FRED'S BLOG

I have reconfigured my blog. Did one earlier on my collection of "Antique Ceramics" and currently trying to complete posting my collection of gemstones in "Gems and Gemology". There is bit of writeup in each post with photos as well. Do check it out and have fun. I'm having fun blogging.
Cheers
Fred
http://fredos-fredos.blogspot.com;

BLOGGING

THANKS TO KEE YAN, I FINALLY STARTED MY OWN BLOG http://fredosceramics.blogspot.com.
BROTHERS IT'S NEVER TO LATE. ALSO KEEPS YOU AWAY FROM MISCHIEF.
HA!

CHEERS
FRED

Nice Chendol

Recently I was introduced to a nice Chendol Stall..... was sceptical at first but after tasting it , have to agree that it was nice. They serve a variety of flavours including durian & avocado etc. It's a take away place. Worth a try......

A1 Penang Chendol
Blk 822 Tampines street 81
#01-190 Singapore 520822

Can also call to pre order......98519477

Tips on Control of Diabetes

http://health.webmd.com/cgi-bin21/DM/y/nBCUb0DKC1F0Fz0BtDx0Ec

Desiderata

The Disederata, a beautiful old poem by Max Ehrmann I read years ago of how one should live one's life. Highly recommended.

-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --
Not "Found in Old St. Paul's Church"! -- see below

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

My Bullies - Toro n Badger

Here are recent shots of my two lovely babies, taken after my return from Coolangatta. They just cant wait to be taken to their weekly walks/runs at Bishan Park.
Fred

Holiday at Coolangatta on Gold Coast Queensland

As I promised KY, here's a recollection of my week's holiday at the Beach Resort Hotel at Coolangatta, a two and a half hour drive south of Brisbane and at the border with New South Wales. Interestingly, just across the road is its twin city of Tweed Head in NSW where there is an hour time difference. Therefore shops and restaurants close an hour earlier. Btw, it's 2hrs and 3hrs respectively ahead of Singapore.
The drive south along the Gold Coast is the famous Surfers Paradise, packed with a hundred km of beautiful beaches and highrise building to cater for the crazy tourists including Aussies who were there for the sun and surf.
The view from our hotel room overlooking the stretch of beach facing the Pacific was breathtaking. We had a nice 2 br suite on a high floor via time share.
The 3 ladies however were more interested in mundane things like shopping and eating. I dutifully accompanied them for the first 2 days to the shopping centres, bazaars, markets doting the various towns and quit after that. They let me do my own thing - nature walks in the great outback, beachcombing and of course fishing along the coast and rivers.
Met 2 interesting characters - Turks named Mehmet and Engin - who owned a Turkish restaurant on the ground floor of the resort we stayed in. Their kebabs and fish n chips were good and reasonable.
They were pretty kind - they loaned me the fishing rod and gear - and chatty. They love to drink and so became my drinking buddies as I shared my bottle of rum with them. Mehmet has been here 9 years and is married to a Chinese national (with an MBA) whom he met in Newcastle. He tells me Aussie women are easy lays but dont marry them as they'll take all your assets when its over. Funny, as I thought his well educated wife (his second marriage) might be doing so for Aussie citizenship and then dumping him, as instances in Singapore.
Now for the 4 glorious days of fishing - the weather was mostly a great 20-25c, though it can be blustery at times along the groynes (rock wall jutting into the sea). In total I caught 5 fishes - breams and trevellys and they were great eating. We fried and had them for lunch. Only regret, I lost a big 2 footer - a tailor - as it bit and snapped the 9lb line after a 5 minute fight. As they say, the big one got away, only it was true. But it was fun anyway.
The rest of the time was spent at the hotel swimming, in the jacuzzi and sauna, great after all the eating. They is also paid internet service at the hotel but not on the high floor I was in, so bringing the laptop was a waste of effort.
The nite before we left the beautiful weather changed drastically. Typhoon, rain and hailstones along the coast, even a lightning strike which destroyed a home. Though it was still raining the following morning when we left, the worst was over.
I must say while I enjoyed the change, my heart was very much in Singapore and looked forward coming home. After all I had missed my 2 wonderful babe and their joy of seeing me was overwhelming.
Some photos attached
Cheers
Fred

2009 Aug bikeride

 
Finally had our bike rides again; for this year ie 2009. Freddie organised it; having committed himself and the date at our last coffeeshop gathering two Saturdays ago. So we had it this morning.



Six of us went for it. Everyone else preferred sleeping late. Here they are LumSang, Freddie, Alan, HoiYing and ChoyChin. And me behind the camera.



A break at the Coastal Road park connector which connects Changi Beach Park with East Coast Park.


    LumSang leading ChoyChin coming out of the corner after brunch at Changi Village.




