+ picture time +


The view out of our National Library! I think this was at level 7 or 8. You should go up to level 13. It's got a pretty good view out of the Rochor and Little India area.


My mom put this er light thing out on Guan Yin's day a few days ago. Looks as if the deities are coming eh?


Yesterday's dinner. I reckon this would cost $4 or more at a food court.. Ah, how sweet to have dinner at home. (if it is good)

+ stay the same +

Don't you ever wish you were someone else,
you were meant to be the way you are exactly.
Don't you ever say you don't like the way you are,
when you learn to love yourself,
you're better off by far.

Those are the lyrics taken out of Joey McIntyre's song, back when I was in secondary school, I think. So it's not a new song, but it's lyrics were taken out for a reason.

Now thing is, I want to be someone else. I want to be different from who I am now. People always say, you're not yourself if something's changed. I disagree, because we all are changing, be it knowingly or subconsciously. Come on, admit it, nobody was as innocent and thinks the world is all good as we thought it was when we were still little kids. No one was slutty when he/she was 6. No one calls anyone else 'fat ass' in their kindergarten times. So you get my drift.

I don't exactly like who and what I am. I want to be taller, more handsome, without those buck teeth, better built, smarter, richer, adept with musical instruments like the piano and violin, able to speak 5 languages, run faster, play more sports, speak with more conviction, be more artistic and be more decisive, to name some things. In short, I wished I was almost perfect.

That ain't gonna happen. No one's perfect. But definitely, if someone were to dedicate that song to me one day, I'm not agreeing with it. Because we all change, and I don't want to stay in this present form forever. Of course, I don't despise myself, but obviously, I'm not too happy either.

So I'll change, but deep down inside, I'm still me, so don't be alarmed.

Ok, time to stop this. I'm using too many I's and me's in this post.

+ sensible or impractical? +

I like my gadgets. The world would be nothing without gadgets. There'll be so many things we can't do. But I'm not just talking about our mobile phones and notebooks and MP3 players. I'm also referring to pulley systems, touch sensors, and what-have-you that makes our daily life easier.

However some of the things that we see around us that are supposed to make our lifes easier actually make us more frustrated when we use them. Great example: water taps with sensors that're found in many a more upscale mall now. Problem is, how many times have you actually came across one that doesn't behave erratically? I personally don't find it much of a chore to free one hand of the shopping bags and run the tap the good old way by pressing it.

There are also some conveniences that nobody uses. It doesn't mean that they're useless, it just means we may be too used to going through the same action without it's help. Think the auto-doors that're appearing in alot of our cabs. Sure, it sounds like a good idea for shop-a-holics so that they don't have to free their hands of shopping bags before entering the cab, but our locals are so quick to the door once they hail down a taxi that there really is not much point in the cabbie flicking the lever to open the passenger side door. On the contrary, if a taxi driver tries to be helpful and open the door for the passenger, the door may smack right into the ribs of the aft-mentioned.

And some of them were just born not too smart. Especially those touch sensitive stuff. The touch sensitive 'buttons' are never quite sensitive to the ones that you actually want to select. Hmm, so much for looking a tad cooler. I mean, how much more space or how much less cooler will making buttons that can actually be depressed be?

It's time we re-thought some of the things that're supposed to help us, not make us look more stupid with the product's own incompetence.

+ sony ericsson w900i +





Don't want a phone that's "smarter" than you? This may well be the techno-geeks' next favourite phone. One can say that this is the walkman-ised S700i with 3G.

	W900i	S700i
Network	UMTS / GSM triband	GSM triband
Size	109 x 49 x 24 mm	108 x 49 x 25mm
Weight	148 g	137 g
Display	262k colours, 320x240 pixels, 2.2" TFT	262k colours, 320x240 pixels, 2.3" TFT
Camera	2 megapixel, autofocus, 8x zoom	1.3 megapixel, 8x zoom
Connectivity	Bluetooth, infrared, java, GPRS	Bluetooth, infrared, java, GPRS
Memory	470MB internal, up to 2GB MS Duo Pro	32MB internal, up to 128MB MS Duo
Other features	Stereo FM radio with RDS, email client, Macromedia Flash Lite, video recording, remote with 3.5mm jack, Megabass MP3 player	Stereo FM radio, email client, video recording, Megabass MP3 player

Finally, a real MP3 player-mobile phone hybrid. It reportedly plays up to 30hrs of music on full charge if the phone is turned off (i.e walkman mode).

Although currently without any direct competitors, next year sees a 2MP camera 3G handset from all the big few (e.g. Moto V3x, Nokia N70, 6280, Samsung Z700, Siemens SXG75) , and there's even a 3MP model with optical zoom available locally as an export set (Sharp v903SH).

