AC wins!

v
And with that AC's UCL campaign is going on smoothly...good...the 4-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk was simply fantastic, though it would have been better if they had not conceded the sloppy goal! A poor clearance by Oddo allowed them to claw back 1 goal. But Seedorf (woohoo!) volleys 2 past the keeper, with 1 from each of feet, in the 2nd half.

And Kaka is still the driving force for the Milan attack, Pirlo's the creative spark for set pieces, and Gattuso's the midfield hardman!

I hope Milan goes to the finals this time round! :p

Recession headed our way?

This news article would DEFINITELY prove newsworthy and of note to all of us. Probably the first signs on the slowing of the US economy, and probably will affect many many more nations.

I hope the recession does not come.

Living paycheck to paycheck gets harder

NEW YORK - The calculus of living paycheck to paycheck in America is getting harder. What used to last four days might last half that long now. Pay the gas bill, but skip breakfast. Eat less for lunch so the kids can have a healthy dinner.
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Across the nation, Americans are increasingly unable to stretch their dollars to the next payday as they juggle higher rent, food and energy bills. It's starting to affect middle-income working families as well as the poor, and has reached the point of affecting day-to-day calculations of merchants like Wal-Mart Stores Inc., 7-Eleven Inc. and Family Dollar Stores Inc.

Food pantries, which distribute foodstuffs to the needy, are reporting severe shortages and reduced government funding at the very time that they are seeing a surge of new people seeking their help.

While economists debate whether the country is headed for a recession, some say the financial stress is already the worst since the last downturn at the start of this decade.

For more, check out the actual article

ERP helps more S'poreans to own cars

If paying multi-million dollar salaries to our ministers is a real shock, well you should just read this article which was published in the Straits Times on 22nd October.

ERP helps more S'poreans to own cars: Minister

Responding to a question for written reply in Parliament on Monday, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said this is reflected in the growth of Singapore's car population from 680,000 in 1997 to 800,000 in 2006.

THE use of Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) has made it possible for more Singaporeans to own cars.
Responding to a question for written reply in Parliament on Monday, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said this is reflected in the growth of Singapore's car population from 680,000 in 1997 to 800,000 in 2006.

Dr Fatimah Lateef, MP for Marine Parade GRC, had asked the Minister if the ERP scheme has met the objectives that it was meant to achieve and if it has improved the traffic flow on expressways especially during peak hours.

In his reply, Mr Lim said since its implementation in 1998, ERP has been effective in maintaining average travel speeds on priced roads within the optimal speed range through regular reviews and rate adjustments. For example, average speeds on the expressways have remained at above 45km/h during peak hours.

"The use of ERP to manage traffic has made it possible for more Singaporeans to own cars than we otherwise could, and our vehicle population has grown from 680,000 in 1997 to 800,000 in 2006," he added.

"It has also allowed the Government to rely more on car usage charges and less on car ownership taxes to manage traffic demand, and as a result, vehicle ownership taxes have been reduced. "

The Ministers said the government will continue with a holistic and integrated approach using all the tools available to keep the roads smooth-flowing. These include building more roads, regulating vehicle growth, implementing traffic engineering solutions, managing traffic demand through ERP and promoting the use of public transport.

Source: ST

Well, if I'm not mistakened, ERP was a "solution" to alleviate the traffic jams during peak hours, and also to deal with the rapid growth of car ownership in Singapore...yet our Minister here is saying that the ERP helps to promote car ownership? I wonder whether he really knew why the ERP was there in the first place.

Gosh. I can't believe that my million-dollar minister is giving such a remark. And ERP aint helping with the traffic condition either. A case of avoiding the bullet???

Really cant believe how am I supposed to pay such a minister such a high salary. If he truly thinks that ERP can help to increase car ownership, why have COE? After all, COE was meant to reduce car ownership in the first place.

Wrong again.
COE + ERP = MORE MONEY!!!! *woohoo*

I think I can run for the minister post next time liao. So easy. Answer such questions just need to smoke out and it's alright. After all, we've the world-ranked 149th newspaper in the world too. LOL.

And just a parting shot, he's a Transport Minister...and com'on, is he doing his job to deal with the traffic problems DAILY?! No, is the answer.





I'm so disillusioned with our country's leaders at times.

Gundam 00

New Gundam series! Called Gundam 00, it's already into 3 episodes, and I feel that it has much to offer. Being in our Gregorian calendar timeline (2307 AD), it is a step away from the other timelines which Gundam Wing and Gundam Seed Destiny offered. In fact, it included most of the current issues and conflicts which are happening in our world today, and throws it 300 years into the future!

Well, I won't go into a recap of what the entire storyline is about, but u can read it off Wikipedia. However, there is a bit of similarity with Gundam Seed (and Destiny), as well as Gundam Wing.

First and foremost, the Gundams are the robots (or tools of war) by Celestial Being (some paramilitary organisation) to rid the world of war (or so they say). And these Gundams as usual have technology which are way advanced and beyond what the world has. With reference to Gundam Wing, it's similar in the sense that the Gundams were used to attack the government, but in Wing the pilots worked independently. Here, they work as a team with a controlling entity.

And there is the SEED feel to it all, admist the mambo-jumbo of the first 3 episodes. Man...gonna watch more before I can give some real info of this new series.

