Can a Dog actually Smile?

Some people think that dogs can smile, so you get lots of people on Youtube claiming that they have a video of their dogs 'smiling'. Now that is entirely B.S!

In this photo, Tiger looks as though he's smiling, happy to be wearing my Abercombie cap. Some say he looks cute and contented. In reality, he's tired of me taking numerous pictures of him after giving him the "stay" command. He's definitely just anxious for me to finish taking the photo and say the magic word "OK".

P.S.: See the baby pink nails...I like!

Man Hunt

It's very easy to hunt a cute guy in Bintan Lagoon Resorts. They're all over the place in fact. All you need is sharp vision and patience cos they're very good at camouflage. How to spot them? They're usually in lime green trunks, and nothing else (to show off their toned uppers and pectorals). Some of the vain ones may wear accessories like Oakley sunglasses or shark tooth necklaces and some actually wear flip flops like the rest of the Singaporean civilization. For the really cute ones, you'd have to brave the sea cliffs and bushes. Leave no stone unturned in your quest!

Now, a cute guy is usually very reluctant to be caught so they squirm and try to get away when you get a hold of them. All you need to do is force-kiss them, after which they will be under your spell and do your bidding.



Take heart! It gets easier to force-kiss them as they get nearer to you and succumb to your girrrl-power! Or eau de parfum, whichever is stronger!


There! Mission accomplished! You've got your man!

Tragedy for the white tigers in Singapore

Update:

Here's a shocking video I found taken by a zoo visitor. It is quite scary to watch the attack as a video versus static images that were published. None of these images showed the tigers actually biting into the man. While I wrote quite a flippant entry, reality sank in after watching this video. It really is a tragedy that someone chose such a painful way to die. Or that he even resorted to commit suicide in the first place. After all, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Written earlier on 13th Nov 2008:
Shock is an understatement when I read about white tigers in Singapore Zoological Gardens killing a man. As the story went, this young cleaner Nordin Bin Montong, 32, tried to 'commit suicide' by leaping heroically into the tigers' enclosure with the tools of his trade, then brandished his broom like some kind of sword to agitate the tigers.

This story sort of put Singapore Zoo into the international headlines. Wah, imagine this actually happening in sane and sedate, sheltered Singapore!! I kinda feel sorry for the tigers. If you just read the headlines, you'd think that these tigers were a bunch of ferocious wild cats hungry for some action when in fact they were "victims" of this cleaner guy who selfishly made use of them to plot his own tragic death.

So as the story continues, this Montong started screaming when the kitties came along to have a closer look at his antics. He then comically put his bright yellow pail over his head...like some white knight in shining armor from the medieval times...and... curled up on the ground in cowardice. Okay, I am being quite mean to this poor dead man, but before trying to kill himself in such a highly-publicized way, shouldn't he have thought about the pain and how famous he may get from bad press? What a way to go! If I had to choose a way to die, maybe something boring like pills, or carbon monoxide would do.

Kudos to the zoo for feeding the cats well. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be mauling.. it would be a dream come true for gore freaks.

For more on the story, visit http://ahgonghippo.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/cleaner-killed-by-singapore-zoo-white-tigers/

Duck Tour with Granny

Running out of inspiration for places of interest in Singapore, I decided to take Ah Ma for a very short 'cruise' of sorts on the Singapore DuckTour

For SGD$33 (big discount for local applies), you get to sit 60mins on this amphibious bus-cum-boat ex-warcraft (whoa, I never could have guessed!) humbly disguised as a endearing duck.

Business was booming for this tour operator. I nudged and squeezed to make my way to the counter at Suntec City with Ah Ma tagging behind.

It was a bumpy ride on the road as our tour guide went through the motions of engaging the tourists (that's us!) and giving us a snippet of Singapore history in her "I've done this like a million times..." bored drone. You could tell she was like using 1% of her brain as she went on and on. Ok lah, must give her credit for trying hard to get our attention with small bribes. At least some kiddos were impressed with che-che.

The transition into water was a tad dramatic as the vehicle lurched busily forward with a few stifled squeals from the passengers. Now all this was quite exciting for Ah Ma, I'm glad. The ride was smooth sailing from then on. I would say views of the Esplanade, Floating platform, Merlion, Singapore Flyer were quite different from the water. The bustling city was serene and distanced, quiet and elegant.

