Gadgets: iPhone Mania

11 Jul 2009 was a special occasion for me as it was the day that witnessed the longest ever queue that I did for purchasing a product! Standing continuously for more than 5 hours is no mean feat, even for a strong adult like me! Eventually I got what I wanted – a 3G S iPhone!

Never before have I been so fascinated by a single gadget. What prompted me to get the iPhone, apart from its revolutionary design and interface, is the tremendous potential of Apple’s Application Store. I believe there is not a single day in which no application is uploaded to the Store for users all over the world to download and enjoy. I do not think I will switch back to a normal phone now. Indeed, the market potential of smartphones will be tremendous!

It seems Apple is good at producing something that is not like something. For example, the iPhone does not look like a conventional phone at all. Where are the number dials? Why only 1 round button at the bottom? Etc.

Apple is truly a remarkable company and with Steve Jobs back at the helm now, more amazing products will certainly emerge from its production line! In the world of competitive business and diminishing profit margins, it is truly praiseworthy for a company like Apple to sustain high-level profits even in a time of great economic crisis as now.

More to come as I describe some useful applications that I downloaded from the Application Store.

The Bear is Out of Hibernation...

What a long hiatus! The last posting on this blog was almost 2 years ago! Certainly much have changed to me and it would be good to start writing again, so that I can take stock of my life and share interesting adventures along life’s wonderful journey.

Stay tuned for more regular articles in the near future!

Insight: Something Jewish... ...

Quite some time ago this blogger chanced upon an interesting encounter with a Jew from Israel. Considering it to be a rare opportunity, I took him to task with a few insightful questions. He is an IT guy working for a MNC and visits Singapore once in a while. Let me know if you find the information appealing, though I’m not able to vouch for its accuracy….

Q: “I know a lot of Jews have interesting surnames(?) like Spielberg, Goldstein, What do these mean?”
A: “Stein means stone while berg means mountains. Berg actually has its origins in East European or Slavic culture.”

Q: “Can you tell me more about compulsory military service in Israel?”
A: “ Israelis are normally conscripted to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) after high school education, around 18 years old. (Similar to Singapore’s.) They will have to serve a minimum period of 3 years in the military. But if one became an officer at the end of the said period, he would have to extend his service by another year. So active service period would be 4 years. After that he would be in a reserve unit.” (Don’t think a Singaporean guy will welcome this extension!)

Q: “What can you tell me about George Soros? Is he a good Jew?”
A: “He succeeded what Alexander the Great failed. He conquered the world (financially).”

Just a note: The IDF has been known to be one of the most capable and advanced armed forces in the world, other than the Americans. But this steely reputation was tainted during the recent confrontation with the Hizbollahs. The Israelis were not able to exterminate the missile attacks from Lebanon despite crossing over the borders. It was a great victory for the so-called terrorists.

Voices: TODAY publishes my letter........

Have not been updating my blog for a few months………….. I hope to do it regularly in future, as somehow my writing skills have received a boost from one of the local newspapers. Never really expected my article to be published, but it was grossly edited. Nevertheless, u can read it below if keen. It’s about a sport which I love dearly. Been watching the sport since 9 years old.

TODAY article

This is the actual article submitted to TODAY newspaper. You may compare.
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Hi Mr Leonard,

I read your article today (10 Nov 07) and would like to reflect my views as below. Hope you and your SPH newspapers can understand the feelings of loyal followers of the Kallang Roar.

Shame on FAS:
You lamented about the lack of supporters. But have you really looked into ticket prices? The prices are not cheap as compared to previous matches (except for the testimonial match with Australia ). I feel the prices were not justified.

Firstly, the FAS should not charge higher prices for an old stadium which is to be demolished soon. It does not mean World Cup Qualifiers have to be more expensive. There is no logic.

