thoughts if any

-met nadia and natt tis week. met at specialist centre(nadia).went HMV to get Chicken Rice War for her thesis. Then after a jam and a detour went to Adam Road Food Ctr for din. Ate lots. details to be found on nadia's blog. Natt came by later to join in the self-engourging.was nice to see them both. must do it again soon...and again...(to be blogged in detail more later)

- met Joyce a lot since the last blogs. what else is new, we meet so often it is almost not newsworthy anymore.we meet more after we broke up than we did while we were together. Love her still.(needs an entire blog for itself just to contain the whole story)

- The gay xmas party SnowBall.04 has not been given approval by the local authorities cos of it was "contrary to public interest". I dun approve of the gay lifestyle but in my view this is a step back from the so called all inclusive rheteoric from a few months back where the government was saying how gays are now part of society and homosexuals are allowed to be employed in the civil service and all.Another point is how inconsistent policy can be when last year the gay community had a high profile party at Sentosa musical fountain yet this year it is 'contrary to public interest'. What has changed after a year? Or has Singapore suddenly become more conservative as we liberalised(an oxymoron)? Maybe it has something to do with it not being in the Christmas Spirit? lol

- have you seen those sensor taps at public toilets? They just don't work as they are supposed to. You have to place your hands right at sensor (which is often just inches below where the water sprouts from) and if you move out of sensor range it shuts off. Added to that is that the water pressure from such taps are almost a trickle. It is comical to watch others trying in vain to get their hands clean, but not so amusing when you are the one. A giant step for technology, a small step back for humanity.

-on the topic of toilets: recently heard in the media about how a local petrol staion proudly boasts of winning the Happy Toilet award by the Restroom Association of Singapore. The RAS (wonder where they hold their weekly meetings) was impressed enough to award the maximum score of five stars to the station. Caltex has a maintenance programme that involves inspection and cleaning of the toilets every hour. The new toilets have been rebranded as "refreshrooms" and feature automatic activation of the flush, soap, sink and hand dryer. A must see for tourists to Clean and green Singapore.

- more toilet humour: Restroom Association of Singapore website features fun downloads and the organisation logo is the initials RA! Going to the loo has never been so much fun. You can find out about upcoming events and activities. You can even nominate your toilet for the Happy Toilet award. Please remember to read the rules and regulations though.Quite strict these guys are.
You just have to check it out for yourself to see what I am waxing lyrical about.

- Tiger Cup is on. Singapore drew both their matches so far. Vietnam and Indonesia joust tonight. A win for either side will mean our Lions will qualify for the next round if they win their remaining matches. A draw however will mean Singapore has to register big wins to qualify. Do we still remember the previous Tiger Cup where Indonesia and Thailand played to a draw just to avoid facing Vietnam? A farce it was...

- I got fined $12 by the LTA.$2 ERP charge and $10 administrative charge. I have to pay the fine by 27th December, failing which a Notice of Traffic Offence will be sent and compounded to the tune of $70. Was just wondering what the $10 admin fee is for. Maybe it is one of those civil service things where a simple letter sent goes through many levels to approval. To justify the cost of manpower and all the LTA charges $10 to recover costs. Of course this comes from someone whose section charges people $38 transportation cost to go to their premises to inspect their goods.

- Speaking of fines, the other day in JB I got a summons for parking without a parking coupon. I have to pay....*drumroll please*...RM 30!! Beginning to sound like the Malaysians are beginning to pick up a few pointers from their Singapore counterparts.

- Those of you with a craving for critically acclaimed masterpieces by local filmmakers please move on to the next entry. You will not find anything like that here. For the rest of you check out the latest offerings from the Central Narcotic Bureau in their bid to achieve a drug free Singapore. A collection of videos can be found. Just be prepared to wait a while whilst they download.Meanwhile you can do other wholesome stuff like learning how to construct a bomb from easily found household items or just surf to your favourite porn sites. Read the synopsis. Really gripping human drama. 6 movies can be found here.

-Singapore Idol rants: Taufik wins!! Sylvester loses but gets a contract anyway!!
What a load of crap! The least they could do was wait until Taufik had his day in the sun before announcing that Sly was not the real loser anyway. To rub salt into wounds, TCS also decided whilst they were at it to announce that Taufik would not be representing Singapore at World Idol as was reported earlier. In the light of protests of lack of fairness in awarding a contract to the LOSER of Singapore Idol, TCS issued a press statement stating that 'technically' Taufik is still the winner since Sylvester was not 'assured' of a contract in the first place whereas Taufik as the winner was. Well...duh! And today we also found out that the now ever-smiling Sylvester has also won an endorsement deal for Smile toothcare products. It shows what a smile can do...

- Camou has long nails. Dogs nails should be trimmed regularly. In fact you should start trimming them from pups (the nails...not the pups in case you wondering).

