Captivated by this Tofu Cheesecake

Marina Barrage Tour

Looks interesting!
http://www.pub.gov.sg/marina/mbvisitorcentre/Pages/default.aspx

張韶涵 -- 白白的

白白的 -- 歌词

空白白的　白得天又混濁變黑
我算是誰　醒了還在原地
喔白白的　靈魂的石灰很容易碎
落入眼裡　想哭卻沒有眼淚

好想把一切都砸個粉碎
只有你才能給我一絲欣慰
你是無形的傷口
你平白的咬一口
再多的愛也不夠
都不夠　不夠　超完美傷口

空白白的　白天又混濁變黑
怕遇到誰　那無用的安慰
喔白白的　赤裸的心灰很容易碎
落入眼裡　想哭卻沒有眼淚

好想把自己也砸個粉碎
都摧毀才能給我一絲欣慰

你是無形的傷口
你平白的咬一口
再多的愛也不夠
都不夠　不夠　超完美傷口
都不夠　卻還有
都不夠　卻還有

空白白的　我的心灰一碰就碎
只有你才能給我一絲欣慰
你是無形的傷口
你平白的咬一口
再多的愛也不夠
都不夠　不夠　超完美傷口

你是無形的傷口
你平白的咬一口
再多的愛也不夠
都不夠　不夠　超完美傷口

Fed up with my project schedule

First, my 2 to 6 Nov training did not happen due to incapability of my HR.

Second, my 9 to 13 Nov training was cancelled due to a scheduled Ground Acceptance Test on that week. Now, I was told the Ground Acceptance Test is to be delayed for a week but my training was already cancelled! Looks like I have little choice but to live with this very indeterministic and disruptive nature of my projects at work.

Sigh...

We will see Chinese domain names like 开心.sg soon in Singapore

Businesses and consumers can look forward to using Chinese characters in their website address to better reach their customers or friends who prefer Chinese web addresses. The Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC), the national registry for domain names, will be accepting initial registrations for Chinese Domain Names from 23 November 2009.

SGNIC to Launch Chinese Domain Names in Singapore [via]

Did something terribly wrong yesterday

I will not do it again.

Warren Buffet acquistion of rail operator, economic bottoming out?

Is Warren Buffett purchase of rail operators implying we are at bottom? Is economic recovery really in sight? Warren Buffett is spending loads of money on America.

Is Warren Buffett calling a bottom? [via]

Hackers Exploit Google Wave's Popularity

Hackers are exploiting web users that were too late in signing up for Google Wave, says Symantec. Google Wave is currently open for invitations only, which means you will only be eligible as a member upon receiving an invitation from Google itself.

Hackers Exploit Google Wave's Popularity [via]

The Learning Pyramid

The Learning Pyramid says that learners retain approximately:

• 90% of what they learn when they teach someone else/use immediately.
• 75% of what they learn when they practice what they learned.
• 50% of what they learn when engaged in a group discussion.
• 30% of what they learn when they see a demonstration.
• 20% of what they learn from audio-visual.
• 10% of what they learn when they've learned from reading.
• 5% of what they learn when they've learned from lecture.

I agree with the above.

Google testing on new Search Page and it SUCKS

Google has been testing a new version of its homepage that hides the navigation links found at the top, showing the search page, and the search buttons to appear later until you move your cursor away from the navigation links. I thought the use of such fading effects sucks!

I hope Google not to proceed with such new very poor idea.

'This Is It' tops charts with US$101m worldwide

'This Is It' tops charts with US$101m worldwide
Business Times - 03 Nov 2009

(LOS ANGELES) The film, Michael Jackson's This Is It, pulled in US$101 million worldwide in its first five days, and distributor Sony is extending the farewell performance film beyond its planned two-week run.

The film was the No. 1 Halloween thriller domestically with a US$21.3 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates ON Sunday.

The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, Paramount's low-budget horror sensation Paranormal Activity, slipped to No. 2 with US$16.5 million, lifting its total to US$84.8 million.

This Is It raised its domestic total to US$32.5 million. The movie pulled in US$68.5 million overseas, including US$10.4 million in Japan, US$6.3 million in Germany, US$5.8 million in France and US$3.2 million in China.

'He's just loved everywhere on the planet,' said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. 'It doesn't matter if it's Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, South America. Every continent in the world loved him and his music.'

In Great Britain, where Jackson had planned a marathon series of 50 London concerts starting last July, the movie earned US$7.6 million.

This Is It captures Jackson in behind-the-scenes performances in the weeks before his death last June, as he rehearsed his biggest hits for the London shows.

This Is It originally was scheduled for a theatrical run of only two weeks. The studio has extended it a few more weeks domestically, leaving it in theaters through Thanksgiving weekend, one of the year's busiest moviegoing times.