The best dimensions and traffic flow system among all the varied alternatives that you will experience on the Park Connector System (PCN) being developed all over Singapore.

Singaporeans overseas, or travelling overseas, READ THESE

Needing Consular Assistance Overseas


Hi Broders

At yesterday's coffee morning, B'day boy Cheng San narrated his trying experience of losing his passport when he was visiting Russia with his wife. As many of us travel on holidays, especially in our retirement years, a request was made of me to assist you get quick consular assistance from our embassies abroad when such a need arise.

The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) provides comprehensive information on a whole host of assistance of Singaporeans facing difficulty abroad through our embassies.

Check its user friendly website : Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Look under Consular Info and services -

eRegister – so that MFA may be able to help you in case of an emergency

Assistance for Singaporeans abroad

Visa requirements of the countries you plan to visit

Your Singapore passport

Have a good trip – a publication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contact your Singapore consular offices abroad

Checklist and tips for Singaporeans travelling overseas

You should familiarise yourself and even take notes (or photocopy) of the relevant info. Also very useful to make a photocopy of your passport, 2 passport photos and write down the contact numbers of the nearest Singapore Embassy or Consulate of the places you are visiting. Do spend a bit of time going through the info - you never know it could save you alot of effort, time and money later. May even safe you life (during a civil disturbance, bombing, etc.)

MFA and its Embassies overseas are there to serve you. Do make use of it especially when in need of assistance.

Hope you find the above useful.

Cheers
Freddie

My Roving Eye 2

 

A picture speaks a “Thousand Words”…………..

I had a slow walk through a few of the lorongs one evening last week. The situation looks bleak for the myriad of the coffee-shops, restaurants , eating places, watering holes etc. It was mostly devoid of customers (as above).

All the Ah Peks were  sitting mostly  by themselves without their usual chirpy companions, although there still a handful. But these looked like from the bottom of the barrel.

At last I found the reason……..there were some police vehicles stationed along the back lanes of lorongs 18 & 20. Police personnel were walking around with a strong presence. All the back alley activities like selling of porno cds, enhancement medicines, gambling , duty free cigarettes also disappeared.

I think this “Correction” may last for a while yet………but the BIG QUESTION ON EVERYONE’S MIND IS…………….WHERE HAVE ALL THE BIRDIES GONE??

Totally against homosexuals

Like mother like daughter.

Totally narrow minded on the issue of homosexuality; due to nature or nurture? family or their social groups like who they hang out with, where they congregate, etc.

I am sure the Government gave a great sigh of relief when term of the NMP's recently expired. How could it have missed her biased beliefs? Goes to show that great paper qualifications and great working experience do not a great person make.



Thio cancels NYU stint

The Straits Times, July 24, 2009
By Cai Haoxiang

 

Prof Thio was to have taught two courses at NYU. But there have been strong protests from some students, alumni and faculty over her stance on gay rights, among other issues. -- ST FILE PHOTO

SINGAPORE law professor Thio Li-ann, who has come under attack in the United States for her anti-gay views, has cancelled her upcoming teaching stint at New York University (NYU) School of Law.

She gave two reasons to NYU Law dean Richard Revesz for her decision: the hostility of some members of the law school to her views on homosexuality and gay rights, and the low enrolment for her classes.

These reasons were cited by Mr Revesz in a statement he issued soon after she informed him of her decision on Wednesday.

Professor Thio, 41, from the National University of Singapore, was to have taught two courses for the September-December semester.

However, since early this month, there have been strong protests from some NYU law students, alumni and faculty, who questioned her fitness to teach 'Human Rights Law in Asia'. Her other course was to have been 'Constitutionalism in Asia'.

Many took exception to a speech she made as a Nominated Member of Parliament in 2007, when she strongly opposed repealing the Penal Code's Section 377A, which criminalises sex between men.

Prof Thio, whose term as NMP ended last week, had argued that repealing Section 377A would 'subvert social morality, the common good and undermine our liberties'.

Her speech was circulated online to NYU law students by OUTLaw, so that they can 'make fully informed decisions regarding class registration'.

OUTLaw, a campus organisation for the rights of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) students, in a July 9 statement slammed Prof Thio's anti-gay stance as 'intolerant' and 'reprehensible'.

On the same day, Mr Revesz defended her appointment as a visiting professor, saying it was 'based on her published scholarship, not on views she expressed as a legislator'.

He also stressed NYU's commitment to gay rights and rejected Prof Thio's anti-gay views. However, he called for 'vigorous, civil debate' in the name of academic freedom.

OUTLaw countered that Mr Revesz's remarks failed to reassure students of the university's commitment to LGBT rights, and asked 'how virulent must homophobic remarks be to disqualify a scholar from employment'.

