Residents of Azalea Park Condominium are concerned about a man in his early twenties sits on the edge of his window ledge to smoke.Mrs Jennifer Sim, 32, a resident of the condominium who regularly sees the man smoking by the window ledge, explains how he does so...
Did you know that getting the most out of your ice cream might be as simple as paying more for it? Ever wondered why a scoop of Haagen-Dazs ice cream costs so much more a scoop of Magnolia ice cream? Some might argue that this is a case of brand superiority, but studies show otherwise...
It is 2am and you are still tossing and turning in bed, reading a novel or listening to your favourite radio DJ who can take you through the night. You have tried various means to fall asleep but simply cannot; and even if by any chance you do, you will probably find...
A £60,000 remote-controlled dinosaur robot has gone missing from a Walking with Dinosaurs show in Mexico. It was the first time an exhibit has been stolen from the show, which has toured worldwide and been seen by more than four million people....
The year 2009 saw the biggest decline in air passenger traffic in the post-war era, according to the International Air Transport Association (Iata).
"In terms of demand, 2009 goes into the history books as the worst year the industry has ever seen," said the group's boss Giovanni Bisignani.
Passenger traffic dropped by 3.5% from a year earlier, while freight traffic fell 10.1% as the downturn hit demand.
However, figures for December showed a rise in traffic of 1.6% on a year ago.
'Spartan year'
Despite the improvement at the end of 2009, Iata said 2010 would be a tough year for airlines the world over.
"The industry starts 2010 with some enormous challenges," Mr Bisignani said.
"The worst is behind us, but it's not time to celebrate. Adjusting to 2.5 to 3.5 years of lost growth means that airlines face another spartan year, focused on matching capacity carefully to demand and controlling costs."
African airlines suffered the most in 2009, with passenger demand down 6.8%.
Asia-Pacific and North American carriers saw demand fall by 5.8%, while European airlines suffered a 5% fall in demand.
But Middle Eastern carriers saw passenger demand climb 11.3%, while Latin American airlines experienced a 0.3% rise.
Price wars
Iata has estimated that airlines collectively lost $11bn (£6.8bn) last year, and stand to lose a further $5.6bn this year.
Analysts said that price cuts designed to attract customers would continue to eat into airlines' profits.
"Continued fare wars between airlines mean that yields and profitability will be low. Airlines are struggling to fill their airplanes and discounted ticketing has done little to alleviate the pressures on their costs," said independent airline analyst Saj Ahmad.
"Capacity has come out of the global airline system, but until a few airlines perhaps exit the industry through bankruptcy or mergers, there is still a very long road until we see serious stability, let alone growth."
Islamic State of Iraq -- an umbrella group which includes al Qaeda in Iraq -- said it had carried out a string of vehicle bomb attacks that killed at least 36 people in Baghdad Monday.
The radical group made its claim Wednesday on a Web site where it often posts statements.
The same group claimed responsibility for coordinated bombings in August, October and December of last year, attacks which killed and wounded hundreds of Iraqis.
Smoke billows from the site of a car bomb attack on a government forensics office in Baghdad on Tuesday
The statement ridiculed the defense of Baghdad's heavily guarded International Zone, and those who thought they were safe there "because of the intensive security measures and the tens of checkpoints, surveillance equipment, and concrete barriers that they put around these sites."
The attack "is a response to the lies of the silly people in the Green Zone" -- as the International Zone is often known -- "and all the fabricated slim heroic stories of their security forces," the statement said, warning of "stronger and dreadful" attacks to come.
On Tuesday, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, told reporters he believed the hotel bombings were carried out by al Qaeda in Iraq.
He said they are now using new tactics, never seen before here -- in two of the hotel bombings, gunmen in a second vehicle opened fire at the hotel checkpoints, allowing the suicide bomber to drive in.
Odierno said they have had intelligence for about a month now that the group intended to carry out bombings under the cover of small arms fire.
Also Tuesday, 18 people were killed and 80 were wounded in another attack when a car bomb exploded in central Baghdad, authorities said.
The explosion occurred near a government forensic office and damaged the building, Iraq's Ministry of Information said.
The blast was caused by a suicide bomber who drove through a checkpoint toward the forensic office, the ministry said.
The latest bombings raise concerns about the ability of Iraqi forces to maintain security as the country prepares for crucial national elections on March 7.
The buildup to that vote has been dominated by controversy over the legitimacy of hundreds of candidates banned from participating because of alleged links to former dictator Saddam Hussein's regime.
The 511-name "blacklist" issued by Iraq's Accountability and Justice Commission, which is charged with purging former members of Hussein's Baath Party from public life, includes many prominent Sunni Arab politicians.
Banning such candidates has raised fears of alienating the Sunnis -- an issue during the 2005 elections that analysts say was a contributing factor to the years of sectarian violence that followed.
Monday's bombings also followed the execution earlier in the day of Hussein's cousin and notorious henchman Ali Hassan al-Majeed -- also known as "Chemical Ali."
Odierno told reporters Tuesday that U.S. investigators were working with Iraqi security forces to determine who caused the blasts.
The explosions seemed to be related to the upcoming election, Odierno said.
"They are trying to create the most damage they can so people question the government," the general said. "They don't want to see the elections move forward. They want to see people lose interest in the elections. They don't want people to participate."
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad condemned the attacks on the hotels.
"The terrorists who committed these senseless crimes aim to sow fear among the Iraqi people. We are confident, however, that the Iraqi people will stand fast and work together to build their common future in peace and security," a statement said.
North Korea says artillery shells it fired Wednesday in waters near South Korea were part of an annual training drill.
The North Korea shelling led to the two countries exchanging fire Wednesday, South Korean state-run media reported.
Both countries fired in the air, without reports of casualties, the Yonhap News Agency quoted a South Korean official as saying.
"We have confirmed North Korea's firing of several artillery shells, but they did not cross" the two countries' maritime border, said Park Sung-woo, of Seoul's joint chiefs of staff, according to Yonhap. "We are on high military alert." "Following the firing by North Korea, South Korea responded by shooting vulcan canons into the air, a statement that it would not be intimidated by saber-rattling by the communist neighbor," Yonhap said.
