McDonald's Singapore Donates 1000 Happy Meals To Charity

[via]

From today till 31 July 2013, customers purchasing Happy Meals in the Despicable Me 2 promotion has the option to donate their meals to the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).

This move came after a series of complaints that fans who bought the meals solely for the free Minion toys had thrown away their food which drew a backlash from the online community.

Apparently, this was already happening during the previous Hello Kitty Fairy Tales promotion where customers were seen dumping the food into the bins after getting their toys. There were many pleas on McDonald's facebook page to allow customers who had only wanted the toys but not the food to donate their meals.

Video: When Elephants Goes Amok! *GRAPHIC*

The Elephant is the largest land mammal and also the most regal-looking.

These highly-endangered giants should be revered and left in the wild but the biggest threat they faced are the loss of habitat when people cleared large areas of land, forcing them to stray out of the forest into settled areas where they sometimes destroy property, trample crops, and even kill people.

What you are going to see are some videos of elephants going on a rampage.

Viewer Discretion Is Advised

Free Despicable Me 2 Minion Toys With McDonald's Happy Meal

McDonald's Singapore will be launching a set of 9 Minion collectible toys from the animation, Despicable Me 2 this coming Thursday, 11 July 2013 at 11am.

The Minions are:
1. Tim Giggling
2. Tom Googly Eyes Grabber
3. Dave Gadget Grabber
4. Evil Minion Chomper
5. Stuart Light Up Grabber
6. Evil Minion Noisemaker
7. Tim Giggle Grabber
8. Stuart Babbler Grabber
9. Jerry Breakdancing

The toys will come free with every purchase of a kid's Happy Meal.

Singapore Zoo Celebrates Its 40th Birthday!

Officially opened on 27 June 1973, the Singapore Zoo is undisputedly one of the finest zoo around the region.

A distinct feature of the zoo is its open-concept where animals roam freely in the open. Take the Orangutans for example, visitors could observe them in close proximity among the trees via the elevated boardwalk which offers a spectacular 360° aerial view of the surroundings.

Unlike some zoos that keep their animals in concrete cells, the animals' quarters here are landscaped as closely to their natural habitat as possible so they are simulated to put on their natural behaviour as they would in the wild and with some luck, they might just start breeding!

One of the Singapore Zoo's greatest achievement is its successful breeding program for some of their endangered animals. To date, they have bred 40 Orangutans, 13 White Rhinos, 3 Sun Bears, and even a Polar Bear. It is heartening to know that the zoo's efforts towards conservation and preserving wildlife is taking off!

Something Devastating To Share; Golden Retriever And Samoyed Ended Up As Delicacy During Yuling Dog Meat Festival

A animal activist kneeling in front of the butchered dogs asking
for forgiveness while dog meat traders watched in amusement

First of all, I am a dog person so don't come argue with me about the plight of chicken and pigs. Call me a hypocrite if you will. I know, pigs are intelligent creatures too but that is not the point of this post so let's just keep it at that.

What I am going to share here is a video of a China program that features about this annual dog meat festival at Yulin, Guangxi. I am appalled to learn that there is actually a festival dedicated to men's best friend although it's for the wrong reason!

Apparently, the locals organised this festival to mark the summer solstice in the southern Guangxi province, where they feasted on dog meat with lychee wine.

What The Hail?

via

Today, Singapore welcomed a much sought-after rain that provided some respite for Singaporeans who had been suffocating for the last couple of days ever since the haze from Indonesia invaded our skies.

There were reports of hailstones falling in several areas of western Singapore like Chua Chu Kang, Bukit Batok and Jurong East.

The NEA announced that the rain is not toxic and Balakrishnan said that we did not do cloud seeding. It is not from the cloud seeding done in Indonesia either as the wind directions were not right.

Although relatively rare in the tropics, it was not the first time that hail has descended upon Singapore. The previous hailstone sightings was in March 27, 2008 over the central part of the country.

Toast Box Laksa

When I visited The Esplanade recently, I got so hungry that I do not think I could survive the walk over to the Marina Square food court at the opposite without fainting from hunger.

Since I am right outside Toast Box, it seem the obvious choice for me.

I really like the concept and decor at Toast Box but have been most reluctant to dine there due to their slightly higher pricing. However, it seemed to be the most economical choice viable at that crucial moment considering where I was.

If dining at Toast Box could spare my aching calves from more walking (I have been walking all day that day), I would gladly do so even if it means paying just a little more.

The Worst Haze Since 1997?

Low visibility of the Singapore Flyer

As you would have probably known by now, Singapore has been hit by one of the worst haze since 1997. In Sumatra, farmers slash-and-burn land as it is a fast and cheap process to clear space for palm oil plantations.

This inadvertently causes forest fires that pollute the air. The wind current then carried most of the smog towards our direction, leaving our island republic in a hazy situation.

The plummeting air-quality causes many to fall ill including myself who had had a asthma relapse since a week ago but with no signs of recovering.

Movie: Monsters University

In case you haven't heard, everyone's favorite monsters are back!

After twelve long years, Mike and Sulley are making a comeback with a new movie except this time, we are brought back to the very beginning where they first met in college!

