Retro Hard Rock
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Having been in the forces for this long, this is actually the first time I'm seeing some of our biggest shots hitting the dance floor with their hands all over their spouses! Well it was the mess's year and D&D, and somehow the committee had it scheduled to take place at this little cafe with somewhat of a history.
Before heading down for the occasion, I stupidly decided to go to Bukit Batok to return some borrowed books first. Perhaps it was the moral obligation of not returning books late, or perhaps it was just a slip of my mind. Only after boarding the taxi did I realise I would be makign a loss no matter what.
I borrowed 6 books, maximum fine of 6 bucks. The taxi costs me 12 bucks to and 12 bucks fro! even MRT wouldn't have helped!
Well take it as a lesson learnt... and anyways I made it all back by drinking my fill at HR cafe, and the best thing is, I have won a lucky draw prize for the first time in my life!
Won't be writing about the details, but I probably won't be needing to worry about shopping for CNY clothes at least :)
Happy New Year to all, and may we all soar higher than the sky in 2006!
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Computer Talk
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Some funny computer acronyms
PCMCIA - People Can't Memorise Computer Industry Acronyms
BASIC - Bill's Attempt to Seize Industry Control
ISDN - It Still Does Nothing
APPLE - Arrogance Produces Profit Losing Entity
WWW - World Wide Wait
SCSI - System Can't See It
DOS - Defunct Operating System
IBM - I Blame Microsoft
DEC - Do Expect Cuts
CD-ROM - Consumer Device, Rendered Obsolete in Months
Funny Computer Terms
State-of-the-art: Any computer you can't afford
Obsolete: Any computer you own
Syntax Error: Walking into a store and saying,"Hi I want to buy a computer and money is no object"
Hard Drive: Sales technique emloyed by computer salesmen, esp after syntax error
Keyboard: Standard way to generate computer errors
Floppy: The state of your wallet after buying a computer
Laptop: A device to make businessmen work at home, on vacation and on trips
Disk Crash: A typical computer response to any deadline
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Funny Quotes
Monday, December 26, 2005
A bunch of humour I found at some forum, hahaha!
"I love the lines men use to get us into bed. 'Please, I'll only put it in for a minute.' What am I? A Microwave!?"- Beverly Mickins (American Comedienne)
"Not only is life a bitch, it has puppies."- Adrienne Gusoff
"SETI has yet to find signs of intelligence in the Universe." - G W Bush Jr
"The useless piece of flesh at the end of the penis is called a man"- Jo Brand
"Beer is living proof that god wants us to be happy."- Benjamin Franklin
"If the garbage man calls, tell him we don't want any."- Groucho Marx
"Do not use, except for fire"- SAF Camp fire hydrants
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease"- Anon
"Reality is for people who can't face drugs."- Laurence Peter
"One does not bring a suasage roll to a banquet."- Winston Churchill on his wife's absence at a banquet
"Never mind, the dead bird does not leave the nest." - Winston Churchill on his undone fly during a parliament session
"I have overcome my willpower and started smoking again"- Mark Twain
"Only two things are infinite - space and human stupidity. I am not sure of the former"- Albert Einstein
"I went to a restuarant that serves "breakfast at anytime", so I ordered the French Toast during the Renaissance"- Steven Wright
"I never drink water, look at the way it rusts pipes!"- WC Fields
"A battleship is called 'she' because it costs as much in paint and powder to maintain it"- Nimitz
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China Trip (Photos)
Friday, December 23, 2005
Alright, some much for the description, I’ll continue to relate the interesting experiences another day when my memory is working. For now, enjoy the pictures!
1) This is taken on a 13-hour bus journey. This bus features beds instead of reclining seats. A lot more comfortable, but be wary of the rear beds, there is always some leak from the rear engine, so imagine 13 hours of carbon monoxide!

2) Our first meal, think its 6am in the morning. Feels like dinner though…

3) Halfway up a very steep flight of stairs. It is less than 10 degrees, but we’re all sweating like crazy.

4) They say from this angle the cliff looks like an eagle with wings wide spread… let your imagination run a little and you should catch it.

