After a bright start to the season, Liverpool see their european aspirations in tatters. They lost this morning to Besiktas 2-1, leaving them bottom of the table. In theory they have to win all their remaining matches if they hope to advance to the next round.
Chelsea after the turmoil of losing their manager and a run of bad results, seem to have brought their season back on track with positive results in the EPL and Champions League. Beginning to look like Avram Grant and Roman Abramovich actually know how to run a successful team. Who woulda thunk?
And then there is Arsenal. Unbeaten in all competitions this season, seems like Henry who?? The doomsayers were predicting Arsenal to capitulate this season without their inspirational captain, but as usual life goes on after the loss of a key player as long as Arsene Wenger is manager.
Man U after a poor start of the season, are finally getting into their stride and if injuries do not derail their season should figure in the title run-in at season's end.
Newcastle are finally finding their feet as Sam Allardyce's way of doing things finally bears fruit. They may be eight in the table but they are a team in the ascendancy.
Spurs are third from bottom of the table. This was supposed to the season that we would see Sours challenging for a place in the Champions League, but instead we have seen them struggling. Sad to say Martin Jol has to go. He is an astute coach and a likable guy, but seems like the only way out of this quagmire is a change in management.
Manchester City have flattered to deceive thus far. We are still waiting for the other shoe to drop. But the truth be said, Sven Goran Eriksson has moulded in record time a team that will be challenging for places in Europe on a regular basis.

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seems like after the all the buzz, David Copperfield is not coming after all, due to 'unforeseen circumstances'. The FBI is investigating rape charges brought against the illusionist. And as such all his engagements in Asia have been cancelled. I seriously doubt the charges brought against David will stick but stranger things have happened.

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But on the bright side Linkin Park are coming. Megadeth too! Heaven and Hell/Black Sabbath too!

and then there is this guy....
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Jay Chou World Tour 2008
10 January 2008
Singapore Indoor Stadium
prices: $78, $108, $138, $168, $198

the prices are rather steep but goes to show how little I know about the dude.

tickets for the show are selling fast. 80% of the priority tickets were sold on Monday. There is talk of having a second show the day before, the 18th. Lets wait and see....



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AGNES FINALLY GOT HER JOB AT HSA!!!

After trying so long and so hard my dear wife has finally gotten the job she wanted all along. I tried claiming all the credit but Agnes would have none of it. She has already signed the appointment letter and sent her resignation notice to AVA. Additional good news comes in the form of that Agnes has to start work only in January. The initial fear was that they wanted her to begin ASAP. Agnes has not yet concluded her thesis, let alone her experiments. So that may have meant that she may have to work as well as complete her thesis simultaneously, and may even have had to study part-time next year. So seems like all the pieces of the jigsaw are falling into place. If Agnes manages to finish her work by December maybe we can both go for a much deserved holiday before she commences her new job.

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Kaili cancelled our appointment with her yesterday. It has been postponed to tomorrow. Was kind of a wasted day as I was on leave and Agnes was relatively free. But no worries, we will get things done tomorrow and hopefully speed up the renovation process. We both can't wait to move in now, so we will prod dear Kaili to fast track things and hopefully get it done before the first quarter of 2008.

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changed the car radio, and now Sunny sounds better than ever. still getting to grips with the controls of the new radio. bad thing is the CD changer is no longer usable with the new head. So all Cd's have to be front loaded. But the good thing is that the new player plays MP3's!

not quite too big on the red lighted buttons.would prefer a deep blue or something. But it works a treat.

have yet to go for the vehicle inspection. will do it soon.

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I dunno about you, but David Beckham's US adventure seems rather stop and go thus far. he has spent more time flying and on the treatment table than on the pitch. For what he is being paid, I am sure Alexis Lalas is wondering what he got himself into when he agreed to take Beckhamania into the MLS. All the hype and money, and the LA Galaxy did not even make it to the play-offs.

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The bunnies are now into their new cage. it is much higher and longer than their previous cage. Think there is even enough height for placing a platform ...or two. They seem happier. Sometimes it is hard to tell if a rabbit is smiling or not.

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Was on course last week with Wee Ling. Was quite alot of fun. The course itself was interesting. The 'lecturer' was fun and able to get just about the whole class involved. Also got to make many new friends. All in all was one of the better courses I attended in my tenure with AVA.

Then of course there are the morons. Yeah..you know who you are...

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If we hope to have our wedding by the middle of the year then we will probably have to book the hotel venue...like yesterday. To be honest I do not see the rush to do it next year. But from what I gather the in-law prefer it before we can actually live together. And I (read:we) want to do right by them.
Then there is the issue of how we are gonna pay for it all. Almost all our money has been ploughed into our house. But it is still doable...I think.

