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26 August 2010

Spices of Life


There has been a lot of drama flying around pertaining to food reviews on blogs which got me into thinking about the appreciation of food.

To me, the review of food do not stop at the eating, tasting and ambiance. I am sure everyone would agree with me that it is more than that.

To me, tracing the food back to its origins is also part of the fun. How was it prepared? What was used? Where are the ingredients from? How were the ingredients grown and harvested? What do you know about the place from which the ingredients originate? What's the story behind the establishment (assuming you are not eating in)?

Yes, that's quite a mouthful (no pun intended) but hey, that's just me.

I very tam jiak and very inquisitive one.

Prince-In-Law correctly pointed out that the reason why I am so into exercising and all that is so that I can eat and drink more.

I couldn't put it more beautifully than that.

Check out the clip above on Ah See's wonton noodles at Chop See Kee kopitiam in Batu Pahat.

Perhaps a road trip up when I return to Singapore.

- Voxeros

25 August 2010

Painting on Water


I am sure by now we are all familiar with sand art over an overhead projector and so initially when I read the title of this youtube, I thought it was something similar.

It started off rather slowly and I wasn't too impressed thinking it was mere 雕虫小技.

I was wrong. The clip is a tad draggy at 7 minutes but do stick till the end.

The finished art is awesome!

- Voxeros

24 August 2010

Oh Look Up The Sky! It's A Bird!! (NSFW)


Oh look up the sky!! It's a bird!! It's a plane. No! It's a bird!!!!!

Buahahahahaha......

*Flap Flap Flap*

- Voxeros

16 August 2010

What They Say About Singaporeans Eating Dog Food


This picture sparked out a massive outcry amongst the netizens who are already sibeh dulan with the Gahmen allegedly wasting money (and exceeding budget) to do the Youth Olympic Games. The folks failed to see how investing in this event would benefit Singapore as a whole.

In the Gahmen's defence, I think there are benefits coming from holding such an event but perhaps it is the Gahmen's failure to explain where and how Singapore is going to benefit beyond the SGD 104 + 283 million that has cause such a big furor amongst the people.

With negative feelings all over the island, it is natural that the entire event will come under close microscopic scrutiny and every little misstep will have the people all up in arm with pitchforks and torches.

Once the above picture went on air, other pictures were soon to follow as they wonder if this is what paying Singapore Food Industries (SFI) a whopping amount of SGD 5.5 million gets them.


Here's the thing about Singapore. Everybody loves a witch hunt followed by a stoning session and finish with a burning at the stake.

When the first blade has sunk into the flesh, everybody loves to jump in and "Et tu Brute? Then fall, Caesar!"

Oh how we all love to be No.2.



The above 4 pictures were taken by Cool402 on 15 Aug 2010, who volunteers at the Jalan Besar Stadium and according to his account, what you see above has always been like that since day one i.e. it was not a sudden improvement overnight as a result of the "Dog Food" saga making the headlines.

So what we have here is a conflict of accounts. Yes, it is a SGD 5.5 million project awarded to SFI but think for a moment, do you really think that SFI itself is able to undertake the whole project by itself?

I am thinking sub-contracts here and I believe this is where the delivery breaks down.

It could be a case of sub-contractor failing to deliver up to par, probably due to the super low margin passed down to them after SFI has finished skimming off the top cream or the said sub-contractor is genuinely fucked up.

It could also be a case of the food wise being up to standard but perhaps it is the idiot or group of idiots who did not make the effort to pack the proper lunchbox? Who is this idiot or group of idiots? Main contractors themselves, sub-contractors themselves or worse, fellow volunteers?

So until we find out for sure what actually happened and transpired, I do not think it is right to stir up so much shit.

The sub-standard lunchboxes is a fact that we do not deny. However, we should all give SFI the chance to investigate and come back with their findings.

Until then, please put the pitchforks back to the barn, leave the torches unlit and leave all those stones on the floor.
 
You are no better if you were to jump right in without figuring out what is right and what is wrong.

Image Credits:  http://hwsoh.blogspot.com; http://x-surfer.blogspot.com
- Voxeros

1. Pam left...
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 5:03 pm
exactly - my sentiments exactly... I get the TOC updates on my FB (just coz...) and frankly, their constant negativity is really p-ing me off big time. There are big issues where you can very rightly voice some opposition (and perhaps offer some constructive alternative suggesitons) but man, for every 'wrong step' that someone makes, it's all about the gahmen???

the bad weather is a fault of the gahmen? c'mon, gimme a break. Sure, the floods have perhaps been rather mismanaged, but the rainy season as gahmen fault - that's going abit too far.

