I just read 7 new things in next-gen iPhone:
I am delighted to see this:
We [drivers] are expected to look out for them [cyclists] knowing that their lives are in our hands. This burden is not something I signed up for when I started driving.read more or ShareThis
Another 1.5 year have passed and still no one wants my bike. A reason I think is it has been quite heavily improvised, but, actually, it is now much more normal looking. If you are interested to look at how improvised it was, sorry, I am not posting photo of my bike because I don't think I have any photos of my bicycle :P I also prefer not to do so in case it attracts too much attention to my bike and myself in person. So, let me try to describe what have changed here ... .
Previously, it had a cheap ($2.50) small (roughly 20cm wide) pink plastic basket tied to the handle bar with thick orange color nylon rope that I had picked up along the road. Now it is mounted with a typical black netted bicycle basket.
Previously, there was an elastic rope with a hook at each end stretched and looped from saddle post to fork post for me to put small bags on the horizontal frame bar. It has been removed after a serious fall due to the fork literally broke up in two pieces, and according to the bicycle shop old man, that was the first time in his whole life he saw such kind of "wear & tear" for bicycles. I suspected the elastic rope could be the culprit.
Previously, I have been using the very old style black rubber/plastic "foot holder" at the paddles that I haven't been seeing for many years as most people use clippers. Now, these have "decayed" away.
Previously, there have been a vertically cut into half disposable plastic cup taped to the end of the mud guard as an extension for better blocking of water when cycling on wet road as the mud guard seems to be designed for blocking mud, not water. Other alternatives have been tried such as carboard, and transparency, which is the best so far in terms of good looking, cost, durability, and effectiveness. Now, no more mud guard as I seldom ride on wet road and the back seat helps to block the water when riding slowly on wet road.
Previously, I have wrapped a piece of bathroom floor mat on the saddle using unwind wire clothe hanger for ventilation purpose. I have just recently changed my saddle to one with spring suspension and haven't or will not be doing the same at the saddle as I seldom cycle for very long distances.
The only quite unique thing that is still there is on the horizontal frame bar. However, due to its uniqueness, I prefer not to mention it since this will be similar to posting a photo online :)
read more or ShareThis
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Charter. All opinions are 100% mine.
I have not paid any television licensing fees. I do so legally in Singapore by not having a television at home. It isn't because the money, which is not much, but my time and selection of contents. I find it difficult to be in command when there is a television set at home.
read more or ShareThis
Months have passed since I changed my phone from Nokia N80ie to Samsung Omnia II i8000. Another rather big step just as I had previously moved from Nokia 3250 to N80ie.
My verdict after just using for only a few days still stands today, which is that hardware wise, it is a good phone but Windows Mobile 6.1 OS does not match up to it. Now that Apple iPhone 3GS and Google Nexus One just come out more recently, I feel Omnia II is ... the best if don't consider the OS, and also considering its lesser hype, earlier launch, and [I guess] may be lower price.
Nevertheless, I don't hate anything about the phone nor the WM6.1 (after I configured it to never use 3G data for Internet). The main problem I faced is the phone hanged and the speaker and microphone was somehow turned off that I can't listen and talk using the phone. Both easily resolved by removing and putting back the battery, or even removing and putting back the SIM card too. My untested observation at the moment suggests both of these issues were not the fault of both the hardware nor the OS (of course, good OS shouldn't hang) but due to a software I am using, fring, which seems not yet fully ready for WM6.1.
The other thing I don't like, again nothing to do with hardware, is the way WM handles wifi connections, especially adhoc wifi connection. I found out after searching the Internet that it needs to be connected first before PC's adhoc wifi connection is enabled.
I have yet to upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 but I doubt any significant difference. Will need to figure out the pros/cons and any important things to look out for (the last time after I updated the N80 firmware to N80ie then I realized the new firmware cannot restore backups from the old firmware!!).
