Missing you.

Again, another just in case I forget note...
Su is coming back on a late flight. She said she will land in Changi at 10.45pm. I would give her an hour after that to be home free. Anyways, I think Adam called her just now and she returned his call. What Adam said, understates how he feels about her not home.
He said, "maybe mom wants to tell me that she is at the airport already I think."

Kuih Raya

I know that Hari Raya 2009 has long past but I'm inspired by weekh blog. The picture in this post is shot using the Tamron 90mm macro with my Konican Minolta 7d. I like the colours that come off the image.
A bit about the picture. It is taken using available light in my kitchen. Those hands belong to my mother in-law. The green thing? It tastes delicious once it's done in the oven. It's called makmur.

An article regarding water in Singapore.

http://greensingapore.com/Singlenews.aspx?DirID=87&rec_code=410187

Forget bottled water, tap water as good as it gets

WATER is a common but very precious asset. Without water, human beings cannot survive. Without water, the planet's ecosystem, which sustains life, will be destroyed. Without water, there will be no agriculture and no industry. Without water, life on planet Earth will perish.

We regard the right of a person to safe and affordable water as a basic human right. It is a great shame that, at the beginning of the 21st century, about one billion out of six billion people do not enjoy this right. In Asia, about 700 million people do not have access to safe and affordable water.

In Singapore, all citizens have access to clean water at an affordable price. The water from our taps is safe to drink. In spite of this fact, many Singaporeans still boil their water. In recent years, partly because of our growing affluence and partly because of the influence of the West, Singaporeans are drinking more and more bottled water. In 2007, Singaporeans spent $98.3 million on bottled water, an increase of 80 per cent over 10 years. We observe that some of our ministries and universities serve bottled water instead of tap water. In many restaurants, the waiters pressure their customers to order bottled water.

We want to start a campaign to persuade Singaporeans to drink tap water instead of bottled water, whenever possible. The following are our reasons.

First, it is a waste of your money. Bottled water is more expensive than petrol. For one bottle of water you buy off the shelf (at 50 cents), you can get 850 bottles off the tap (at $1.17 per cubic metre).

Second, the tap water is as safe as bottled water. In Singapore, the water in our taps is safe to drink and subjected to daily checks. Health-wise, there is no difference between drinking tap water and bottled water. On the contrary, tests in the United States have shown that sometimes harmful chemicals, such as bisphenol-A (BPA), can leach from bottled water. Other tests in the US have shown that expensive bottled water is no better than tap water.

Third, bottled water uses energy unnecessarily. To make water bottles, you need polyethylene terephthalate or PET, a derivative of crude oil. In the US, 1.5 million barrels of oil are used each year just to make bottles for the water industry. This is enough oil to power 100,000 cars for a year.

Fourth, bottled water is bad for the environment. In Singapore, most of the bottles are not recycled but incinerated. This uses energy and produces carbon dioxide, adding to our carbon emission. Some bottled water travels great distances to Singapore. We are importing bottled water from as far away as France, Italy, Fiji and Serbia. Transport consumes energy and produces carbon dioxide. This is another reason bottled water is not a friend of the environment.

Fifth, you should drink tap water because it is the right thing to do. We can understand the need to drink bottled water in places where the tap water is unsafe to drink.

In Singapore, there is no good reason to drink bottled water. It costs you more, but it does not make you healthier. It is unfriendly to the environment.

By all means boil your water if that makes you feel better, but please do not buy or serve bottled water if you can help it. If a waiter asks you, 'still water or bubbly water', you should politely say you prefer PUB water.

We think the Government should lead by example.

We therefore urge the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources to write to all ministries, statutory boards, agencies, Temasek-linked companies and educational institutions to consider stopping the practice of serving bottled water.

Professor Tommy Koh is the chairman of the Governing Council of the Asia Pacific Water Forum and chairman of the 2008 and 2009 Water Leaders Summits in Singapore.

Leong Ching is a PhD student at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

This is a revised version of an article appearing in the PUB publication Pure this month.

---

The right of a person to safe and affordable water is a basic human right. It is a great shame that, at the beginning of the 21st century, about one billion out of six billion people do not enjoy this right. In Asia, about 700 million people do not have access to safe and affordable water.