North Korea's state-run media said the shelling was part of its annual military training.
"Artillery units of the Korean People's Army staged an annual artillery live shell firing drill in waters of the West Sea of Korea Wednesday morning," the KCNA news agency said. "No one can argue about the premeditated exercises staged by KPA units in waters of the north side. Such firing drill by the units of the KPA will go on in the same waters in the future, too."
That exchange came a day after North Korea declared a "no sail zone" in a disputed area of the Yellow Sea, Yonhap said.
The two sides last exchanged gunfire in the disputed area in November, the first such violent incident in seven years.
A US man found guilty of stealing a Porsche was re-arrested after police learned he had driven to court in a stolen Lexus.
Tony Van, 37, a hairstylist from San Francisco, was caught out after seven tiny Yorkshire terrier puppies escaped from the Lexus 4WD.
He was at the Marin County courthouse for a jury verdict on a charge of stealing the $125,000 Porsche Carrera in San Anselmo, California, reports the Marin Indendent Journal.
Some of the puppies escaped from the vehicle, attracting the attention of bystanders and leading sheriff's deputies to discover the stolen vehicle.
Then Van came out to the vehicle, with the keys. He was arraigned on further charges of receiving a stolen vehicle, receiving stolen property, animal cruelty and leaving animals in an unattended vehicle.
The dogs are in good condition and are being held at the Marin Humane Society until further notice, said Capt Cindy Machado.
"We're awaiting further word from the district attorney's office to see how we should proceed," she said.
SV Hamburg built the specially-designed 500 capacity cemetery within a throw-in's distance of its Nordbank Arena stadium.
The club, whose anthem is "HSV forever and ever", wanted to allow the spirits of departed followers the chance to keep tabs on their beloved team's performances.
Fans have the chance to be buried in club colours on a football stand-shaped piece of lawn, made from grass from the actual pitch, with graves arranged on three tiers in a semi-circle and accessible via a goal-shaped gate.
The Cemetary where Departed Supporters can Still Support Their Team
Organisers say the £80,000 scheme, funded by the supporters' club and sponsors, is open to anyone willing to pay the burial contract of £2,000 every 25 years.
Scattering ashes is illegal in Germany, so the idea of the cemetery was born, with the club giving licences to local undertakers to administer 'HSV-recognised' burials and stonemasons to create specially-customised headstones in the team's blue and white colours.
HSV fan Ernst Schmidt, an 81-year-old widower, said he may reserve a plot so long as he can be interred next to his wife.
"I'm going to enquire whether it's possible," Schmidt told reporters. "I've been an HSV fan for 57 years. My life, it's only football."
The world’s tallest man has become the world’s tallest father.
Bao Xishun, 57, a 2.36m herdsman of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China, had his first baby after a year of marriage to 1.66m Xia Shujuan, 29.
Bao Xishun next to his wife, Xia Shujuan
Their son weighed 4.09kg at birth and was 55.9cm long, according to doctors at Zunhua Hospital in Hebei province.
Although slightly taller than average for newborn children, Mr Bao's boy came up well short of the 74.93cm record birth length last year, also in China.
"Mr Bao is quite happy. The baby is healthy and a normal size," the hospital's senior doctor Zhang said.
"I hope he or she can be about two metres tall," Mr Bao, 57, said last year about his wishes for a child. "Then he or she can play basketball."
Mr Bao briefly lost his Guinness World Records title as the tallest man to Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk but regained it in August when Stadnyk refused to be measured under new guidelines.
Before we continue to indulge in using our computers to shop, work, and play, let’s face it – computers are not perfect – files do become corrupt someday and motherboards eventually begin to malfunction.
While computers today have become a bigger part of life than ever before – replacing stereos, encyclopedias, and even, the postman, we also have to understand that they do fail on us dependable beings.
Time and again, we hear fellow friends regretting upon losing their files due to system crashes or computer viruses. So if you do not want to accumulate all the e-mail addresses from your friends all over again, lose a to-do note, a nice picture that someone had sent, a game which took you weeks or months to get to a certain level, or even, a document for work – like a presentation, then backup your data! By backing up your files, you are storing your files separately from your computer that will give you access to your files on backup disks or other online backup means.
However, common excuses such as “I’m too busy to backup my computer”, “I don’t know how to backup data” or “My computer won’t crash” continue to live on. Well, do not fall into the old paradigm of “it’s not going to happen to me” because if something does happen, you will certainly be glad that you have done a backup.
“I always thought I was a responsible user and that nothing would happen to my computer – but one day, it just crashed! I lost a lot of important data and business contacts,” said 32 year-old product executive, Elaine Leong.
Another common cause of loss of data is physical failure of the media the data is stored on. Most of us probably have everything saved on the hard drive of our computers but that hard drive is not going to live forever. Hard drives eventually die – gradually or even suddenly, when the hard drive simply dies without warning the user.
Power failure or spikes are also possible causes of data loss. They can result in loss of the document you are working on at that moment because you did not save it constantly before the power failed and the computer shut down.
There is a variety of backup software available suited to different natures of computer usage. CD-Rs are an excellent method for backing up files. You could buy a million discs or perhaps invest in a larger-capacity external Zip drive.
Online backup is yet another excellent method. This allows you to store your files online, where you can simply download your files back onto your computer whenever you want. While one can continue to use physical media forms to backup data, there are more advantages to why you should opt for an online form of backup.
Firstly, your data is stored offsite. It is important to store your data away from the building that currently houses the data. For example, if your house were to be on fire and your computer is destroyed, you can still recover your backed up data since it was stored outside of your house.
Secondly, your data will always be accessible with an Internet connection. You will not have to search for a specific CD or retrieve the USB flash drive. As long as you are connected to the Internet, your data is available.
Thirdly, your backed up data will be secured. Online backup providers usually encrypt your data on your local machine before sending it to their servers. The transfer is done over a secure SSL connection and remains encrypted on their servers so your data cannot be read.
Also, your data is automatically backed up as many online backup providers supply a small executable that runs in the background on your computer. When your computer is not in use, these applications will automatically read the files you specified to be backed up, and then backup the new or changed files. In other words, this saves you from remembering to backup your data.