Anyone out there thinks likewise or the opposite?
read more or ShareThis
Finally, after so many years using Google Adsense, I experimented and found that really a single click can earn money. Now, I need to figure out how to increase the chance of visitor clicking on the ads. read more or ShareThis
I have an untested idea. It started with the question "Did the inventor of bicycle know how to ride a bicycle before his invention?" It sounds like a chicken and egg problem. Without a bicycle being invented, how would the inventor know he could ride one? If the inventor fell from his first invented bicycle, could he have abandoned the invention?
I did a search and found ... a quick history of bicycles (a shorter version). Oh, the first bicycles for decades were without pedals. Thus, it seems to me the answer is that the inventor should already have known how to balance a bicycle without the pedals before a bicycle with pedals was invented/constructed.
Thus, my idea is that one should start to learn riding a bicycle, not by adding extra wheels to it, but by removing the pedals from it. After learning the skill to maintain balance on a moving bicycle, it should be quite straight forward to use the pedals, instead of legs pushing the floor, to move the bicycle.
However, I have yet to have the chance to test the idea. I would appreciate if anyone can try and let me know if the idea works.
Update: This is not a new idea as there is something called the loopfiet common in the Netherlands. These walking bikes teach children to maneuver a bike’s frame using the power of their own feet.
read more or ShareThis
Followup to the previous question. I did more searches and I found the followings:
Samsung Omnia II slam-dunks the iPhone 3GS, almost on 15 Jun 2009.
Worthy competitor of the iPhone? on 4 Sep 2009.
Samsung Omnia II vs Nexus One: Specification Comparison on 6 Jan 2010.
Again, I want to say, what is Microsoft doing???
read more or ShareThis
HTC Google Nexus One vs Samsung Omnia II I8000 vs Apple iPhone 3GS comparison
Looking at the specifications, isn't Samsung Omnia II I8000 better than both Apple iPhone 3GS and Google Nexus One? Why is it there are so much news about the other two?
What am I missing out? Anyone can enlighten me? ...
My guess is the application base and the OS. What's Microsoft doing? Sigh...
read more or ShareThis
I read in Be a cyclist in Singapore? No chance at all that
Traffic engineer Hans Monderman, who reworked Drachten's roads, believes that clear lanes and street signs give drivers a false sense of security. Drivers speed down these lanes thinking there are no obstructions, which increases the severity of accidents should something catch them unawares.He has the luxury to reworked Drachten's roads. Here, the LTA seems quite reluctant to make any changes. Now, by the logic of Monderman, it might be better for LTA not to do anything. I think as most infrastructures and traffic rules were not there for safety, but rather for speed, and the by-product of false sense of security. read more or ShareThis
Is it a tradition to wear new clothes and shoes when a new year arrives? I wonder if partly it is due to technology and quality of these products in the old days cannot last too long. Thus, is there still a need to buy new shoes each year?
Recently, I commented at a blog about this issue. Would you buy a pair of shoes at $40 each year because you want/need a new shoe each year? Or would you buy a pair of shoes at $150 that is very likely to last you at least 4 years? ...
By comparing price, $40 is less than $150, but if the $40 pair of shoes can last or is to be worn for a year while for the $150 pair of shoes is 4 years, then the latter is cheaper as it has slightly better value. Of course each defines own set of values, such as risk of not lasting so long and new-looking-ness of the shoes.
Most will agree that branded doesn't necessary mean good quality, but unbranded usually means little or no efforts were put into its quality.
For me, there isn't a need nor a want for me to get new shoes each year and "old" looking is not an issue. My pair Dr. Marten leather shoes bought at $109 more than 4 years back still in good condition, and last year a US$40 Timberland leather shoe I bought in US still looks as new.
read more or ShareThis
Recently I've been reading about financial planning. I am not a book person, instead of books, I read about some blogs whose authors describe their journey of growing wealth. Learn a lot from these readings.
An important concept in financial planning is deciding between wants and needs. Even though this is subjective, most if not all understand that money is not everything. A purpose of growing one's wealth is to have good life, not to have huge numbers to describe how wealthy one is. Thus, it is unwise to go too much towards one extreme where one minimized his wants, and even needs.