Anyway Camou's nails are long and yesterday night as he was enthusiastically greeting Noel and Paula as they came home his dew claw got stuck somewhere and was left hanging(the nail not Camou). At first it was unclear what was wrong with the bitch-spawn. But despite having no formal training in doggie medical school we surmised that something was wrong with his toenail. This fact was made apparent when Camou on more than one occasion licked the injured part. Now that we had sucessfully identified the problem without having to make a fish-bone chart and a bar chart, it was now time to find a solution to the problem. Short of calling for the formation of a WITS team or calling in the Marines, we decided to do the next best thing. We called Dad.

We asked him where the toe nail clippers was. No one had ever seen one before but we knew it existed somewhere,someplace in our house. After a few misguided directions and much searching we managed to find the set of toenail clippers. It was found in pristine condition in its original casing.It was as though it has never been used before. Which of course was true, but which is also besides the point. Now what remained was to actually do the cutting off of the offending cartilage without hurting the pooch. The realisation of this utopian ideal proved elusive as Camou struggled and yelped as even light pressure was applied on the affected area. At our wits (there is that word again)end, we decide to call the Mount Pleasant Animal 24 hr clinic. Whilst Noel did the necessary calling, I rushed to my pc and furiously typed in words related to dogs nails such as 'trimming','toenails', 'dog', 'bleeding to death', 'permanent paralysis' and 'weapons of mass destruction' on the Yahoo! searchengine. I found to my relief (and Camou's and everyone else in attendance) that bleeding from a toe nail is rarely fatal as I had alluded to earlier to Noel. The filipino at the other end of Noel's call told us to quickly pull out the toenail and bandage the paw.As it was not a medical emergency we were told to bring him in the following day. Non-medical emergency my foot!

After that we did our best impersonations of a filipino veterinarian attendant before,"Pwrease quigly pull the nails out and then bandwage it", getting back to the task at hand. Camou was not very amused by our stand up comic routine and looked rather close to tears actually. Party pooper!

Paula tenderly held Camou in her arms,close to her bosom, whilst Noel attempted to concentrate on the task at hand and not on the bosom.It required someone with nerves of steel and a steady pair of hands. Noel proved unable to complete the task for some reason so it was left to me to pretend to be unaware of the bosom and cut the toenail. After much ado, I finally managed to cut the nail as Noel looked on worriedly (for Camou...not Paula's bosom...which by this time was covered in white fur). With that done it was left to Noel to bandage the paw up. But first we had to find bandage and surgical tape. We found the bandage easily enough but the tape took a litle more resourcefulness and ingenuity. Noel then did the honours as I helped to cut out strips of tape. What would they do without me?

With the bandage on 'securely' we set Camou down to take his first steps with his new footwear. He stumbled and fell a few times as we all do when we had just undergone a toenail trim and a bandaged appendage. After finding his footing, Camou then proceeded to do what any self-respecting domesticated animal would do under the circumstances. He proceeded to pee and poop, after which he commenced to get down to the serious business of irritation irradication by gnawing at the bandage to get it off.

blogger's fact of the day

My smallest toes are twisted inward and second last toes are bent on each feet.

Motorola E680

After exhaustive research and indepth analysis I have hereforth decreed that my nexteth handphoneth shalleth be-eth a Motorola E680.



Motorola E680
Entertainment enthusiasts rejoice with Motorola’s E680 handset – dual 3D stereo surround sound speakers and RealPlayerTM software provide incredible reproduction of the newest of sounds and the handset’s large color screen brings your favorite videos to life. Music and video fanatics can download up to 1GB of content on the device’s removable memory and can update their entertainment choices as often as they like. Downloading is easy with seamless USB data transfer support and fast over the air downloads via GPRS technology or Bluetooth for wireless transfer of files. Gaming gets serious on the model E680 with 3D graphics, portable and downloadable J2ME™ games and 8-way navi and gaming keys. Simultaneous key press and multi-channel audio supports for MIDI background music and MP3 sound effects bring new digital worlds to life.

Faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.

1 Cor 13: 1-13

Just the other day I was in church listening to a message by Dennis Burke. I just love his preaching. I never fail to get new found revelations and find my faith renewed each time he stops by to share the gospel. Anyway, during his message that day he touched upon how many people seem to find true love and friendship outside the church rather than within its walls. The story was about this former gang leader who was now a believer in Christ and attended church regularly. The point of the story is that often times the former gang leader found more loyalty and camaderie (read:love) from his former members of the gang than from the members of the church he was in. It reached to the point where no one would even bother to return his calls or have communion with him. His gang members would stand shoulder to shoulder with him if he got into any trouble (even if the trouble was of his own doing) and even to the extent of laying down their very lives for his cause if necessary. Meanwhile his fellow brethren in church felt him beneath them and treated him with disdain because of his underworld past and connections.