Lastly, online backup is definitely affordable. It is not difficult at all to find online backup providers that offer a few gigabytes of free storage space. Others may charge a small fee for unlimited storage space.
While there are many means to backup your data, online servers are definitely the easiest methods, keeping your data safe.
If you think your computer has been good all this while so you do not have to worry about backup – think again. You wear your seat belt even though you are not expecting a car to crash each day. Today, we live in a high-tech world full of sneaky spyware and venomous viruses which increases danger of data loss than ever before.
"The only reason I chose the polytechnic route three years ago was because MOE (Ministry of Education) said that if you get top 10% of your course, you would definitely qualify for a spot in the local universities. However when I entered poly, I was very disappointed to find out you need a crazy GPA (Grade Point Average) of 3.6 or so to even be considered," said Yi Min, 18, a second year student from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Diploma in Mass Communications course.
Elliot Law, 20, a final year student from Nanyang Polytechnic's Diploma in Hospitaliy & Tourism Management course shared the same sentiments. "Right now, my GPA is at 3.5 out of 4. That means I have scored an average of B+ throughout my three years but after listening to a talk regarding further education held in my school, I realised that my GPA is the same as those who with a GPA of 2.0 or even 1.0. What's the difference? Both of us would just end up being rejected by the local universities anyway," Elliot explained.
“From the looks of it, I have to start talking to my parents about sending me overseas for my university studies. I really feel that’s only fair for all my hard work over the last three years.”
According to an article published last year in The Straits Times, “About 4,000 polytechnic graduates leave for overseas each year. Many parents clean out their retirement savings and go into debt just so as to give their children a university education abroad - at about $100,000 over two years in Britain and $70,000 in Australia.”
Unfortunately, there are students like Chia Peiwen, 20, a final year student from Singapore Polytechnic’s Diploma in Banking & Finance, who do not have the option to pursue their further studies abroad.
“My parents cannot afford to send me abroad because it is just too expensive,” said Peiwen.
Out of the 42 students that were unhappy with their prospects, 23 of them have regretted choosing the polytechnic route.
“From what I observed, the students that get accepted into the local Us (university) are the ones that score near perfect GPAs like 3.8 or even 3.99. Most of these students tend to be from courses like Engineering or Accounting where scoring full marks for an example is possible,” said Jared Leong, 20, a final year student from Temasek Polytechnic’s Diploma in Business.
“Getting such a high GPA is impossible for students enrolled in courses like mine where we have essays for our exams. How can you score full marks on an essay? If I knew I would be in this situation, I would’ve just gone to a Junior College,” added Jared.
When asked by a student regarding such low prospects, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports & Ministry of Transport and Mayor of North East CDC, said he understood how the students felt and gave an explanation.
“There is bound to be competition when you want to enter the local universities. Whether you think it is fair or not, it is up to you to decide because everyone wants to have a place in there,” Mr Teo said.
Mr Teo was in Temasek Polytechnic last Wednesday, the 20th of January, as a guest speaker for the school’s Youth Matter Series forum.
Mr Teo speaking at Temasek Polytechnic
Mr Teo also told students not to discouraged about such prospects and carry on doing their best.
“The society here is very competitive and you should turn this competitiveness into an energy where you can make a difference for yourself. Are you going to give up? Or are you going to work even harder? You should tell yourselves that if this is the environment I’m in, than I will make full use of it and make the difference out of it,” Mr Teo said.
According to Mr Teo, having the Government allocate more places for Polytechnic students in the local universities is a not good option.
“If you ask the Government to give you more, I’m sure the Government will give you more but will it satisfy everyone? No, because there will always be people asking for more still,” Mr Teo said.
Been there, bought the T-shirt and came back? Hanging out with your friends can become mundane, especially if outings are limited to the usual tried and tested destinations.
Forget congested, suffocating shopping malls or overpriced eateries. The next time round, ditch the concrete jungle and hit the great outdoors for a truly memorable experience.
These three unusual locations, some opened not long ago, are perfect for chilling out.
So stop by... and discover that the best things in life are indeed free.
Henderson Waves
Henderson Waves is a 274 metre long pedestrian bridge that connects Mount Faber Park and Teloh Blangah Hill Park. Standing at 36 metres above Henderson Road, this sculptural structure remains the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore to date.
This picturesque bridge earned its name from its wave like form, consisting of seven curved steel “ribs” under the bridge deck that rise alternately. Apart the visual element, these curved ribs also double up as alcoves that function as shelters with seats.
Look out for carvings on the Balau wood deckings that mark out the height you are at along various points of the bridge. Do drop by between 7 pm to 2 am daily, as that is when the wave-forms of the bridge are lit up with orange LED lamps, creating beautiful shadows from the rib structures.
Enjoy a chatting session with your friends or even just a leisure stroll at Henderson Waves. But remember to bring along your camera, for it will be a night you will never want to forget.
Marina Barrage
The Marina Barrage is a dam built across the Marina Channel, between Marina East and Marina South.
Located near Marina Bay, the Marina Barrage is home to the first reservoir in the city, Marina Reservoir. As the water in the Marina Basin is unaffected by tidal activity, the water level is kept constant, making it ideal for recreational activities such as canoeing or dragonboating.
Landscaped to incorporate the surrounding environment, the “Green Roof” doubles up as an open recreational space, where kite-flying is a popular activity. It is the perfect spot to have a picnic while overlooking the panoramic skyline.
Do drop by the Sustainable Singapore Gallery for an impressive showcase of Singapore’s efforts towards environmentally sustainable developments.
Learn more about Marina Barrage at http://www.pub.gov.sg/Marina/Pages/default.aspx
Kent Ridge Park
Spanning across a staggering 47 hectares, Kent Ridge Park is a spacious and unspoiled nature habitat. Lying between the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Science Park, this public park is an official World War II site.
The park boasts several trails, including one for mountain biking enthusiasts. For those who prefer traveling by foot, a 280 metres long canopy walk conveniently links Kent Ridge Park to the war museum, Reflections at Bukit Chandu.
Along the canopy walk, there are information boards providing educational insights on the various flora and fauna found in Kent Ridge Park. Catch a breather at the half-way point, while taking in the scenic views of Normanton Park and the National Parks Board’s plant nursery.