It all began during a school excursion to Monster Inc. for pint-sized Mike and his elementary school friends. There, he met one of his heroes, "Frightening" Frank McCay who gave him his Monsters University cap and from that point forward, Mike is determined to attend the university and become a top scarer, just like Frank.

Economical Rice @ Kopitiam Foodcourt

"Economical Rice" (also known as mixed rice/chap chye png/chap fan/jin ji cai fan) refers to a typical chinese food stall that sells a myarid of home-cooked dishes that is accompanied by rice or thin porridge.

The food are displayed behind a glass pane in shallow, square receptacles which are kept warm on top of water heated by heating elements. When ordering, you simply point out what you want to the vendor and pay accordingly to each portion of dish you ordered.

Meat dishes typically costs more than vegetables with fish and seafood being the pricier items.

These rice stalls are a common sight around Singapore and can be found in most coffeeshops, hawker centres and even food courts.

"Economical Rice" translates to affordable meals that's easy on the pocket hence is a popular choice for many who are out to look for a thrifty meal or meal on a budget.

Apple Introduces iOS 7

We heard it would be flat. We heard it would be black and white. We heard that it would be a totally different experience.

It is. iOS 7, the latest version of Apple’s flagship mobile operating system, is here, and it’s almost entirely different from the versions that came before. Gone are the skeuomorphic designs and 3D effects, replaced by Sir Jony Ive’s “flat design.” Rumors had been flying for weeks about the new OS and now it’s here and it is, at least at this early reckoning, a massive change for the six year old operating system.

First, we must remember that Ive, Apple’s industrial designer now in control of software following the departure of Scott Forstall, isn’t a believer in interfaces that copy real-world objects. In the past, making the Notes app look like a legal pad or the calendar app look like a Moleskine calendar notebook were part of the iOS design philosophy, as ingrained in the OS as “Slide To Unlock.” All that is gone now.

Are you ready for a whole new world?

928 Yishun Laksa

Hidden in a small eatery behind Yishun Bus Interchange is a well-known Laksa stall that has many accreditation and awards plastered on its glass panel.

Despite their fame, this Laksa stall has no name and is affectionately known as the "928 Laksa" by its customers because the eatery is located right at the foot of Yishun Block 928.

You can tell how immensely popular their Laksa is with those staying staying in the neighborhood when it is the only thing they sell and yet able to command a perpetual queue that never seem to end for the last fifteen years of business.

Video: Why It Is Cruel To Let Your Dog Drink Via A Water Bottle

First of all, you have to understand how dogs drink.

I have always thought that they slurp water in the same manner as us by using the front of our tongues.

However, I realised how wrong I was when I learn that they 'scoop' water into their mouths using the bottom side of their tongues instead!

Watch the video below.

Video: Share It Maybe - Cookie Monster Parody

This is another parody of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" by Sesame Street.

Do you like Cookie Monster?

Hokkien Rhymes

This fun and whimsical project presents an investigation into rhymes from the local Hokkien dialect and their gradual disappearance.

These rhymes are prevalent in pockets of conversations among an older generation of Singaporeans. Sadly, these quaint rhymes are being eroded through lack of use, with no written records. This project aims to preserve a selection of these quaint rhymes before they disappear.

Movie: Jurassic Park 3D

Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough

Director: Steven Spielberg

Genre: Adventure/Science-Fiction

Language: English

Release Date: 30 May 2003

Distributor: UIP

Official Site: Jurassic Park

First of all, if you are wondering, this is not a new sequel to the 1993 franchise but the very first Jurassic Park that debuted on the big screen 20 years ago. It was remastered into 3D to commemorate the film's twentieth anniversary.

When billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) devised a way to genetically clone dinosaurs, he invites experts of this field - Paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Palaeobotanist Ellie Sadler (Laura Dern) - to a remote island at the coast of Costa Rica for a sneak peek at his unfinished park, hoping they would endorse it to appease the nervous investors and the laywer who represented them. But when the park's security system is sabotaged by a disgruntled employee, hell breaks loose and the visitors are left to fend for themselves against the park's hungry inhabitants.

Video: Road Rage

This incident which happened outside the Civil Service Club at Tessensohn Road was caught on camera by the victim's dashboard camera.

In the video, the victim - a taxi driver was seen slowing down as there is another taxi in front.

It is not clear why there are so many people crowding around the taxi in front but it is evident that they are obstructing the traffic.

The driver horned about four times but upon hearing it, a fat man rushed out in a menacing manner, banging on the victim's bonnet with his fist while a skinny man went over to the driver's side and yelled at the victim to get down from his vehicle.

Happy Vesak 2013

For the uninitiated, Vesak Day is to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. 

It rained rather heavily on Vesak morning but that did not dampen our spirits to visit the Singapore Buddhist Youth Mission at Clementi.

The rain turned into a drizzle upon our arrival and I realized that there is something very different this year compared to previous years. The bazaar which used to be built on the road right in front of the temple's entrance was now built at the court beside it instead.

From what I observed, this arrangement effectively ease the traffic - both vehicular and human. The endless crowd of devotees going into the temple no longer have to jostle with those browsing at the bazaar. 

The freed-up space also meant that vehicles could drive all the way in and u-turn their way out instead of making 3-point turns on the stretch of narrow road and endangering all the people walking on the road.

