Sighz…I would rather they gimme the money…
See the great lengths they go to on buying something perceived to boost the image of them.
Read the full story here: ABC News
Oh, I think our Singapore calendar printed the wrong date of Deepavali, is it?
Well, not that it bothers me much, but just a matter of getting another off-in-lieu for my year end dive trip. I think the correct day falls on next week, right?
Just also thinking of those who thought it was supposed to be a long weekend in Nov and booked a trip, only to realise it will be just a normal weekend.
And I just saw this on Business Traveller Asia:
Costs of air fares and hotel rooms around the Asia-Pacific are set to rise next year, concludes the latest American Express Global Business Travel Forecast
Source: Business Traveller Asia
We have enjoyed a year of cheap fares and accommodation. Will it really be time to give back whatever we had taken for the year?
I guessed a lot of people had felt the tremors around 6.15pm just now. If you had been on stable ground and not moving, that it.
I was supposed to go off from office when I received a call from Africa. So I was standing behind my chair, leaning on it, when the customer asked me how was Singapore, in which I replied, ok, still the same.
Seconds later, I was thinking how come my chair is going in the opposite direction of me. And the ground shook for about half a minute, I think. I thought it was some heavy vehicle moving along the road at first, then I looked at my colleagues who were still around pointing to the door and talking about the ground shaking. Then looked at the glass of water on my colleague’s table next to mine. Wow, it was moving. And I had to keep from distracting myself from the conversation coz the customer was still speaking.
Then I tweeted about it as I left the office, before I realised that some bloggers in Malaysia and the Paradizer had tweeted about it around the same time, before CNN and some others tweeted that a 7.something earthquake had occurred in Sumatra.
As to now, 13 had been reported dead in Indonesia, and many still trapped under rubble of fallen buildings. 
And, it might the one of the worst of the many earthquakes that had happened in Sumatra before.
Note: This was written some time ago before I went to Taiwan, thus it’s a bit outdated. But I needed to say something about this.
Remember the recent fiasco about Brookes Business School offering fake RMIT degrees?
I was actually quite surprised to have read this.
Towards the end of the article, this was written:
Channel NewsAsia understands that some former students of the Brookes Business School who are currently working have had their pay severely cut by employers, because of the fake degrees.
Some who are in managerial positions saw cuts of nearly 50 per cent. Others were demoted or had their services terminated, while some students with the fake degrees resigned before their employers found out.
Source: Yahoo News
Are companies really so realistic as to see a degree as an ‘evidence’ to give out a higher pay? I thought work performance should be a yardstick to how much you can earn. A lot of companies whose directors and bosses might not even have a diploma/A level cert even, yet they are the ones in command in office.
It is truly amazing that upon this incident, former students have their wages reduced or even enough to command a termination of their services. Just because they didn’t really have a degree in the first place?
I am still not convinced.
The recent passed on law of fining people on the spot if caught eating or drinking in MRTs seemed to be getting on some people’s nerves.
A recent one was one lady was fined $30 for eating a sweet in the MRT. This caused a big uproar in the net that the SMRT people are not exercising discretion before fining her. Many said that eating a sweet also constitutes a fine is ridiculous. Maybe as it does not even dirty the train in any way, except maybe you drop the sweet from the mouth or something.
Even drinking water from a bottle might get fined in return.
Personally, all along I thought “food and drinks” meant foods like burgers, cakes, or even packed rice or noodles. Those big items including of snacks and titbits. And drinks as in soft drinks, sweet liquids, excluding plain water. Anything that can attract ants and cockroaches and rats, and messy to eat without a proper table thus might drop onto the floors of the MRT. (Some people can be really 夸张 when it comes to eating and drinking in trains, as though they are having a picnic or something).
I didn’t know sweets and water are prohibited items too. I think they are harmless in trains since they dun mess it up.
Whilst it was good that SMRT finally got down to business to stop snacking in the trains, maybe they should really think if they should ban ALL foods and drinks.
By the way, do they fine people who sit on the floors of MRTs also? Or those who lean against poles which always cause other people nowhere to hold on to and trying to maintain their balance on a crowded train?
Or be like Japan, to prohibit the use of mobile phones in trains?
So where to draw the line? What items do you consider “food” and “drinks”? Do you think SMRT did the right thing to fine that lady? Cast your votes.
I did a new blog header. Took just less than an hour, because I still prefer having a clean feel, simple and using my own photos that I took during my trips.
I have another with Caramel, which I thought was nice and simple too. For a moment I just couldn’t make up my mind which to use. Maybe I’ll set that up when my blog turns 4 in Sept.
Tell me if you prefer this, or the last one?
I was considering getting new frames, then I thought mine was still good enough to not use it. Moreover, I finally managed to fix the nose-rest thing and my specs look as good as new now. Save some money.
And I totally forgot to get a pair of coloured lenses the other day. I wanted to try it out since I’ve not worn any before.