I had the exact same thought this morning when I woke up and saw that they were 'witch hunting' the MP VB because he took the trouble to reply (and according to them was being martyr like)... so what do they want him to do? not reply (which is what alot of people have suggested he won't)..? so really, it's a do it and get screwed, don't do it, still get screwed.

That's what I REALLY DON'T like about Singaporeans (and well, there are lots of British people who are the same really - so can't really generalise)....

13 August 2010

Cut The Nose To Spite The Face

What I have feared has dawned when the above comment landed in my comment section in my previous post.

The word "any" is a very dangerous one.

I have time and again warn against "voting the village idiot just to spite the arrogant incumbent". I believe the correct proverb would be "cutting off the nose just to spite the face".

Yes, we are getting more and more unhappy with present Gahmen but it does not necessarily mean nor guarantee that the Opposition will do a better job. Yes, I kept saying that in the past. I mentioned it back in 2006, then in 2008 and earlier this year. However, each time I said it, I find myself saying it with less conviction.

It is only a matter of time when the Gahmen hits bottom and voting ANYBODY would still be better.

The "we have nothing else to lose" mentality grows stronger with each day that the present Gahmen sinks to a newer low.

Perhaps the time has come to make a change and how coincidental that the General Elections is just around the corner.

I would advise our MIW to put on their helmets and buckle up this coming elections. It's is going to be a very rough ride.

I hope to have the chance to vote this coming round and I am willing to sacrifice the entire team of 6 incumbents (I don't care if one or some of you is in the cabinet) just so that I can bring 6 new faces with fresh ideas. More humble and more connected to the people at ground floor, please.

The incumbents has had their shot and I am not impressed. So it's time for someone else to give the job a shot.

I hope to see 6 credible, I repeat, CREDIBLE new candidates to stand up for the people's consideration.

- Voxeros

1. Ruok left...
Sunday, 15 August 2010 9:10 am
Humility and more connected to the people. I hear ya dude. Too bad my GRC is the confirmed walk-over one. Surely we are too small to have geographical boundaries as an electoral policy.
2. JayWalk left..
Monday, 16 August 2010 6:33 pm :: 
ruok: Seriously, GRC or not, we should have a referendum for walkovers where candidates need to canvass at least 50% of the votes. If without an opposing candidate (or team) and still cannot win, then this really have to ask ourselves if this is the right person(s) to represent their constituents.
3. sunshin3 left...  
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 9:30 am
agreed. can't get it when people attempt to display their displeasure by saying they'll vote for the opposition because they're unhappy with the current administration. somehow, i wonder whether there's logic behind those statements they make or is it at a whim..

12 August 2010

The Gahmen's Pee Pee In The Wall

Now that the internet media has started to blossom, more and more people are getting familiar in finding ways around Singapore's draconian censorship barriers to have their voices heard. With people also getting more and more tech savvy, these voices are heard loud, crystal and clear.

No longer are we shackled down by state-controlled media and be misquoted by their lackeys, otherwise known as "journalists".

Websites of blogs, podcasts and videos are sprouting everywhere to speak up and to supposedly expose.

Problem is how credible are these sources?

This is karma payback for all the years of strong arm censorship that anything that "leaks" out is somewhat deemed to be regarded as the truth.

That, in all fairness, is a very dangerous thing to assume.

I stumbled onto the youtube by a certain user "Wendy Neo" which I doubt is even her real name or if that it's really a "she" as the name Wendy may suggest.

The above allegations in the clip are in no way representation of my beliefs nor do I refute it. I am neutral as I think everyone should draw their own conclusion.

Problem with these type of message bordering on the thin grey line of truth, half-truth and at the same time, untruth is that the slight advantage would always be in the author's side be it the truth, half-truth or untruth. 

But one thing is for sure. People are speaking up even if we can't do it via the traditional channels. There are new channels coming up every day.

The Gahmen today is playing the losing role of the Little Dutch Boy where he is faced with yet another leak in the dyke after having already stuck his nose, 10 fingers, 10 toes and his little pee pee in the wall already.  