I think there are important things that shouldn't wait. I think many people in Singapore waiting for a new HDB flat for starting family is a terrible ...
waste of time and life, not only one's, but spouse, future children and parents time/life. Thus, I view starting family as early as possible is a need, an important need.
It is good to plan and prepare, but don't over do it and take note of the time urgency. I think the current education system has already wasted everyone too much time to learn too many redundant things, but yet missed out many essential things untouched on, resulting in many people not ready to start family at advanced age (i.e. > 23), while 18 - 25 seems more ideal for pregnancy.
Specific to Singapore situation, I would rather rent or buy a small resale unit first rather than delaying marriage. An advantage of getting one first is that you will have much better idea how you would prefer for a long term place to live in. May also consider bank loan if you are very sure it is for a few years (may also choose not to have grant) and still have 2 opportunities to loan from HDB at concession rate.
"Buying" a resale HDB flat for a short while is not really "buying" as in an expenditure. It is sort of like buying gold where value remain or even appreciate. Furthermore, it forces one to start one's installment early, which I think one should start to make installment/savings for property once it is clear that it is needed. For e.g., if one has a few siblings and parents' house/flat is clearly not enough for all of them, then it is clear that one will need a property to stay in the future.
Thus, don't grow one's wealth for the sake of growing it, and neglect the more important needs/wants such as marriage/family/children/etc.
read more or ShareThis
I would like to make some good comments about a newly opened computer shop in Toa Payoh Central, Ability Computer Accessories.
My 5 year old computer had been very slow for years and failing to boot up frequently. Two weeks ago it became so bad that not even the first beep sound is heard. Finally, last week, guessing that it could be the PSU faulty, and I happened to walk past this newly opened computer shop, I bought a PSU from the shop ... .
After fixing the PSU and pressing the power button, there was a continuous beeping sound. Being lazy to dig out the motherboard manual, I called the shop hoping that he can tell me what's wrong. He suggested to me to bring over the computer and he can check it.
Basically, he just briefly ensure the connections are OK and re-plugged in the DRAM, and that's it, no more continuous beep. Very likely it was the DRAM not properly fixed and the problem solved. To be sure, he waited for the computer to boot up, but it doesn't due to other existing problems.
Actually, other than the PSU, I too suspected the harddisk has problems. We agreed to put in a new harddisk as the boot drive. Here is the main reason why I write this (sorry for the long winded story above).
I think they spent at least half a day, trying out two new harddisks but somehow couldn't work, and the harddisks need to be re-formatted to work on another computer. In the end, they couldn't sell me the new harddisk, and didn't charge me any money.
I feel bad for their wasted time, and I don't have any need to buy anything from them at the moment. Thus, I hope this can benefit them.
By the way, another reason for writing this is because there hasn't been a computer, i.e. PC, shop in Toa Payoh for many years. I hope they can survive so it is more convenient for me.
read more or ShareThis
The title of the news report, More cyclists caught riding illegally on footways focused on legality, while the contents, "accidents with pedestrians can result in serious injuries" highlighted safety concerns.
Strictly speaking, accidents with pedestrians are not only caused by bicycles on footpaths. Seriousness in an accident largely depends on the momentum, which is product of velocity and mass. Thus, any heavy enough fast moving object can cause serious accidents. Thus, even a teenager running fast enough may injure someone and him/herself seriously. Nevertheless, bicycles are heavier and able to travel faster than humans, although not necessarily.
On the other hand ... , I think putting cyclists on roads with traffic rules, where both were not designed for them is more dangerous. Comparing motorized vehicles on roads and pedestrians, obviously, momentum is much larger in a collision of cyclists with motorized vehicles than with pedestrians.
So, what's the objective of giving summons to cyclists on footpaths to force them on to roads? Is it just because the current laws and rules say so? Or is it for enhancing the safety of everybody?
We hope it is for the safety of everybody, but I don't think so. Exactly how many cyclists/pedestrians accidents, and how many cyclists/vehicles accidents have happened? Among these two groups, how many were fatal and/or serious? I don't have the statistics but it should be reasonable to think that the latter has more occurrences and also are more fatal/serious.