+ ipod g5 +




The 20GB coloured screen version of the 4th Gen iPod has just been introduced for all of 5 minutes before Steve Jobs announced the new Gen 5 model. Those who bought the 20GB Gen 4 iPod, look away right now, cos what follows ain't gonna please you.

Let's compare the 2 models!

iPod G5 2.5 inch 256k colour QVGA display views 30 thumbnails, plays mpeg4 & H.264 videos 136g 103.5 x 61.8 x 11 mm 15hours battery life 30GB $548

iPod G4 2 inch 65k colour display views 20 thumbnails 167g 104 x 61 x 16mm 15 hours battery life 20GB $528

+ reality tv +

Haven't updated my blog for 10 days because I was away for a week. I'm back now!

Some people may not have expected the reality tv buzz to last until now, and while the amount of interest generated from these shows have dropped slightly, there's indeed still life in the business. I wouldn't really call myself a tv addict, but I do love reality tv. Except the type in The Bachelor and Joe Millionaire's line. Finding a partner on tv? Absolute crap.

Survivor, Amazing Race, America's Next Top Model, The Apprentice, The Next Action Star, The Bachelor, Joe Millionaire, Meet My Folks, Manhunt, Boot Camp, The Simple Life, Trading Spouses, Temptation Island, ..... What is the similarity between these shows? Yes, you see people using dirty tricks, backstabbing, bitching behind other's backs, bitching With each other and lusting over one another. In other words, reality tv does live up to its name, they show the real (ugly) side of our species! An alternative name for this genre of programmes can be 'bitch tv'. Regarding those shows listed above, try to recall how many times lines like 'she's a witch', 'he's useless as a leader' or 'she's just faking it so that he'll fall for her' was heard in the shows. Ain't too bad a suggestion should someone want to change the name of the genre eh?

Realize that I didn't list American Idol in the previous paragraph. Because besides the small controversy that blighted the show early this year, this in my opinion is one of the fewer reality tv shows that doesn't need all the bitching, screaming and backstabbing to go on. Which is good, since this show started out as more of a talent quest.

Whatever it is, I love reality tv. Or bitch tv.

+ style star: Siemens +

Siemens' mobile phone division has been bought over by by BenQ a couple of months ago, and it remains to be seen if future products after the merger would still be branded Siemens. It will however mark the end of an era for the German company - which was the world's #4 mobile phone manufacturer - with the new Taiwanese bosses.

Although its products have totally lost the edge in terms of innovation since the inception of phones with colour displays, design remained a strong suit. Take a look at the now defunct company's more memorable designs!


Left: SL45 The first phone with MP3 player function, its playback quality can still kick the arse of some of the unbranded MP3 players now.
Right: SL55 Started the slider phone craze despite being a totally rubbish phone with a poor display, tiny keypad and confusing user interface.


Left: SX1 One of the few non-Nokia Symbian phones. Just look at the keypad! I had a hard time typing messages. Full of features though.
Right: Xelibri Remember the quirky Xelibri series that were sold in Tangs and Isetan? Again hopeless to use, but Siemens showed they had balls to release something like that.


Left: SF65 The iPod of phones. A fashion statement over being a communication device apparently.
Right: SK65 As you can see, it takes a different spin on the swivel phone theme, with the pivot point smack in the middle of the phone.

Part of the new full range of '75' series phones, some of which are waiting to be released in the local market. Highlights of the new series include Siemens' first (and last) 3G phones, the new simple and ultra slim model and the inclusion of most up-to-date features in the fashion-led SL slider model.

Left: CL75 Ladies' phone with oodles of style. Finally, a fashion-led model without the initial sticker price shock.
Right: SL75 Gorgeous and eagerly anticipated slider phone now comes with all the bells and whistles of a top end phone. For the high-tech fashionista with a fat wallet.

+ 3 pictures +

Was walking around at Holland V today and guess what? That bookstore in the shopping complex still had Tintin comics! $12 for the single story soft-covered copies, $24 for hard-covered ones, and 3-in-1s are going at $24! So excited.. I've read the other 21 a gazillion times since the time I had perfect eyesight (which was probably more than 10 years ago), but I've never seen this!

This was supposed to be the first editions of the comic, which was first published in a Belgian newspaper. I couldn't stop grinning once I paid the cashier for it. You guys should try. Really, it feels unbelievably good to hold something you once so dearly loved but lost track of because of age.

And taking a good jab at the ridiculous addition of Saturday ERP and the extension of operation timings on weekday evenings is Gramophone.

The Specialist Shopping Centre outlet is closed and will shift to Scotts Road soon. At this rate, carparks along Scotts Road or before the Marriott Hotel junction and the same roads will just get alot more packed. Doesn't make much of a difference to me, there'll still be jams near town. New gantries will then be set up along these roads and other roads will get heavier traffic. More gantries will be set up again to 'smoothen traffic'. There's no end! Sooner or later you will see Singapore as the ERP gantry state.