Secondly, did you know that only Secondary School students and those from ITE were allowed to buy the student ticket price of $3? JC and tertiary level students had to pay $10 for admission. It might have priced some youngsters out. If you were a regular at Kallang Stadium, you would realize that youngsters form a significant part of the audience. This might be one of the reasons the attendance was only a meager 6,606.

Thirdly, the early bird pricing is not attractive enough. Most spectators who travelled to Jalan Besar Stadium to buy tickets in advance had to pay for additional transport charges. With the traveling time and transport fees involved, the early bird prices were not tempting enough unless these buyers were truly die-hard fans.

Shame on Media:
When you said that there were not enough supporters to cheer the Lions, did it ever occur to you that you (mass media) were part of the problem? I had been following the mass media very closely the few days before the match and discovered that there was not much coverage on the Lions’ preparation. (Only 1page or less than that just before the match.) Do not blame the fans when your bosses are not supportive of local football.

The TV stations didn’t even bother to do a delayed telecast. The usual time slot for LIVE S-League matches at the time of the match was used to broadcast “Bend it like Beckam” movie. Isn’t a world cup qualifying match involving the national team worthy of greater spectator interest than a funny movie or s-league match? There was also no live commentary of the match via radio. I recall that the football-crazy Malay radio channel used to cover matches even though there was none on the English or Chinese station. I’m a male Chinese in the mid 30s by the way.

I also remember the Malaysia Cup days when the New Paper actually dedicated several pages before each big match, interviewing the players and coaches from both sides, showing team formation and statistics, etc. It actually helped to whet the appetites of fans. Now it seems only the English Premier League deserve such a coverage.

In neigbouring countries like Indonesia or Thailand , almost every match involving the National Team will be telecast LIVE, whether they are playing locally or overseas. Of course there are many factors why LIVE coverage is possible, one of the major reasons is sponsorship. The TV stations would also provide daily coverage if possible on the team’s preparations. That’s why the mass media play a very important part in building up the game and raising public awareness.

One of the reasons why the Malaysia Cup days were so successful was because a lot of people actually became avid supporters of local football after much publicity from the mass media. Before that, they knew nothing about the game or the players.

In light of Singapore Government’s eager desire to bid for the Youth Olympics 2010, I think the rest of the population still have a long way to go in terms of sports awareness, not just about football. The mass media should play a proactive role in promoting sports coverage, such as resurrecting the sports channel, improve coverage of local sports people and telecast more LIVE events on various sports, not just football. Try not to think of profitability always. How about treating this as a wholesome national project?

Thanks for reading this email. I believe most of the message is not nonsensical. Hope you can at least thank me in writing such a lengthy response.

Jim, Bedok.
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Health: Plastic Bottles Not Meant for Daily Use?

Hi,

Just something to share with you:
I used to carry a plastic mineral water bottle inside my suitcase when outdoors. Since Indonesia and Singapore are some of the hottest areas in the world, thus to avoid dehydration, I regularly re-fill water into a plastic bottle sold in supermarkets.

Most of the time I would change the water bottle every few weeks when the plastic doesn't seem as clear or new as when I first opened it. But now, as I become more aware of the subtle harmful effects of inferior plastics to our bodies (toxic chemical agents from the plastic material leaching into the drinking water), I have switched to something less damaging to my health - a conventional water bottle made of hard plastics.

How to check the plastics you use everyday? Here are some useful pointers... ...

Plastic bottles, containers and packaging typically have a symbol that indicates the type of plastic resin from which the item was made. The resin coding system was introduced in 1988 by the American Society of Plastics Industry (SPI). The symbols imprinted on plastic bottles, containers and packaging are a variation of the original three wide mobius arrows. They have been modified to a simpler and thinner version.

On a bottle, the symbol can usually be found on the bottom, molded into the plastic itself as a raised impression and thus not always easily seen. The symbol includes a number within the mobius arrows, and usually, but not always, the chemical resin below the mobius arrows in acronym form. Although presence of the symbol implies that the plastic item is recyclable, the symbol is actually only intended to identify the plastic resin from which the item was made. It also does not mean that the higher the number, the safer for use. Recyclability is ultimately determined by the local collections and reprocessing facilities.

