Of Very expensive Tomatoes

How much would you pay for a pair of tomatoes? 2 tomatoes.. packed nicely and sold in a local supermarket.. how much would you be charged?

If this supermarket is in town, does that mean that it can cost more? What if you see japanese wording on the packaging? Looks even more expensive then?

This is the tomatoes that is being sold in Isetan's supermarket, and yes, the price you see in the picture for 2 tomatoes is correct..
























Are the rich eating all the rich food?

Of Arsenal, my team

As the new season creeps closer and closer, there's still plenty of business it seems, today, Ljungberg left the club for West Ham and questioned the ambition of the club for not buying? What did Mr Wenger and Arsenal had to say?

Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Freddie for his fantastic contribution to the Club and wish him the best of luck during his time with West Ham United.

That pretty sums things up doesn't it? At 30, freddie was a great player for arsenal and we respect him for that, but to suggest that his personal ambition is greater than the club, now that's crazy, we are still playing for the championship every year, that has always been our aim, and the champion's league trophy remains the top prize on Mr Wenger's list for sure..

so are we capable of challenging? I say why not, with the stylish play and attacking mindset that presets all of arsene wenger's teams, surely the chance will always be there..

the young ones are hungry and more experienced than ever, and the injection of fresh blood in the likes of Eduardo Da Silva, Lukas Fabianski and Bacary Sagna, all looks well, the talent is there, the hunger is there.. so there's every reason to look forward to the new season, so lets go!







Emirates Cup, a good warmup, EPL: Can't wait to start

Of Gay Bar

A Song a friend in training liked and sang frequently.. he's not gay aniways.. haha

Of A Incomeless Card

Today, Citibank launches the first local credit card for people who NO income.. yes, students, university students in fact, are the target market in this campaign to establish healthy relationships with the bank at an "early" age..

the credit limit for the card reads $500... that's a good amount of money for someone that does not have it, but would it lead to spendthrift ways? Spending money that these young undergraduates have yet to earn

for the undergrads who part-time to earn that extra buck, they are using "future money" when they use this card, for those who receive pocket money from parents, they are drawing resources from projected income.. this is where credit risk lies..

therefore, should such culture be cultivated while these working-adults-to-be are undergoing their education?

i say no, for spending should always been limited to actual income and not projected income.. a healthy and prudent credit card holder has the amount of money to pay for the item of purchase, the card is merely a tool that facilitates payment for the person so that one does not have to do the background movement of funds before buying that item..

this also means that those armed with a credit card are more vulerable to impulse buying..
it is always up to the individual to exercise caution and be prudent with their spending, otherwise, no measures, card restrictions or education will help

Living on credit, when do we pay all of it back?

Of Enhanced Lotus

Took some shots but not happy with the colour and lighting, guess its unfair to compare my ixus60 shoots to that of a DSLR.. so photoshop to the rescue!













More pics here





Photoshop, know it, use it

Of Ramly Burger

What's the greatest thing about Pasar Malams?

In today's context, it must be Ramly Burger! Ramly Burger, actually refers to Ramly Special Burger most of the time.. the special here refers to the added slice of cheese and that the patty is typically wrapped in egg.. while most pasar malams are flooded with stores selling ramly, it is not always easily to find a stall that sells a decent ramly burger..

klayhead presents:

A Guide to Choosing the Right Ramly Burger

1. Patty The patty is either chicken or beef, some people choose fish, but that's a way different burger. A good ramly store will prepare the patty with curry powder and some kind of seasoning sauce, the chef will also cut the patty in the midsection to better cook the meat

2. The bun The bun must not be mistreated, a generous application of margarine and slight toast on the hot plate will do just fine

3. The sauces All ramly burger should have mayo and black pepper sauce lavished on the patty, a criss-cross pattern of the two sauces will be a treat for the eyes

4. The egg The egg is generally spread across the hotplate and used to wrap the meat patty with the sauce and cheese.. a good store will prepare one egg per patty.. some other stores tend to mix a few egg together to wrap a few burgers.. so sizes might vary


All in all, a good ramly will set you back by $2.50.. so happy hunting!

















Ramly ramly, so yummy in my tummy

Of Madam Swee Part II

Firstly, condolences to the family of Mdm Swee..

Brief Summary of what mdm swee's husband spoke to Channel 8 news:
1. Raffles hospital staff informed him that the hospital had ran out of blood and higher approval was needed in order to get more
2. He, together with some family and friends, anxiously went to blood bank to donate blood, but was denied entry and contact with the blood bank staff, simply because they were 10 mins early

Replies from Raffles Hospital and Bloodbank from CNA:

SINGAPORE: The woman who died after giving birth to twins over the weekend was not denied blood, and her death was not because there was insufficient blood available at the time, according to Raffles Hospital.

It explained that an emergency blood transfusion was immediately started for Madam Swee Lay Kwa when massive bleeding occurred during surgery.

More blood was also immediately obtained from the blood bank.

