Here comes Euro 2008!

( Time now in Singapore is 00:10am Saturday 7 June 2008 )

Yes, it’s finally here - Euro 2008 will kick off in 23 hours’ time! Euro is always fun and exciting to watch due to its likelihood of upsets and unexpected results. During the previous competition in 2004 when unfancied Greece eliminated big names and went ahead to lift the trophy, the Singapore media term it as “希腊神话” (Greek legend). Will there be another legend this time round?

As I do not subscribe to Starhub’s package, I can only catch the few free-to-air matches including the opening match. For the rest of the other matches, most probably I’ll be relying on ESPN website’s Gamecast - a Flash component that periodically displays the updated score of the ongoing match.

Btw, I’m rooting for the Netherlands, who certainly deserves better results given their steady performance. Hopefully they can achieve at least a spot in the final

Molly Lee ( 1975-2008 )

Molly Lee Hui Li ( 1975-2008 ) - epitome of faith, courage and strength.

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHkJbVEAcsU

Three years ago when Molly was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer , she started her blog WeAreWonderWomen.Com to chronicle her own journey and to empower others who are facing similar battles as well. I was greatly touched (crying was inevitable) as I read through her journey till her very last entry. Though she has left us four days ago, her faith, courage and strength will continue to live in her blog and to inspire many more others.

Do visit her blog and recall the battles that had been fought by the wonderful lady: http://www.wearewonderwomen.com/blog/

Whose Pedra Branca will it be?

With the recent spike of news around the region (and some hoax of Tang dynasty poet 李白 foretelling the Sichuan earthquake in one of his written poems), we might have lost track of an event that’s slowly making its way in tomorrow. On 23 May 2008, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver its verdict on which country - Singapore or Malaysia - has sovereignty over Pedra Branca.

According to CNA’s report, “Channel NewsAsia will show the verdict ‘live’ on Friday [23 May 2008], from 4pm.”

In case you’re interested, here’s the background of the dispute: http://www.mfa.gov.sg/pedrabranca , from Singapore’s perspective.

M1 broadband and blur images

Previously I wondered: Is M1 broadband injecting Javascript into my web pages? After making two unfruitful calls and then an email to M1, I’ve finally gotten an answer:

Yes, M1 broadband is indeed responsible for the blur images that I have been seeing while surfing the net.

In the M1 Customer Relations email reply to me, they are “currently implementing some optimization to improve the user’s experience while surfing“. The “solution” provided in the same email is: “To view the graphics at its optimal quality, you may like to move the mouse cursor over the picture, the blurred image will auto-refresh to the original image in about two seconds“. There was no mention of the time frame on when the problem will be totally resolved.

Oh, such an inconvenience! Before that, while waiting for the web pages to load via M1 broadband, I could have gone make myself a cup of coffee and come back to see the web page just finished loading. If I’m surfing at night, the page loading time is even enough for me to make a sandwich as well (yes, plus the coffee). But now I can’t even walk away from my computer because I need to mouse-over each and every image?

Personally, I find M1 broadband a disappointment on the following counts:

• This is clearly a case of insufficient testing before rolling out the system to customers. If M1 had thoroughly tested this system, it would have been aware of this image-blurring problem, instead of having to be informed of it by its customers. Are its customers being treated like guinea pigs? On the other hand, if M1 was already aware of such potential problem, then why didn’t it warn its customers beforehand?

• If I may borrow the same two adjectives spoken in parliament few days ago, I would describe the suggested work-around solution as silly and incredible. “Mousing over each image and then wait for two seconds before the image can be shown in its original quality” is hardly something that should come out from a reputable ISP.

• In the course of implementing such a system, M1 broadband took the liberty of injecting Javascript into all the web pages served out to its customers. This is totally intrusive! Furthermore, that chunk of injected Javascript is naively implemented and breaks some of the web pages that I browse.

Dear M1, if you may remember, I blogged about the praises I have for your broadband service when I first signed up for it in October 2007. Sadly, over the past six months the speed of your broadband service has deteriorated significantly. And now you’re serving out low-quality images in order to reduce the load on your network traffic?

Update (30 Apr 2008): The problem of blur images still persisted. Called up M1 again today to demand an answer on when they can resolve this problem once and for all. Just like the previous times, the answer was that they do not know how long it will take.

Mas Selamat escaped without his pants on

Reuters UK couldn’t have chosen a more innovative title for their news article: Singapore says militant escaped without trousers. It’s also amusing to see the piece of news filed under “Oddly Enough” category.

Shucks, if only Singaporeans had known this piece of information upfront! It would have been so much easier to spot someone without trousers than someone with a limp. I mean, in Singaporeans’ vigilant efforts to spot that limping leg, we could have easily missed that person who walked past us without his trousers on right? Aiyah, so wasted.