Please Help This Elderly Man At Ang Mo Kio

While having lunch at Ang Mo Kio a few days ago, an elderly man approached my table and began consolidating all the leftovers from the different bowls into one.

Initially, I thought he is the cleaner here to clear up the table so I did not pay him much attention until he sat down and began to eat out of that bowl!

I was shaken by what I had seen and I knew that I have to help him somehow but how do I go about it without hurting his feelings?

Yunus N Family @ Ang Mo Kio Central Food Centre

Mee Soto is one of my favorite Malay food.

In fact, it is the first Malay dish that I was introduced to when I was young. So far, the best Mee Soto I had is the one from the GSMB canteen at Ayer Rajah. Alas, it is a military camp where I no longer have the authority to visit anymore.

My favorite way of having Mee Soto is to dunk a begedil or fried chicken wing into the soup. I would first eat up all the mee and ingredients before taking my time to enjoy the soggy begedil/fried chicken wing.

Fish & Chips From Yilmaz Western @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 6

The initial plan was to visit Rasa Sayang Western Food at the S11 coffee shop located at Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 (next to MS Color) but due to some unforseen circumstances, I ended up visiting Yilmaz Western instead.

Fortunately, I had done my homework the night before and have a backup plan if not, I would have made a wasted trip!

Over at Yilmaz Western, the specialty I have heard about was their Grilled Chicken Chop which was served on a sizzling hotplate.

Unfortunately, I was informed that the Grilled Chicken Chop is not ready yet and the boss suggested me to order something else. I was a tad disappointed but as I did not want to return empty handed, I ordered a Fish & Chips instead.

Video: The Coolest Melting Machine

You know what's cooler than having a can of 7-Up to cool yourself on a hot, sweltering day?

When the vending machine is made entirely out of ice, of course!

As the block of ice starts melting away, the cans of 7-Up frozen within is then up for grabs.

Don't you think it's a refreshing change to see such ingenius marketing from a different carbonated drink company this time round?

Let's watch it.

Batam 2013: One Day Tour

It has been close to twenty years since I last visited Batam with my secondary school friends. At that time, we went to Waterfront City and the chalet bungalows had only just been completed.

When I learn that my brother had booked us a one day trip to Batam on Labour Day, I was elated to revisit this slow-paced city again!

Early that morning, I brought my folks to meetup with my brother and his in-laws for breakfast at Habourfront where the Singapore Cruise Centre is located on the second floor.

After breakfast, we went up to check in to board the ferry but was told that the gate has already been closed even though we arrived at the stipulated time as told by the tour agency.

The personnel spoke to someone via the walkie walkie and we were given the green light to proceed as the ferry have not departed yet.

We hurried in and was just in time to hear our names being announced over the PA system.

Navy Open House 2013

Set your course and embark on a navy experience with us!

Take the ship’s helm, man the guns, and visit the bridge to get a sense of what life’s really like rolling the waves on the high seas. More than just the sea and the sun, there are also lots of fun and other entertainments for the family. Visit us at the NS Portal booth @ HEART Tent, and you will get to play games and win cool prizes!

Would You Pay $96 For Two Plates Of Seafood Hor Fun?

How about $60 for 2x "Union" Cucumbers, $72 for 2x Hong Kong Kailan or $72 for 2x Spinach Toufu?

That was how much a customer is being charged for at Chen Fu Ji （陈福记）, a restaurant offering chinese cuisine at Riverside Point, Clarke Quay.

The bill for the entire meal adds up to $3922.70!

(click to enlarge)

Video: The Longest Death Scene Ever In Movie History

"Kareteci Kız" (Karate Girl) is a 1973 Turkish film directed by Orhan Aksoy.

Zeynep (Filiz Akin) is a mute girl who has lost her ability to speak because of an accident.

One day, five prison fugitives came to their house where her father was slained and they took the money meant for her operation to regain her voice.

Due to the shock, Zeynep regains her ability to speak.

The fugitives were caught but Zeynep had wanted to take her own revenge, therefore she told the police that the fugitives are not the ones who have attacked them.

视频：《白狐》

目前非常喜欢这首合唱版的《白狐》。

觉得歌词跟意境都很美，犹如走进琼瑶小说里的情景一样；目睹男女主角那刻苦铭心却天意弄人而无法相爱的一段凄美爱情故事。

永远的“阿哥”黄文永

via

今天傍晚5时许，新传媒资深艺人黄文永因第四期淋巴癌在新加坡中央医院与世长辞，终年60岁。

去年11月出席《戏剧情牵30》时，他以明显消瘦的身子出现在节目上就开始引发了许多关于他患病的传言。

那也是他人生中最后一次站在舞台上。

Random: Starbucks

Just a random post of instagram from Starbucks.

Nice place to chill and to while a lazy afternoon away.

Would have loved to own an establishment like this.

Video: Inception Cat

Today, I'm sharing this video that has gone viral on the internet.

A cat in Russia was seen rising its head slowly outside the windowsill before lowering itself and disappearing from sight.

The cat's bizzare antics coupled with its wide-eyed expression and sound effects makes this video a hot discussion among netizens.

As for why this video is named "Inception Cat" is because the music used here is one of the soundtracks from the movie INCEPTION.

