When the stress levels in the office get too much, we'll do stupid things.'nuff said.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The Singapore Airshow 2008
I went to the airshow today, got badly sunburnt but it was worth it. The aerial performances were simply breath-taking and the roar from the jet engines when they zoom past just reverberates you inside out.
Anyway, here are the first series of pictures - the Airbus A380 - the world's biggest operational passenger jet. I knew it was suppose to be huge but wah lao eh.. seeing it up close and parked beside some smaller planes, really brings its size into sober perspective - not to mention it gives me the opportunity to actually touch the plane.
Official airshow site
Singapore wins 2010 Youth Olympics bid
Reuters - Friday, February 22
ATHENS, Feb 21 - Singapore will host the first Youth Olympics in 2010 after the city-state won 53 out of 97 postal votes, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge announced on Thursday.
Wild celebrations erupted in Singapore immediately after the announcement with more than 6,000 people watching Rogge on outdoor TV screens pull out the winner's name from an envelope.
The new event, which is Rogge's brainchild, is designed to generate enthusiasm among the world's teenagers who in recent years have turned away from the Games in greater numbers raising the average age of Olympics' television viewers.#
Rogge read out the winner's name at a ceremony held inside the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
"This is a key moment for the Olympic Movement", Rogge told reporters. "Singapore has put together a very exciting project.
"Hosting the Youth Olympic Games for the first time is a great responsibility, and I have every confidence in the team in Singapore."
Moscow won 44 votes.
Singapore will host a Games that will have about 3,200 athletes, aged 14-18, competing in 26 sports and will cost about $30 million.
Some 800 judges, referees and delegation officials for the summer editions will also be young people.
"This is a great honour for all of us," said Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at an outdoor rally of cheering Singaporeans dressed in the national colour of red.
"We will be the focus of a new era of sports development. We worked hard to achieve the dream despite the odds."
Singapore has only won one Olympic medal since 1960 but has twice hosted the biennial Southeast Asian Games, with more athletes than the Youth Olympics, and will host them again in 2013.
"I'm a bit surprised and very excited because it is a chance for people from all over the world to gather in Singapore and see what we have to offer," said Rafiuddian Sawal, a student who dressed as an ancient Greek soldier to commemorate the event.
Writing by Karolos Grohmann, Editing by Jon Bramley and Ken Ferris
Yahoo News link
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The passing of a Singaporean Icon
Ah Meng, icon of Singapore Zoo, dies of old age
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 08 February 2008 1828 hrs
Channel NewsAsia article
SINGAPORE: Ah Meng, the Sumatran orang utan that was considered an icon at the Singapore Zoo, died on Friday. She was about 48 years old and had died of old age.
In 1971, Ah Meng was confiscated from a family which had illegally kept her as a pet. She then found her home at the Singapore Zoo.
Ah Meng was the first to host the Zoo's famous 'Breakfast With An Orang Utan' programme. She soon became a celebrity, both locally and internationally.
She had been featured in over 30 travel films and 'interviewed' by more than 300 writers.
In 1992, Ah Meng received a special award from the Singapore Tourism Board in recognition of her contribution towards tourism in Singapore.
As an icon of the Singapore Zoo, Ah Meng has met numerous foreign dignitaries and world-renowned celebrities such as Prince Philip, David Copperfield, Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor.
Ah Meng also contributed to the Singapore Zoo's captive breeding programme. She had five children and became a grandmother in 1990.
As a tribute to her, the next orang utan to be born at the Singapore Zoo shall be named Ah Meng Junior.
And to commemorate Ah Meng's efforts towards generating a greater awareness on the plight of orang utans in the wild, the Singapore Zoo will intensify its conservation work for orang utans.
The public can see their beloved orang utan for the last time at the Zoo on Sunday, 11am. She will be buried on the same day.
Fanny Lai, Group CEO of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, said: "We mourn the passing of Ah Meng. She has touched the hearts of everyone who has met her and contributed immensely in helping to promote awareness of how each and every one of us can play a role in anti-poaching, anti-deforestation and conservation matters. We will miss her dearly."
Alagappasamy s/o Chellaiyah, who is also known as Sam, said: "I have taken care of Ah Meng since she first came to the Zoo. Her departure makes me extremely sad and it will take a long while for me to adjust to not having her around. On the other hand, I am very happy that I have had the opportunity to take care of Ah Meng and her family all these years."
Ah Meng will certainly be missed by many, including President S R Nathan, who spoke to reporters at the Istana Open House on Friday afternoon.
He said: "Ah Meng has been so much of a symbol of the Zoo. A lot of people – locals and foreigners – have enjoyed her company. I'm sure the patrons of the Zoo will miss her a great deal. But that's life."