Check out the three life-sized statues and a plaque outside the war museum, honoring the Malay Regiment and commemorating the lives of those who died. This history lesson will be anything but boring for you and your friends.
The MacBook, Apple’s laptop for the low-end, non-professional market, has come a long way since its predecessors provided the necessary basis for its arrival.
Replacing the iBook and PowerBook in 2006, Apple attempted to consolidate the two separate notebooks that were sold in two categories into a single line with a unified form factor.
A Look At The History:
The original MacBook had an Intel Core Duo processor, DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300) support, and an Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics processor.
It was sold originally in memory three options: 512 Megabyte RAM, 1 Gigabyte RAM, and 2 Gigabyte RAM, all in differing (and slightly baffling in this respect prices).
It also had other customizable options that directly affected system performance, (and, inevitably, price) such as hard drive space and speed of its Intel processing unit.
In plain English, the consumer had the choice of ‘satisfactory’, ‘good’ and ‘better’ when he/she purchased within the realm of the low-end, non-professional market. Prices ranged between approximately $1800 and $2800.
In this reviewer’s opinion, the differences in specifications hardly warranted a $1000 price gap.
The absence of ‘best’ in the categories mentioned above is deliberate, as it is reserved for the MacBook Pro, which was superior to its low-end sibling. This was so particularly in the areas of graphics (it had a superior standalone graphics processor, unlike the MacBook) and speed.
What The Present Offers:
Apple’s latest offering to its low-end market does not short-change its non-professional users.
To illustrate this point, a comparison to the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro would reveal how the latest MacBook is a blessing to students and casual users that want to upgrade or switch from a PC.
Both the latest MacBook Pro and the MacBook have a 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo Intel processing unit, a 3MB L2 cache, a 1066 MHz frontside bus and 2GB RAM.
It also has a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor, which means users can now play video games with high-quality graphics on their MacBooks.
This was previously only available to the MacBook Pro line.
In a nutshell of layman terms, Apple is basically offering a MacBook Pro to its consumers at a lower price, in a white plastic shell.
The non-professional user (such as media or visual communications students) can now work with industry-standard options at a singular, affordable price.
Unlike its predecessor, Apple does not offer an unnecessary price range with even more unnecessary specification differences.
It gives you everything necessary to work and play at one flat price. However, consumers do have the option to upgrade hard drive space upon purchase.
Technical specifications aside, the rounded edges and a reduced number of seams give the MacBook a more appealing shape than that of the original MacBook. The rubber base is also an added-plus, both in the area of grip, and lap-friendliness when the machine heats up.
Outdoor users may find it in their favour to know that the it also has a vastly improved battery life. In an intense test, that pushed the MacBook to its limits (using various programs simultaneously, using Wi-Fi, etc), the unit lasted four hours.
This is a considerable improvement, lasting more than twice as long as the original MacBook under similar circumstances.
Regular usage would point to even longer battery life, between five to seven hours.
However, the new MacBook is not perfect. Its polycarbonate shell scratches too easily. Reviewers and users alike have complained about its proneness to scratches.
It also lacks an important component native to Apple products: the Firewire port. The Firewire ,almost twice as fast as USB 2.0 technology in its latest incarnation, is unfortunately missing.
As the year nears its end, anticipation builds as the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) wait around the corner in 2010.
Held between the 14th and the 26th of August 2010, the YOG will see Singapore play host to an estimate of 3600 young local and international athletes between the ages of 14 and 18.
These athletes will participate in events spanning football, basketball, aquatics and table tennis amongst others.
Singapore was awarded the title of host city for the inaugural YOG on the 18th of August 2008, following a voting procedure conducted by the International Olympics Committee (IOC), coming out on top amongst other cities vying for the similar title.
It will be run by 20, 000 local and international volunteers, with the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee and its Chief Executive Officer Mr Goh Kee Nguan at its helm.
The Games, boasting the participation of 205 National Olympic Committees, will be officiated by an estimated 800 officials from around the world.
Keen heartlanders might find it in their interest to know that YOG venues will include stadiums right at their doorsteps, such as Bishan Sports Hall, Bishan Stadium, Jalan Besar Stadium, Sengkang Hockey Stadium, Toa Payoh Sports Hall and Toa Payoh Swimming Complex.
Other venues include the Marina Reservoir, The Float @ Marina, *scape Youth Space and the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The International Convention Centre, previously host to the International Monetary Fund World Bank Congress 2006, will play host to the most events held in a single venue.
It will serve as the venue for wrestling, judo, boxing and handball competitions.
Admission tickets have yet to be made available to the public.
Members of the public watching from the comfort of their own homes can expect to see the theme of youth transcend the sporting arenas, as broadcast presenters between the ages of 13 and 29 have been selected to host, announce and commentate during the games.
Their lack in experience will not be an issue.
Miss Cleo Chew, 16, a chosen presenter, said: “Although this is a first for me, I’ve learnt how to handle spontaneous situations and pressure during competitions.”
Mr Goh added: “Training will include how to be effective presenters as well as to equip the presenters with the relevant knowledge in their respective sports by going through National Technical Official courses.”
Sports aside, the YOG also aims to balance culture and education via its Culture and Education Programme.
It is in line with its mission to educate and engage youth athletes with the hopes of inspiring them to play active roles in nurturing their respective communities.
Themes of olympism, skill development, well-being and health, social responsibility and expression are the chosen themes that are set to direct the Culture and Education Programme.
While playing host to the Games has been widely regarded as a great achievement for Singapore, the journey has not been free of setbacks.
In August 2009, the United States announced that its swimmers, shooters and cyclist would refrain from participation as it did not regard it to be a “high-level event”.
Speaking at an event in October 2009, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mr Teo Ser Luck, urged the United States to reconsider, saying the YOG requires “the highest level of performance” and is not merely “friendship games”.
The IOC has also urged the United States to reconsider.
A video poking fun at our local channel's Vasantham Star promotional video has been making the rounds at various online forums and blogs, arousing both disappointment and questions in the minds of citizens.