So I say get rid of censorship already and let the information flow. Only then will the people be able to have all the necessary data, be it truths, half-truths and even untruths, to draw their own conclusion and make their own minds.

Stone-walling people will only push them further away from you and think that you are guilty and have something to hide.
Or perhaps you ARE guilty and HAVE something to hide?

Do you refute that? If yes, then lift the embargo and turn over all the cards!

Try as you might to plug every new hole that appears, it is a losing cat-and-mouse game and you know it.

So I say leave it be and at the very least you can stand up with dignity and not appear pathetic.
Unless of course, you ARE guilty and Have something to hide.

You tell me because I really don't know.

Afternote: No wonder this "Wendy Neo" sounded so familiar. As it turned out, I featured here on my previous blog entry: JayWalk (10 Feb 2010) - Vote Out PAP? I Don't Think So.

Image Credit: http://www.solacesystems.com
- Voxeros

1. FAP Opponent left...
Friday, 13 August 2010 9:21 am
YES! I'll vote for any party that will stand up against uber liberal foreigner labour policy.

Do you know that even if a PR is convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment, he MAY be deemed as a prohibited immigrant under Immigration Act, Chapter 133. The Controller MAY revote his status under Section 14(4) of the same act. Such consideration is given on a case-by-case basis.

See! PRs may or may not be thrown out after committing a crime in Singapore. What kind of foreign trash is FAP admitting under the current policies???
2. JayWalk left...
Friday, 13 August 2010 2:10 pm :: 
FAP Opponent: Welcome to the blog. My response to your comment is rather lengthy that I have decided to make it a regular post in itself.

Goto: Cut The Nose To Spite The Face

11 August 2010

The Taming Of Floods


The two more prominent non-Gahmen controlled political news portals are The Temasek Review and The Online Citizen.

I do read them but I do not endorse either for which I think that, as much as they attempt to resonate the voices of those who are unhappy with the present Gahmen, they sometimes oppose simply for the sake of opposing.

Frankly, I don't see them scoring many points for being objective and take whatever they throw up onto their pages with a pinch of salt. Sometimes a big pinch and other times a smaller one.  But always with a pinch of salt.

And yet there are times they come up with brilliant gems from out of the blue.

This particular article by a certain Dr Wong Wee Nam was one such article that had me reading and nodding like a bobble head doll.

Read on, my fellow citizen.

Image Credit - http://theonlinecitizen.com
- Voxeros

1. Ah Fry left...
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 10:07 am :: http://talesofasmallfry.blogspot.com/
*like*
p/s: finally the auto-generating maths sums ain't bullying me anymore! i got a 5 + 1 = ??? these 2 days. REJOICE. *WIDE GRIN*
2. JayWalk left...
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 10:48 am ::
Ah Fry: The math checksum has a timeout period i.e. the checksum question will change after a while especially when you leave this comment page on for too long. Unfortunately, while the checksum question has change, the page itself does not auto-refresh resulting in a situation where you thought you keyed in the correct answer but the server says it's wrong.

Then again, your math isn't really your strong point and so I can't be sure which is which. wakakakaakakak.....
3. Ah Fry left...
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 11:09 am :: http://talesofasmallfry.blogspot.com/
hehehe......me issue is always those 19 + 26 = ??? kinda dua-zong questions, gotta activate me fingers + toes for the answer deh. and somemore count 3x to confirm b4 i key in the answer then press confirm. iFail.

oh oh! the sum for this entry is 1 + 7!! WOOHOO!! HUAT AH!!!

10 August 2010

The Singapore I No Longer Remember

An epiphany just struck me as I realised that each theme song of each National Day is a sign of the times.

I remember when I was in Secondary School when we sang National Day songs like "Count On Me, Singapore", "We Are Singapore", "One People, One Nation, One Singapore" and "Stand Up For Singapore" with great heart and gusto simply because we believed and felt every word of it.

It was a great era where we were really proud to be Singaporeans.

I even remember how we rewrote the lyrics specially dedicated to the only Malay boy (AJ) in our ACS St John fraternity.

"We, the citizens of Singapore. Pledge ourselves as one united people. Regardless of race, except for one Malay....."

With no disrespect to AJ, it was purely for comedic effect as we all had a good laugh which bonded us together till this very day. 25 years later.

About a decade later, the theme of the songs like "Home", "Where I Belong" and "There's No Place I'd Rather Be", on hindsight were songs calling back fellow citizens who slowly and quietly leaving the country for other pastures?

