A Mother's Love #1

Source: Google Official Website

I especially like the last Olympics banner (above picture) put up by Google titled as 'closing ceremonies'; a very merry, and definitely festive-looking banner. Gosh, talking about the Olympics fever, a giant pile of articles -find them in newspapers, magazines, forums, blogs etc- is discussing on Beijing Olympics (e.g. what have China done right/wrong? is one popular topic), so much that I am starting to flip away pages with the word 'Olympics'.

This afternoon, I had no choice but to pamper myself with intensive nail treatment which includes having my hands and feet scrubbed, masked and moisturised as well as the usual manicure and pedicure; the whole session used up my precious three hours. I dread patronising nail salons partially because the manicurists (that I happened to be assigned to) are fond of making small talk with their clients and I am not a smooth operator when it comes to strangers (oh yes, I am an awkward soul). But what I found out from today's assigned manicurist (who happened to be mommy's favourite manicurist) that mommy spent almost two thousand dollars on nail products and services ... just for my convenience to get my nails done when I return Singapore for holidays.

Country-hopping

My whole body, that is virtually from top to toe, is aching probably due to intensive travelling these few months. I now realise that I have never stayed at home for more than a week consecutively. Worse still, my planned itineraries have been confirmed and I am scheduled to travel several more countries starting next week to late October. Guess what I really need right now is a freaking good massage.

On a different note, I love the banners that have been put up by Google during the Olympics season. Many, and definitely more in total, that I have saved:

Source: Google Official Website

I find the above banners pretty appealing; my favourite is the happy (digested from its smile) swimming snake sporting a swimming cap and goggle. Notice all the animals above can be found in the Chinese astrology (twelve zodiac animals).

Seriously, I Wasn't Serious

Had dinner with a bunch of people (of which one person is my friend). This friend, lets call her AY, is one weird person. Every time she asked me out (at least five times, as I remember), she brought shitload of other friends to dine/shop/catch a movie with us. While some people may get excited on the opportunity to know new friends, I felt uncomfortable during every meetings as I am a socially awkward soul. Worse thing is that she continues to ask me out ever so often and I presume she will keep on bringing strangers to our future day-outs.

It may due to the uncomfortable-ness (when encountering strangers) or it is of my nature that I have a serious look. I was casually calling -he didn't pick up, therefore i was hearing the calling tone instead- the brother and many of these friends asked "has something happened?" with concerns. And that isn't the first time to be asked in that way...

On the news:

• A step closer to develop invisible cloak. Scientists in the US have developed a material that can bend light arond 3D objects making them invisible. Wow, I shall start planning what to do with the invisible cloak.
• Singapore is to join its Asian neighbours in signaling a deeper slowdown. Singapore's economy has expanded at the slowest pace in five years and predicts exports will decline for the first time since 2001.
• Chinese economy is set to stabilise, after seeing a fall in growth in the first half year. Its growth has slowed down due to sagging global demand and government measures to rein in excessive credit. The economy has also faced rising inflation driven by higher food prices.
• China has been attacked, again. Seven militants and a security guard have been killed after a series of bombing in the region Xinjiang. China has spoken in the past of what it calls a terrorist threat from Muslim militants in Xinjiang, but it has provided little evidence to back up its claims.
• US court blocks MIT students from showing subway hack. A federal judge ordered three college students to cancel a presentation at a computer hackers' conference, where they planned to show security flaws in the automated fare system used by Boston's subway, to maintain the security and integrity of the Fare Media systems.
• A freaky accident in Australia. Three sailors who dissapeared from a yatch later found empty and drifting off the coast. The vessel was found with its engine running, food on the table and its full complement of lifebelts.
• Prophet Muhammad novel scrapped. US publishers have scrapped plans to release a novel about Prophet Muhammad's child bride A'isha, for fear it could spark violence. The book was condemned by the Islamic world because its perceived blasphemous depiction of the Prophet.

Pick-up lines #2

The brother was craving for durians so off we went, home-attired without make-up and sporting a bad hair day, to find a Thai stall assistant said hello and mumbled to himself sui mak mak while opening up a durian. Reached home googled for those words and surprisingly, my day has been made.