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2 pairs of my running shoes have their bottoms coming out. tried to glue it but does not seem to work too well. May just have to throw them out with the trash.

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Agnes bought be a present. Did not let me see it though. it is now in a bag in the boot of my car. So close yet so far away. :(

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The JB trip to Noah's Ark did not go according to plan. The people I was supposed to go with were unable to get back from Krabi in time. They tried to get in contact but were unable to. maybe next time. Hopefully Agnes can join us the next time we organise another trip to NANAS.

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The SPC car Boot Sale thing is definitely off. The deadline has come and gone. The lack of response is disappointing. But not totally unexpected.

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Funny how people think they can dictate the contents of another person's blog. If you do not like what a person expresses in their blog, DO NOT GO TO THAT BLOG! Do not say that the contents are too dull, needs more pictures, should be more sensitive, should write longer posts, should have links, should be more original, should be funnier or wittier. It is entirely up to the writer what he wants to say in his blog and how he wishes to express it.

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Seems like hasli and I have somewhat reconciled our differences. at least we are talking now. there are still some undercurrents of hostility, but time heals are wounds, superficial or not.

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funny how the people closest to me are always the ones that hurt me the most. Either I am a bad judge of character or I have unrealistic expectations of the company I keep.

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gonna have to go cut more leaves for Agnes next week. Dunno when or how I be able to do it. She wants it on Monday, so I will have to check my work schedule and such that day and hopefully I will be able to fit in a leaf cutting and NUS trip in the morning.

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Finally he has been outted! Dumbledore is gay. JK Rowlings admitted as much at a Q&A. I will never look at another Harry Potter movie in the same way ever again.

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The A380 has come and it has gone. woo-hoo.... zzzzz z zzz

In other exciting news it has been confirmed that Singapore will be holding the first F1 night races in September next year. So all Singaporeans be prepared for traffic jams and delays in and around the marina area as all parties concerned put the pedal to the metal to get the venue ready for another back-slapping scratch on the post of Singapore world's first.

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All the controversy abounds regarding leashing dogs and AVA's latest licencing regulations.
As far as leashing of dogs go, the lines are clearly drawn in the sand. On one hand you have the dog and animal lovers who feel that dogs deserve better than what they are getting now. As it stands now, pets are not allowed in most public spaces and are only allowed to run free in designated dog runs. Then there are the ones who feel that dogs are dangerous, especially when they are not on a leash. There was a news report on this kid that was hurt by a dog on sentosa island. And how the report polarised views on the issue. It seems to me that the dog meant no harm to the child, but somehow the kid got hurt. I was not there that day so far be it for me to comment. but to the best of my knowledge most dogs are pleasant companions and an integral part of whatever family they are a part of. That is something someone who never had a dog would understand. then there is the religious component of the argument. But ironically the ones who bring this issue up are seldom the ones whose religion is in question.

Then there are the new legislation regarding the licencing of dogs.

- microchipping of all newly licensed dogs
- new dog licencing fees.Sterilized dogs at $14 and $70 for unsterilized ones.
- higher penalties for keeping unlicensed dogs $500 to $5000

seems like the new rules resulted in widespread abandonment of dogs island wide. People are most unwilling to pay the fines, hence the abandonment of dogs. those living in HDB flats are only allowed one dog per flat. And there are only certain approved breeds allowed. so to circumvent the new rules, these poor dogs are being abandoned. Attempts to extend the deadline for enforcement action against offenders did little to solve the problem.

And then there was a letter to the forum regarding the 'irritating noise' of a bird on a tree outside his window. What followed was a deluge of letters to the forum page from nature lovers. seems some people just do not appreciate the finest things of nature. They complain about birds at their window, dog poop on the grass, cats caterwauling at night, dogs barking, dogs running free at the beach....

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out now at the Omni-Max Theaters:

DINOSAURS:GIANTS OF THE PATAGONIA

This documentary-style narrative focuses on the history, evolution and extinction of the dinosaurs. In larger-than-life fashion, audiences will explore a subject matter whose mystique and appeal are unquestioned.

Dinosaurs are amongst the most fascinating animals to have ever walked the Earth. We are captivated by their enormous size and intrigued by the fact that they disappeared millions of years ago. DINOSAURS will take audiences on an unprecedented and unique journey into the world of the largest known dinosaurs and, in the process, explore some of the great paleontological discoveries of modern time.

Done in close collaboration with the foremost scientists of the domain, the movie will show never seen before computer generated footage of the Giganotosaurus and the Argentinosaurus to name a few.

offical site: http://www.dinosaurs3dmovie.com/
trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVEGLYn7hX0

The first in a trilogy of films. not quite Jurassic Park, but worth a watch if only for the omni-max experience.

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