countdown at Tiong Bahru Park

Year is ending. Farewell 2010. There are several countdown sites this year. One of them is in Tiong Bahru Park. It is more like a mini funfare and concert. Mostly those blowup castles for kids. There are flimshows. There are some food for those hungry. Mostly manned by some volunteers and senior citizens, this countdown party is also suppose to let the foreign people living here to mix and enjoy. I took a walk there. It is crowded. It works but I would foresee that it will end up for the contractor to do a major clean up later when the party is over. Looks like first thing to welcome the 2011 is a clean up.... Welcome 2011!

Finally bought star trek cd

I finally bought the Star Trek comic collection CD which I thought I missed. It had all the ever published Star Trek comics over the years. If you enjoy the show you will enjoy the stories too. Right now only those from the latest IDW Star Trek are missing. Hopefully they will release one cd for that too.

aliens are coming

The aliens are coming. These reports were released by SETI, the group of scienctists that do searching for extra extraterrestrial life. So should this news be rejoicing? How much truth is in the report? SETI is a no nonsense group. They had fundings from the US government and NASA. They will be much truth then if the news was reported from some other unknown organisation. The date for arrival is ending 2012, the same date predicted by that Mayan calender. I believes in that unless the whole Earth was destroyed, as long as the Earth is still rotating, the dates should still goes on. If alien arrival are real, there could be 2 scenarios. It could end up like Independent Day or V. Attacks on mankind that might not have a victorious ending for man. Or it could be a Star Trek scenario. Alien provide mankind the technology to go into space age. Somehow, if aliens do come in peace, from the perspective of man, they might double cross the aliens someday. It happens in movies all the time. And we kind of know, movies plots are a reflection of man's thinking.

http://news.omy.sg/News/World%2BNews/Story/OMYStory201012291520-210922.html

美国一个具权威及可信度的组织惊爆，有3艘巨型太空船正向地球驶来，预料在2012年底将有外星人正式登陆地球！

Mersing tragedy due to human error

The Mersing tragedy, is obviously of human error. Mostly, lack of life jackets and overload. These passenger so willing to take the risk, or maybe they have the thinking, nothing will happen, at least not to them. No problem with the boat and the rough sea isn't a issue. The overload is the cause, I would say and breaks the ship against rough sea pressure. So the Malaysian authority will have to doing something. It happened before and now it happens again. What do you expect? Will there be improvement and enforcement? Maybe that is not enough.

food shortage, munch on insects....

Currently the news reported there is a worldwide news shortage. Not surprisingly, with mankind's current development and attitude, it seems to be progressing downwards. Natural resources down now food shortage. The human population is increasing while food are being wasted. It is true especially in developed countries. Added the current weather havoc the crops some doesn't survive. The report suggested to eat in insects or bugs. Sound creepy but until man start to find a way to produce food, it might get worse. If they do manage to produce food, it will also be halfway to outer space. SPace travel will need food too without growing.

http://news.omy.sg/News/World%2BNews/Story/OMYStory201012271442-210398.html

FAO警告全球要对粮食短缺和价格暴涨等危机做好心理准备，并正式研究一份政策报告，推广人类进食昆虫。

Hard to find TF magazine

Found a japanese Transformers magazine sometime at the first week of december. Didn't get the magazine because they have many copies. Went there again on christmas eve and found that only one copy left and that one copy was at another shelf. Sometimes a costly magazine or item could really makes you think again. At least I decide to get magazine before it all sold out. It is a worthy magazine, at least I think so.

local veteran actors not treasured

Mediacorp seems to feel like they are the one and only, in sg. There is no competition, ever since Unionworks closed their station. With some "achievements" from the Asia Television awards, they probably feels they are now best. Then when the news article about how they treat their loyal actors whom been through thick and thin with the station, it shows that the station is only interested in generating money. Veteran actors pay cut until they feel their pride and dignity being lowest. These veteran actors are those of grandpa or dad to adults type. So now you notice, there isn't much old people characters in most productions. Even if have it is only one or two and they are not even the station actors. The days of SBC is just a memory. Then most actors being on screen are a star, regardless they are big or small. Now, if you are no longer "fresh" time to move on.

http://showbiz.omy.sg/Showbiz/E-News/Story/OMYStory201012241450-209961.html

新传媒的资深艺人，续约时被减薪，梁田被减到月薪1000元、严炳量则被减到月薪1700元，待遇不如捧咖啡的工人。

no christmas feel

Christnmas is finally here. Somehow it just feel so different. While the christmas feel is the best in the orchard shopping area and some big malls, there is no christmas feel when watching TV. Usually there will be tons of christmas related advertistments on TV. Now I don't see any. Even the shows for christmas are either recycled, lousy or nothing about christmas. Even on radio, the music played are nothing christmas. There is no feel or they played those slow sad sounding songs. It should be happy occasion. I guess the best place for christmas would be in orchard.