These types and their most common uses are shown below:

Polyethylene terephthalate - Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays.
High-density polyethylene - Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.

Polyvinyl chloride - Food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.

Low density polyethylene - Carrier bags and bin liners.

Polypropylene - Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays.

Polystyrene - Yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.

Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates and cups.

For me, I'm now using a bottle having the "7" type marked with PC beneath the arrows. It turns out to be Polycarbonate - a transparent amorphous polymer which exhibits outstanding physical properties such as great impact resistance (almost unbreakable), heat resistance of up to 125°C and excellent clarity, although opaque and translucent grades are also available. Polycarbonate is often used to replace glass or metal in demanding applications when the temperature does not exceed 125°C. So, it should be quite safe for daily use! What about yours?

However, since I want to live healthily and prevent my healthy cells from becoming cancerous due to (God knows what) harmful chemicals that I might ingest unknowingly on a daily basis, I've been taking toxic-purging supplements. So I guess it sort of neutralises the undesirable effects!

Travel: Mersing Marvel

A last-minute decision to go on a 2D/1N getaway in Malaysia during a lull business period saw me arriving in the rustic, serene fishing town of Mersing on Monday (16 Jul 07) afternoon. Located in the state of Johor, Mersing straddles the eastern coastline of Malaysia, facing the vast expanse of the sprawling and mighty South China Sea.

Click on the map for bigger view. Mersing is found near the top right hand area, below an arrow pointing to an observation field people visit for stargazing.

Mersing is a small fishing outpost which has not changed much in the last few decades, except for new developments along the coastline built for the increasing number of tourists visiting various islands in the vicinity, all of which are known for diving, snorkeling and beach-related activities. The most famous island is known as Pulau Tioman, quite a familiar name to Singaporeans.

Most tourists leave Mersing in a hurry upon arrival. Ferries will send them to neighbouring islands during the March-August season. Beyond that, the monsoon season sets in, resulting in choppy waters and unfavourable conditions for such visits. However, to the more adventurous backpackers, there is also much to admire in Mersing itself and its surroundings.

With a population of around 60,000, Mersing still retains most of the old rural charm that is no longer found in modern-day Singapore. It would be good to bring your kids there to remind them what’s it’s like of Singapore 50 years ago. In addition, seafood restaurants and tiny eating spots located along the beach front are great places for dinner and enjoyment of the sea breeze.

Here’s a brief account of the visit, mingled with some discoveries and pleasant surprises found along the way. I’ll give detailed information just in case you want to go there if you find my report interesting. He..he… (I was one of those backpackers who cringe and maximize their budgets. Hehe...)

Getting There:
From Singapore, board an express bus at Queen Street, which is a 5-min brisk walk from Bugis MRT Station. It’ll send you to Larkin Bus Terminal in Johor Bahru. There are 2 companies plying the route. (What I mean by express bus is the bus actually travels faster than a slow-moving car on the expressway.)

Bus fare: S$2.40.

You’ll reach Woodlands Checkpoint in about 25 mins and possibly another 20mins crossing the Customs and arriving at Larkin.

At Larkin, you should be able to catch the 1130am express bus to Mersing if you board the bus at Queen Street early, say around 10am. The bus counter is located inside the ticketing area, counter BT-50 if I remember correctly. There’s another bus company at Counter No.9 which has a 230pm schedule. If you miss both buses, it’ll be evening time for the next trip. The entire journey takes about 2.5 hours. There is a return trip to Larkin at 3pm at the bus terminal. The bus will then stop at the ferry terminal about 10 mins later, to pick up tourists who just return from the islands.

Bus fare: RM$10.00.