Thus, it seems to me giving summons is just because of the laws and rules, which I think are bias against cyclists, because forcing cyclists on to the roads are putting them at greater risks than what the risk of them towards pedestrians on footpaths.
I have two suggestions for safety:
1) To make it safer for cyclists to ride on roads. There is a need to study, update and revamp the current outdated bias traffic rules regarding cyclists. There is also the obvious need to create space for cyclists on roads.
2) To make it safer for pedestrians while allowing cyclists to ride on them too. I think a good way to deter riding fast are those sunk-in stripes that are on some stretches of footpaths in East Coast Park. When riding on footpaths cannot be fast, thus it is not time savings, it also encourages better skilled/confident cyclists to avoid footpaths and use the roads instead.
read more or ShareThis
To all who celebrates Christmas. Yes, Merry Christmas!
Now, please stop reading as the rest will likely make your Christmas less merry.
Just sharing what came to mind regarding Christmas.
1) In Chinese translation, it means the day a Saint is born (圣诞节), or the day Jesus was born (耶诞节). The formal translation only suggest a Saint, but not Christ. The latter translation only suggest Jesus, but also not Christ.
2) The date of commemoration is not known to be Jesus' actual birthday. (wikipedia)
3) A festive season important for many to take rest and more importantly for many shops and businesses to make money.
4) Headache for many to hunt for suitable gifts for family, friends and others. Also headache for what to do with the gifts received, which are usually quite useless or redundant. Yet, recently a survey in UK found many unwanted Christmas gifts. Is this good or bad news?
5) Also headache for many parents who need to find ways to trick their kids into believing that Santa Claus came and gave the presents.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone. It is good to have Christmas for the holiday, festive mood, etc.
read more or ShareThis
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Bidazzled. All opinions are 100% mine.
Bidazzled seems quite successful from what I see at their site just now. A number of bidders were actively fighting for a 50bids pack at $50 during the last few seconds. In the final minutes of the bidding, the bid price went from about $27 to close at $32.50!Launched in early November, Bidazzled.com is redefining the online auction market by offering savings of up to 90% on name brand merchandise all while funding a charity. It was designed and created to fund a lung cancer charity (The Ruch Foundation).
Commonly called Penny Auctions or Pay-Per-Bid auction sites, bids are purchased in advance and then used to bid on merchandise. The price increases a few cents with each bid placed and a few seconds are added to the countdown clock to give others a chance to bid. The auction ends when no other bids are placed. So if a new laptop ends at just a dollar, then you win the laptop for a dollar!
Highlights:*** EXCLUSIVE OFFER ***
- Auction winners usually save over 80% off retail.
- Nobody Loses:
- If you don't win, you receive up to 50 Bonus Bids as a thank you for participating, and
- You can purchase the auction item less the investment you had in the auction.
- If you win, Bidazzled typically make an offer to buy the item back for either:
- cash (PayPal or check)
- cash and bids
- bids
Bids cost $1 at Bidazzled and are available for purchase in bid packs as low as $25. You also receive bonus bids when you purchase a bid pack.
- 15 Additional Bids if you use this code until January 15th (there is no obligation or cost of any kind):
- Blog: BBP1202A
- Twitter: BTP1202A
Bidazzled has a lucrative Viral Referral program. If:
- A refers B. A receives 5 Bonus Bids
- B refers C. A receives 4 Bonus Bids
- C refers D. A receives 3 Bonus Bids
- D refers E. A receives 2 Bonus Bids
- E refers F. A receives 1 Bonus Bid.
read more or ShareThis
Trying to restart my blogging on cycling. Recently Jeanette at The Straits Times Blogs mentioned in her article Two wheels for a change that she started riding bicycle to reduce her use of cars. Among the comments, someone displayed unhappiness worrying that her promoting of cycling on road is irresponsible. However, ironically, studies show that the more cyclists, the safer each will be (see More cyclists means fewer accidents, says report, A Virtuous Cycle: Safety In Numbers For Bicycle Riders and my earlier post).