The controversy took a turn when Prof Thio, in an e-mail interview with Inside Higher Ed, an online publication about college and university issues, said it is 'moral imperialism' to suggest there is a universal consensus on gay rights.

Mr Malik Graves-Pryor, an IT professional who works for NYU Law while also taking law classes, urged Mr Revesz to terminate her appointment.

Prof Thio responded with an 18-point memo to the law faculty, saying she was 'deeply offended' by his characterisation of her and her views as immoral.

She also wrote: 'If the NYU law community is unable to welcome me because of my convictions, they should say so... perhaps (many faculty members) are regretting their original invitation.'

In another twist to the saga, an online legal tabloid speculated on July 15 that her classes might be cancelled owing to low enrolment.

Her human rights class for 45 students received 12 bids after the first round of bidding, while her seminar class, with a capacity of 25, had six.

On Tuesday, an online petition at NYU against her appointment gathered 808 signatures.

The next day, Prof Thio cancelled her teaching stint.

In his statement announcing it, Mr Revesz dwelt at length on NYU's commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and academic freedom.

He also said NYU had not known about her anti-gay Parliament speech before the appointment. Also, once made, an offer is not revoked, he added.

Mr Revesz also noted that one of Prof Thio's replies to her critics was done in a manner that 'many members of our community - myself included - consider insulting and hurtful'.

He did not elaborate.

Even so, it would be an 'extraordinary' measure to cancel a course based on e-mail exchanges between a faculty member and a student, he said, because doing so will compromise academic freedom and 'chill' student-faculty debate.

Prof Thio could not be reached for comment.

When contacted, NUS law dean Tan Cheng Han, 44, declined to comment on Prof Thio's decision, saying 'it is difficult for me to comment on a personal matter'.

But he is confident the relationship between NUS and NYU, built up since 2004, will not be affected.

For instance, faculty from NUS regularly visit NYU for research stints, and vice-versa, said Prof Tan, adding that two NUS professors will be teaching at NYU in the coming academic year. They are Associate Professor Alan Tan and Associate Professor Ho Hock Lai.

'There are close personal ties between NUS and NYU faculty. I'm sure both schools regret that this incident has occurred,' he said.

haoxiang@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Amelia Tan

Wonderful Memories Geylang Boyz

I was doing some housekeeping on my comps today when I came across the Blog "Geylang Boyz" started by our dear KY. Went into the 08 postings.....all the pics , comments (mostly by KY) gave me great pleasure and brought back the fun of being a Geylang Boy.
I only wish that more of us will write something.....anything...thoughts, feelings, things, episodes from the past where we can connect and rememember. Forget abt correct grammar etc....just write.

Horne Mun’s Birthday Lunch @ Tai Seng

 

It was a very nice and jovial lunch @ Tai Seng (24/June/09). Good Food & Good Company.

And just the right amount of booze consumption……hehehehe!

 

My Roving Eye

 

 

Oh how I love Wednesdays. That’s the day of the week when I can go to ChinaTown for my Makan (today was lunch with Geylang Boys at Tai Seng)and Foot Reflexology. I usually travel there by bus and was fortunate enough to catch No 2 which goes to China Town via Geylang.

Bus No 2 is normally a double decker and I enjoy sitting by the window watching what’s going on at street level. I was particularly surprised today when passing the lorongs to see that the Chinese female population seems to have deserted the whole area. The normal hustle and bustle was no longer evident and no one was “harrassing” the Ah Peks. All were quiet……..the five foot ways, coffee shops, makan stalls  were devoid of the usual activities….no one seems to be hanging out anymore. Is it “recession”?? H1N1 ?? or something more sinister?? will have to investigate …..

But among the newly opened shops in Geylang, I noticed an increased number of New Internet Cafes touting 24/7 at $3 per hour…..but alas they too were empty.

Going further,  while passing our former Kallang Gasworks…..it is now some kind of a nursery for new young trees. There were rows and rows of trees planted side by side. What a waste of prime space!

 

Emperor KangXi

 

A few of us went to the Asian Civilisation Museum on 25 May 09 to see Emperor KangXi’s artifects.

It’s a pity that no photos were allowed to be taken of the exhibits. But I was quite surprised by some of the things shown. Apart from the Emperor’s garb, old paintings etc there were already scientific instruments already in use. There was a protractor, divider and even a sextant.No wonder China was the centre of the world at that time. Kangxi ruled China from 1662 till 1722 ,a total of 60 years.

He was also a Great Producer. He sired 24 sons and 12 daughters from a number of consorts. Indeed a great role model for Singaporeans.

Nevertheless we were able to take some photos with the “Qing Attendants” ……..

 

Hungry People Waiting for Eng’s Wantan Mee

 

Walau all these Hungry people waited for 45 Minutes to eat Eng’s wantan mee At Dunman Food Centre.