5) Shot of the river running through the mountain range…

6) A pavilion sitting atop a rock face that looks pretty much like corrugated granite.

7) Trying an artistic shot with berries.

8) The Gap: a natural division between 2 rock bodies. Walking in between them is quite scary, especially when my rather plump dad, who was in front of me, got stuck halfway.

9) I am walking through the gap, it will get a lot narrower as you ascent…

10) A rafting trip down the 9 bends river, its damn cold and I’m trying to resist the call of nature, while trying not to be demoralised by the fact that the trip is 100 minutes more, so pardon for the constipated face, haha.

11) A lot more relieved… oh by the way this was snapped outside a toilet.

12) A man-made lake, it is supposed to replicate the Hang Zhou Xi Hu, well not too bad, except for the winds. My brother, who was wearing, I think, one layer, has gone crazy in the chill.

13) Spitting a fireball!

14) This is another example of the jokes found in translation. The top line reads “Recreation waits in the room”, the bottom line “Set up the air conditioner inside”. Laugh until die…

15) Flowers

16) Looks like snow right. Nope it’s actually salt! We’re in a salt farm!

17) The sunset at the salt farm, beautiful. However. This was a really risky shot, as it was taken 10 minutes before sunset, and in the villages, after sunset it is pitch black, and our accommodation is still quite far away.

18) At the end of the street is the remains of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the landmark of Macau.

19) The bustling streets of Macau.

20) The thing I am holding is known as “Ginger Bangs the Milk”. One word – strong!

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China Trip (Hometown Gluttony)
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
After a 13 hour bus ride, we arrived at my grandmother's hometown, and was picked up by my granduncle in his mini-bus.
A few points observed:
1) Driving
The driving skills of these old folks are really good. Navigating between a two way traffic flow on a crammed dust road no wider than 3 metres. We urban dwellers can only stare in fear and disbelief, as the mini-bus steers past chickens, kids, dogs, cats, people, vegetable stalls and piles of bricks strewn haphazardly at the sides of the trail.
2) Food
Apparently, my granduncle and grand aunt are a little over-hospitable. We had like 5 meals everyday, with servings at least 5 times our portion here. No doubt the food is good, fresh chicken, mutton, beef, vegetables, fish, oysters... everything somes straight from where they are planted / bred. The vegetables are extremely fresh, and the honey is so pure you needn't stir it with the water to have it blend properly.
3) Temperature
It is VERY VERY VERY COLD!!! My room is -0.5 degrees celsius. Had to settle with a mountain of blanket sheets over myself when it comes to the night. The wind is also cutting, even the heavy trenchcoat doesn't help.
4) Architecture
Allthe buildings are made of solid granite, and all seem to be under construction. Seems like these village folks are getting more and more affluent. And, every house is huge!
5) Alcohol
My granduncle is a mad drinker. All drinks are above 36%, normally 52%. And ever dinner we down a few bottles. I hardly remember what happens after that...
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China Trip (Day 1 and 2)
Sigh... back from paradise... well here are some updates from this trip I hoped never to return from.
Day 1 was basically travelling from one place to another. It was interesting, though, to observe the behaviour of PRC travellers aboard the flight. 30 minutes before the announcement for boarding, you could see flocks of these enthusiatic passengers cramming up before the gate. To make things worst, the airport seemed to run the PA system in English only, so the announcements like "please let the aged and children board first", or "Please queue up", took little or no effect.
Alighting from the plane was all the more hilarious. Before the plane came to a halt, the passengers were already unbuckled and fighting their way to the front door. The captain, who was american, then made an announcement, "Please be seated till the plane has come to a full stop". The announcement was further emphasised by exasperated stewardesses trying to babysit the passengers back to their seats.
Finally the captain got so pissed he raised his voice over the system and said, "Dear Passengers, if you do not sit down, I will not open the door!" ..... The passengers didn't care, for they didn't understand English.
So much for entertainment on Tiger Airways :)
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Laughing My Head Off
Thursday, December 01, 2005
The Prophecy is true, and the future is within my grasp...
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Kitchen Cabinets