The whole ride was seemed really short when it was time to get off. Ah ma looked visibly tired though the tales of duck tours went round her circuit of friends for weeks.

Town Council Loses $$ in Lehman Bro

When I read the article about Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council saga with Lehman Brothers exposure, my jaw dropped hearing the senseless remark chairman Dr Teo Ho Pin made. Here's a picture of the 'humble' garmen official, the source of the very clever statement.

The article can be found at:

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/287994.asp

To sum it up, the town council faces a potential $8-million loss, which is 6.7% of their sinking fund. Other town councils like the Ponggol-Pasir Ris faces a $4-million (2.6%). No wonder they call it sinking funds.

I quote Dr Teo in his entire 'nonsensibility':"They (residents) should thank the Town Council for working hard to come up with a diversified portfolio to generate income so that residents would not have to fork out more money."

He reminds me of another Dr from a neighbouring country who is known for shooting his mouth off without second thoughts. How can he tell residents to be grateful in the light of potential loss. These people pay their hard-earned money to these town council people, trusting that they will take care to use it wisely.

We know that the loss is not entirely their fault and that the intention was to generate more funds, but it is very arrogant to lose public money and then make a shameless remark like this. At the very least, stay humble and apologize (or at least empathize with the people).

MDIS Dress Code Fashion Talk

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=41099

I feel so sorry for the students at MDIS. They've got school officials policing the gates to decide who gets to go in. What a waste of resources and time on MDIS's part! Like bouncers at some exclusive clubs playing fashion police with god-like beams emanating from behind. Whatever happened to freedom of expression?

Excerpt from Stomp.com
"According to a circular from the campus management, these are things students should take note of with regard to their dressing and appearance:

1) Singlets, spaghetti-strap tops, shorts or tank tops
2) Revealing attire, off-shoulder or low-cut tops, or tight/tube dresses (tube dresses can be worn with a cardigan)
3) Mini skirts, short dresses (of more than 15 cm above knee)
4) Facial piercings
5) Visible Tattoos (to be covered at all times)
6) Flip flop slippers (unless justified by valid medical reasons)
7) Dyed hair except dark brown and red shades"

When I was in college, spaghetti straps and hot pants were de rigueur...coupled with a modest cardigan. Although I did draw the line at other things like facial piercings and flip flops. Actually I think the trick to get away with it are the right shoes. I never never wore shorts AND flip flops. That would just be sloppy. Always wear shorts with heels. Then at least you can look slutty. HAHA!

Then, there's this letter written to the forum in The Straits Times on this issue:

Ill-conceived: MDIS dress code crackdown
I REFER to yesterday's article about the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) enforcing dress codes in school ('Dress code crackdown at MDIS'), which is the most upsetting news in weeks.

One would have thought that, at tertiary level, superficiality would not be the focus of education, but rather, we would look at substance and quality of work. I cannot see how hair colour or shorts and slippers indicate a student's ability to do well in school. As a tertiary student myself, and in the Singapore climate, I find wearing singlets or shorts very comfortable.

To say it is distasteful is not saying anything as that is purely subjective. For example, one could wear a nice MNG basic singlet and Esprit shorts and look a million times better than the batik top and chequered print trousers I can imagine the discipline master or mistress might wear. I could say they are distasteful too, because it hurts my eyes to look at them.

One could demand that teachers do not commit 'distasteful' fashion faux pas as well.

Move away from superficiality, MDIS.

This Ms Teng apparently lives on another planet. To call this the "most upsetting news in weeks" with the financial turmoil, people losing retirement money in Lehman Brothers, Top Notes, Pinnacles, oil prices plunging, volatile stock market happening around her reveals her own superficiality.

I half-agree with her that attire has no bearing on one's performance in school and MDIS needn't have gone into nitty-gritty issues like hair colour. (What if you were blond, or sported natural white streaks?! What would they would with them?) They could have just left it at "No revealing tops and shorts". Anyway, Ms Teng's "comfortable" reason falls on the lame side. Like a majority of Singaporeans who sport the singlet-shorts-slippers, looking presentable did not appear to be in her agenda.