The hospital said Madam Swee's death was due to Disseminated Intra-vascular Coagulopathy (DIVC), an acute blood coagulation problem arising from massive bleeding and transfusion.

On Tuesday it was reported that her husband had been told by hospital staff that if the family wanted more blood, they would have to round up others to donate some at the blood bank.

But Raffles Hospital clarified while it is common practice to ask relatives and well-wishers to help replenish stock, it is never a requirement for blood to be released by the blood bank.

This is a stand supported by the blood bank.

Says Dr Diana Teo, Bloodbank@HSA, Centre for Transfusion Medicine, Health Sciences Authority, "It is not customary for the blood banks to request that hospitals ask family and friends to come forward to donate blood.

"However we do know that some hospitals do try to help the blood programme by asking some of the patients to ask their family to come and support us. But I assure you that this is never a requirement from the blood bank." - CNA/yy

My doubts:

More blood was also immediately obtained from the blood bank.
So where's the explanation about this "higher authority approval was needed for more blood? where's the clarification from raffles or bloodbank? is there such a rule? should this have been communicated to families who are anxious to save the life of a loved one?

On Tuesday it was reported that her husband had been told by hospital staff that if the family wanted more blood, they would have to round up others to donate some at the blood bank.

But Raffles Hospital clarified while it is common practice to ask relatives and well-wishers to help replenish stock, it is never a requirement for blood to be released by the blood bank.

This is a stand supported by the blood bank.

Says Dr Diana Teo, Bloodbank@HSA, Centre for Transfusion Medicine, Health Sciences Authority, "It is not customary for the blood banks to request that hospitals ask family and friends to come forward to donate blood.

"However we do know that some hospitals do try to help the blood programme by asking some of the patients to ask their family to come and support us. But I assure you that this is never a requirement from the blood bank." - CNA/yy

As far as i remember, when my grandmother was undergoing surgery when i was in primary 5, they too asked my relatives to donate blood for her surgery.. and so my father and cousin went on to donate blood.. so is a non-compulsory gesture that was projected as a requirement?

Would Mdm Swee's family and friends willingly donate their blood to the blood bank if the hospital said "pls support the blood bank as your relative/friend might need more blood during the surgery?" What a lame excuse to brush it off
===============

How this family was handled by this hospital and the bloodbank is simply disgusting.. had Mdm Swee been someone of "more importance", i'm sure she would be accorded more help and her family treated with better PR amid the chaos.. but no.. and who is to judge who is important or not? You might not give a damn to my family, but they are the most precious to me, same goes to Mdm Swee and her family

This issue involves the blood bank and a hospital, why hasn't the Health Minister come out to promise any investigation? What do i feel this lack of concern for the common folks and for a family that has lost a member? How do the father explain to the 4 kids in later life what really happened to their mother?






This is disgusting, absolutely disgusting

Of Mdm Swee Part I

Still pending investigation it seems.. no news about this on the english news websites..

brief info from clip:

Woman suffer from bleeding
Hospital says approval needed for more blood because they ran out of blood for tranfusion, urge family to go bloodbank to donate if they want more blood
Family with some 200 friends reach bloodbank at 8.50am.. anxious to go in.
Through the glass window, the staff signals that time is not up yet (should be refering to opening hours at 9am)

Of The End of the road

6 Jul 2007.. finally i am officially released from the bondage of work with the division.. while i had initially wanted to serve for at least 2 years and even staying on till i complete my studies.. i must admit that the people i serve never did enough to make sure i can stay and contribute..

my deepest guilt will be the fact that my direct boss will feel the greatest loss from my departure.. not because of my competence/imcompetence.. but simply because from the way the division works, my direct boss needs to do all the shit that people CHOOSE not to do.. and basically no one really cares if she works her ass off to make them look good.. it doesn't help that the division head says that all this is to raise her profile.. he had better fight for her.. or may he be damned..

but for now, my direct boss and my division head are all my ex-bosses.. and i leave the place with a slight sense of loss.. for the things that i have helped to built up and maintained, for the friendship and the many hellos and goodbye i exchange daily..

the cisco guards,
the security guards in blue,
the auntie that cleans the office,
the young man that brings the papers into the office,
the smiles, laughters and chatters of young men at the cubicle..
the 20 year old that can outshine others with much more,
the tummy that i adore,
the overworked inspector,
the fun talk at cold siberia,
the indian on the other end,
the guy with his cool fishtank,
the aunties and friends on the 15th floor,
the beauty of 3i
the cold court of level 3
the warm sun that hits the street soccer court
the steps ramming against the threadmill
the beep from the stupid smart lift door
the road to the north-eastern part of singapore
the slow lift up the fun 4th floor
the chatter among the newest unit of all
the faces of three of them all
the look of the parade floor
the container that is now a cozy lounge
the white horse that speeds when the accelerator gets more
so much and so much more




Sometimes goodbye is the only way - Glad to be out