That will take times. Meanwhile, cyclists should put their own safety at very high priority. Here, let me share about some of my thoughts on defensive cycling.
Firstly, my definition of defensive cycling is a way of cycling to achieve ... zero near-accident incident and therefore achieving zero accident.
Second, knowing one's rights of way or legal rights is useful BUT forcefully exercising one's rights of way is dangerous.
Third, wearing safety gears that serve protective purposes is NOT a part of defensive cycling.
Fourthly, strictly following traffic rules, especially our traffic rules were not designed for cyclists, may be contradictory to defensive cycling.
OK, these are what I think from my own experiences to be helpful in defensive cycling.
1. Skills. Not all the stunt skills, but good advanced cycling skills. However, some skills are just for mastering, not for practicing nor demonstrating on roads. Skills such as near zero speed cycling, cycling without the use of one and both hands, cycling straight while turning head to check traffic behind and to the sides, emergency braking (I agrees with one expert argument that front wheel braking is better, but need practicing), etc. This point discourages most kids, teens, unskillful uncles/aunties to cycle on roads, and footpaths.
2. Driving experience. There is this saying that (my translation) knowing others and knowing yourself, hundred battles hundred wins. Driving experiences allow one to much better understands how drivers would behave and prefer cyclists to behave on the roads. E.g. how irritated a driver could be to tail behind a cyclists hogging the road/lane, how drivers mainly check for cars and pedestrians and thus easily overlook moving objects at speed neither that of cars nor pedestrians, etc. This point discourages those without driving license and those without driving experiences to cycle on roads in the cities where they don't have driving experiences in.
3. Have safety gears for defensive cycling. These are well maintained bicycle, rear mirror, rear red lights, rear red reflectors, front white lights, front white reflectors, lights on the body, etc. Note: Helmet and other protective gears are NOT included here. This point DOESN'T discourage anyone from wearing safety gears for protective purposes such as helmets, BUT please be aware that most of these protective gears don't help you in avoiding accidents.
4. Follow rules the safe[r] way, not necessarily the legal way. I hope this point will become absolutely invalid, but at this moment, sadly, many rules are not for the safety of cyclists. The idea here is not to ask anyone to break the laws, but to be think in a safe (in my personal views) way as much as also in a legal way. Sudden actions just to be legal vs safer buy illegal. E.g. sudden brake to stop at a T-junction red light with no traffic or pedestrians crossing vs carry on riding so that statistically lesser different vehicles need to overtake you. Legal but unsafe. E.g. dismount and push bicycle across a zebra crossing BUT didn't check for traffic vs slow down to near stop, check, wait, continuing riding slowly at walking speed across a zebra crossing. Illegal but safer. E.g. cycling on relatively wide, smooth, and little pedestrians footpaths vs cycling on roads with narrow lanes and/or heavy vehicles. This point hopes the authorities seriously review the rules to focus more on the safety of cyclists.
Ooops, I just realized there are other resources about defensive cycling such as the followings which have more detailed descriptions and advices:
read more or ShareThis
This is a good option to commute:
I like the Strida folding bike except the price :(
Another alternative, cheaper but less flexible way is to own two cheap bicycles to be used at the two ends of your Bus/MRT route.
read more or ShareThis
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Syndacast. All opinions are 100% mine.
Nowadays, there are many things to vote for, especially in Facebook. Now, Carlsberg would like to invite people to vote for Mike's Wishes to come true this New Year, in Carlsberg Wish in a Bottle campaign.
read more or ShareThis
A friend's son favorite toys are heavy plants such as bulldozer, huge trucks, and etc. I was wondering why these things attract the boy attention. My own son is also very interested to know about these and different vehicles. At 1+ year, he could identify taxi, bus, van, lorry, concrete mixer, bicycle, etc. I has been wondering why too.
Another related question I have is why characters in children stories are usually animals, and wrongly suggest that they talk like human?
This morning, I thought of a possible reason ... .