Sony plans to extend the run of This Is It overseas on a country-by-country basis, with most territories probably getting one to three weeks of extra playing time, MR Bruer said.

The studio paid US$60 million for film rights to Jackson's rehearsal footage, an investment the movie recouped in days.

'They bet US$60 million on this and got US$101 million in just five days,' said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. 'It was a gamble and a bet that paid off.'

The movie fell far short of last year's US$31.1 million opening weekend domestically for Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. But Mr Bruer said This Is It has a shot at surpassing the US$65.3 million domestic total during the entire run of Cyrus's movie, which tops the all-time charts for music documentaries.

Worldwide, This Is It already has shot past Cyrus's concert film. Cyrus mainly appeals to American teens, and her movie got only a limited release overseas, where it took in about US$5 million to give the film a global total of just over US$70 million.

This Is It played in 3,481 theatre domestically, about five times the number for Cyrus's movie. But Best of Both Worlds ran in 3-D, for which theatres typically charge a few dollars more\. \-- AP

Next steps in cyber security awareness

Google published an article on the Google Public Policy blog on cyber security awareness. It talks on the below topics.

• What are the most important things we all need to do to protect our computers and mobile devices?
• What are the most common misconceptions about cyber security?
• How do I know if my computer or network has been compromised?

Next steps in cyber security awareness [via]

Correction in the stock market?

Trading volume for November thus far has been thin and most of the days closed lower. Are we seeing a correction? It seems like investors are taking money off the table as they wait for economic fundamentals to catch up with valuations.

Is recession really over?

Investing in innovation at Google

Eric said during our third quarter earnings call that "innovation is the technological pre-condition for growth." He was talking about the kind of innovation that's only possible when you can attract and retain the world's finest minds. Some come to Google through acquisition, like the people who created Google Earth (formerly Keyhole), or the folks at Android Inc. — but most innovation coming out of Google is homegrown.

A good example is Google Chrome, which in only a year, has more than 30 million active users. Larry and Sergey recently gave the Chrome team a Founders Award, a multimillion-dollar stock bonus shared by the Googlers who worked across functions and regions to create and launch that product. As its name suggests, this award is presented by our founders to celebrate the kind of large-scale, game-changing achievements that Google stands for. The Chrome team joined a long list of teams — including Gmail, AdSense for Content, Google Maps and parts of our sales and marketing units — who have won this award (and could win again!).

We want to continue to create products that rethink industry standards, challenge the status quo and make people's lives easier — and we know that there are great minds out there with the same goal. Recently, we announced that we're starting to ramp up hiring for positions across the company, continuing our investment in the future as we imagine it. That future is shaped by small teams of creative people who want to make a difference. We're on the hunt for these kind of people — let us know if you think you're one of them.

Posted by Alan Eustace, Senior Vice President, Engineering & Research

Update on Capitaland Proposed Listing of CapitaMalls Asia

Capitaland announced yesterday that it had lodged the preliminary prospectus for the proposed listing of its integrated shopping mall business, CapitaMalls Asia.

More details of the announcement is available here:
http://info.sgx.com/webcoranncatth.nsf/VwAttachments/Att_9FAF9BCE3C51B137482576620006F8D3/$file/CL.Lodgement.PrelimProspectus.2Nov2009.pdf?openelement

According to a Channel NewsAsia reporting, the listing price is expected to be between S$1.98 and S$2.39 a share. With issue manager being DBS, will there be a private placement for DBS Vickers customers?

Cash payment for problematic charging of Motorola handsets

If you have purchased certain Motorola mobile phones in the past eight and half years and had difficulty charging your phone, you may be entitled to a cash payment. A lawsuit settlement was reached against Motorola entitling the purchasers of a number of phones to secure a cash payment from the company.

The list of covered handsets is available here. The Motorola Claims Administrator site offers forms for consumers to take advantage of the settlement.

Motorola Claims Administrator site
http://www.motorolaclaimsadministrator.com/

List of covered handsets
http://www.motorolaclaimsadministrator.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ww6r8p9Rgfc%3d&tabid=117

At least 5 6 tying the knot in 3 months' time

In 3 months' time, I counted there are at least 5 6 couple tying the knot. I am very happy for them.

Speech by Lee Hsien Loong at Party Convention 2009

10 tips on how to gain financial muscle step by step

Below are 10 tips shared by a writer for IM$avvy on how to gain financial muscle step by step.

• Learn how to be independent and not lazy.
• Learn how to cook.
• Learn to be contented.
• Buy a saving plan.
• Invest regularly.
• Save on clubbing expenses.
• Take public transport.
• Get a hobby!
• Buy an insurance policy.
• Reward yourself.

Want to Gain Financial Muscle? Try these Tips! [via]