During this festive period, a piece of sad news made the headlines. Ah Meng, the iconic star of the Singapore Zoo had passed away.
Reflecting the paths of so many Singaporeans, she had come into Singapore as a immigrant and had managed to do very well (2 sons, 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren).
Last year, I had the opportunity to take her photograph. Like a wonderfully graceful & classy lady, she was not in the least perturbed by the sight of a large lens barrel staring down at her. Instead, she give me the gentlest of smiles before hiding shyly behind her hand.
She will be missed.
Remembering Ah Meng
Ah Meng, icon of Singapore Zoo, dies of old ageBy Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 08 February 2008 1828 hrs
Channel NewsAsia article
SINGAPORE: Ah Meng, the Sumatran orang utan that was considered an icon at the Singapore Zoo, died on Friday. She was about 48 years old and had died of old age.
In 1971, Ah Meng was confiscated from a family which had illegally kept her as a pet. She then found her home at the Singapore Zoo.
Ah Meng was the first to host the Zoo's famous 'Breakfast With An Orang Utan' programme. She soon became a celebrity, both locally and internationally.
She had been featured in over 30 travel films and 'interviewed' by more than 300 writers.
In 1992, Ah Meng received a special award from the Singapore Tourism Board in recognition of her contribution towards tourism in Singapore.
As an icon of the Singapore Zoo, Ah Meng has met numerous foreign dignitaries and world-renowned celebrities such as Prince Philip, David Copperfield, Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor.
Ah Meng also contributed to the Singapore Zoo's captive breeding programme. She had five children and became a grandmother in 1990.
As a tribute to her, the next orang utan to be born at the Singapore Zoo shall be named Ah Meng Junior.
And to commemorate Ah Meng's efforts towards generating a greater awareness on the plight of orang utans in the wild, the Singapore Zoo will intensify its conservation work for orang utans.
The public can see their beloved orang utan for the last time at the Zoo on Sunday, 11am. She will be buried on the same day.
Fanny Lai, Group CEO of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, said: "We mourn the passing of Ah Meng. She has touched the hearts of everyone who has met her and contributed immensely in helping to promote awareness of how each and every one of us can play a role in anti-poaching, anti-deforestation and conservation matters. We will miss her dearly."
Alagappasamy s/o Chellaiyah, who is also known as Sam, said: "I have taken care of Ah Meng since she first came to the Zoo. Her departure makes me extremely sad and it will take a long while for me to adjust to not having her around. On the other hand, I am very happy that I have had the opportunity to take care of Ah Meng and her family all these years."
Ah Meng will certainly be missed by many, including President S R Nathan, who spoke to reporters at the Istana Open House on Friday afternoon.
He said: "Ah Meng has been so much of a symbol of the Zoo. A lot of people – locals and foreigners – have enjoyed her company. I'm sure the patrons of the Zoo will miss her a great deal. But that's life."
During this festive period, a piece of sad news made the headlines. Ah Meng, the iconic star of the Singapore Zoo had passed away.
Reflecting the paths of so many Singaporeans, she had come into Singapore as a immigrant and had managed to do very well (2 sons, 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren).
Last year, I had the opportunity to take her photograph. Like a wonderfully graceful & classy lady, she was not in the least perturbed by the sight of a large lens barrel staring down at her. Instead, she give me the gentlest of smiles before hiding shyly behind her hand.
She will be missed.
Remembering Ah Meng
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
It's Pinkie's Birthday!
Dearest Pinkie,
Happy (belated) Birthday!
I'm truly sorry to have missed your birthday. I feel somewhat a bit like a lowly Orc since even you remembered mine and rang me up.
But my lame excuse was that I was occupied with other 'matters of importance' that weekend, and I did superpoke you with a cake earlier on in Facebook right? And I even bought (and ate) a cupcake on your behalf too. Not bad right? :P
I really hope that you had a riotous birthday weekend and "got some", although I have a sneaky feeling that it is more likely to be quite mundane. hee..prove me wrong.
In any case, I suppose when people reach their thirties (like us old birds), birthdays have morphed into this rather ominous sign of aging.
But then again for you, I suppose you are still in denial of your true age, and you are still insisting that you are only in your late twenties. Well, denial is one way to stay young. heeheee...
Anyway, in addition to all the usual wishes of presents, happiness blah blah blah, I also hope that God will give you a fantastic job soon, and change your status from 'Bum' to 'gainfully employed'. That way, you'll be able to treat me if I do pop by for a visit.
;-)
Take care, have fun always!
Hugs..
Hobbes
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