During the ages before machines, or if we were living in the nature, toddlers should be interested to know more about animals and insects around them. Thus, many children books, cartoons and toys are in the form of animals.
In the modern age, living in cities, it is uncommon for them to see many animals except the common ones like chained dogs, sleepy cats, and small birds. Whereas there are many vehicles on the roads, zooming pass, making different sounds, colorful looks, etc.
Thus, I think, vehicles in the eyes of toddlers living in cities are substitutes for animals and insects if they had grown up in the nature.
PS: To me, having grown up in modern city, animals are very complex organic machines.
read more or ShareThis
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Incendia Health. All opinions are 100% mine.
Here, I mean using eyes to see things literally. Yet, in modern days, many don't have good eyesight. However, personally, I don't think modern humans have poorer eyesight, but rather ancient humans doesn't need as good eyesight as in this modern age. Most natural things don't have sharp edges, or it is not important to identify sharp edges. In this modern world, most of the things we see are man made and not able to see these things in clear form affects our life quality.
read more or ShareThis
Recently I have some thoughts about KPI. KPI is a quantifiable measure to reflect progress. To progress is the real objective. To have a nice KPI is not. If there is progress but KPI doesn't reflect, the KPI needs to be tuned or changed. On the other hand, if there is no progress or even regress but KPI suggests progress, then more important to correct the KPI.
However, very often, attaining a nice KPI became ...
the objective instead, while the real objective was forgotten. I am seeing this happening all over the places, in different fields, from education (test/exams), management, and etc. Here, lets just look at fever.
Fever in itself is not bad.
The so called western medicine is also termed as evidence based medicine. It has its strength as drugs are tested. The problem is the limitation of tests. Usually, they are targeted at a single symptom. Furthermore, may even only based on one or very limited quantitative measures of the symptom. A typical example is body temperature. As time passes, the measure is being seen as the problem. Instead of focusing on restoring health, it became focusing on restoring these measurements.
By the way, 37 degree Celcius, the so called normal body temperature is actually the average temperature. Each individual probably has his/her own normal body temperature.
read more or ShareThis
Just learnt about a the shelter for babies in Singapore, Sanctuary House, which was set up since 2005 in this news. Their "business" has grown, sadly.
Not that I don't pity these abandoned babies, but adopting them is not the way.
Ideally, the parents must ... still be fully, or as much as they could to be responsible for them. Yes, the abandoned ones should be taken care of, but I think it is very unwise to directly or indirectly excuse their parents of their responsibilities.
Shouldn't it be considered a crime for one to not want to raise his/her children? Thus, they should be tracked down, and made to be responsible as much as possible. Similar to bankruptcy, but more than it, at the very minimal, a portion of their income/assets must be given to the child indefinitely.
In addition, since a child is related by lineage to his family members and relatives, as long as can track down any of them, they also be somehow made to bare the financial burden. The objective here is not so much as to reduce number of abandoned, but to make everyone aware of the consequence of irresponsible (aka extra-marrital) sex.
The above is really at the bare minimum because financial is just one of the many aspects in raising up children.
Thus, think about it, at present the society/nation/community is baring the burden, i.e. all of us are bearing such increasing burden. If people are concern enough to tell people off because they let kids step on MRT seats, then shouldn't we be more concern to scold [young] people who gets too intimate, regardless in public or in private.
read more or ShareThis
See my earlier post for background info.
A quick update. A year has passed as I was reminded of it by the last installment. The washer dryer is ... still working in good condition, although usage rate was relatively low at about once to twice per week. Thus, I am happy with it.