Even my good friend Wilfrid has decided to flaunt his scriptwriting skills with a hilarious movie script here: Where In The World Is Mas Selamat?

Of course, it’s not just fun and games. Corrective actions must be taken. For starters, they should fix the two non-working CCTVs. How about considering mr brown’s suggestions on installing imitation CCTVs? Yes, I would say let’s go for the ones with wires and blinking LEDs as they look more real.

Also, from Mr. Wong Kan Seng’s ministerial statement (para 64), he has already instructed Directory ISD to take the corrective actions. I quote: “For example, the toilet window has been sealed”. It is my sincere hope that it was either a grammatical error or the Whitley Road Detention Centre has only ONE toilet window in the entire compound.

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ICQ

Blink, and 7 years have passed. ICQ was the first instant messaging (IM) software I used way back in year 2001. It was also the one where I had the most memorable chats with colleagues at Hill Street and Ann Siang Hill.

My ICQ number remains as 66071343. Friends, hope you have been well.

Is streetdirectory.com being taken down?

It could be due to my intermittent M1 broadband, but I’ve been unable to access www.streetdirectory.com since yesterday afternoon. I wonder if this outage is related to the recent court case where the website owner Virtual Map Pte Ltd was being sued for infringing on Singapore Land Authority’s (SLA) copyright? Virtual Map went on to lose the case and the subsequent appeal. Could Virtual Map be taking down www.streetdirectory.com?

If you’re one of those who can’t get by a day without streetdirectory.com, there’s a lesser-known guide provided by SLA at: http://www.map.gov.sg/StreetMap . It’s a scaled-down version without driving directions and other frills.

For those who are interested in courtroom drama, here is the entire transcript of the court session where Virtual Map Pte Ltd lost their appeal against the verdict:
http://lwb.lawnet.com.sg/legal/lgl/rss/supremecourt/56399.html

Update (3 Apr 2008): It’s confirmed that Virtual Map has brought the site down and “hopes to bring the site back up shortly, with new maps that the company has been working on” (see Channel NewsAsia report: Popular online map website down for days after losing appeal).

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Night

Night. What’s the purpose if it’s same as day?

Night. Better not have it as it merely reminds of the things that are missing here.

耶和华以勒 Yahweh Yireh

A truly wonderful music video recommended to me by dear Daniel Ho. “Sacrifice” by Bob Fitts. Thanks, Daniel!

Ever wondered how Abraham felt as he journeyed up the mountains to sacrifice Isaac? In parallel, the heart of the Father as He sacrificed His one and only Son. A timely reflection for us in this season of Lent.

YouTube link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEBmuQxXlHU

Mas in disguise

In their greatest contribution to national security to date, Talkingcock.com has come up with a poster of the possible disguises that Mas Selamat Kastari can put on.

After all, it’s been a week since he has escaped. Isn’t it highly possible that he could have done more than just shaved off his moustache and beard? (that is, if he’s still in Singapore)

Should Wong Kan Seng resign?

Regarding the recent escape of JI leader Mas Selamat Kastari, someone started an interesting poll in STOMP on “Who should resign over the terrorist escape issue?”. At the time of this blog entry, the results are as follows:

Chief Of Police: 14.39%
Wong Kan Seng (Minister Of Home Affairs) : 16.55%
Both should resign: 69.06%

If combined together, Wong Kan Seng scores an overwhelming 85.61%! (now, THAT is what we call a strong mandate, not 66.6%)

Hurry over and cast your vote now!

Update (2 Mar 2008): Boo boo! The poll has just been removed from STOMP (the above link now points to an invalid thread). I agree as mr brown muses: “We are not like those free-wheeling and chaotic governments from Western democracies that make their leaders accountable for every little thing.”

Update (10 Mar 2008): Ah, found another similar poll that’s active: http://www.luckypolls.com/index.php?act=08&id=10013

Mr Chiam See Tong

Today while having breakfast with Reverend Lee and other morning prayer mates near St Andrew’s Junior College, we had the pleasant surprise of bumping into Mr Chiam See Tong, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Potong Pasir constituency. He mentioned he’s making his rounds in the neighbourhood to wish residents a happy Chinese New Year. So I quickly whipped out my handphone camera and took a picture with him:

What a memorable moment it was. To have a photograph taken together with one of the most respected political figures in Singapore. Though he’s into his 70s, Mr Chiam still actively works the ground in his Potong Pasir constituency. The respect that the residents have for him is obvious - I saw residents coming up to him, shaking hands, exchanging their regards just like what old friends do.

Come to think of it, I’ve never bumped into my own MP in the constituency where I live (Sengkang). Oh wait, there indeed was once - when they were diligently dishing out pamphlets in Sengkang MRT station during the previous General Election. Strangely, I’ve never seen them ever since.