You people should have read/heard/seen about the bomb blasts in JKT this morning. Initially I thought it only affected Ritz Carlton, then I realised that Marriott was also affected. The news also reported one at a shopping centre, only to realise later that it was from a vehicle and not a bomb.
Bad news seem to keep coming. I called my buyer in Jakarta to see if he was alright, amongst other things. On the first try, I couldn’t get thru which I thought what happened coz calls seldom fail if I call him on his mobile. At the 2nd try, I managed to get thru. Just slightly overreacting.
The media also reported that there might be one Singaporean in the fatality figure but this is yet to be confirmed. Anyway, I’m not sure if it is reported to be eight dead or nine, coz I kept hearing differing numbers at different sources.
A really horrible act. Just went people are still reeling from the economic woes, people are adding on to the problems of the world. For what reason? I dun know. We aren’t supposed to think like them too, else there should be less of such terrorism acts around.
The internet is really slow. Falling asleep. Can’t feed my people at RC too.
Today one email with regards to punctuality came out. I know the reason why, but I couldn’t help but laugh at it. I think my new colleague was in AWE with the email sent.
Just read about the Iran airplane that crashed into a plot of land. What’s up with all these plane crashes nowadays? Already the travel industry is being hit by the economic downturn. Now there’s the H1N1 virus, then crashing of planes look like it’s in the norm (I hope not!). Are airlines cutting costs by reducing the number of times on plane checks? Or it’s just unfortunate that planes are just experiencing a lot of malfunctioning nowadays?
Anyway, I’ve got to stop abruptly again because the internet is pissing me off and I think I’m going to crash soon. Good to sleep early too. Been sleeping too late nowadays.
I have to be punctual, remember? 
Nite, world.
I seriously feel sick now. It’s one of those days when you suddenly start sneezing and tearing, and your head feels like a ton of bricks landed on it.
I told myself no phone calls tonite. Yes, many might say I can just off my phone, but unfortunately 人在江湖，身不由己.
The calls keep coming in. I tell them tomorrow settle. My head is too heavy today after the hyper tension yesterday and today.
I feel my neck growing bigger. It’s always the case when I get too stressed. I had a hard time keeping it down, and I certainly dun want it to recur again.
Tmrw will definitely be another shitty day. I know, coz I just got some undesirable emails. Sighz.
I was reading the Chinese papers today and Aileen Tan sparked off some response from the public on her recent commercial for Bio Essence. I did notice la, but I didn’t think it was anything sleazy.
Well, if you still duno what I’m talking about, check out her latest Bio Essence ad. She was wearing a super low cut dress that exposed a lot of her cleavage. So now everyone started talking about ‘aunties’ flaunting their assets nowadays.
Mentioned were Ann Kok (almost 40) on her role in ‘Housewives Holiday’ (主妇的假期) where she wore her bikini. And also Pan Ling Ling who wore the same in another show ‘Beach Ball Babes’（球爱大战）where she was acting the young-at-heart mother role.
And Hong Huifang also wearing ‘less’ nowadays.
Seriously, I duno what’s the hooha all about. They have the assets, then flaunt it if they dare. Plus I actually think that Aileen Tan’s showing her cleavage is actually a very good marketing point for BioEssence to emphasise the quality of their product and that it delivers results.
And more so, they are still quite pretty at their age. If the papers didn’t reveal their actual age, do you think you can still guess how old they are based on their looks alone (by that I mean no counting back the years when they started their acting career)?
Their husbands are not complaining, so why more other people are?
Ok, the H1N1 finally reached Singapore. As usual, imported coz the lady travelled from NY to SIN. I just hope my sis and bro-in-law be more careful since both of them at now at TTSH.
Am still going ahead with the trip. CEO is resting at home today. Just that because I am using his miles to upgrade my seat, he needed to sign on the form so that I can successfully upgrade myself. And because the biz class seats are quite full, any delay might just end up having my seat taken up by a paying customer…will I be suay??
Now everyone is calling the CEO who had turned off his phone. Heh.
Anyway I’ve got half the presents settled. There were some leftovers from other colleague’s trip earlier on so I need not buy too many.
Just to keep all my stuff in the luggage. I gathered them last nite but didn’t put anything. Just in case the trip was cancelled.
The husky which G thought of adopting was given up. He brought Caramel to see the dog today but he doesn’t seem to have taken well with him. So the idea was scrapped. No matter what, Caramel is the long staying citizen so if we want to get a new dog he must approve, ain’t it? And we were joking about Caramel having the husky for his pet and that he will be pulling his leash which sitting on a skateboard so the husky will be his mode of transport. Haha~
I will put up photos about the LYLY trip soon. Just edited the diving part. The bird island photos are still yet to be done.
The twitter network in #awaresg is having a whale of their time now because people are doing live updates of what is happening at the AWARE EOGM happening at Suntec. Every few seconds, twitterers are commenting how the new guards are trying to gain support (in vain) and instead losing respect from people around.
The way which they dun practise what they preach, and how they try to ‘get rid’ of attendees of the meeting if they try to bring them down or take photos using flash, it seems like they ain’t like what they think other people should behave in front of them.