Also, a check at Harvey Norman and it is still selling at the same price as they rotate the way it is promoted over the year. Now, it is selling at S$1599 with S$600 HN voucher, thus it is the "same" as S$999 IF one also need to buy something more than S$600 from them.
read more or ShareThis
The Road Guardian purpose:
to save lives by helping cyclists avoid risky roadways. There are a lot of wonderful roads to ride around the world and there are some roads that cyclists should avoid because they have problems, danger points, and troublesome histories as experienced by cyclists. This site offers cyclists a process for reporting, marking and sharing those danger points. This information will help cyclists plan their routes for safe experiences. And what's equally exciting is that by making cycling safer for existing cyclists we make cycling more attractive to non-cyclists. When non-cyclists become cyclists they increase the numbers of cyclists on the road and this makes it even safer for all cyclists… just think about what that means.read more or ShareThis
Do you agree that education is a science? I think so. Then, I think a problem in education of arts subject is the difficulty in finding people who are good in arts yet can also master the science of education.
I was lucky ... to have a British English teacher who likes computer programming during my sec 3 and 4. I always feel that those were the 2 years where I learnt more than 90% of my English, although my English is still quite bad.
Thus, I think it is not a good idea to just find people who are good in a arts subject to teach the subject because typically, when someone is good in arts, he/she is usually quite bad in science.
read more or ShareThis
Is there only one ang mo girl in Singapore? No. But there is this AngMoGirl that I follow in twitter, and now I find her in Omnia II Blog ErVolution - Do the Write Thing. She is one of the contestants. The others are ... Yutaki, Fauzi, Ms Glitzy and Alton.
This is a contest held for the launch of Sumsung Omnia II touch screen phone. 
I have been a Nokia user since the era of 3810, and also somehow reluctant to try out touch screen phone. However, it seems the day is near for me to change to a touch screen. It is also about time as my current N80ie is about time to retire.
Actually, my colleague recommended Samsung to me just a few days ago, and now I stumbled on to this sponsored opportunity by Samsung. The chance is higher now for me to seriously consider switching phone, brand, style, and OS. In other words, I need to overcome my reluctant to switch to a different brand, style and OS.
Let see... I should like to have things like Windows Mobile ® 6.1 Professional OS; Camera Shot Modes like Face Detection, Smile shot, Panorama shot, Action shot, Mosaic shot, WDR, Anti-Shake; FM Radio Recording.
read more or ShareThis
What a coincidence, Bike Week UK starts tomorrow, and I just stumbled on to this information after I have placed my 2nd order (first order failed due to security measures of PayPal) for a folding bike to ride around during my 3 week (left 2) stay in Manchester.
I wish can I can participate somehow.
read more or ShareThis
In the news about an accident, Highway chaos, death, after man runs across PIE, the man who ran across the expressway was hit by another car which flung him into another lane. The driver on this lane slowed down to avoid hitting him, but the motorcycle behind him bumped his car and the motorcyclist ended up being struck by A lorry.
I wonder, if he couldn't slow down in time or fast enough, the motorcycle behind him might not suffer.
Just yesterday, while walking on the pavement, sound of bicycle bell came from behind. I knew a cyclists is "shouting" to me with his bell, telling me to quickly move aside for him to pass. As usual, I did not ... bother. I am a cyclist myself, and I trust his skills to be able to avoid me. I also know that if he slightly hit me, then he would be at fault and might fall down, while I probably would suffer little pain.
Why am I so "bad"? This is my logic. The more people giving way to such cyclists, the more they would expect everyone should do so. Now, what if one day, such a cyclist was ringing his bell hard and loud, but the person in front is not able to give way? For e.g., he might be deaf, just had a leg cramp, feeling dizzy, etc.
Or, like the PIE accident, this habit may one day caused someone innocent misfortune when I suddenly move sidewards to give way, accidentally pushing him on to the road, potentially being knocked by cars on the road.
read more or ShareThis
The last sentence in What same-sex "marriage" has done to Massachusetts says:
To the rest of America: You've been forewarned.I feel strongly that it should be: ...
To the rest of the world: You've been forewarned.
A real estate company selling homes in Scottsdale says it is 80 degrees in AZ? Wow!! 30 degrees in SG is already very hot!
Of course, there must be some mistakes here ... . AZ refers to Arizona in US, while SG here refers to Singapore. Thus, different common scales used for temperatures.
Nevertheless, after few trips to some cold places, I have come to appreciate the convenient of warm/hot weather. For example, we don't need Resort Styled HEATED Pool here. Also, I can ride my bicycle here in simple T-shirt and shorts all year round less a few days with downpour.
