Mistakes

I read with amusement an article in the newspaper that Bloomberg has mistakenly published obituary of Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Bloomberg, with such a big well known news company for its accuracy and transparency, has acknowledged the mistake. This news has been exaggerated (same as iPhone?) because Jobs had appeared in thin shape at the last conference, which trigger some worries about his health. Apple still needs his figure so badly. It seems that someone in the Bloomberg's obits department might be in deep trouble over this mistake.

Flipping through the other pages, it's quite amazing to read how high people expectation can be. Government has decided to increase maternity period to 4 months, which cause some worry to SME company. There's a comment in the newspaper that suggests maternity period should increase to 1 year, not 4 months. She even put some threatening remark that she won't give birth anymore if the maternity is not increased to what she expected. Wow..

At last, I manage to attend Tim's bodypump again on Monday. As usual, his class is quite full. Tim is a very motivating and(/with) good looking. It seems that there's always energy in the air to pump more during his class. I saw one of the blogger in the class but too shy to even say hi. Tuesday, I went for both Daniel and Collin level 2 step classes. Being motivated by other stepper to try again Collin's level 3 on wednesday after the disastrous class last week till I need to stand on the board during finale, I gave another shot at his level 3 class again, and I am still not sure how to do his class, too complicated. Redeem this embarassment, I went to Harry's class on Thursday, and decided it's a good time to rest on Friday. Tomorrow, I will do one more exercise: squeezing all butt muscle to get into Comex 2008.

Money Not Enough 2

After reading its mixed reviews, I have set my expectation low for this movie and hope it's not as disappointed as "Ah Long Pte Ltd", which I think it's a very messy movie. At least, there's dialect (hokkien/tio ciu) jokes to be laughed at. Surprisingly, Money Not Enough is much much better and enjoyable, although the starting of the movie is a bit out of the place. The movie tries to use the story of 3 brothers/families to reflect most issues with Singaporean family, especially with the financial problem. The story itself is quite real, sensitive and touch your heart, especially if you have experienced the same problem. One of the issue that closed the movie with a sad ending, is about how to handle issue with the old parent. I think the mother character delivers a great performance. This movie will be great to people that understands hokkien or at least from chinese family that speaks hokkien/tio ciu. If you are kind of ang moh life style, this movie might not be good enough.

I attended David's step class in Orchard California yesterday. The class itself is quite empty than usual, maybe it's caused by the rain or it's not the regular instructor. I have a bit difficulty understanding what he try to say, but overall, it is a good step class, not that tricky/difficult, but quite cardio as he only gave 1 break during the whole class, my shirt is all wet at the end. David is a very dancy type and fun, although not as laughable as James. I look forward to his next class, and maybe try to attend his zumba class :). Followed by Christina's Body Pump after that, my whole body felt like jelly, and I feel like eating a horse.

Contradicting Picture?

I have been amused by the picture posted at Today newspaper (19/08) for the article about government effort to get people married in hope that more babies can be produced. I believe the couple here is expected to be man and woman. The picture, as I have copied from Today Online, shows a couple sitting in the Clark Quay. However, it seems that they are two women sitting there. Not really sure, though. What do you think?

At the front of the newspaper, there's an interesting advertisement "Phillips LivingColors" light, that claims able to produce 16 million colors. The colors can be controlled using remote control, along with the dim and white balance. There's mini version with only 256 colors and no remote control. However, it seems that they will be quite pricey for light, which Harvey Norman gives 25$ and 15$ for LivingColors and LivingColors mini, so the product itself should cost in range of 100-300$ (assume the voucher is 10$ from the regular price). Has anyone tried this product before?

Enemy of the Machines

I recently had a series of unfortunate events with some financial machines. It started with the ATM machine, that not sure why after inserting the card, I was neither able to enter any pin number nor press any key to cancel, which made me worry that my card might be swollen by the machine. Luckily, after 1-2 minutes waiting, I could get the card back. Then, I proceed to the next ATM, and needed to join the queue that was suddenly just created.

The next machine was AXS which I needed to pay my bills. As it's troublesome to enter the credit card number, I usually scan credit card number by inserting the credit card. But, not sure, the machine was unable to read the card that night, so I proceed to enter the credit card number manually and scanned all the bills. After confirming all detail was correct, I proceed to pay with NETS, and to my big disappointment, the stupid machine couldn't read my ATM card either. I walk to SAMS machine nearby, but there's no option to pay Citibank credit card there. As I needed to pay the bills soon, I walk to the other AXS machine, and all procedure was working fine, till the processing of NETS, all the transaction failed after several attempts. Arrghh.. I felt so frustrated untill feel like banging stupid machine, but it would just hurt my hand.