Law against lemons

A law to assist owners or lemon products is coming up. This is good news to people who bought faulty products but no servicing could repair it and no one willing to do an exchange. With the law, someone have to take responsiblity for selling the faulty product. A relief for people who is going to buy something expensive and with a risk of getting a lemon.

Yogi is better as a cartoon

Yogi Bear coming to big screen. Remember the Yogi bear cartoon on TV during the 80s? I watched them when I was young. Yogi bear and other animal characters would appear with humorous actions. At least it was fun during those days. I like Yogi bear as pure cartoon, but when they tries it with real life actors with a computerised Yogi, it just doesn't look right. Just like that Scooby Doo movie, I don't watch it. Feels lamey.... Bring Yogi back as cartoon.

comics convention should remains free

The comics convention is over. This time round I did not go. It isn't free anymore. They used to be free admission. I do not agree that to invite the special guests increase the cost. As long it is a comic convention, there will be people going there regardless if there are artists there. The artists invited is not everyone's favorite. What is important is that the proper booths showcasing the items are there for everyone.

Fried ice cream?

There is a type of food called Deep Fried Ice Cream. So how do you fry ice cream? If you do managed to fry ice cream then it shouldn'r retain the ice cream name because fried stuff are not icy. Any ice would be melted. Such food would be costly too as I expect it. Maybe it is still new but sound bizarre. Would you dare eat it?

Too little good christmas songs

Christmas is coming and radio starts to play those christmas songs. I have no problem with christmas but do play those classic type and not those modified which "act cute" kind. Also I am sure there are many serious singers with christmas album. Then the radio station would over play certain christmas songs. They think the song is good but doesn't mean you jam it to the airwave every 30mins or so.

de-aging in movies begins

The latest Tron Legacy had started something rolling. "De-aging" an actor on screen.... Jeff Bridges's character as an avatar is a younger image of his face on a younger body of a different actor, using his younger face. This is the first time a young face to use on a different actor. So if this works, you never know all the older but good actors will start to act young, all it need was their face for the computer to de-age. Maybe it won't happen to everyone making movies now. The cost may be high but when the technology is cheaper, I am sure everyone will start doing it.

Treat your mom well !

Just watch a clip on TV and it reminds me that it is real and happening in real life to everyone. The clip shows a mother calling her daughters back for dinner and these daughter either say they are busy, or one of them agreed and later on called to say can't make it. The mother already made so much food got so angry that she felt unwell and got sent to hospital. The doctor say she is healthy. I did not finish the show. I know what would be the ending. Either it ends in tragic or that the daughters realised what is happening. So is this how it is, the daughters or sons ignoring their parents, in this case the mother? The show is a reflection of what is happening. Sometimes it is even in the newspaper. I even read a story send from a email. A sad story. It is in chinese. Use a proper translator to translate. If you use Google that translation is lousy. Anyway the story ends with, the daughter managed to spend a few days with her mom after some persuasion. She left anyway, back to her work life. Her mom passed away, because she was dying and did not let her daughter know. After reading the story, I would not forgive the main character. Is this how the sons and daughters wanted in the end?


The story taken from
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/vivi1268/418249

母親真的老了，變得像小孩子般纏人，每次打電話來，總是滿懷熱誠地問：「你什麼時候回家？」

　　且不說相隔一千多里路，要轉三次車，光是工作、孩子已經讓我分身無術，哪裡還抽得出時間回家。母親的耳朵不好，我解釋了半天，她仍舊熱切地問：「你什麼時候能回來？」

　　幾次三番，我終於沒有了耐心，在電話裏衝母親大聲嚷嚷，她終於聽明白，默默掛了電話。隔幾天，母親又問同樣的問題，只是那語調怯怯地，沒有了底氣。像個不甘心的孩子，明知問了也是白問，可就是忍不住。我心一軟，沉吟了一下。

　　母親見我沒有煩，立刻開心起來。她欣喜地向我描述：「後院的石榴都開花了，西瓜快熟了，你回來吧。」

　　我為難地說：「那麼忙，怎麼能請得上假呢！」她急急地說：「你就說媽媽得了癌，只有半年的活頭了！」我立刻責怪她胡說，她呵呵地笑了。小時候，每逢颳風下雨，我不想去上學，便裝肚子疼，被母親識破，挨了一頓好罵。現在老了，她反而教著女兒說謊了，我又好氣又好笑。