A group of teenagers posted the above video on Youtube, inviting a whole lot of negative and unfavourable comments:
"If they can't or don't understand a culture, they better shutup than behaving like these uneducated monkeys who still have the guts to post it on Youtube.There are so many things from other cultures which will look funny to you but that does not mean your culture is superior and does not look funny to others."
"F**king Chinese are all racist piece of shi*s. How many Indians do you see making fun of F**KING CAMPUS SUPERSTARS and ALL THE OTHER F**KING CHINESE shows? Chinese pigs should start to realise that YELLOW SKIN dosen't mean BETTER PEOPLE. Who the f**k said Singapore is a country with racial harmony?"
"If we INDIANS mock you CHINESE like that, you guys will get agitated and start to f**k us up also. We are pretty much doing the same thing. If you guys really meant it as a joke then I strongly suggest to put up a nicer video. Not the typical stigma where you have to dance behind trees. Where in the actual video did OUR Vasantham stars dance behind trees? As a matter of fact if you watched the full video, you will get a clearer picture."
So, even if some argue that this promotional video was done so terribly that it deserved the mocking, others question - what gave the idea to these teenagers who created the video that Indian stars sing and run around or hide behind coconut trees?
Perhaps this idea was communicated to them by their elders. Moreover, in a recent episode of Singapore Idol, Ken Lim, one of the judges, made this comment when he dismissed a wannabe Singapore Idol, Malaque Mahdaly: "That was amateurish, it lacks quality, but you will make a good Vasantham Star."
Meanwhile, student Pushpa R. feels such portrayals of negative stereotypes are uncalled for. She was similarly upset saying the Indian community already has to tolerate a great deal of marginalisation in life: "A Chinese kid on the bus once said pretty loudly to his mother that I was a smelly indian."
On the other hand, 42 year-old civil servant who wants to be known only as Savi said: "On the bus or train, Chinese passengers tend to avoid sitting next to me even if there's an empty seat."
With a population of approximately 4 million - 77 per cent Chinese, 14 per cent Malays, 7.6 per cent Indians and the remaining 1.4 per cent comprising others, it is obvious that a general pattern of racially motivated discrimination is present in everyday encounters and contacts between Chinese and Indians.
So, after 44 years of emphasis and education on multiracialism and multilingualism, have we truly evolved into a tolerant nation? Everyday racism in Singapore is widespread and continues to exist, especially within the dominant and minority groups.
Unfortunately, such experiences are never voiced out or openly discussed. As a result, they continue to simmer beneath the warm and fuzzy image of a harmonious and multiracial Singapore.
On the contrary, 58 year-old Senior Construction Manager, Gulabrai M. has this to say after watching the above clip: "I believe that these are just small little things that should not be given much attention. This may not necessarily mean discrimination towards the Indian race, but perhaps just something for youngsters to laugh about, and forget."
He added that such acts are not representative of the cross-cultural situation in Singapore. "There are numerous other things that people of all races here in Singapore enjoy together, be it at school, work or play. Looking at the bigger picture would be much more helpful."
Could it be the whining children, the ringing cell phones or the annoying people whispering during the movie? If these reasons have you resorting to renting a DVD instead of heading to the cinemas, you are not alone.
At one time, going out to the movies was an event that was fun and enjoyable. However, times have changed with the dawn of home cinema. The advantages of having a home cinema have become irresistible such that the option of watching movies at the cinema has been abandoned for reasons which are not very difficult to see.
For one, the price of a movie ticket has sky-rocketed and is constantly going up – it is like the price of gas. If you calculate, you will find that it will cost you more than $40 for a family of five to see a movie just once.
The awesome sound system and effects in the cinema still enthrall movie-goers
Unquestionably, food is an important part of movie watching. Here, you will also be shelling out another $5- $10 for just simple popcorn and drink. At home you can have any snacks you like and drink whatever you want.More importantly, the prices at home are neither inflated nor taxed.
At the movie theater the floor is nothing but litter with sticky soda pop residue, popcorn, and who knows there might be a sticky bubble gum or worst, nose dirt sticking on the very chair you are about to sit on.
Comfort is key but unfortunately, at the cinema it an entirely different story. "Not only are most seats small and cramp, it is so irritating that I'm itching half the time," Sheryl Lim, self-professed movie-junkie complains.
At home on the other hand, comfort is the order of the day. You can use your favorite chair or an overstuffed leather recliner and relax and watch the movie in peace. Rubbing elbows with your neighbors is not an issue either.
Moreover, cell phones have acquired a nuisance value at places like movie theaters. Despite the countless reminders, there will still be someone yacking away on the phone. If you are unlucky, the ringing of a handphone will distract you at a critical part of the movie.
Mrs Lily Ang, a frequent movie-goer laments that there has never been an occasion in the cinema where a phone has not rung. "It's really frustrating sometimes. What's worst, those people don't really care who they disturb."
Given, there are many benefits and reliefs from watching movies in the comfort of one's own home. However, many argue that a movie has to be watched in the theatre in order to enjoy the 'full cinematic experience'.
There's just something magical about a movie theater. Once the trailers stop and the lights dim, the collective masses of movie-goers stop talking, rush to their seats, and cast their eyes upon the giant screen in anticipation. Then, when a stream of projector light hits the screen's silver surface, everyone in the theater is transported to another world.
“Watching movies at home are a far cry from catching a movie in the cinema” reveals Royston Tan, a 26 year-old Marketing Manager.
Fact is, the use of sound in a theater plays a crucial role. Surround sound heightens the experience.
Yes, many would argue that you can get surround sound aty home too but clearly, the ambience and 'feel' is incomparible. Those sound effects help take the movie-goer deeper into the movie's world, for it surrounds them in every direction.
Finally, movie theaters are constantly evolving. Whether it's 3-d, digital film, or IMAX, movie theaters keep up with the times and offer the latest and greatest entertainment technology.
“Just take 3-D movies for instance, the effects are so cool, everything feels so real and those glasses and bizzare” Victoria Lynn Tan, a secondary school student gushes.
Despite the advantages of watching movies at home and at the cinema respectively, many people forget that the movie itself plays a huge part in the whole 'movie experience'.
“Action or drama -packed movies like Titanic or Avatar will be better appreciated at the cinema because of the sound quality and atmosphere that the cinema provides” Singapore Polytechnic student Dannel George comments. “Somehow, when you watch it at home, it loses it's 'feel' and 'power'.”