As a believer, I can attest that his experience is not an isolated case or a departure from the norm. As a christian it can sometimes be embarrassing to admit that the ones with their noses in the air and who exhibit un-christian traits are in actual fact... *gulp*... Christians.

We have all been spoken down to, made to feel insignificant by holier-than-thou christians. It happens in the churches and it happens in our daily lives. We make others feel inferior just because they serve a different God. We tell them that their setbacks and misfortunes are because they lacked faith, did not read their Bibles enough or say their prayers well to be delivered from the curse. We make non-believers feel like they do not belong until after they accept Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord. We put up this fake front when there are newcomers to our church. We show them the kind of love they can expect in the Body of Christ if they become one of us. However that facade fades away once they accept Christ and become full fledged members of our church. We then get them to do the same to other newbies. The cycle continues.

We seem to treat people different from ourselves as lesser beings.

In my walk with Christ many times I found myself being conflicted when encountering my fellow brethren. They seem to preach a gospel different from the one found in my Bible. I had numerous run-ins with so called men of God who preached an exclusive Gospel where you are either in or out of grace and fellowship. I had one pastor tell me that that my devotion to God was dependent on how I dressed to attend church! Another gave me a tongue lashing for sharing with other believers about Creationism (the so called evolution vs creation argument). It seems that church more often than not is about keeping up appearances and outward behavior. We want to appear above reproach and want our members to show the 'sinful world outside' how good and moral we are. The fact is our righteousness comes from Christ sacrifice at the cross that cleansed us from our sin and not because of how holy we are. (another blog for another day!)

No one wants someone with a criminal record in their congregation it seems. If my bible serves me correctly Jesus himself spent more time with the poor, the sinners and the common people than he ever did with the rich and the self-righteous. In fact he never turned away anyone who came to him. The only ones he had trouble with were those who felt they were too moral and upright to interact with his flock. In fact those self righteous ones were the ones who brought false charges against their Messiah and had him cruelly treated and ultimately nailed to a cross at Calvary. The irony of it was that Jesus was crucified between two thieves and Jesus told one of them in his darkest hour that 'today you will be with me in Paradise'.

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9

I am not here to say that all christians are bad. I have many brothers and sisters who truly live the christian life and it shows. What I am addressing here are the church goers and church leaders who preach love and grace yet do not show love and grace to their fellow human beings (believers and unbelievers). I have often spoken to unbelievers about my faith and it seems many of them see us as proud and aloof. We seem to have this superiority complex that turns off many from joining our churches. They much rather go to hell than be amongst wolves and snakes!

Even with fellow church members I have had falling outs because these members follow their pastors rather than God. It is almost like their pastors words supercede anything contained in God's own Holy Word. I understand the pastors are anointed by God to lead their church and are but human and are fallible as we all are. But surely we are not like lemmings jumping off a cliff after the leader. We just follow our leaders without paying heed to the higher law of the Bible which is what the pastor is supposed to preach anyway.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another

John 13:34,35

As in Spiderman, 'with great power; comes great responsiblity'. Christians should examine their actions and consider the implications of how we behave towards one another and to those outside our doors.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

We should lift those that fall. Encourage those that fail. Strenghten those who are weak. Love those who are lost.
*puffed chest*

Although this is not all I can say on this subject I will stop here or else we will be here all day...

If you play God...

If you play God, play God at tennis.
A strict code of conduct is expected
Clear lines must be drawn in the sand
The ball will be either in or out
At times there is talk of love

If you play God, play God at chess.
All decisions must be black or white
There are ways for him to be kept in check
Bishops are available for consultation
There is the possibility of mating

If you play God, play God at cards.
There is clear opportunity for cheating
You might deal from the bottom of the pack
Aces can be hidden up your sleeve
The joker should be specially marked

If you play God, play God at darts.
He will dislike their resemblance to nails
An acceptable target must be provided
There is a fine line he will not be permitted to cross
Cursing should never be allowed

If you play God, play God at monopoly.
Everyone will be expected to take turns
He must sit at a table like everyone else
You might refuse him a room at your inn
He is certain to be feeling overconfident

from mrbrown.com

"Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life."

To do list

- meet Nadia

- get Sunny checked out

- clean up my planted tank

- refine my blog

- have a family

- change my bed sheets

- clean my room again

- buy a new handphone

- get the U2 IPod

- learn to roller blade

- bring Lisa to the zoo and eat Ben & Jerry's!!

- Meet up with Neev

- go out shopping for new clothes

- get my watch strap done

- play fifa 2005

- play Star Wars Battlefront

- get married

- go to Haw Par and take pictures

- maybe one day bring Vannie to Labrador Park

- clean out the boot of my car

- learn to play the guitar

- to think BIG

- get a fiance

- buy a new digital camera

- learn how to maximise the use of a digicam

- strive to attend Bible Study more regularly

- go to dinner with Maybel

- have some pie!