Don't you think this soundtrack really follows the actions of the cat like it is especially composed for this video?

Let us watch this video together.

视频：地铁大叔大战幼儿！

近日在网上看到一则让人气愤的视频想与大家分享。

在影片里，一名幼童因为咳嗽没捂着嘴巴而被坐在一旁的大叔责骂并且“问候”了祖宗十八代。

本来嘛，小孩犯错是应该从小就开始纠正过来的不过，这位大叔的反应也未免太夸张了吧？

孩子毕竟还那么小，大叔却对他连续地说出一些不堪入耳以及极为侮辱女性的词汇！

这又何必呢？

我看到这里还真觉得有点看不过去！

Anti-Social Behavior At The Cinema

On Saturday evening, I brought my parents to watch G.I Joe: Retaliation at the cinema but I was left fuming mad because I was unable to concentrate on the movie as the woman sitting behind me was munching on melon seeds.

MELON SEEDS?

Yes, melon seeds. You can even call them Quachee or 瓜子if you like.

So while we were watching the trailers, this woman with her husband and two young girls came in and sat in the row behind us.

That is when the rustling of plastic bags and them talking to one another started. Well, I thought that they were just settling down and everything would be fine once the movie starts but unfortunately, that is just the prelude of what's to come.

Hong Kong Street Jen Poo Kee XO Bee Hoon @ Clementi West Street 2

UPDATES (8th June 2014): Hong Kong Street Jen Poo Kee has moved location. New address is updated at the end of this post.

XO Fish Head Bee Hoon

Clementi West, also known as "West Coast", is where I frequent as a kid because Mum used to do her marketing here at the West Coast Market. As Grandma also lived here with her eldest son, coming here is almost a weekly routine for us.

I remember coming to the market here for breakfast and I, in particular, loved the Pig's Organ Soup especially the chili. Alas, I could not remember which stall it is and I doubt the stall is even there now.

We stopped coming after Grandma and uncle's family moved to another estate.

That was many years ago.

How I Became An Adopted Child

Every Easter, I would follow my parents to pay our respects to my ancestors at Tze Dor Aum （自度庵）at Sin Ming Road.

As a routine, we would first make our way to the main hall where we pray to the various Buddhas before going inside the columbarium to greet my Great Grandma, Grandparents and youngest uncle.

Following which, we would go back outside to the communal area to lay out the offerings we had prepared and invite them for a meal.

After assuming they are done with their feast, we would bade our farewells and clear the table for the next family to use before heading to Tai Pei Yuen （大悲院）at Balestier to visit my big uncle and his wife who were also my Godparents.

As for how I became their adopted son still baffles me this very day.

“阿飘”奇遇记

昨晚，我遇见“阿飘”了！

昨晚还蛮累的所以十点多就爬上床睡了。

无奈，睡不到一个小时就醒了。

我尝试眯着眼继续睡但不知何故就是无法再入眠了…

于是，我开启电脑上网随便游览但渐渐的就搜寻到一些关于灵异的视频。

我疯了吗？

三更半夜看这种令人毛骨悚然的东西干嘛？

我想人就是犯贱！明明很害怕，却又偏偏想要看！

结果看着，看着，就突然觉得全身发麻…

McDonald's New Breakfast Offerings

McDonald's at Ang Mo Kio Park

Just slightly more than a week ago, McDonald's gave away over 100,000 free Egg McMuffins islandwide in a bid to encourage Singaporeans to wake up for the most important meal of the day - breakfast.

The event was a resounding success with the muffins snapped up in no time.

At the same time, McDonald's introduced new breakfast items like the Hotcakes with Strawberry/Hot Fudge, Chicken Muffin and a premium roast coffee that is richer and bolder than before.

I, along with a few other bloggers were invited to a food-tasting session at their Ang Mo Kio Park outlet to check out their new offerings. While at the event, I had the privilege to make the acquaintance of Princess Dana who shared my love for hashbrowns and chocolate!

Looking For My Childhood Sweetheart...

I vaguely recall that I was in second grade when we first met at the Mamak store near my house.

Unlike her friends who were clamoring for my attention, she was a little more reserved and kept to herself most of the time.

She was petite and sweet - just the type I like.

In the days that followed, whenever I visit the store, she would always be there at a corner, stealing glances at me.

I never quite catch her name but that is how we started seeing each other for the next two years until I moved to another town in fourth grade.

Ipoh Lou Yau Bean Sprouts Chicken @ IMM Jurong East

Ipoh Nga Choi Gai (怡保芽菜鸡)

Nga Choi Gai (芽菜鸡), or better known as bean sprouts chicken is a dish synonymous to Ipoh. If you wanted a taste of it, you might have to make a car trip all the way there but now, not anymore!

Select Group Limited has brought in Ipoh Lou Yau Bean Sprouts Chicken (怡保老友芽菜鸡) to Singapore with several branches located island wide.

So, what is so special with this Ipoh Lou Yau Bean Sprouts Chicken?

Firstly, Lou Yau uses free-range chickens, or what we normally call the "kampong chicken". These chickens are specially sourced and imported to Singapore where they are prepared in a central kitchen to ensure consistency in quality.