“Chick flicks don't need to be watched in the cinema because they just dont have that cinematic element in them” Mary Chia , a final year film student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Can you get the full flavor of Milk or (500) Days of Summer at home? Probably. G.I. Joe? Probably not.
So next time, when you are deciding where to watch your movie, think of it is nature and genre first then decide in order to maximise your movie experience.
Laundry drying stands, plastic tubs, pails, potted plants, shoe racks, and bicycles – a display of these items along common corridors in HDB blocks is definitely not an unusual or uncommon sight.
Many of us do not realise that corridor is a form of common property which is meant to be shared with our neighbours. Besides, a form of danger lies when we pile up too many things, in a haphazard manner. The items pose a fire hazard and make the passageway too narrow for residents to use efficiently in the case of a fire or any other emergencies.
Moreover these innocent items placed along our corridors could actually be forms of killer litter items. Some of these include potted plants, clothes racks and birdcages.
Under HDB’s Terms of Lease, flat owners cannot undertake any act within the flat or common areas that is illegal or immoral, or which causes disturbance to his or her neighbours; And the most common source of misunderstandings between neighbours is evidently the misuse of shared space like the common corridor.
Laundry drying stands, plastic tubs, pails, potted plants, shoe racks, and bicycles are some common items found along hdb corridors
“My neighbour has a laundry drying stand outside her flat which blocks more than 70 per cent of my walking space. At the lift area, there are even more laundry stands which belong to the same household. Does the town council perform any kind of regular checks and advise the residents accordingly? My neighbour is of a different ethnic group and I am afraid that if I were to complain, it would result in a sensitive situation,” said 43 year-old housewife, Mdm Noorhayati Rahman, a resident of Pasir Ris.
Another resident of Bedok has this to say: “It is against the rule of HDB to put things at common corridor but I suppose Town Council does not bother to take action against residents who do so.
“A neighbour of mine has an entire display of plants, floor mats, shoes, laundry, just right in front of my house. I assume Town Council did not take any action as I’ve already lodged a few complaints about the matter,” added the 33 year-old civil servant who declined to be named.
On the contrary, a spokesperson from the Pasir Ris – Punggol Town Council said that residents who fail to comply with a written notice from the HDB to remove objects that have been placed in a harmful or dangerous manner may be fined up to $2,000. “The HDB can also compulsorily acquire the Home Ownership flat or terminate the tenancy of the rental flat,” he added.
While most residents seem to have extended their private spaces from within their homes to the common corridor areas, there are not many that can beat this overly cluttered one in Punggol, which has an amazing amount of junk – massive flower pots, bicycles, cupboards and shoe racks.
The HDB can also compulsorily acquire the Home Ownership flat or terminate the tenancy of the rental flat if items are placed in an obstructing manner
The resident of this household, 46 year-old housewife, who wants to be known only as Mdm Suriati, said: “I don’t see how my items in the corridor area are affecting my neighbours. They have never said anything to me before. Besides, this area is so quiet that hardly anyone walks around here since this it's a corner unit.”
Although the Town Council is in charge of the management and maintenance of common areas outside the flat like corridors and lifts, residents have to do their part and maintain the cleanliness, tidiness and safety of these spaces.
These innocent items placed along our corridors could actually be forms of killer litter items
Meanwhile, having worked as a cleaner for more than four years in Pasir Ris, Mr Boon Teow shared that he has experienced countless inconsiderate actions from the residents – including those who leave their unwanted items at staircase landings and corridors, which acts as a hindrance when it comes to escaping in times of emergencies. He said free bulky removal services have been made available and can be arranged for with the Town Council.
Dana Hanna, a "technology centric" software developer, posted a YouTube clip of the moment last month when he tweeted: "Standing at the altar with Tracy Page where just a second ago, she became my wife! Gotta go, time to kiss my bride."
To add on, Dana's wife also asked for her cellphone to update her social networking status too!
The newlywed's actions have attracted the attention of British etiquette experts Debrett's, who are planning to release rules for polite use of the social networking tool.
At the top of their bad manners list is dumping someone by text message.
Debrett's believes the end of a significant relationship calls for meeting face to face.
And while a phone call or email is an acceptable break-up method if the couple have only been on a few dates, texting is too heartless.
Using a mobile phone while on a date is also a no-no.
Debrett's are giving etiquette advice via Twitter.
Although addiction to online and computer gaming has not been officially recognised as a form of medical disorder by the World Health Organisation, an increasing number of youngsters these days, especially those in their teenage years face some severe consequences associated with compulsive engagement with computer and online games.
Research has shown that Singaporean youths spend up to 27 hours a week playing online games while 90 per cent of children between the age of 10 and 16 in the United States spend around 20 hours a week.
“I spend up to six hours a day playing MapleStory. I think the game is just very tempting and helps me to release stress after a long day in school. My parents though, get very angry and scold me,” said 15 year-old See Chui Ying who has been an avid gamer since he was 12.
However, does gaming always have a negative influence on a youth’s lifestyle? Does gaming always end up an addiction or can it simply be enjoyed as a hobby alone?
First of all, looking at the negative aspects of online gaming, virtual violence in the games result in youths becoming more aggressive, violent and vulgar in real life. This is because most games involve a whole lot of killing, shooting, hunting of people, fighting and unlimited amount of violence accompanied with a coarse form of communication. Some of these games include Grand Theft Auto, Counterstrike and World of Warcraft.
Research has also shown that the behaviour of one becomes more aggressive after playing such games for three months. Youths tend to become more aggressive in their actions and language, and even hit someone on impulse, thinking it is perfectly alright to do so.
When asked about any changes in Chui Ying’s behaviour, his mother, who only wants to be known as Mdm See, said her son’s performance in school started to trickle. “His grades have been dropping consistently so we are trying to be stricter with him now. He also gets very aggressive in his actions and speech at home.”
On the other hand, Mr Derek Sim, parent of 16 year-old Jonathan Sim, said they try not to disturb their son when he is gaming. He added: “I believe it is all about how an individual sets his constraints. We only step in when this hobby of his starts to overtake other priorities such as school work, meals or family time.”