Water

A friend of mine was trying to sell me the idea that the filtration
system he is selling give cleaner water than the tap water. If this
was in another country, I would so be the very interested, but I live
in Singapore.
Anyway, by using a magnifying like in the shape of a periscope, devise, he showed me a canister of
tap water, which I saw some floating particles. Then he showed me
another canister of water which has been filtered
Sure enough, no floating particles. And then the sales pitch.
"As you can see, Singapore water is not clean. This devise is our top
selling product."
Then my response.
"Are you saying we are drinking dirty water?"
"Not dirty, just less clean."
"What would happen to me if I continue to drink the tap water."
"You'll be sick. In the long run."
"How long is long?"
"Maybe 10 to 20 years."
"So are you saying that I won't be sick if I drink water from your
filtration system?"
"Er, that depends. For example, what you eat or drink when you are out
of the house."
"So there are other factors that contribute being sick lah.."
"Yes"
"So you are saying that there is no guarantee that I won't be sick if
I drink water from your filtration system."
".."
I wanted to dwell more on the other claims but I sense that he sensed that I can see
through his claims.
But the fact that still bothers me is his claim that bottled water is
better than Singapore's tap water

I beg
To differ.

Slim.

Resourcefullness

Just in case I forget, I better write what happened less than an hour
ago.
Today is wawa's sports day. As it is, we had planned to go to the
stadium to lend her our support. When I woke up this morning, I knew
that i am going to be unwell. So, after lunch I called my darling
sister to pick Adam and Risa up and I am feeling very drowsy. The
resolution of that conversation resulted in us agreeing that she will
pick Adam and Risa up at 2.15 pm of which I highlighted to Adam and
risa. So there I was, lying in bed trying to shake off the effect of
the cold and the drowsiness of the cold medicine.
Only to be told at 2.45pm that sis can't pick Adam and Risa up because
my lovable parents need to use the car. I then told her that I will
send adam and Risa.
I then dozed off again.
It was 3.15pm when Adam literally had his face in mine as he woke me
up. He seemed pretty upset that I seemed to have overslept in sending
him to the stadium.
After a very quick washing up, I told him about the effect of the
medication that I have taken and we rushed to the car heading towards
the stadium.
It was during the ride that Adam told me what had happened.
He was worried that my sister has not pick him up. He called his
grandfather and asked for her number. He then proceed to call my
sister who explained what has transpired between her and me.
Honestly, I would not think a 7 year old boy would have the
resourcefullness to call his grandfather for his aunt's number so that
he could find out what happened to his aunt without anybody telling
him to.
Anyway, I've sent him to the stadium while I am here at my mom's car
park typing out this note.
I am so grateful that he is here, being always part of my life.

Slim.

Name cards

Oh boy, forgot to insert into the last post. I have receive my name cards. The picture on it made me look angry. Oh well, first time for everything...

Weekh

I was at www.clubsnap.com the other day and I read a post in the 4/3rds folder. I remembered reading a post from a guy who used a LX2. Now, that same guy is using the oly ep-1. But, no what camera he is using, he has the eye for it. I know this because I stumble onto his blog and I went there 3 times this week. Its weekh.blogspot.com
If only I could update my blog like he does. With pictures.
Anyways, my wife encourages me to enter the various photo competitions that is available. Maybe I should give it a try. Anybody know of any photo competitions?
I'm at Unisim right now, revising for my paper this evening. As you can see, I'm spending my time NOT revising. Honestly, its freaking me out. Such overconfidence can only mean one thing in my life, stupidity.
Oh well, let me just continue reading the stupid book.

Another advert
I'm a property agent!!! Yoohooo!

It's a Monday

Just came back from tuition. A very slow session as my tutee had
already completed her exams. Anyway we went through comprehension
cloze. At least she learnt new words.
My noisemaker has now learnt to appreciate the different smell and
aroma shampoo and soaps has. At least, he used them.
It has been a wet afternoon. It started to rained approximately at 1
pm. Just as I had finished waxing the car. It rained too the other
day, just as I had finished waxing the car. Anyway, wifey just called
and she is cabbing her way home. Just as well.
Exams is around the corner and I can't seem to get it out of my mind.
How I wish I could start studying for it.
Watched the Liverpool against fulham. What a load of crap. If I had
known, I would not have stayed up late. Liverpool lost 3-1 with 9 men
at the end of full time. Sigh. Lousy game. Not because Liverpool lost,
just that both teams played badly.

Slim.

NYTimes: DVR, Once Mortal Foe, Is a Friend After All

From The New York Times:

DVR, Once Mortal Foe, Is a Friend After All

Once feared as commercial killers, the recorders now add significantly
to program ratings and thus to ad revenue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/business/media/02ratings.html

Get The New York Times on your iPhone for free by visiting http://itunes.com/apps/nytimes

Slim.
Send instant messages to your online friends http://asia.messenger.yahoo.com

Name cards

I am resorting to emailing my blogs. Not a big deal especially with a
smartphone like the iPhone.
Anyway, I am still waiting for my name cards to be ready. Can't wait
to start distributing MY name cards to my friends.
Anyway, if any of you readers need an agent for help in your property
matters, leave me a message.
Slim.
Send instant messages to your online friends http://asia.messenger.yahoo.com