Next, the chicken can be served with either chicken rice or sar hor fun (沙河粉).

Thirdly, Ipoh's nga choi (bean sprouts) is totally different from our local ones. Theirs are well-known for being plump and short in appearance though it remains a mystery whether their physical trait has got anything to do with the spring water that they were grown in.

Due to her geographical location, Ipoh is surrounded by limestone hills and the spring water that flows down these hills are alkaline and rich in minerals. As mentioned earlier, Ipoh's beansprouts are grown with this spring water while the sar hor fun were also made with water from the same source.

You would be pleased to know that the bean sprouts and sar hor fun were also imported direct from Ipoh hence customers can be assured that they are having the real deal.

Video: RIBENA

Do you still remember the good old Ribena advertisement on TV from the early 1980's?

This is a spoof of the very same thing by the Chestnuts albeit with a wicked sense of humor.

If my memory did not fail me, a schoolboy and a schoolgirl were both sitting under the shade of a tree with the girl sipping on Ribena from her water bottle. And just like the script in the video above, the boy asked the girl what she was drinking to which she replied, "Ribena, my mother said it's good for me."

Gosh! I am feeling young already!

This advertisement is a classic, I tell you!

Gracious? Kindness? You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

One Saturday, I decided that I should stay away from the computer for a while so, I went to the MacDonald's along Bukit Timah for some me-time.

With my food balancing on the tray, I scanned around the restaurant but was annoyed to find not one single table available.

Near the entrance, a guy with a cup of coffee was occupying a four-seater. Seated on one chair, he had his bag sitting on another while his newspapers were spread upon two tables.

I glanced the other way to find a girl seating on a two-seater alone surfing on her laptop.

There were many more seats occupied by hardworking students revising their school work.

I walked further in and nearly had the tray knocked off my hands by a kid running down the aisle while the guardian looked on nonchalently.

Why Corporal Punishment May Not Neccesarily Be Bad

When I was in fourth grade, I was made to slap myself ten times on each side of my face by my English teacher right in front of the whole class.

Needless to say, my self-esteem was completely crushed for I have never been subjected to such degree of humiliation before.

My crime?

我的青春小鸟一去不回来

话说，上个星期五是我的生日也是本部落格的二周岁。

今年更是本人开始写部落格的第十个年头（非长遗憾的是没多少人留言祝贺所以还蛮失落的）。

我故意把脸书上的生日通知关掉想知道会有多少人记得但结果却是叫人心寒的…

咳，看来今年的生日与往年的一样孤单。

也没庆祝，就独自一人到怡丰城去参观海军军舰 。

Boarding RSS Intrepid At Vivocity

Taken from the third floor of Vivocity

I was lucky to have successfully balloted for a boarding pass to board the RSS Intrepid today.

Balloting have since ended but they are still giving out limited same-day boarding passes at the booth outside AOBA Hokkaido Ramen (#01-04). 

You have two more days (16, 17 March) to try your luck if you want to board the Frigate.

Expect some steep climbing (don't wear heels and skirts, ladies!) and walking through narrow passageways. The ladders are steep, about 110° so no infants-in-arms for safety reasons.

The RSS Intrepid is berthed along the stretch towards the Sentosa Boardwalk and admission is according to the allocated timeslot on your boarding pass.

I have taken some photos on my camera but I'll post the ones from my instagram first. Bookmark this page and I will update as soon as I complete editing the photos. 

Ten Years Of Incredible Journey

Today is a significant day of my life.

If you still have not realise it by now, it is both mine, and this blog's 2nd birthday.

I began blogging in 2003 on another platform before migrating to blogspot two years ago. Therefore, this year marks the tenth year of my blogging career.

I cannot believe that I have spent so much time on blogging!

Where did all the time go?

National Breakfast Day With McDonald's

Do you know it's National Breakfast Day on 18th March (next Monday) and that 121 McDonald’s restaurants in Singapore will be distributing more than 100,000 Egg McMuffins island-wide absolutely free?

McDonald’s iconic Egg McMuffin, with its perfect combination of freshly cracked eggs, Turkey ham and cheese between toasted English muffin buns, has been specially chosen for this one-of-a-kind event.

Each participating restaurant will be giving away 1,000 free Egg McMuffins to customers on a first-come, first-served basis.

While counting down to the National Breakfast Day, you can explore interesting breakfast facts on the official microsite.

That Sucking Device

I'm talking about the vacuum cleaners I had at home, that is.

Seriously, I wonder what's going on in the minds of the people who design my vacuum cleaners because I'll always fly into a rage while using them.

To be honest, they are quite pretty to look at but when I started using them, they drive me up the wall.

Ok, perhaps not all vacuum cleaners are like that but the last two I had pisses me off no end!

Navy@Vivo 2013

[via]

RSS Intrepid, a Formidable-class Frigate from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) was recently deployed to the Gulf of Aden as part of an international counter-piracy task force. 

This coming Friday (15th March), the RSS Intrepid will sail into VivoCity Promenade and berth for public visits onboard. 

Check out some of the latest weapons and gear used by the elite Naval Divers at the booth. There will be photobooth for kids to take a picture dressed in either Navy's smart whites or pixelated uniforms!