Moreover, to imply that wearing a few branded pieces (from Esprit for example) of clothing elevates her above the older educators smacks of bad taste. Since when did branded clothing become synonymous with good taste? Just look at the horrors designers churn out regularly.

Finally, if dress codes were such "superficial" issues, then why bother writing about it in the first place?

Fav Gold Foot Candy

My favourite shoes for the season. Love the gold ones with the metallic gold heels and strappy thin criss-cross. And where else but from *drumroll....* Foxtrot!

Zeno Acne Clearing device

This product promises to clear acne in 24 hours. Basically, it's a battery-operated device that heats up to a specific temperature and you have to place the tip of it to the offending zit on your face and hold still for 2 and half mins.

So I gamely bought this object online for USD159, waited anxiously for it to be shipped and with great expectations, tested it the pimple that made its obnoxious home on my chin. After enduring an eternity of heat and sore stiff arms, i removed the device to find a reddened spot on my chin from the heat.

I eagerly checked the mirror the next day for results of my self-inflicted torture. Hmm, nothing much is happening. Mr Pimple stayed put. So again I repeated the entire cycle. Again, nothing.

After several experimentations with other inflammatory spots, I finally lose my faith in this gadget and re-read the instructions. They claim it only works on certain types of pimples. So anyone of you out there you have the right kinds of pimples to test on, do let me know so that my vain ambitions are not in vain.

Torturing a Tiger

Disclaimer: No animals were harmed in the making of this picture! hahah

Here's Tiger getting shaved by my Philips Satin Ice epilator cum shaver. Yah I know he looks like he's in pain but let me reassure you that he's totally ok and looks better after the ordeal.

Check out the pink nail extensions (for Tiger that is). He's the new metrosexual canine.

My very own white Tiger

This is Tiger the westie. He has the mysterious ability to worm his way into just about anyone's heart.

Hedgehogs As Pets

Last June, when I trawled the Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, I was captivated with a criminal thought...smuggling a hedgehog into Singapore. No details will be published here, but I've figured it all out!! muahhahahaha

AVA has put hedgehogs as a prohibited animal for household pet since it was "wildlife". Now, I am genuinely upset. These adorable creatures need someone to care for them, feed them and treat them well. They look unapproachable when you look at them from top view. Like a lump with needles, very menacing.

But turn them over and you get the sharp pointy snout, pink nose, beady eyes with an imploring look, and a cute white belly to tickle. Come on! How many people can resist the allure of the hedgehog when they get to see one up close?

For the unconvinced, I have placed a video here. I need a hedgehog!!

Beauty pillow case?

Wah!! Finally something that beautifies you while you sleep. Talk about beauty sleep..this amazing product claims to "safely releases copper ions when in contact with the skin. Allantoin and copper are widely used and frequently reported for their cosmetic benefits improving skin tone and texture, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and promoting cell growth and wound healing."

Now, this is not an endorsement. I haven't tried it out yet. Try at your own risk! Copper ions...maybe it'll imbue your complexion with an orange tinge?

www.gofrostfire.com

St Regis

Had dinner at St Regis courtesy of Uncle Philip. Chinese fusion food was served. Tasty but not fantastic. As you can see in the picture, kena sabotaged by the MC against a cheesy backdrop. Had to recreate the Gatsby Moving Rubber advertisement. Isn't that for guys? Haha, dunno what I was doing also. But anyway the MC was rather entertaining and those mandatory niceties and mindless chit-chat at the table was kept to a minimum thanks to him.

For a 6-star hotel, the lobby and public areas were pretty small. The metallic, post-modern facade revealed a smorgasbord of cultural inclinations when it came to the interior. Toilet had oriental influences, with a tap that shoots water directly at you if you turned too hard; lobby had some chinese paintings but plush velvet sofas; then there was this Victorian table piece I was posing against; and a bar with woody walls and red leather seats reminiscent of the western bars in cowboy movies, with a huge opulent brass door! Wonder who designed for them??

The saving grace was the surrealistic pool. At night it looked so serene with a grid of spot lights at the bottom. Definitely not by the same interior designer!