- gain some weight

- do weight training more regularly

- bring Camou out for runs

- go on The Big Walk

- watch Revenge of the Sith on the first day it opens

- take up a motorcycle licence

- do the taxi driver course just for fun

- take courses in stuff I like

- do community work

- read more real books

- buy a new electric shaver

- pamper myself at a spa

- drive up to Penang

- get a girlfriend

- file up all my photos in an album

- sleep earlier

- have breakfast everyday

- go on holidays

- take breaks from work every now and then

- watch more movies

- get a new monitor for my PC

- discard my old shoes

- start my own company

- make tons of money

- world peace

- save the world

bloggers block here!!

Just seem to write anything.not sure why.I guess all bloggers go through this at one time or another.

BLOGGERS BLOCK.

to be continued...

a message from her:

torn apart...My life is fearful and torturous..I prayed to get out of this..but i m still in it.I know not all things are meant for me but i m sad and frustrated y i cant give u my love fully as in the past....Something has been lost and I jus find that missing in us now...The problem is with me not with you...Ireally wished all these had not happened.I m still battling with it and each time I fail....I get more depress,guilty,fearful and confused...That resulted in what i m now....I hope i've explained in the correct way....I m really lost.....

Dating Tips From the Animal Kingdom

Can humans learn something about the dating world from animals? If you think your love life could use a boost, take a lesson from lions, tigers, and bears.

Problem No. 1: You can't find anyone eligible

The next time you find yourself complaining that you can't find anyone to date, stop. You're approaching it all wrong. It's not that you can't find anyone suitable: The problem is, no one can find you.

The grizzly bear does not have this problem. Grizzlies start from a much tougher spot than humans. Earth is crawling with people. Grizzlies, on the contrary, are an endangered species.

What's more, they're not exactly social butterflies. They keep to themselves, and they don't make a big scene. And yet, they still manage to hook up. Scientists believe the trick is for the female grizzly to leave a trail for the males to follow. So, if you're sitting in your house watching Dr. Quinn, you're not leaving a trail--except the one between the couch and fridge. Who do you think you're going to meet there?

Grizzlies aren't the only animals that do this. Male tigers spray urine on tree trunks to warn off other males and attract females. Tigers of both sexes also attract each other by roaring loudly. While roaring might not sound fun to you, the point is that tigers aren't moping around the savannah. They're mixing it up and putting their mark on the world--even if it is a stinky one.

Problem No. 2 : You can never tell if he or she likes you

Once you're out of sixth grade and it's no longer cool to have a friend ask your crush if he or she likes you back, gauging a potential romantic partner's interest can be tricky.

A more mature strategy is to try a little generosity and watch for the response. The black-tipped hang fly offers the object of his affection a little food to try and win her over. The lesson? Take someone out to dinner. Order dessert, even. Pay the whole bill yourself. If you watch closely, you'll see signs of interest--or not.

The giraffe is a little less generous, and he pays for it. Bulls (male giraffes) can only tell if a female is receptive by testing her urine. He has to poke at her belly or lick her tail until she provides him with some, which he catches in his mouth and analyzes the scent using his Jacobson's organ to know for sure he's in luck.

Anyone with good sense would do better to simply cough up the cash for dinner. If you're really broke, though, you can make like a flamingo. The male follows the female, indicating with his body language that he's interested in her. Once the female responds by walking along and pretending to eat (after all, he didn't buy her dinner), the male tries to touch her. Eventually, she stops scooting away and spreads her wings, as if to say, "OK. Come and get it."

The lesson here is, if you let people know you're interested, they'll at some point let you know if you stand a chance. And, a little class and generosity could save you from a seriously bad taste in your mouth.

Problem No. 3: You don't have the waistline of a tiny insect

We live in such a vain, vain world. Looks matter for humans, and these days, the look that you see all over the covers of magazines are people with zero body fat. They look like praying mantises, for crying out loud.

You don't have to be thin to be lovable. Just look at the long-jawed spider. The males of this species prefer chubbier female spiders. Scientists think this might be because a plumper spider is closer to releasing her eggs, which is attractive to males because it means they have the best shot at being the father.

So if you don't look like a supermodel, take heart: To someone, you'll look like someone who is attainable. And in the cold of winter, this can be a pretty comforting thing. Unless, of course, you take another lesson from the long-jawed spider. After mating, the female tries to bite the male. Sometimes, she does. And sometimes, she eats him.

It gives the female spider quite a bit of power in the dog-eat-dog, spider-eat-spider world of love. It's a far cry from happily ever after, but it's nice knowing that even if the heart is broken, the stomach is full.