Mersing is about 150 km away from Woodlands. For those who drive, take the No.3 Route which plys the eastern part of Johor. It’ll lead you to Mersing, then to Endau and subsequently to Kuantan. By the way, Endau is the gateway to the Endau Rompin National Park, a delight to nature lovers and great fun for small families!

Things To Do There:
1) Visit the various islands

2) Enjoy the various beach resorts to the north of Mersing town. Some are simple no-frills type while some are endowed with a range of events suitable for the entire family, such as jungle trekking, beach activities and even stargazing.

3) Makan – Eat and eat! The favourite pastime of Singaporeans! Savour the fresh seafood hauled from the South China Seas, served in Malay and Chinese cooking style, at great prices! You can also visit the “keropok” (or fish cracker) factory at the edge of the town and buy some fish crackers along the way.

This is not a restaurant, just a restpoint facing the open sea. Mee soto at RM2.00 is served along with snacks and ice kachang! It's about 5km north of Mersing.

4) Just go to the beach and relax there, enjoy the breeze and admire the Sunrise.

If you have no idea where to go, you must visit the METIC, or the Mersing Tourist Information Centre. It is located before the Ferry Terminal, just after the one and only KCF outlet there. I found it to be an extremely helpful place for you to discover Mersing.

There is staff stationed there to assist you in selection of suitable places of accomodation and resorts nearby, with estimated prices shown for your decision. The staff should be helpful enough to give you a free ride in their office car to the resort you have selected eventually. This is what happened to me, and I ended up in a village resort known as Kali’s Guesthouse at the edge of Mersing Town.

Where I stayed:
Kali’s Guesthouse
Room with air-con, fan and sofa, with detached bathroom. See below.
1 night: RM60.00nett

That's the signboard. As you can see, the chalets are hidden in thick vegetation! See the A-shaped roof behind?

This is my hotel room! The balcony is useful only if you have an interest in observing chickens and rabbits.

This shed is for those who want to take a cozy nap in the afternoon breeze.

With a traditional Malay kampong setting, Kali’s Guesthouse is good for couples and backpackers who wish to escape from the hustle-bustle of nearby Mersing and yet want to remain near to the fishing port. You can find poultry being reared here, together with a few cute rabbits hopping outside your hut. The detached bathroom is exposed at the sides near the roof cover, though not very obvious. Unless you are a movie star stalked by paparazzis, you really don’t have to feel awfully perturbed by the openings. May not be suitable to those who are used to staying in clean hotel rooms. (I’m not saying the Guesthouse is not clean, but there’s an obvious tad of difference in quality and cleanliness.)

Interesting things:
1) Saw a number of dragonflies near to the beach, outside the Guesthouse. Dragonflies could mate in mid-air! Saw a couple in the act while in flight. Fly and do other stuff at the same time. A lesson for some people to think about.

2) A hen can fly! Saw a desperate rooster chasing a hen. To escape the chase, the hen leapt all the way, a good 2 metres high to perch on a tree branch. Alas, my camera was too slow to capture the interesting sight!

3) The Milky Way is visible in the night sky! After a short period of rainfall, the night sky turned stupendously clear, revealing the awesome centre of our Milky Way galaxy in gray-white patches. Most imminent near the Scorpius and Sagittarius constellations in the south, the Milky Way stretches across the zenith of the sky to the east. Click the pictures below to see clearly!


A wonderful sight to behold indeed! Not to mention the myriads of twinkling little stars above my head! When viewed through my compact 8x42 binocular, the black background was filled with almost infinite white dots! Fellow Singaporeans, you really need to experience this unique sight to appreciate the marvels of God’s creation!

4) Other interesting stuff - For you to discover when you go Mersing yourself!

Cheers!

Tribute to Kallang Stadium

Day view of Kallang Stadium


Night view of National Stadium, Kallang

Aussie Football Team lining up for their national anthem before the kick-off. The player at the leftmost position is their captain, No.9, Mark Viduka, of Newcastle United.