You tell me because I really don't know.

This year the song is "Sing A Song For Singapore" where we "...fly the flag and share our story. Live our wildest dreams...".

Is it me or it there a hint that the silent exodus for the past decade has reached a point of no return and that we need to quickly, with the lowest of barriers, lelong our citizenships?

You tell me because I really don't know.

My father waited for 20 years to get his citizenship and I, 15 years and dutifully served National Service thereafter. These days, it's pay money and the bouncer lowers the velvet rope and let you cut the queue instantly, ahead of the rest. Has the value of our citizenship cheapen to such a pitiful state?

You tell me because I really don't know.

Perhaps there is a need as more and more people are getting dissatisfied with the incumbent Gahmen, that opening the floodgates of immigration quickly would straightaway dilute the negative votes, so as to ensure another round of safe passage in the next General Elections?

You tell me because I really don't know.

Thinking back, I was pro-Gahmen in the early days until a number of events that turned me off completely. I won't go to the extreme to say that I am anti-Gahmen but I would say that whatever they dish out these days, I am the same skeptical cynic (or cynical skeptic?) as the next person.

Here's a list of things that has pissed me off over the years.
  • Tying of policies like HDB upgrade to that of the elections. - Are you telling me that the flats in the opposition constituencies are not under HDB? Are you telling me the constituents of opposition wards are not Singaporeans or perhaps they do not has equal rights as fellow citizens who resides under the blue-eyed party? If no, then why are the upgrade projects of opposition wards being withheld? Yes, I understand that we can't upgrade every constituency concurrently and that one has to be after another. But a waiting list of two decades (maybe more)?

    I wonder if the folks in the opposition constituencies are being "punished" for their allegiance to the opposition parties? If so, I salute them for having the backbone not to yield against selling out. If you were to tell me that there was no conspiracy to withhold upgrading and that it is the natural process of the queue, then perhaps I should tell you that our HDB sucks and that the entire HDB top brass should be dragged out and flogged for such inefficiency and ineffectiveness?

    Incompetency of the HDB or petty conspiracy of the Gahmen?

    You tell me because I really don't know.

  • Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). - Every General Election, they redraw and redraw the electoral boundaries until it is beyond recognition. Lorong Lew Lian, Bartley, Serangoon Central and Braddell Heights are part of Marine Parade? Have you seen the Singapore map lately? Can you spell a-b-s-u-r-d ?
  • Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). - The system of GRCs paves the way for backdoor entry into Parliament. All you need is to ride on the ticket of a strong incumbent and you are guaranteed a place in Parliament House (new one, of course). So in theory, even if you are brain-damaged monkey, you will represent fellow Singaporeans in your elected constituency?

    You tell me because I really don't know.
  • Million Dollar Salaries. Seriously, do you really need so much money and that your whole family will fall into financial hardships and god-forbid, starved to death if you were paid a dollar less?

    You tell me because I really don't know.

    Ah yes, high pay will counter corruption. That I concede. If you pass the law to allow you to stuff massive amounts of money into your pockets. It is not corruption. It is 100% chop-stamp legal. That one I ish lan lan and suck thumb.

    Really. I'm serious. What is it that you need so much money that you can't forgo a dime (or a few million) for the less fortunate? Perhaps the dishonest hawkers at Newton Circus are charging you $8,000 for a plate of mee siam? And perhaps another $150 for removing the extra hums?

    You tell me because I really don't know.

Image Credit - Flickr: fairycakes
- Voxeros

1. Ah Fry left...
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 1:06 pm :: http://talesofasmallfry.blogspot.com/
i love s'pore yet i agree wat u said too. every dynasty/country will fall from its glory 1 day because it's run by humans.......the sad fact is tat human fails to learn beyond the 3rd generation. i'm not sure if it's our innate nature to want pain + failure.
2. JayWalk left...
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 3:26 pm :: 
Ah Fry: 所谓财富不过三代. But then again who knows maybe we will have Brain-damaged Monkeys standing in the next General Elections?
3. Ah Fry left...
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 4:47 pm :: http://talesofasmallfry.blogspot.com/
and get a nuke plant going? yes, i'll vote them down. if i get to vote, tat is. LOL
4. JayWalk left...
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 5:49 pm :: 
Ah Fry: And I would like to see the Gahmen introduce the referendum where the people get to decide on national issues like whether to build casinos or not. In this case, a Nuke plant.