Urgent: Funds Appeal For 38 Rabbits After Caregiver Dies

If you have paid due attention to the news, you would have learned about the unfortunate case of Ms Pauline Chin - owner of a makeshift shelter at Farmart - who was found dead in her shop in an apparent asthma attack.

She has left behind hundreds of caged animals in her shelter including rabbits, guinea pigs, cats and dogs.

According to the other tenants at Farmart, the animals had been abandoned outside Ms Chin's shop thus she had no other alternative except to take in all of them.

Although the dogs have already been claimed back by their owners, the remaining 38 rabbits, 4 guinea pigs and 50 cats are still in dire need of help.

The moment news about the plight of the animals got out, local animal welfare groups began springing into action.

The rabbits and guinea pigs had been taken in by the HRSS (House Rabbit Society Singapore) while the cats are in good hands with the CWS (Cat Welfare Society).

Despite that, there is only so much the societies can do due to a lack of fundings and resources as the people running them are basically volunteers.

How To Disable That Annoying Notification Sound On Facebook

Step 1

Video: Call Me Maybe - Thai Horror Parody

One hot guy, two transvestites, some black magic and a very happy girl.

I guess you can only use 鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利 to describe this situation!

SAFRA: Bringing NSmen Closer Together

Whether you are a full-time NSF or ORNS personnel, your dedication towards our nation's defence is applaudable and undeniable.

As part of NS45, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will provide about $100 million worth of SAFRA and HomeTeamNS benefits to more than 900,000 NSmen as an appreciation for their vital contributions to defence.

If you are a male Singaporean or PR who is serving or already done with NS, check your eligibility at https://ns45.safra.sg/Register.aspx. (Registration for NS45 vouchers ends 28 Feb 14 while vouchers are valid until 31 Mar 14)

NIKON 1 J2 CAMERA

NIKON 1 J2

The NIKON 1 J2 is a mirrorless camera that comes with interchangeable lenses, a 3-inch LCD screen and a 10.1 megapixel CMOS image sensor.

Here are some of the key features found on NIKON's websiite:

Smart Photo Selector:

It starts shooting before you even press the shutter. The camera chooses the best shot for you.

Taking photos during Full HD movie recording:

Simultaneous recording of movies and stills without dropping a single frame.

Full HD:

Enjoy Full HD movie recording.

Turning on/off with retractable lens:

You can switch the camera on and off by simply rotating the zoom ring on the lens.

Built-in flash:

Inside. Outside. Get the light on your side.

Mount Adapter FT1:

The extensive lineup of NIKKOR lenses may be used with Nikon 1 through this adapter.

River Hong Bao 2013

GONG HEI FATT CHOY, my dear friends!

2013 is truly the year of the water snake as it has been pouring intermittently since the eve of the Lunar New Year.

Yesterday was the third day of the festive season and there was a bout of rain in the morning though it began clearing up in the afternoon.

Having cooped myself up at home for the first two days, I decided it was time to step out of the house for a breath of fresh air at River Hong Bao.

River Hong Bao first started in 1987 and has a history of  26 years in Singapore but it wasn't until three years ago that I visited it for the very first time.

It is an annual event where local organisers would bring in China craftsman to make giant lanterns based on folklore or zodiac animals. Each year, organisers would feature a different province from China and invite performing art troupes to put up a show here.

For this year, the featured province is Guangdong so do expect booths peddling Guangzhou delicacies and handicrafts.

视频：My Astro 《开心过年》

《开心过年》

春风吹到你的家
健康快乐带来啦
小朋友呀都听话
学业成绩顶呱呱
情侣今年结婚啦
快快生个胖娃娃
这个世界有多大
最重要过的开心啦

给你一个红包说好话开心笑哈哈
换上新衣戴新帽新鞋和新袜
时间滴答答带着梦想慢慢发芽

举起手唱啦啦啦啦
没烦忧来开心过年
生活里有苦辣酸甜
人总要学会快乐一点
举起手唱啦啦啦啦
向前走来开心过年
祝福你天天是好天
走过了从前才懂得珍惜每一天

视频：My FM 《团圆饭》

《团圆饭》

一阵阵米饭香 在飘扬 装满新年带来的温暖
那遥远的家乡 那扇窗 还留着儿时的模样
转运的风车 转呀转 一转眼我们都已成长
我把所有祝福 大声讲 朋友啊祝你新春吉祥
一人一个梦想 一人一个愿望 慢慢变成满天的星光
再刻一个梦想 再许个愿望 别怕我有宽大的肩膀

一顿团圆饭 心里藏 数十年温馨都一样
欢迎你共聚一堂 齐聚这圆圆的桌上
团圆饭 加碗热汤 就像有我在你身旁
化作一双大翅膀 带你飞越重重难关

一阵阵米饭香 在飘扬 装满新年带来的温暖
那遥远的家乡 那扇窗 还留着儿时的模样
转运的风车 转呀转 一转眼我们都已成长
我把所有祝福 大声讲 朋友啊祝你新春吉祥
一人一个梦想 一人一个愿望 慢慢变成满天的星光

再刻一个梦想 再许个愿望 别怕我有宽大的肩膀
一顿团圆饭 心里藏 数十年温馨都一样
欢迎你共聚一堂 齐聚这圆圆的桌上
团圆饭 加碗热汤 就像有我在你身旁
化作一双大翅膀 带你飞越重重难关

