void of existence

This is regarding the Mio Alert SMS service.

I have received several Mio Alert sms to my handphone to inform I have missed calls on my land line.  As I have diverted the landline, most other calls are either fax advertisement or wrong number.

In any case, the Mio Alert sms is irritating and I wanted it disabled.  So I called the Mio helpline.  The 1st lady (Hairin) who assist me told me that a technician will call me back to guide me step by step.  This cannot be right and I told her that it has to be done on Singtel end.  She checked and found that she made a mistake.  She transferred me to Mio Sales as only they can disabled the service.  A Ms Cathy Lee attended the call and claimed that entire Singtel has only her in the Mio Sales as I asked for more specific ID.  How can we know who serve us with just a first name?

Chewie and Noodles

Ticket Booking

Recently, while discussing on the topic of people having extra-marital affairs, I came up with this theory.

The feeling towards a partner is like the feeling towards the toilet.  We all prefer the one at home.  We feel that its cleaner.  We feel that its more secure.  Most important we feel that it belong to us.

Having an affair is like using a public toilet.  You know that many other people has been on it.  Someone else might have just been on it within the last minute.  Sometimes, the seat is still warm.  We wipe it a couple of times with toilet paper so that we believe its clean.  We do not want to know what the previous person been doing on the seat.  We deceived ourselves that it is ok and we are the only one using it.  We get in and try to get out asap.  We will never bring the toilet seat from a public toilet to install in our home.

Firstly, I would like to express my condolences to the family of the good fellows who died in the recent boating accident in Cambodia. It is a great sadness as with all loss of life. You have my sympathies.

It has been 3 days now. This piece of news has been on the headlines for 3 days now. Every day, they are talking about it. Newspaper, TV news, radio news, etc etc. The media is justifying it. The authorities are scrambling to point their finger at somewhere or someone….preferably the ‘arrowed’ person is still alive. As a tragedy, it is a bad thing for us to point our fingers at the demised afterall. Do I care? Does the average person on the street even care? Now, the authorities are setting an inquiry board for this incident next week to further investigate into the matter. I suspect so that they can blame someone, other than themselves, for the tragedy. Isn’t it quite enough already?  Of coz, I support a proper investigation by the relevant authorities.  What I am saying is that the media has already made a judgement on the incident that the inquiry is seen as a joke now.

I repeat again that it is sad that these young men had lost their lives. But they are to be responsible for their own lives as well. They have chosen to do a sport. Which sport in the world is truly completely without risk?

Personally, I do not see the rationale of ‘able to row faster’ as a reason for not wearing a life vest. Rowing is a team sport. It is about team work and precision of each stroke. Just because 5 persons can row faster, does it matter? It is their decision that led to one precaution that can prevent the tragedy from happening. Will they be alive if someone made them wear a life vest? Maybe. Remember that it is still a sport. It still has an element of risk. They may be forced to stay above the water and be knocked out by the overturned boat as the strong undercurrent forced the objects together.

Coming back to the inquiry. SG is aiming to be moving ahead in the world of athletics. We want to compete in the world stage. This is one incident to show how big the world is. We can no longer play as a war on paper anymore. This is the real stage. The seemingly calm water hides a strong undercurrent. To compete in sports in another country means adapting to their environment as well. The inquiry should not be whether we have done enough to protect them. The question is whether we have done enough to prepare them.

In another water sport of wind surfing, in SG, the winds are calm most of the time. How many windsurfers in SG ever seen a wind that can carry a windsurfer faster than a car going at 90Km/h? I have seen a windsurfer going faster than my car at 90Km/h.  Are our sportsmen ready to face the ‘wild’ side of the sports world?

Back to the media. They seem to be fascinated with this piece of news. I guess its a way to bring a sport that no one really cares about, except for that small interest group, into the main news.

Somehow, this lady disturbed me.

Been wanting to try this browser for a while now. Man…its great. Speed is faster and there is definitely more options available. Customization is great.  Try it!

Fire Fox

While I was waiting at the cashier as the pump attendant was filling up Chancery at the pump station, I came across this rather fierce looking lady in her 40s.  She appears ghastlywithout her usual thick makeup except for the almost faded drawn eye brows.  That was the first time I had ever seen her - but if you have seen someone who normally wears very heavy make up without any, you will know what I mean.  Yes, the reason for mentioning her.  The first thing she asked as she came up to the counter was ‘How much is Pump #’.  After being told, she said ‘Huh?  No discount?’.  The cashier told her that there is a 5% off the pump price, and she answered ‘Only 5%?’ in a very obnoxious tone. 

After she exited, I looked out and saw her driving a new E-class.  Isn’t it strange that someone who has just spent so much on the car is now bitching towards a sales clerk at the pump station about petrol prices and lack of discount.  I mean…give those staff a break already.  Drive a smaller capacity car.

One other thing I learn today is about chewing gum.  Some of us know that it is illegal to sell or import chewing gum when the garment imposed that ban in 1992.  The act of chewing the gum in itself is not a crime.  Recently, the sale of chewing gum is allowed again.  What I didnt know was that the reason was actually initiated by the Americans during the Free Trade Agreement talks. 

’syad fo elpuoc a rof tfel eb.  deciton eb ton. raeppasid ot ekil tsuj i. pu em gnireehc si gnihton. desserped gnileef ma i.’

I got tired of having lunch in the office so I decided to walk to a chicken rice stall for lunch.  When I arrived at the stall, I found that it was closed.  So I continued walking.  I was passing by this group of trio seemingly handing out brochure, so without thinking or looking, I reach out and took a piece of the ‘brochure’ when the person started calling out to me.  That is when I realized that they are not handing out ‘brochures’ but selling lottery ticket.  So I handed the lottery ticket back, apologised and started moving away.  Soon my feet found its way to Sim Lim Square.  Have a western mixed grill and went to Tech Dome to buy ‘Call of Duty 4′. 

Now, I found that my graphic card doesn’t support Direct X9.0c.  WTF..

So much for not paying attention.

These beauty queens are once men.