge car population of appx 500,000++. Its sad to see such things happen... and after the reported case of a young driver whose Evo sports car crashed into a turning taxi and causing the death of the driver, here comes another case where the driver caused the death of the passenger... and the victim? only 19 years old...

My Deepest Condolences.

Apparently, the driver is not remourseful about what had happended, as im in no way related to those people and i have no full knowledge of what had happened, therefore i shall not comment.

if you want to know more... below are some links...

http://caiweii.blogspot.com/

http://kissonmylips.blogspot.com/

Hope you like the new songs posted.

Just for Laughs

1. Never laugh at a chinese man:

A Chinese man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He tells the loan officer that he is going to China on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000.

The bank officer tells him that the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the Chinese man hands over the keys to a new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produces the title and everything checks out.The Loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the Chinese for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000 loan.

An employee of the bank then drives the Ferrari into the bank's underground garage and parks it there. Two weeks later, the Chinese returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41.The loan officer says, 'Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi-millionaire. What puzzles us is why you would bother to borrow $5,000?

The Chinese replies: 'Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there safely when I return.'


2. Hiring Accountants:

A Co. on the hunt for a chief accountant, have been interviewing hundreds of them and the Boss will always post this question to his prospected accountant:

1. What is 2 + 2 =?

and all of them gave the answer: 4

The boss sighed at the answer and move on to interview more candidates.

Alas, the last one came in and at the end of the interview, the boss posted the same question and the answer was given as such:

Interviewee: The answer is what you deem the answer to be...

The boss eyes brighten and said:

YOU ARE HIRED!

My New Room!

Ok, i must admit first of all that the colour did not turn out to what i expected and seen on the sample. I thought its like 70 - 80% white with very faint and minimal black stripes...

Im very happy with the design and functionality, just that it could be better with other colour on i guess...



Below are some pictures that will provide a laughter...


Sometimes, u dun know where exactly the exits are... do the management of the building every conduct a fire drill and a post mortem after that?

Ok, all Mum should read it... cant believe they have this on the label...

Need i say more?

This Cat is sooooooooooo Cute...

Apparently, some crazy 300 movie fanatic tried to crack a joke...

Does President Bush knws that the book is inverted?

Poor Baby...

I really wonder if this cat is real..

With 4 study days a week, i think i'll be really exhausted soon....