Voting need not be restricted to elections only.

Only then would we see a truly democratic society.
5. Everton left...
Thursday, 12 August 2010 10:05 pm
I became a secret supporter of the opposition parties when I was in Sec 4. I guess it was poverty and discriminatory treatment of non-Chinese Singaporean citizens that changed my political views. I also felt very bad for the EL2 (i.e. Chinese stream, Malay stream) students who were treated as useless garbage by the PAP.
6. JayWalk left...
Friday, 13 August 2010 2:14 pm :: http://jaywalk.blog-city.com/
Everton: For me back then, there weren't enough good Opposition candidates to support. Still in other areas, I felt that the Gahmen, when Goh Chok Tong, was in charge, actually did a pretty splendid job. Not perfect but still pretty good nevertheless.

Can't say the same for the current one though.
7. barffie left...
Friday, 13 August 2010 5:18 pm
Things I wish that can be improved by the gahmen:

1. Flooding issues - be more serious about it can!!! 2. HDB prices - Control it dammit! They are meant to be homes, not stocks to be speculated with! There are so many families who have to pay through their noses for so-called public housing - and why? 3. Public transport - It is not serving the public if profits are meant for shareholders and not by improving the peak hour crunch issues and incessant price increases.

03 August 2010

Freaky Shite - Anybot

 Look at the picture.

That's your boss and you. Yes, you are the one on the right and that thing with a sticking poking out of a vacuum cleaner is your boss.
That is an Anybot who is supposedly a physical proxy of your boss who operates it remotely behind a keyboard from anywhere in the world.

Armed with camera, microphone, speaker and mobility, your boss will take the form of a stick robot and roaming around the office looking at you work.

Can anyone spell C-R-E-E-P-Y ?

Looking at this thing reminds me of movies like "2001: Space Odyssey", "I, Robot" and even "Wall-E".

Imagine people eventually getting used to having the Anybot as a boss.

Then one fine day, unbeknownst to the staff, the boss is dead. Dead as no longer wake up. NO. I don't mean the robot killed him. That's too Hollywood. I just mean plain old vanilla DEAD.

And the robot takes over. With artificial intelligence, since day one, learning the boss' behavioral pattern over the time span of usage as well as sampling and synthesizing the boss' voice.

The boss can literally live forever, except that the robot is now your boss. The real is anything but a carcass rotting in the coffin.

Imagine a world where mankind ended up enslaved by machines, as we become trapped cubicle rats.
Think about it.

Click here to see their corporate video of the Anybot .

Image Credit - http://anybots.com
- Voxeros

02 August 2010

Blog-City Closing Down


Received a notification from Blog-City informing me that they are going to close down at the end of 2011.

HONG KAN!!!!

I have 6-1/2 years' worth of blog. Walau..... how to migrate!!!????

I face a few problems here:
  • There are not a mainstream blog provider and so migration isn't as straight-forward as the mainstreamed ones have tools to accept each other's format.

    Blog-City currently exports in either html or rss formats which neither Wordpress nor Blogger/Blogspot recognises.

  • Even somehow I am able to figure a way to migrate the data over, what about the links? They won't auto-correct themselves? URRGGHH!!
Any gurus out there can help!! Please?

p.s. I am inclined to take on Wordpress and register a domain to it.

Afternote (18 Aug 2010): At the end of the day, you are reading this here at JayWalk Online (Blogger platform).
- Voxeros

1. sunflower left...
Monday, 2 August 2010 4:15 pm
I laughed when I read you scold Hong Kan! So classic.


2. JayWalk left...
Monday, 2 August 2010 4:41 pm :: 
sunflower: 你这个幸灾乐祸的家伙!!! *BISH*


3. Ruok left...
Monday, 2 August 2010 11:41 pm
check out poznet for hosting options


4. sunflower left...
Tuesday, 3 August 2010 1:01 am
Aiya, bo lah... I am thinking to help you to do the editing too. But wait for Guru to comment first. Try Bluehost for wordpress. I been thinking of migrating but then it still add some cost to me.


5. JayWalk left...
Tuesday, 3 August 2010 8:11 am :: 
ruok: Will not be hosting on any server. Will sign up for an account on wordpress and then buy a domain to point to that url.

sunflower: kachow you only lah.