一顿团圆饭 心里藏 数十年温馨都一样
欢迎你共聚一堂 齐聚这圆圆的桌上
团圆饭 加碗热汤 就像有我在你身旁
化作一双大翅膀 带你飞越重重难关

视频：My Astro My FM 《大团圆》

《大团圆》

说一声恭喜贺新年 迎接美好的新一天
人人在门前贴春联 欢迎春降到人间
游子们想念回家园 老老少少庆团圆
围一个圆圈在庭院 诉说每一段思念

新的一年 你我许心愿
期望新一年 会是丰收年
每一个人都身康体健 天天笑容满面

大团圆 大团圆 不管距离有多远
好朋友 在身边 我们约定这一天
大团圆 大团圆 手牵着手心相连
祝福你 福寿全 恭喜恭喜乐无边

视频：My Astro 《天天好天》

《天天好天》

记得那一年 那一段岁月
一个小小的家园 天天都怀念
一杯白开水 也可以很清甜
一碗热情汤面线 是一种思念
心若能放开一点 路就宽一些
财富和幸福之间 还有知足作界线
啦。。。

一天天 一年年
天天都是好天
不管天多高 路多远
祝福你快乐一万年
是晴天 是雨天
天天都是好天
知足常乐开心一年
我看见艳阳天

记得那一年 那一段岁月
一个小小的家园 天天都怀念
一杯白开水 也可以很清甜
一碗热情汤面线 是一种思念
心若能放开一点 路就宽一些
财富和幸福之间 还有知足作界线
啦。。。

一天天 一年年
天天都是好天
不管天多高 路多远
祝福你快乐一万年
是晴天 是雨天
天天都是好天
知足常乐开心一年
我看见艳阳天

一天天 一年年
天天都是好天
不管天多高 路多远
祝福你快乐一万年
是晴天 是雨天
天天都是好天
知足常乐开心一年
我看见艳阳天
我看见艳阳天

视频：My FM 《庆祝》

《庆祝》

绽放了你的笑 来庆祝新年到
传统的佳节 你别忘了
在妈妈的怀抱 她哼的新春歌谣
每一字一句 还在耳边绕 

不管男女老少 接过了大红包
恭喜你祝福你 少不了
年初一到元宵 处处都是好预兆
吃口年糕 你我会步步高

春来到 画个圈圈做记号
每年都来团圆 好不好
相约好 从今以后直到老
我们都要记住这一朝
 

来庆祝 来祝福
所有思念来倾诉
一年又一年
不管多忙碌
家中有等你回家的父母
就是最大的财富 

来庆祝 来祝福
老朋友一起欢呼
经过这些年
重逢就满足
前尘和往事都历历在目
原来已经值得庆祝

Namewee: Thai Love Song

泰國情哥

词: 黄明志 Namewee

曲: 黄明志 Namewee

来 美丽的女孩
Oh my pretty Thai girl
虽然我是大马的Bluechai (男孩)
Though I'm not a handsome Malaysian boy
但我爱吃Tomyam(东炎汤) 喝喝椰奶
I'm in love with tomyum and your coconut milk
我很愉快 因为约会你出来
I'm really happy that we're dating today

Kop Kun Kap (谢谢) 你是什么Cup?
How are you? What's your cup?
Sawadeecaap (您好) 就算是A cup
I don't mind even it's only A-cup
只要你能证明你不是Krak toei (人妖)
Just as long as you're not a man
看不出来 希望不要太见怪
Sorry but sometimes its hard to tell

但是我 不太会说Thai (泰语)
I can't understand Thai
只是偶尔 会跑去Hatyai (合艾-泰国地名)
But I love visiting Hatyai
如果你跟我谈情说爱
So if you'd be my girl
我让你SameSame (一样) 每天都精采
I promise to make you happy everyday

你是我心中最Shuai Makmak(美丽)的女孩
You're prettiest girl in my heart
送给你Rajapruek(金链花)代表我的爱
Here's a Rajapruek as sign of my love
带你到Pratunam(水门市场)你想买的我都会买
I'll take you shopping at Pratunam
买完了就去佛庙拜拜
After that we'd pray at the temple for good luck

无可取代最Shuai Makmak(美丽)的女孩
You're prettiest girl in my heart
对你的真心希望你会明白
Believe me that my love is real
我也会Massage(按摩)纯正的泰国的Style
I can even do Thai massage for you
会让你身体健康Ao mai? (要吗?)
We can stay healthy together ok?

来 美丽的女孩
Oh my pretty Thai girl
虽然我是大马的Bluechai (男孩)
Though I'm not a handsome Malaysian boy
但我爱吃Tomyam(东炎汤) 喝喝椰奶
I'm in love with tomyum and your coconut milk
我很愉快 因为约会你出来
I'm really happy that we're dating today

Sabai...(舒服)
So chill

Short Film: The Forgotten Child

The Lunar New Year is a time for family reunion.

During this period, people would spring clean their house and throw out junks they don't need.

But what happens when a family abandon a member just to make space for another in the new year?

Video: Long One Or Short One?