What's all the twitter about?

What's it all about? I thought, so got on the bandwagon to find out.

As discussed with CK the other day, Twitter is not a big deal. And I believe he concurs. Perhaps I've yet to find out how to use it better, so I'll give it another threee weeks.

This article in today's Straits Times (13 June 2009) tells it more or less how it was for me too the initial hours.

So you've decided to Twitter

A beginner's guide to the hottest social networking site in town - and why I'm bitter about Twitter

By jeremy au yong, jay talking

--ST ILLUSTRATION: ADAM LEE



So you caved.

After weeks of being pestered constantly, and being made to feel like an ancient freak stuck in the stone ages, you finally succumbed. You hopped on the bandwagon, followed the herd, drank the Kool-Aid.

You signed up for an account on the currently in vogue social networking platform Twitter.

Now what?

You stare at the empty box on the web page. Above it is the number 140 indicating the number of characters you have left to write. Next to that, the question: 'What are you doing?'

Well, that's easy enough. What you are doing is racking your brain for something to post on Twitter.

Of course, you can't say that. That's lame and potentially millions of people might be able to read it. So, as a temporary measure, you decide to go with a simple 'Hi'.

You thought awhile about going with a 'Yo' or 'What's up', you know, for some street cred, but decided that it was too contrived.

At any rate, you tell yourself the 'Hi' is only temporary. Once you think of something better, you'll de-tweet (verb: meaning to delete a Twitter post, or to get a bird to shut it) and put up a new one.

You play around with a few lines, trying your best to sound witty, funny and contemplative without appearing to be trying to sound witty, funny and contemplative.

Of course, this is difficult because you, personally, are not a witty, funny, contemplative person. You, personally, are tofu-bland. Strangers would definitely not care what you are doing.

But it doesn't matter. You decided early on in the process that you would embellish the truth a little on Twitter. After all, everybody lies on Twitter.

But what to lie about? All of a sudden 140 characters doesn't seem so short.

After a few more minutes testing out some random thoughts, all of which sounded way funnier in your head, it's time to take a break.

You have Tweeter's block so it's no point trying to force it right now. Perhaps it might help to look through the tweets of others.

You start by scrolling through all the little posts written by your friends, the people whose lives and opinions matter to you. Maybe you can see how they write interesting posts and derive some inspiration.

Still no inspiration. That witty, funny, contemplative problem you are currently grappling with seems to have infected all your friends.

There's no ground-breaking thoughts or updates here, just a bunch of stuff that you cannot imagine them wanting to tell you in real life.

Person: Hello, yes, I just called to tell you that I haven't had a drink all afternoon because I'm so busy with work. I must remember to sip water.

You: Uh, and why are you telling me this?

But of course, the info is not just for you, it's for anybody willing to listen. It's like if you were to buy a new designer handbag. While you only really want to annoy your close friends with this info, you wouldn't mind if a whole bunch of completely random strangers also knew.

Anyway, you didn't buy a handbag recently so you can't tweet about that. Also, you've been sipping water regularly so that's out.

Okay, perhaps you can write about - HOLD UP! What's this? It says on screen that somebody is following you.

'Woo hoo!' your heart gives a little yelp. 'That must mean I'm interesting. I knew my 'Hi' was a work of pure literary genius.'

But now, the pressure is on.

Prior to this, you could still experiment with the medium, take your time. Now, you have an audience. You must not disappoint.

You need to come up with a solid post, something that can live up to the lofty standards set by 'Hi'.

Perhaps you could make some insightful comments about current affairs. You had heard that Twitter was a powerful medium for discussing current affairs.

You decide to write about the death of actor David Carradine. He was found dead in a Bangkok hotel in what one might call a compromising position, and there are suspicions it was a sex game gone wrong.

So you type: 'RIP David Carradine. What a way to go.'

Sure, it's the natural reaction of any normal human being to the story but you somehow feel like you gave your own spin to it. A search to find out what other people are saying about it proves you wrong.

Thousands upon thousands of people have said exactly the same thing about him. In fact, the only thing you learn about David Carradine from Twitter that you haven't already read elsewhere is the sheer number of people who think it was a heck of a way to go.

You delete the post, dejected. As much as you did not want to abandon your sole follower, you log off. You dismiss the entire thing as an impersonal, shallow stream of exaggerated self-centred consciousness.

You tell yourself you are not that narcissistic, and you are too good for Twitter. You go and write a snarky column about it.

But all the while, secretly, deep down, you know the main reason you are so bitter is that you have no followers. You'd be happy if only more people would read you, follow you and maybe drop in to twitter.com/jaytweeting to say 'Hi'... please.

jeremyau@sph.com.sg