On the contrary, online gaming seems to have its positive influences too. Research has proven that youths who play such games on a regular basis tend to have a better reaction time and visual activity as compared to those who do not game. Besides, a level of cross cultural sociability is also involved as youths from all around the world communicate in this virtual world.
Moreover, it also helps in developing some knowledge about business at an early age. “Mafia Wars teaches me financial concepts such as property investment and making touch decisions,” said Jonathan who feels that the virtual world also allows one to vent frustrations that some people cannot in real life.
While the world of gaming continues with advancements in areas of graphics, reality and challenges, it is surely not a surprise to understand that an increasing number of youths prefer to stay indoors and indulge in such gaming activities than hanging out with their peers or playing sports.
Nevertheless, not every gamer is an addict. Some learn to balance their social activities, school grades, friends and family well enough where as some just end up in an uncontrollable compulsion.
In the brutal aftermath of Haiti's earthquake, Jean-Robert Gaillard turned to his low-tech radio for solace and for a lifeline.
When the earthquake hit, the 57-year-old from Petionville, Haiti, found most of his normal lines of communication -- his cell phone, the Internet, even his ability to walk down the street and talk to someone -- severed by the disaster.
But Gaillard used a neighbor's generator to power up his radio and connect to a handful of amateur radio enthusiasts in the United States -- many of whom were eagerly listening to radio static for calls like his.
Unlike many other people in Haiti, Gaillard was able to contact family members in the United States soon after the January 12 earthquake hit to tell them he had survived.
In those first hellish moments, that connection seemed like a miracle.
"It relieved the tension of my family members," he said, speaking by Skype from Haiti on Tuesday, which he says wasn't possible until more recently. "They could hear my voice. They knew that I was OK."
Much has been made about the role flashier technologies like Twitter, Skype and text messaging have played in helping disaster victims find loved ones and communicate with international aid workers. But it is worth noting that, when all else fails, the low-tech hum of a radio frequency is sometimes the only line of communication that's open.
Enthusiasts of amateur radio -- or ham radio -- are quick to use this as evidence that international aid groups and governments should rely more heavily on radio in disaster situations. Ham radio signals bounce off of a layer of charged particles in Earth's atmosphere, called the ionosphere, and, depending on the conditions, can work at times when other modes of communication fail.
But amateur radio is best viewed as one of many communications options in the wake of a disaster, said Keith Robertory, manager of disaster services technology at the American Red Cross, who has been helping in Haiti relief efforts from Washington.
The best communication technology in a disaster, he said, is whatever happens to work at the time.
"Amateur radio is a very powerful tool if the amateur radio operators are in the area where the disaster occurs," he said. "There's a window of opportunity for amateur radio operators right at the beginning [of a disaster]. ... That's where they are extremely valuable."
Because that window has now passed, cell phone connections, text messages, Twitter posts and Skype calls are becoming more significant, he said.
A 23-year-old woman, for example, was rescued in Haiti after text messages were sent from beneath the rubble of a school building.
Radio stations in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, have been broadcasting almost since the earthquake, providing the only means of communication for some people, Agence France-Presse reports.
Some mobile phone towers in Haiti fell during the earthquake, and cell phone service was not returned to much of the country until at least two days after the tremors first shook the poor Caribbean nation, according to a mobile phone company operating in Haiti.
About a third of people in Haiti have access to mobile phones, compared to nearly 90 percent of people in the United States.
Reports suggest Internet connections also were spotty in the earthquake's aftermath; and only about 11 percent of Haitians have access to the Web in non-disaster situations, according to the CIA World Factbook.
Aid groups and journalists have relied on satellite phones, which work independently from local Internet and mobile phone infrastructure as long as the sky isn't too cloudy.
Such technology isn't commonly available for disaster victims, however.
Carol Wilson, compliance director for Trilogy International Partners, which provides mobile phone service to about 1 million people in Haiti, said 80 percent of the company's cell towers in Haiti were working as of Tuesday.
The company is donating out $5 worth of free phone calls to its customers and is giving people double the amount of minutes they would normally get so they can catch up with loved ones and communicate with aid groups, she said.
The main problem with mobile phone connections now, she said, may be fuel, since generators are used to power most cellular towers in Haiti.
In the immediate wake of the disaster, before cell phone coverage was restored, William F. Sturridge, a ham radio operator in Flagler Beach, Florida, said he was able to connect a priest living on the remote Haitian village of Ile-a-Vache with his family members in the United States.
On Wednesday morning, the day after the earthquake hit, he said he heard a faint call of "hotel, hotel," which signifies the "HH" letters at the beginning of radio call signs in Haiti. He responded immediately.
"When other systems don't work, [radio] always works," he said. "It doesn't matter -- no matter where you are in the world ... you can get a [high-frequency] signal out and somebody will hear."
After connecting with the priest in Haiti, Sturridge said he called the man's brother to tell him his sibling had survived the earthquake.
"He was super worried," he said. "They hadn't heard from him, and it was wonderful to be able to pass the information and hear the relief in the voice."
Sturridge said he's been listening for radio calls from Haiti almost non-stop, with no sleep, since the earthquake hit a week ago. The 51-year-old is disabled, and he said the radio gives him a lifeline to the outside world as well.
"It's very difficult for someone who is bed-bound to be able to work and be able to enjoy the benefits of helping other people, so this is one way I can do this very easily," he said.
"Certainly, I can't think of anything more rewarding than saving a life."
While the ability for even one person to communicate with the outside world immediately after a disaster has potentially huge impact, the number of people making calls from Haiti by amateur radio appears to be very small.
Brian Crow, who has been communicating with people in Haiti by radio from outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said only three people in Haiti have made contact with the United States by ham radio since the earthquake.
Crow said his primary role has been taking calls, finding out what aid is needed, and relaying the information to Web sites collecting news about missing people.
A number of sites -- including CNN's iReport and Google -- are creating databases with information about missing people in Haiti.
Other groups have put together population estimates based on satellite maps as a way for aid groups to target their relief efforts. And a site called Ushahidi is mapping text messages and calls for help in Haiti to give aid groups a better picture of dire needs for food, water and medical help.