　　這樣的問答不停地重複著，我終於不忍心，告訴她下個月一定回去，母親竟高興得哽咽起來。可不知怎麼了，永遠都有忙不完的事，每件事都比回家重要，最後，到底沒能回去。

電話那頭的母親，仿佛沒有力氣再說一個字，我滿懷內疚：「媽，生氣了吧？」母親這一回聽真了，她連忙說：「孩子，我沒有生你的氣，我知道你忙。」

　　可是沒幾天，母親的電話催得越發緊了。她說，葡萄熟了，梨熟了，快回來吃吧。我說，有什麼稀罕，這裏滿大街都是，花個十元八元就能吃個夠。母親不高興了，我又耐下性子來哄她：「不過，那些東西都是化肥和農藥餵大的，哪有你種的好呢。」母親得意地笑起來。

　　星期六那天，氣溫特別高，我不敢出門，開了空調在家裏呆著。孩子嚷嚷雪糕沒了，我只好下樓去超市買。在暑氣蒸騰的街頭，我忽然就看見了母親的背影。看樣子她剛下車，胳膊上挎著個籃子，背上背著沉甸甸的袋子，她彎著腰，左躲右閃著，怕別人碰了她的東西。在擁擠的人流裏，母親每走一步都很吃力。我大聲地叫她，她急急抬起滿是熱汗的臉，四處尋找，看見我走過來，竟驚喜地說不出話來。

　　一回到家，母親就喜滋滋地往外捧那些東西。她的手青筋暴露，十指上都纏著膠布，手背上有結了痂的血口子。母親笑著對我說：「吃呀，你快吃呀，這全是我挑出來的。」

我這沒有出過遠門的母親，只為著我的一句話，便千里迢迢地趕了來。她坐的是最便宜、沒有空調的客車，車上又熱又擠，但那些水靈靈的葡萄和梨子都完好無損。我想像不出，她一路上是如何過來的，我只知道，在這世上，凡有母親的地方就有奇蹟。

　　母親只住了三天，她說我太辛苦，起早貪黑地上班，還要照顧孩子，她乾著急卻幫不上忙。城裏的廚房設施，她一樣也不敢碰，生怕弄壞了。她自己悄悄去訂了票，又悄悄地一個人走。

　　才回去一星期，母親又說想我了，不住地催我回家。我苦笑：「媽，你再耐心一些吧！」第二天，我接到姨媽的電話：「你媽媽病了，你快回來吧。」我急得眼前發黑，淚眼婆娑地奔到車站，趕上了最後一趟車。

　　一路上，我心裏不住地祈禱。我希望這是母親騙我的，我希望她好好的。我願意聽她的嘮叨，願意吃光她給我做的所有飯菜，願意經常抽空來看她。此時，我才知道，人活到八十歲也是需要母親的。

　　車子終於到了村口，母親小跑著過來，滿臉的笑。我抱住她，又想哭又想笑，嗔怪道：「你說什麼不好，說自己有病，虧你想得出！」受了責備的母親，仍然無限地歡喜，她只是想看到我。

　　母親樂呵呵地忙進忙出，擺了一桌子好吃的東西，等著我的誇獎。我毫不留情地批評：「紅豆粥煮糊了；水煎包子的皮太厚；滷肉味道太鹹。」母親的笑容頓時變得尷尬，她無奈地搔著頭。我心裏暗笑，我知道，一旦我說什麼東西好吃，母親非得逼我吃一大堆，走的時候還要帶上，就這樣，我被她餵得肥肥白白，怎麼都瘦不下去。而且，不貶低她，我怎麼有機會佔領灶台呢？

　　我給母親做飯，跟她聊天，母親長時間地凝視著我，眼裏滿是疼愛。無論我說什麼，她都虔誠地半張著嘴，側著耳朵凝神地聽，就連午睡，她也坐在床邊，笑咪咪地看著我。我說：「既然這麼疼我，為什麼不跟著我住呢？」她說住不慣城裏的高樓。

　　沒呆幾天，我就急著要回去，母親苦苦央求我再住一天。她說，今早已託人到城裏買菜了，一會兒準能回來，她一定要好好給我做頓飯。縣城離這兒九十多里路，母親要把所有她認為好吃的東西都弄回來，讓我吃下去，她才能心安。

　　從姨媽家回來的時候，母親精心準備的菜餚，終於端上了桌，我不禁驚詫──魚鱗沒有刮盡、雞塊上是細密的雞毛、香油金針菇裏居然有頭髮絲。無論是葷的還是素的，都讓人無法下箸。母親年輕時那麼愛乾淨，如今老了竟邋遢得這樣。母親見我挑來挑去就是不吃，她心疼地妥協了，送我去坐夜班車。

　　天很黑，母親挽著我的胳膊。她說，你走不慣鄉下的路。她陪我上了車，不住地囑咐東囑咐西，車子都開了，才急著下去，衣角卻被車門夾住，險些摔倒。我哽咽著，趴在車窗上大叫：「媽，媽，你小心些！」她沒聽清楚，邊追著車跑邊喊：「孩子，我沒有生你的氣，我知道你忙！」