Which one do you want?

http://www.facebook.com/Jinnyboytv

Namewee: Last New Year

Namewee's new year song "Last New Year" reminded me of my own maternal grandparents.

My Ah Gong was already gone way before my birth while Ah Ma followed suit not long after I was born.

The only impression I had of them is through a yellowed photograph which Mum has kept in the photo album.

As I have never experienced being doted on by them, I would be so envious whenever I see my classmates having a Ah Gong or Ah Ma to come pick them up from school.

Isn't it a bliss to have a grandparent to throw little tantrums to?

If your grandparents are still around, do learn to appreciate them before they are gone.

I know I will.

Short Film: Ka Fan 加饭

This is the story of a Mum who single-handedly raises her son by washing laundry for others.

Despite how busy she is, she would always make it a point to have her meals with her son everyday.

All she wants is just being able to spend more time with her son.

"Ka fan"?  she would often ask.

As years gone by, the child grew up.

With work and social life, it became his turn to be so busy that he hardly returns home for dinner.

Mum is then left to have her meals all by herself.

When the son returns home for the Lunar New Year, much to the delight of his Mum, he finally realised the meaning behind "ka fan".

Now, when was the last time you had dinner with your Mum?

永别了，潘安邦！

他走了。

刚从面子书上得悉52岁的潘安邦在今天下午因心脏病而猝逝的消息。

从小听着他的校园民歌长大的我对这突如其来的噩耗感到十分震惊。

在他许多歌中，最耳熟能祥的莫过于这首《外婆的澎湖湾》吧。

希望潘安邦在天之灵能够安息。

Oprah Winfrey Tells You About Puppy Mills

Have you ever been so tempted to bring a puppy home each time you step into a pet store and seeing those rambunctious puppies vying for your attention behind the window?

Sure, puppies are cute but have you ever wonder where they came from or even how their parents were being treated?

Without much further ado, let us meet the parents of those adorable pet store puppies...

Punggol East By-Election

Timelapse of Workers' Party's final rally by Jake Wang

In a couple more hours, the results for the by-election of Punggol East would be revealed. 

Which of the four candidates would emerge victorious after nine days of vigorous campaigning?

Would it be:

a) Koh Poh Koon, "the son of Punggol" from the ruling party People's Action Party (PAP),

b) "Jeya baby" Kenneth Jeyaretnam from the Reform Party (RP),

c) Desmond Lim, former protege of Chiam See Tong from the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), or,

d) Lee Lilian, the sole female contender in this by-election from the Workers' Party (WP)

Whoever it may be, I only hope the residents of Punggol East exercise their voting rights wisely.

That aside, is anyone waiting for Yam Ah Mee tonight? Kee Chiew!

再见，南哥！

今早开启电脑，就惊悉资深艺人“阿南”逝世的消息。

他是因为心脏病在今天凌晨三点五十分在陈笃生医院与世长辞。

“阿南”，原名钟耀南，是一名著名的歌台艺人。

除了在主持界深获好评外，他也曾参与多部本地卖座电影如《钱不够用》，《吓到笑》，《鬼也笑》等等。

他的逝世无疑是本地娱乐界的一大损失！

南哥，永在怀念中！

Viedo: Barkour - Pakour For Dogs

Meet Tret, Jackie Chan Of The Canine World

表哥住院了

 
话说在一个多月前，表姐突然来电哭诉说表哥被送进了医院的加护病房。

可怜表姐不敢让年迈的父母知道儿子的病情，但又不知如何是好于是就给我们拨了通电话。

到了医院，我们众人分批轮流进入加护病房并透过隔离窗探望躺在病床上的表哥。只见他身上插满了许多链接到各种仪器的管子，我们这才意识到他病的不轻！

经过了解才知道在入院前，表哥是因为头痛了好几天到医院做检查，结果医生要他马上入院接受观察。而入院当晚，表哥就立刻陷入了昏迷状态。

Video: Give A Little Love

Giving a helping hand does not have to be made very complicated.

You can start doing so in your daily life by giving up your seat to someone more deserving; sharing your umbrella with someone on a wet day; or simply brighten up someone's day by sparing a thought for them.

If helping others could spread some warmth and happiness to your heart, why not?

How wonderful our world might be if we care a little more about the people around us?

Qualifications Of Men: KBS Family Choir

Among the many missions the cast of Qualifications Of Men has undertaken, my favorite  has to be the choir ones.

In the midst of training for their Triathlon episode, the cast have received their third choir mission which is to take part in the 2012 Busan Choral International Festival.

It is an international competition with teams hailing from Latvia, Thailand, China, Singapore, Philipines and Korea among others.

The theme this time round is "Family" and they have enlisted the help of Maestro Gum Nan-Se as their conductor and to pick the new choir members to join them.

Among the families turning up for the audition are celebrities including the parents of Cha Tae Hyun of My Sassy Girl fame. 

Accident At Woodlands Ave 6 And 7

Yet another senseless accident that could have been prevented.

In the wee hours of 22nd December, a motorcyclist was caught beating the red light at the junction of Woodlands Ave 6 and 7 near Admiralty MRT Station.

He was going so fast that he actually mowed down a female pedestrian who has just begun walking across the road.

The impact tossed her into oncoming traffic while the motorcyclist continued on his way.