Gaillard, the Haitian man who used ham radio to contact loved ones, said the week following Haiti's earthquake has been absolute hell.
But the fact that he could get on the radio and talk to people outside the situation made him feel connected to the world and has given him the strength to keep going.
Come 15th of April this year, Metalheads will finally get the chance to experience Pure American Metal when Grammy nominated band, Lamb of God, perform on our shores for the very first time at D’Marquee, Downtown East as part of their Wrath World Tour.
Consisting of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Willie Adler and Mark Morton, drummer Chris Adler and bassist John Campbell, the quintet from Richmond, Virginia, will prove to everyone why they are considered the leaders in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement.
According to Mr. Andre Alabons from organisers LAMC Productions, this is not the first time they have attempted to bring the band to Singapore.
“We’ve been trying to get Lamb of God to add a Singapore date for two years but due to timing and schedules not working out, nothing materialised,” said Andre.
Despite such setbacks over the years, LAMC Productions continued to monitor the rise of Lamb of God because of their solid reputation for live shows and ever increasing fan base.
“They (Lamb of God) have earned Grammy nominations and their Singapore fan base is increasing with every album released. Lamb of God is one of the biggest metal bands right now and 2010 is the right time for them to come to Singapore,” Andre explained.
Lamb of God has released six studio albums since their formation in 1994 with their latest one, Wrath, being the most commercially successful.
Released in February last year, Wrath sold more than 68, 000 copies in the United States during its first week to debut at position number 2 of the U.S Billboard 200 charts.
The track “Set to Fail” from Wrath has also earned them a nomination for a Grammy in the 2010 “Best Metal Performance” category.
When it comes to the Grammy Awards, Lamb of God are certainly no strangers with their song, “Redneck” from the 2006 album “Sacrament”, earning them a nomination in the same category back in 2007.
Instead of the usual venue of Fort Canning Park where numerous metal bands such as Megadeth and Dream Theater have previously performed, Andre said that the live shows of Lamb of God are more suited to an indoor venue and D’Marquee is the right choice.
On top of performing at numerous major music festivals all around the world including Download Festival and Ozzfest, Lamb of God has also served as the direct support band for metal giants, Metallica, during their 2009 World Magnetic Tour.
Attendees of this upcoming concert can expect nothing less than an intensive, high energy head banging time in what could be this year’s hardest and loudest concert.
Tickets for Lamb of God’s Wrath World Tour are on sale now at www.tdc.sg
Media
Official Music Video of the Grammy Nominated Single, Set to Fail
Come the 14th and 15th of May this year, Singapore will be hosting a series of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events called "Martial Combat".
Organised by ESPN Star Sports (ESS), Martial Combat will consist of 12 events over the next three years and will be held at the S$6.59 billion Resort World Sentosa. The event will also be broadcasted to over 24 countries across Asia on the channel, Star Sports.
Unlike your typical martial art, MMA matches do not get halted even if one of the fighters falls to the ground. Punches and kicks to the head are also allowed and it is due to this “no holds barred” approach that 2008 US Presidential Candidate, Senator John McCain, once branded MMA as “human cockfighting”.
In response to such criticisms, MMA organisers like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) began rebranding itself as a sport than a spectacle. It also increased its cooperation with numerous Athletic Commissions and redesigned various rules to ensure the athletes get better protection.
Aerial Shot of UFC 108. Photo Courtesy of www.UFC.tv
Such a strategy was welcomed by many and MMA is generally accepted as a sport today.
However, there are those like housewife, Mrs Clarissa Lim, 48, who beg to differ.
“MMA is so dangerous and violent. I have a son who takes up Taekwondo and they have head gear and body padding to protect their bodies during competitions. The only protection MMA competitors wear are gloves and I really think that’s not enough,” Mrs Lim explained. “It shouldn’t even be considered a sport!” Mrs Lim added.
A photo Mrs Lim provided of her son (in blue protector) taking part in a local Taekwondo competition
Businessman Mr Leong Jun Wei, 42, who watched a fighter won his UFC match via knocking out his opponent before, felt that such an event should not be broadcasted in Singapore.
“Showing such an event on national TV would surely encourage violence. Children might also get a shock if they were to witness a fighter being knocked out,” said Mr Leong.
Mr Leong also felt that Martial Combat should not be held in Singapore.
“Holding such an event here in Singapore will only end up promoting violence,” he said.
When told about such criticisms, director of Singapore’s biggest MMA academy Evolve MMA, Chatri Sitodyong had this to say.
“MMA is a relatively new sport in Singapore. Such comments about MMA were also passed when it first started back in the US but over time, people started understanding more about it and how safe it was,” Chatri explained.
“This (violent accusations) is the greatest misconception about the sport of MMA,” Chatri added.
“If it this was such a violent, dangerous sport, the safety record should be worst than boxing, skydiving or any of these adrenaline sports. Yet it is safer.”
A quick check on the Journal of Combative Sports showed that boxing sees more than 10 per year worldwide. MMA on the other hand has seen only a total of four deaths since it first started 17 years ago.
However putting aside all negative comments regarding MMA, there is no doubt that MMA is rising rapidly in popularity here in Singapore.
“When Evolve first came to Singapore in November 2008, MMA was not popular like it is now. However over the last year, I have seen many students joining our gym to learn MMA and we had to launch a third gym to cater to such an increase. We blew through our three year financial goals in three months,” Chatri explained.
Students of Evolve training their "ground game" during Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu classes
Evolve MMA presently has three gyms: One in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and two in Singapore.
“Besides if there were such strong protests and negative response about MMA here in Singapore, I’m sure Martial Combat would be held at another country no?” Chatri said confidently.
Like an echo that arrives to the ears of listeners after the initial sound, The Echo amplifies news of all natures from one part of the world to the visitors from other parts of the world.
With more and more people turning to the internet for their daily news updates, The Echo is dedicated to not only provide these people with the latest news – both locally and internationally – but also, offer additional interesting content for reading.
The Echo aims to provide comprehensive and current news with content catered to a range of target audiences, both professionals, managers, executives and Businessmen, and youths between the ages of 13 and 21, with sections covering issues including world, current affairs, lifestyle and technology
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