Singapore Presidential Elections 2011

2011 is a awakening year for Singapore - politically wise, that is.

We had the General Elections 2011 in May and three months down the road, Singaporeans now have to exercise their voting rights again to elect their new President for the State.

His Excellency, S.R. Nathan was elected unopposed as President on August 18, 1999. On September 1, 2005, he was sworn in for a second term of office uncontested.

Having led this State for the last twelve years, S.R. Nathan would not be seeking a third term in office, citing health reasons.

A total of six applications were submitted but two of them, Andrew Kuan and Ooi Boon Ewe failed to qualify for the COE.

Coincidentally, the remaining four candidates left running for Presidency are all "Tan"s.

Presidential hopefuls from left to right:
Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Tan Jee Say, Dr Tony Tan, Mr Tan Kin Lian

The Boots

These shall be banished to the darkest and deepest corner of the store... till October.

Six days of training (3 days in June and August respectively) has finally ended. Only Exercise Wallaby in October is left to conclude my obligatory service to the country for this year.

Recipe: Curry Chicken - In Conjunction With National Cook Curry Day

Okay, curry may not be the healthiest dish around but did you know that there are also many health benefits to this zesty mix of spices? Tumeric, one of the ingredient in curry, which gave the dish it's yellow color, reduces inflammation of the joints. Studies has also shown that it protects us against cancer, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s disease. Whoa, I do not realise that curry actually has so much goodness in it until I googled! I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Bon appetit!	Ingredients: 1 Chicken (chopped and cleaned) 1 pack of A1 instant curry mix 4 medium sized potatoes (cut into wedges) 600ml water 200ml Fresh milk OR Coconut milk A few sprigs of curry leaves Salt to taste Instructions: 1) Fry the A1 instant curry mix and curry leaves with some oil till fragrant 2) Add in the chicken pieces and coat evenly with the mixture 3) Add the water 4) Add the potatoes 5) Allow to boil, then simmer till potatoes are cooked 6) Add Coconut milk to thicken the sauce 7) Add salt to taste 8) Serve with rice, Baguette OR Prata
NATIONAL COOK CURRY DAY For the uninitiated, 21st August 2011 is National Cook Curry Day.  I'm uncertain if this is gonna be a a one-off thing or a annual event. This special day arises because a local Singaporean Indian family were told NOT TO COOK and NOT TO EAT curry in their own home by their new neighbors from China as they could not stand the smell! This riled up every local Singaporeans here be it Chinese, Malay and Indians! I guess patriotic sentiments were running high nation wide as Singapore has just celebrated her 46th birthday not too long ago. Now, you do not step into someone else's home and tell them what NOT to do in it.  That's plain rude and not to mention ridiculous! You came to live in our territory of your own accord so you integrate to our culture and lifestyle; not try to change it to suit you! Singaporeans, let us all UNITE and use food - curry, in this instance, to educate our foreign friends. Everyone is encouraged to cook curry on this day and allow the fragrance of one of our favorite dish waft out of your windows and down the corridor. It does not matter what curry you cook: Mutton Curry; Chicken Curry; Beef Curry; Fish Curry; whatever curry! Just let the aroma of your curry permeate every nook and corner of this tiny island! Let's make this PRC family work at Muthu's Curry till they learn how to appreciate our local cuisine show our foreign friends that we are ONE UNITED PPEOPLE and it takes more than just curry to bring us down!
Note: I used 1kg of chicken wings for this dish I preferred my curried potatoes deep fried Give the curry leaves a few vigorous rubs between your palms to bruise them

Movie: CARS 2

Lightning McQueen

Here's a holla to Nuffnang and The Cathay!

Thanks for the invites to the Premiere of CARS 2!

Pinoy Making A Mockery Of Singaporeans?

By now, you would have learned about the MP who was caught texting on her mobile phone while the National Anthem was playing during NDP 2011.

Ms Penny Low, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC has since apologized on her Facebook.

Looking through the various NDP photos posted on her Facebook, I believe she was just trying to upload 'live' updates of the parade to her fellow residents via the social media tool and does not really mean to show any disrespect.

At least, that is what I chose to believe.

However, that is no excuse to not pay full attention during such a solem moment. We have all been in school long enough to know the proper posture to display.

A Letter For My Nation: Why Do I Serve?

Dear Singapore,

When I went to BMT many years ago, my PC asked us this question: "Why do we serve?"

Hands began going up into the air and several answers given by the recruits but non of the replies seemed to impress him much.

Throwing up his arms in despair (ok, I made that one up), this was what he said to us, "This, is YOUR country; YOUR territory. Here is where YOUR home, YOUR property, and all YOUR loved ones are. If YOU don't protect her, WHO will?

His answer hit me in the face like a wake-up call. As I lay in bed that night, I keep repeating that answer to myself, "If I don't, WHO will?"

There were plenty more to what my PC said earlier that day under the training shed but these are the most impactful words from him which helped me to survive my two years of conscription.

Boys like me, who had been forcefully taken away from our comfort zone the moment we turned eighteen years old were thrown into a unfamiliar environment where the toughest training awaits.

Of course, there were good times and not-so-good times. At times, when the training gets a little too tough, I would remind myself of the reason why I served.

Recipe: Snow Pear With Spare Ribs Soup 雪梨南北杏排骨汤

It has been quite a while since I last came up with a recipe post. I have been craving for good quality boiled soup instead of those instanteous soups made with ikan bilis/chicken cubes. Thus, I ordered this soup for lunch at the foodcourt but my tongue felt numb for the rest of the day due to MSG overdose. I decided to make this soup myself so my family could benefit from the cooling properties of the soup. Here are some benefits of Snow Pear: - Stops coughing - Expels heatiness - Dissolves phlegm - Good for respiratory ailments I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Bon appetit!

Threadless

My threadless spree has finally arrived! 

Epic Battle

Epic Battle

Ninja Kick Ass Clash

Ninja Kick Ass Clash

I have been hearing alot about Threadless but never knew what was all the hype about? From the website, it seemed quite popular so I decided to jump on the wagon and ordered two for myself!

I ordered three actually, but the third design (below) was out of stock.

Little Warrior

I call it the "Smurvatar"! (Smurf + Avatar)

Everyone help me to request for a reprint pretty please!

Hungry Ghost Festival: Mystery Of The Falling Chopsticks

via

The Lunar Seventh Month, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated by the Chinese around the world.

Some might confused this with Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping Festival), when the living pay homeage to the dead; whilst during the Hungry Ghost Festival, the roles are reversed: it's the ghosts and spirits who paid visits to the living.

As Buddhists, my family do not celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival as true Buddhist teachings do not encourage the burning of material comforts (paper money, clothes, houses, etc) although we do worship the ancestral tablets at home with twice daily incenses.