After China (which I consider) succesfully delivered one of the (which I consider again) the biggest show ever, in the opening of Olympic game, it has been responded with two disgrace news about the fake CGI fireworks and lip-synching singer, which the later turns out to be more serious that I originally thought. It's true that lip-synching might be ungraceful thing to do, but I think most news have been overly-hyped about it. Even some consider that it reflected: China sent out message that whoever had a less "cute" face would be denied even though qualified, and whoever had a "cuter" look had permission to lie. Rubbish, stupid politic message again.. And the more media publicized this news, I can't imagine how those two children will feel, wish the best for their future. I hope the best for her confidence in the future. This unfortunate event will be a scar to the olympic's Beijing history. It's true that all the good things that we have done for years will be spoilt by one little mistake.

I Am Rich

Apple iPhone offer its users to purchase applications through AppStore, which happens to be the only "official" way to add more application to iPhone. Developers can post the application to AppStore to sell with profit sharing 70-30 between Apple and the developers. I don't really agree with such arrangement that Apple has to earn everything from iTunes Songs to phone bills, and now with AppStore, however it's an interest business idea, and everyone seems so excited about it. So excited until one developer try to sell a literally featureless application that displays "I am Rich" text (is that considered one feature?) for an eye-popping $999.99, and the other surprise here that there're already 8 transactions to the application, before Apple decided to remove the application from offer. Well, there're many type of people in the world that so dying to be known as rich, and since iPhone is god's phone to them, why not ask the god to tell them that "I am Rich".

At the other side, I have been using Windows Mobile touch-screen phone for several months. Having been a loyal nokia user before, I have mix feeling with this phone. I am not sure if other "touch screen" phones have this problem. I almost always accidentally answer the phone while try to get the phone out of my pocket. My friends has told me several times, that their calls are answered but no sound, and it turns out that their phone calls have been accidentally picked up while it's still in my pocket. There's one time that I was in private conversation, and there's a phone call and suddenly the phone stopped ringing which I thought it's just a missed call, so I kept on talking while taking out the phone to see who had miscalled me, and to my horror, my boss was already on the line. I was not sure how much he had heard. I think I might skip this kind of touch screen phone in the future.

I have just watched Beijing olympics, and it's such a spectacular opening ceremony. Although I was just able to catch the second-half of the show, it's such a stunning display of China. As part of Asia, i am proud to watch the final torch-bearer fly to light the Olympic flame, followed by extravaganza fireworks all around the city. Well done, Beijing! Now, the game has begun..

(Well, if you think I have won Toto 8 mil and put "I am rich" in my blog title, you're wrong. I do not even hit 20$ to return my investment :p).

NDP 08

I was lucky enough to get 1 ticket for NDP 08 preview at Aug 2 last week. This is my first time to watch NDP live and I was quite excited to be there, although I would be there alone.

I was rushed from Daniel class at Orchard. Being warned that it would be extremely crowded in Citilink, the traffic was actually quite smooth, somewhat better than the terrible jam during PC/IT Show. After checked for the ticket, my bag was screened and checked. The officer asks me to drink the water, and almost lost my sunblock and hair cream (for ones go to next NDP, try not to bring gel or cream). The funpack contains snack, much-needed water, cap, flag, hand-shaped ballon, stack of vouchers, etc (picture below). The sky was fully clear without even single cloud, so it's super super hot, luckily I already brought my sunblock with me. Overall, the show was great, I particularly like the flight show (with clear sky) and the extravaganza fireworks. The fireworks was shot much closer from the river, so you can feel that the whole sky was full with fire. After the show finished, I thought that there would be another massive jam, and it's actually quite smooth as well. Well done to all the officer there controlling the crowd. And, Happy Birthday, Singapore!

Flu..

Recently, I have been hit by a bad flu, feel very lousy with runny nose, headache and sore throat, very uncomfortable. I decided to go to the doctor after start to have a bit fever, and was given 1 day much needed medical leave. As usual, the medicine given caused drowsiness, i was almost sleeping in the bed all day (although i think to cheat by going to gym :p), not sure if the doctor give me a flu medicine or sleeping pill. The next day, I went to back to office, felt better, but still could feel the medicine effect. As usual, I had my cup of morning coffee, and thanks to the medicine effect, I accidentally spill the coffee all around me. The good thing is I was fully awake since then, and of course, more bad thing, all my shirt and pants is full of coffee (luckily the coffee was not that hot anymore). Although I can soak it with water to look clean, but I smelt like a walking coffee machine all day (which the good thing keep me awake :) ).