The Circle MRT line is a good idea; it saves time for passengers who stay in the further corners of the island and needs to transfer to another line. As far as I'm concerned however, they seem to be planning too many stations, and there're some stations may end up being under utilised. I mean come on, stations at Suntec Convention Centre, Millenia and Nicoll Highway? How far are they apart? And Adam, Bukit Brown, Thomson, Pasir Panjang.. How many people people will actually take the train at these areas? Not to mention the amount of disruptions and yucky looking barriers and cranes will be imposed on the work sites, like Holland Village.

No doubt the completion of the Circle line will bring about new conveniences, but in my opinion the feasibility of some stations should be reviewed again to prevent the situations of Buangkok and Woodleigh stations to happen once more.

Gone

+ the colour of music +

We've had MP3 players, then came the tiny variety, followed by those with a coloured screen for image viewing. Now we've got some that combines all these qualities. The following are the 5 hottest flash based players with coloured displays.

Apple iPod nano available in 2GB or 4GB

89 x 40 x 7 mm, 40 grams
1.5" display
Plays: AAC, ALAC, MP3
Extras: supports podcasts, image viewer
$348 (2GB)

Creative MuVo Vidz available in 512MB or 1GB

32 x 66 x 15.7 mm, 33 grams
1.18" display
Plays: MP3, WMA, MPEG4 video
Extras: FM, voice/line in recording, image viewer
$319 (1GB)

iRiver U10 available in 512MB or 1GB

69 x 47 x 16 mm, 70 grams
2.2" display
Plays: ASF, MP3, OGG vorbis, WMA, AVI, MPEG4
Extras: FM, voice/line in recording, image viewer, SRS WOW effects, Macromedia Flash compatible
$439 (1GB)

Olympus m:robe MR-F20 available in 512MB or 1GB

34 x 63 x 14 mm, 32 grams
1.1" display
Plays: MP3, WMA, OGG vorbis
Extras: FM, voice/line in recording, SRS WOW effects, image viewer
$339 (1GB)

Samsung YP-T8 available in 1GB or 2GB

44.5 x 83 x 15 mm, 54 grams
1.8" display
Plays: MP3, WMA, OGG vorbis, MPEG4 video
Extras: FM, voice/line in recording, image viewer, SRS WOW effects
$429 (1GB)

+ car focus: Citroen luxury cars +

As you know, I love cars, hence the url of my blog. So besides the gadget posts, there'll now be posts on these 4-wheeled automobiles too.

Founded in 1919, Citroen cars were never conventional. Half a century ago, the French company produced cars way ahead of it's time technically and stylistically. Its reputation of a producer of advanced and daringly styled vehicles was however diminished after the merger with fellow French automaker Peugeot. Citroen is now trying to recapture the design sparkle which was lost two decades ago. And if you thought luxury cars should look like BMWs, Mercedes or Jaguars, then you haven't seen an executive Citroen car. Their hydraulic air suspension systems have always been the pinnacle of ride comfort, and Citroen luxury sedans have never looked like any of their competitors. Marvel at the quirkiness of Citroen design.


Citroen DS, launched in 1955.


Citroen SM, launched in 1970.


Citroen CX, introduced in 1974.


Citroen XM, launched in 1989.


Citroen C6, just introduced to the market after September's Frankfurt Motor Show.

+ stepford wives +

I just watched The Stepford Wives 2005. The sets were pretty amazing. Gigantic houses with gardens perfectly mowed, exquisitely detailed furniture and brilliantly robotic Bree van de Kamps without the evil twist. Sounds too good to be true? Well it all exists in the movie. Billed as a comedy-thriller, I didn't think it totally belongs to either genre.

That's not my point though, to talk about the movie. The thing is, how 'perfect' do you want your loved ones to be? We always wish to have a Prince Charming or Cinderella kind of characters as lovers, and Bill Gates as our friend. After watching the show, I gave it a thought. Perfection doesn't work.

Because it's boring. Imagine a life where all human relations go amazingly well. I've tried to impress people. People have tried to impress me. However I realize that it usually doesn't go far if such situations happen. Exploration of one's true character is the fun in knowing someone and flaws make people the individuals they are.

The person who gave me the toy monkey who sits beside my pillow every night is flawed, the person who gave me the Elderflower candy is of course imperfect, and I have complains about the person who made the ring I always wear too, but all these dear people who I so love (but may not show all the time) are all wonderful. So I will definitely not try to be a Stepforder again. And neither does anyone need to be.

Cheers for all the suckers in this world. :)

+ too +

Don't you know that when you're hurt, I ache too?
Don't you know that when you cry, my eyes swell too?
And don't you know that when you frown, I can't smile too?

So don't be too hard on yourself, because there're always new things to look forward to.

Back home tomorrow! So excited~