Post Sponsored by Scottsdale Fine Properties.
read more or ShareThis
From the Etymology of Religion,
The ultimate origins of Latin religio are obscure. It is usually accepted to derive from ligare "bind, connect"; likely from a prefixed re-ligare, i.e. re (again) + ligare or "to reconnect." This interpretation is favoured by modern scholars such as Tom Harpur and Joseph Campbell, but was made prominent by St. Augustine, following the interpretation of Lactantius.I would say ... , yes. God want to re-bind, re-connect with His children and creation.
Some definitions found by searching "define:religious" in Google are:
Do you find it difficult to find suitable products for pregnant women? Most products that are not targeted at pregnant women typically advise against being used by pregnant women. Why is this so? I have a guess ... .
In this era of evidence-based medicine, the need for evidence is a necessity. Researchers conduct scientific studies to gather data and hopefully can arrive at statistically significant results. When a product is not targeted at pregnant women, they would not want to take extra risk to test it on pregnant women. Therefore, no data, so there is no evidence. It is also quite difficult to get pregnant women to volunteer to be their "guinea pig".
Beaute de Maman aims to provide health & beauty products that have been extensively studied and evaluated, allergy and obstetrician tested.
Furthermore, in order to ensure the safety of both mother-to-be and fetus, Beaute de Maman utilizes only natural and herbal ingredients, and develop products by a board-certified obstetrician to treat problems specifically related to the physiological and hormonal changes experienced by women during pregnancy.
They are offering free shipping with $25 purchase on domestic orders. You may
order now online.
I feel the need to mention that, I did not use it (obviously!), and neither did my wife.
read more or ShareThis
I have been quite used to eating alone to the extend that I wonder why people need to eat together? I noticed that it is quite inconvenient to do so, especially ... in a crowded food court.
Looking for a cluster of 2 or more seats is much more difficult than to look for a single seat.
When found, at least one person may need to be there to prevent others from sitting there, until someone returns with his lunch. Then, some will sit there to wait to start eating together. Or, sometimes, by the time the last person returns, the others have finished eating.
Thus, many must have felt that by "chope-ing" seats using tissue is a good solution so that none in their group need to watch over the empty seats. However, this method is controversial.
In computer science, one thing we learn is that there is a trade-off between speed and space. We can save time by using more space, or save space by using more time.
The first method above is stupid because it is a waste of time and space. The second method is better as it trade-off space for time. However, this is from the particular group of eaters stand point. From the stand point of all eaters, it is still a waste of time and space!
Thus, I propose to all, if the place is crowded, don't waste time and space trying to eat together. Just queue up, buy food, sit down and eat, and hopefully, some of you still can sit next to each other.
If really want to eat together, then don't go to a crowded place.
read more or ShareThis
The LTA clarifies in Today Voices yesterday:
Taxi Stands — where taxis are permitted to stop and wait for passengers, and Taxi Stops — where taxis are only permitted to stop to pick up or drop off passengers without waiting.Anyone want to suggest better way to name them?
A strange photo for an article titled "Dedicated cycling paths".
Which is the cycling path? The one on the right according to the painted bicycle symbol on it, or the one on the left since a cyclist is riding on it? Legally, it is the right one, but practically, it seems to be the left one.
My first impression on looking at the photo is that the cycling path look like an obstacle course. How is it called a "dedicated" cycling path?
read more or ShareThis
I believe in reading the manuals before using an equipment so we can use it properly. However, manuals for many public devices seem unavailable. While most people can use them properly without reading any manuals since their design and the way to use it should be straight forward. Still, there are people who just couldn't figure it out.
Just two examples here but I hope to add to it when more come to mind.
I read about some solar powered bicycles here. When compared to most other energy source, solar is very green and safe. However, here we are comparing it with ... something even more natural -- food derived energy. Instead of just ride a bicycle, why manufacture additional parts that eventually will become rubbish.
read more or ShareThis