And to top it off, what an interesting article by Darkmirage on Nyoro~n Subs on the translation boo-boos...wait...did I say boo-boos? Or were they more than meets the eye?

Gosh. The translations were totally OFF TRACK and I was really bewildered about the sub, till C&M's one came alone, a day later though. Much better quality and better fansub, definitely!

I'll keep the recent episode by Nyoro~n Subs for laughter.

Current Mood: Busy

Current Music: L'Arc~en~Ciel - DayBreak's Bell

Food for today...

Another home cooked meal...I think I will get bored cooking liao *yawn*

More recipes...anyone?!

2 month anniversary...

And how time flies. A turn of the eye and 2 months (exactly) have passed.

What a way to 'celebrate' the 2 month anniversary in Eindhoven by staying at home on a lonely Sunday morning. Hurhur. With the sounds of MSN in the background, and busy reading some of the research articles for a write-up.

Time sure flies. September ended...the end of October is beckoning. 2 more months, or so I believe.

After all, I do not seem to have exams in January. I very much hope so. Even though I have stuff to hand up after January, I will still go back to SG for my IA first.

Pursuing my dream...it's a dream after all, and the first part of the dream is already in motion. Now...what about the 2nd part, the part on getting an overseas IA?

Sadly...it seems to have hit a rough stop. Or rather, I've not been successful. Guess I'll have to return to the tiny red dot to do it...

-sighs-

But Europe's been fun, at least the travelling part, the learning of new things, viewing of the years of history and seemingly going back into the past to learn what my history teacher had taught.

I love travelling, and I still will continue to travel if I've got the chance.

Early morning on a new week...it's Monday! Nah...shall not have Monday blues. Hong Keat and Felix are arriving today so that they can go Eastern Europe tomorrow. Damn lucky guys, esp with them having a autumn break, while I do not have any. Sighs. Wished I could join them...

Current Mood: Pensive

Dramatic F1 Race!

What a race from the start! Massa allows Räikkönen to overtake him, while blocking Hamilton's path. And Alonso took the chance to overtake Hamilton, which results in a loss of composure by the Briton, braking too late and sliding out of the track into position 8!

And the most impossible thing really happened...Räikkönen wins! Gosh. The most unlikely option (as below) and yet...it happened!

Listed below are the various Brazilian Grand Prix results that could see each of the three drivers involved crowned champion…

For Alonso to become champion:
Alonso first; Hamilton third or lower
or Alonso second; Hamilton sixth or lower
or Alonso third; Hamilton eighth or lower; Raikkonen second or lower
or Alonso fourth; Hamilton out of the points; Raikkonen third or lower

For Hamilton to become champion:
Hamilton first or second
or Hamilton third, fourth or fifth; Alonso second or lower
or Hamilton sixth or seventh; Alonso third or lower; Raikkonen second or lower
or Hamilton eighth; Alonso fourth or lower; Raikkonen third or lower
or Hamilton out of the points; Alonso fifth or lower; Raikkonen third or lower

For Raikkonen to become champion:
Raikkonen first; Alonso third or lower; Hamilton sixth or lower
or Raikkonen second; Alonso fourth or lower; Hamilton eighth or lower

Source: The Official F1 Website

Gosh. Hamilton must be fuming over the loss, for he ended up in 7th and Alonso was 3rd, with Massa in 2nd place. What a tight race!

Hmmm...should I go watch the Singapore Grand Prix on the 28th of September next year??

Links: Results

Paris Trip

On Timeline: 21-24 Sep 2007

Just to reflect on my Paris trip, which I did not blog finish. Haha. Shall blog somewhat about Versailles and Fontainebleau, both interesting places with their own rich histories.

Versailles is famous, as you would probably associate with the Treaty of Versailles after WWI. Its palace and gardens are HUGE...gosh. (I guess this is what happens when you have too much land hahaha). And one thing to note is the lavish fittings and the size of the palaces - showing the nation's power and wealth in the past.

Room next to Queen's Chamber


Outside Chateau


Outside the Chateau, looking at the palace


One of the many fountains dotting the gardens


A rainbow! (:


Spectacular display of water! It's a wonder this was built like 100 years ago!


Grand Trianon Panorama


Pool in the old days o.O


Sunset along the lake


Swans


Sunset at the garden on the left side of Versailles



And of course, Versailles can take up a whole day, so I took another day to explore Fontainebleau, which is much much further from Paris than Versailles is to Paris.


Fontainebleau Panorama (outside)


Inside Fontainebleau


Inside Fontainebleau

And of course....Paris is not without...Moulin Rouge!



Din stay for long at the Moulin Rouge area as JY told me it's pretty unsafe there, cos of the presence of the black community. But I saw a lot of police around, and there were quite a number of tourists too! Reminded me a little of Amsterdam, in fact, because some of the shops are of the *ahem ahem* variety. haha.

Well, that rounds up the rest of Paris! :)

Not a new year but...

I guess it's time for a new revamp of my blog, since I've some time on a boring Sunday.

Anyway, as u see now, it's the new version of the blog...and just for memory sake, I've attached the old one, below:

I hope to get the things up on the new version ASAP...lemme know your views ba :)

Current Music: High School Musical 2