　　這一回，母親仿佛滿足了，她竟沒有再催過我回家，只是不斷地對我說些開心的事：「家裏又添了隻很乖的小牛犢；明年開春，她要在院子裏種好多好多的花。」聽著聽著，我心裏一片溫暖。

　　到年底，我又接到姨媽的電話。她說：「你媽媽病了，快回來吧。」我哪裡相信，我們前天才通的話，母親說自己很好，叫我不要掛念。

　　姨媽只是不住地催我，半信半疑的我還是回去了，並且買了一大袋母親愛吃的油糕。

　　車到村頭的時候，我伸長脖子張望著，母親沒來接我，我心裏忽地就有了種不祥的預感。

　　姨媽告訴我，給我打電話的時候，母親就已經不在了，她走得很安詳。半年前，母親就被診斷出了癌症，只是她沒有告訴任何人，仍和平常一樣樂呵呵地忙裏忙外，並且把自己的後事都安排妥當了。姨媽還告訴我，母親老早就患了眼疾，看東西很費勁。

我緊緊地把那袋油糕抱在胸前，一顆心仿佛被人挖走。原來，母親知道自己剩下的日子不多了，才不住地打電話叫我回家，她想再多看我幾眼，再和我多說幾句話。原來，我挑剔著不肯下箸的飯菜，是她在視力模糊的情況下做的，我是多麼的粗心！我走的那個晚上，她一個人是如何摸索到家，她跌倒了沒有，我永遠都無從知道了。

母親，在生命最後的時光裏，還快樂地告訴我，牽牛花爬滿了舊煙囪，扁豆花開得像我小時候穿的紫衣裳。你留下所有的愛，所有的溫暖，然後安靜地離開。

　　我知道，你是這世上唯一不會生我氣的人，唯一肯永遠等著我的人，也就是仗著這份寵愛，我才敢讓你等了那麼久。

Staff over give company items.....

Just read a post by someone. He ordered KFC and it came without chilli sauce and spoons and napkins. He called back to ask for the items. When the items was delivered, it came in 72 packets of sauce, 31 spoons and napkins. So here, the point is how is all these items be used? 31 person having KFC would be a big party. A big party would they even need to order KFC? And what kind of staff did KFC hired? Staff may make mistake given more but 72 packs and 31 spoons is too much. Amazing such things do happen.

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/got_service_or_not/507446/meal_for_3_but_kfc_sends_72_packets_of_chilli.html

Who the real bully?

A local celeberty was accused of road bully lately. The celeberty defended himself saying the accuser showed him the finger after almost knocked his car. And people started to take sides on whos right or wrong. People are doing this because a celeberty was involved. If it is just some nameless dudes who would care? So people prefer to see celeberties to do something? Sometimes things just happen to anyone, regardless if you are well known or not. People who does not know the truth will go pick their own truth and started to take sides. To the accuser, you are no saint too.

Salvation Army got stormtroppers

This year Orchard seems to have a lot of the Salvation Army with their donation pot. The usual spot at Funan is empty. Not enough human traffic? Perhaps. This time they even have those stormtroppers from the Star Wars club to stand for them. It is inovative, I am sure it helps alot when tourists would pose for pictures and also donate.

Don't wait if you found it!

Ever found something you wanted but choose to wait to buy it next time? Well yes I did, and the waited and waited until it is gone. Feel like a dumber. But somehow if I feel to do that it must have mean getting it is not in my priority. Well now that the thing is gone, I would feel stupid that I should get it. In anyway, I guess it is true it is not in my priority. Maybe next time if I found it again I will get it but now that with ebay around, I could still get it but a bit troublesome.

mrt death still occur and will continue until the platform wall is there

Death on the MRT tracks is still occuring. Looks like SMRT need to buck up the building of the platform wall. Some of the stations have platform walls built and it really halr people from falling, regardless intention or not. These things take time so for the time being, SMRT need to increase their staff at the platform to really need to push back the crowd. If you ever take the MRT, when the train comes in, the crowd, especially during peak time, kind of become zombies. They will move forward, blocking most of the ways. That's the way of life in sg.

http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/11/29/man-found-dead-at-queenstown-mrt/

Wikileaks, how come US gov still leaking to them?

Wikileaks going in the news lately. How come they keep getting more and more documents? This shows that the US government doesn't do much to protect their informations. They have moles here and there. From the way I see it, they don't seem to be doing anything. Something leaked, did they catch the guy who leaked the info? The American need to buck up and protect their data. All the security to protect their properties against bombing but nothing been done for info leak.