Think they might not understand that the harder they try, the worse it gets.
And seeing how others are bringing the new exco down, let’s see how they pass the voting stage. But then, looking at how they had been behaving and had behaved just now, it won’t be surprising if they decide to force their way thru.
All Want to be Aggressive Right, new Exco?
Shut Up and Sit Down!
Courtesy of In Support of We-Are-Aware.sg
That’s fast!
And how this event had made a lot of phones dying of battery. Wow.
Edit: The Exco became EX Exco. The Old Guards have won! So how are the ex Exco going to account for the 90k? Hmm…
Not to mention that they are still so thick skinned and refused to move out. (#flyirene)
And they disappeared…wow.
The H1N1 flu virus has spread to Asia.
HONG KONG – The first confirmed case of swine flu in Asia was recorded in Hong Kong Friday after a Mexican man who arrived via Shanghai tested positive, Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced.
The 2nd case was reported this morning:
SEOUL: South Korea on Saturday reported its first confirmed case of H1N1 flu virus, involving a 51-year-old woman who returned from Mexico last weekend.
“Test results have confirmed the first probable patient, whose case was reported on Monday, was infected with Influenza A (H1N1),” the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDCP) said in a statement.
The advancement in travelling overseas has widened the eyes of people, but had also made the spreading of any virus of diseases easier.
Everyone, be on alert.
Above quoted from source: Channel News Asia
Extremely displeased with what Michael O’ Leary is saying.
The swine flu is definitely going to hit the airline industry, and yet this CEO of Ryanair is taking the whole matter lightly like it’s nothing.
…a couple of Strepsils should be enough to combat the virus.
If it was true, the govt won’t be stocking up on Tamiflu and controlling the free distribution of it.
…swine flu was a tragedy for people living in slums in Asia or Mexico.
Hello? What’s that for? Sniggering at people who live in slums and showing discrimination over poor people?
No wonder some people are boycotting the airline. Such an asswipe.
It’s because of such people who are being so inconsiderate and insensitive that might encourage the spread of swine flu. Coz they dun care whether they spread the virus, or are being afraid that they might get quarantined and lose their freedom momentarily that they just either keep quiet or talk too much.
Am so tired today.
I remembered I was having this dream but I can’t remember the content. Just that the last bit which is something like counting down to something, and when it’s time’s up, my alarm rang.
So I duno what was the outcome of whatever I was dreaming about, except that I was super tired.
Then Caramel jumped onto my bed.
Went to Lucky Plaza yesterday and bought some books at a good price. 3 for $12.
I’m reading Lucia Lucia now, and the first chapter seems good. The real story starts from Chapter 2 actually, about this lady Lucia.
When I got into the bookstore, the whole atmosphere was a total change from outside. From somewhere very noisy and full of people talking, to a quiet corner of the store. Nice. It was so peaceful and a nice corner to hide from all the hustling outside. And I never realised there was a bookstore there till we walked past it and decided to take a look coz they have got books on sale.
G went to Taka to get his dad’s shoes, but in vain. We split up to different locations to save time, which I walked to Paragon coz G’s dad wanted to have hamachi fish head. I ended up buying fish coz all that was left was the sea bream’s head. And the mekajiki was screaming out to me to get one.
The next thing I did was to ask my sis if she was going back home. Coz only me and her take sashimi. My jie jie and parents all CMI one. Luckily she decided to come home. Haha.
It was heavenly. Super yumz.
A colleague just came back from the US to office today, and he was coughing.
He said that the meat there was very cheap, and he actually ate a lot of pork.
Thanks man. If I got swine flu, then you’ll know who’s the culprit.
Btw, a gentle reminder. Do not kiss anyone with a flu. Serious. One of our broker sent an email about this, as well as Philippines telling people to do the same thing.
The recent reports on the 红星大奖 is making me feel that the whole thing is over-sensationalised.
First, so many people had been shortlisted for the 最佳 ranking for the 小娘惹show. Like what Pat Mok had said, because of a single show, the rest of them had been neglected just because they had been acting in another serial other than 小娘惹 and so didn’t stand a chance to be in. While one side might say sour grapes, the other (like me) feels like having an OD of the show.
And when 戴阳天 got ‘ousted’ from the ranking, everyone felt it was a surprise. WHY? I dun think that was even a small surprise. Just because he was in the famed show means he should be in the running?
And now I feel the whole thing is just an act of trying to garner votes for them, whether in or out. So as to get more people to spend more money on the phone.
Tsk.
Another news which made me rather irked was the arrest of 大炳 for the 2nd time for drug abuse.
I used to enjoy watching his show, but now I feel he’s like a hypocrite.
Like what 张小燕 had said, if he is feeling stressed about the debts he had to pay, he should have gone thru the proper way of getting himself treated by the doctor, and not to resort to drugs and blame everything he did for the predicament he is facing now.
A waste of his talents, but he deserved it.
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