On the news:

• Obama isn't too keen on Britney Spears or Paris Hilton, and so are her two daughters, Malia and Sahsa.
• A six-year-old Texas girl returned home after having half of her brain removed in June.
• Hackers are increasing aiming at iPhones and Macintosh computers as the Apple devices gain popularity worldwide.
• UK's largest employers' organisation has warned that UK economy is deteriorating faster than it previously thought. What a gloomy world...

Happy Birthday Singapore

Source: NDP official site

I wish Singapore a prosperous year ahead. This is especially important -in my case- as I will be actively seeking a job in Singapore fairly soon.

On the news:

• Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his National Day message, warns of a tough year ahead for Singapore, and that GDP growth forecast for 2008 has been cut to between 4% and 5%.
• The new generation of iPhone faces trouble, watch out what ya buying.
• Elvis Presley's most treasured performance costume was sold for $300,000.
• Relatives of US Olympic coach were attacked in Beijing, killing one and injuring the other, by a knife-wielding Chinese man who then committed suicide by throwing himself from the second storey of the site (the 13th century Drum Tower, just five miles from the main Olympics site).
• Geekology way of marriage proposal: man uses Google maps in marriage bid.

Oh.. It Is The Special Day

Source: Beijing Olympic official site

Has everyone seen the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic? OMG, it was magnificent, so breath-taking and truly amazing. I was stunned and had goose bump sensation throughout the ceremony. I didn't expect such a spectacular ceremony from China and it was like telling the whole world that China is capable of doing anything at its best. Having watched just the opening ceremony, I see some of the US$40 billion is well spent.

Auspicious Date

Source: 2008 TVB Calender uploaded by TVB2008 on Flickr

08-08-08 (which is tommorrow, by the way) must be an auspicious time of the year. Why so? Well, maybe this date (which contains only 1 or 2 numerical digits at most) is easier to remember than a date with many different digits. Or maybe this date looks and sounds special, therefore it will last longer in our memory. Or maybe '8' signifies a positive sign in some cultures. I would say, each of the above plays a part to the popularity of 08-08-08. Anyway, I will list down some -and definitely more, if I have time to rake them - news to support the statement above:

1. Needless to say, media-swamped Beijing Olympic Games will officially launch on 08-08-08 at 08:08PM. The number '8' homonymies good fortune in Mandarin and Cantonese. Unfortunately, there are many (controversial but skewed to negative) issues on the current Olympic Games hosted by Beijing. Given spare time, I may discuss on this matter as a separate entry.

2. As point 1 suggested the digit '8' denoting good fortune for Chinese, China Daily reported more than 16,400 Beijing couples have applied to register their marriages on 08-08-08. This is to compare with just 3,390 couples registered their nuptials for the same date last year. Well, this puzzles me, I would see starting up a business on 08-08-08 is far more correlated than registering marriages. Isn't marriage is about happiness and longevity? Too bad, I don't know where to find data on business start-up date, otherwise, it is possible to test my hypothesis. On a side note, Hindu astrology finds no muhurtham (auspicious time for a wedding) on 08-08-08; besides, it falls in the 7th month of the lunar calender, the month of the Hungry Ghost when the gates of hell are said to be opened (source: AsiaOne).

3. Narrowing to local region, the most significant player in the newspaper industry, the Straits Times Singapore, will be sporting a whole-new-look for its newspaper and website on 08-08-08. The lively refreshing new website covers features such as free breaking news and blogs (the Strait Times).

4. Last but by no means the least, F.I.R. (a popular Taiwanese band) will hold a concert in Singapore on 08-08-08 at 08:00PM (source: Sistic).

Home Lonesome Home

Just reached Singapore from a serene, harmonious and not-so-polluted city (or it could be just the small community I stayed over, more on this below) in China. Background story wise, I have been dreaming to visit this good friend of mine, lets call her Z, for over a year and finally decided to pay her a visit ... during her most busy work period. I didn't know about this until I reached her place and yet, Z welcomed me in the most hospitable ways (that include neglected her work). On a weekend, we stayed in a villa purchased by her family for (I think) retirement. It is situated in a less city area but comes with great advantages like fresh air and even a man-made lake; life was so great that I have almost forgotten all my troubles.

And back to home I am, albeit an empty ones. All my family members are scattered around the world busying themselves.