Monday, November 29, 2010

Problem with my Acer Notebook

Some of the lamps on the bottom edge of my notebook PC aren't working. Sent it to Acer this afternoon. Good thing it would be ready by tomorrow. Also asked them to fix the Bluetooth radio, which has stopped pairing and recognizing with any device I tried to match.

My Acer AspireOne Netbook also kaput several months ago. Looks like they aren't as trusty as before? But at the service centre, it wasn't as crowded as I remember it before.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving coincides with the PSLE results release this year. It would be many times better to have Thanksgiving celebrated here than Halloween. We will be far better off for it.

What would the girl's PSLE results turn out to be? Who knows? Every parent hopes their kids get into a suitable school. Some hope to see them get posted to the top schools.

It is in the Lord's hands, we do not resist his will. Some people disobey him by running their own lives and others unknowingly try to put him into boxes. Human nature is completely self defeating. It takes a while to show up and we are deceived. Therefore the sacrifice of the Son is necessary. On our own we have no hope.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree the girls put up entirely on their own. They have added an innovation of putting a red spiky ball against the gold star. Enhances it!

Installed the Mitsubishi Starmex air-con

Spent a whole day waiting for the workmen to install the new Mitsubishi Inverter air-con yesterday. It was worth the inconvenience. Now we have a more energy efficient and quieter air-con.

Update of Dubai Mall Fountain

Much better than the live but new show we saw in 2008

Monday, November 22, 2010

Ship of Fools: How Stupidity and Corruption Sank the Celtic Tiger

Reading this book which I took from the library to better understand what went so badly wrong with Ireland. They were our fierce competitor for sometime. Are there lessons to take away so that we would avoid the deep hole they had dug themselves into.



Sunday, November 21, 2010

Not at parties

Saw so many photos of my girl's schoolmates on Facebook in farewell parties which is not invited or involved with.

Both of them are not mixers.

If they don't need those interactions to develop their social skills, they have not missed much. Everyone out grows their youthful silliness or they would really be dysfunctional.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, November 19, 2010

Where is Lloyd Jenkins?

Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:

    ljenkins24@comcast.net


Today Lloyd Jenkins email finally failed. I wanted to send him a Thanksgiving movie. I haven't heard from him for at least three years. Prior to that most of his emails were incoherent. You see, my friend was suffering from Alzheimer. He had it even when I first knew him six years ago. His wife Goldie also suffered from the same disease and passed on before him. He was a true soldier, former fighter pilot and test pilot for the USAF had put in a good fight. He surprised himself how long he lasted.

He and Michele were the earliest supporters for my Inspirational Flash Movie site. I will always cherish the memory of him even if I have never ever met or seen him in a photo. I pictured him as a physically fit man often helping his neighbors solve their snow in problem. He welcomed me to visit him in the States but was also realistic that we are more likely to only meet in the life hereafter in God's kingdom.

The Lord keep you and protect you Lloyd.

Last day of primary school

Last day ofvher primary school career for my younger daughter. Wonder what results she will obtain comes next week. MT makes it very uncertain. Had her MT just been average for prelims, she would have topped the class. Her three other subjects were comparable to what the GEP classes had achieved.

Just hope she qualifies for a safe school. That would already have achieved our objective.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Reinhold Niebuhr insight

What insightful remarks from Reinhold Niebuhr


The Irony of American History (Andrew J. Bacevich and Reinhold Niebuhr)
- Highlight Loc. 1035-38  | Added on Thursday, November 18, 2010, 05:22 PM

Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as it is from our standpoint. Therefore we must be saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Bears Christmas Tree

Every year we will make a trip to Ngee Ann City to see the big Christmas Tree at the atrium and also soak in the surrounding sights and atmosphere. This year this tree of bears by Takashimaya impressed us. You can't go wrong with bears can you?

In a dream

Last night I had a dream. We were all having lunch, the whole extended family. I was seated beside my dad. He has happy, smiling and talking but I can't hear what was said; from him and also myself. There was simply no audio. Then it suddenly dawn on me that he is no longer with us. So how could he have joined us for this meal. I decided I should test it and stretch out my hand toward him. I was shocked that I could reach beyond him. It is like he was just a hologram, albeit a very good one. This caused me to suddenly wake up and realized that it wasn't real.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Book: The Irony of American History

With great expectations, I am onto this book now. Niebuhr is the author of the famous Serenity Prayer. Just the first few pages of the book, the introduction by Andrew Bacevich, I already get exposed to the humble wisdom of Niebuhr. America's leaders do well to listen to this prophet.

Case for Kindle 3

Received this in the post box yesterday evening. I got a 20% discount, so affordable I can't really recall the price now. I think it is about S$16. I didn't know a screen guard was included. Didn't remember they said so on ebay.com.sg

The only thing I didn't like about it is the color. It is bright red as you can see. Too bad, it was the only color available. It was so hot that they ran out of supplies and mine was delayed. That is the story behind my 20% discount.

So cheap, you can imagine what the cost of manufacture must be next to nothing, and how much the workers putting it all together must have been paid.

Here is another picture of it when I have inserted the Kindle 3 into it.



Monday, November 15, 2010

Selling the USD

SGD/USD is now above 1.30 and it got there very quickly too. I know this is going to happen. What is difficult to tell is when. The jitters are caused by Ireland's financial problems. Time for me to sell more USD.

Post crisis, the world remains a fragile place pregnant with many negative surprises.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

A/Cs

Our air conditioners were getting less effective and then suddenly they become exalted fans only! Got to call the service guys to come in asap...I hope to replace the system with an inverter based one in the next few months.


I think we have easily had the system for 7 to 8 years already? Possibly has one to two years of life left. 


It is like turning one full cycle. The first to be replaced was the fridge, the DVD player broke down and then another one that came with the smaller TV also went kaput. I hope it stops here. 

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Mistake on Facebook

Didn't know it was a mistake for me until it is too late. Damage control: I have removed it but I want to record it here as a lesson to learn for myself.


Sandra Leow

Sandra Leow So..friends...other than John R Green ;)
how many of you have contemplated this statement
"For me to live is Christ; to die is gain"? Your thoughts, please :)

Yesterday at 01:43 ·  · 
    • Rosie Koebele I can only really be fully alive, when I die to myself, and thus Christ lives!
      Yesterday at 02:35 · 
    • Sandra Leow ‎:)
      Yesterday at 02:45 · 
    • Kwek Sing Cher 
      Often through the years

      Early teens: In the song, "for me to live is Christ to die is gain, to hold his hand and walk his blessed way, there is no peace, no joy, no thrill, like walking in his will..."

      In the 80s: From the late John White, "The way of the Cross is a magnificent obsession with a heavenly pearl"

      In the 2000s: In a vivid dream which Mother Teresa had, she saw herself at the gates of heaven. St. Peter met her there and asked why is she here, and told her that there are no slums in heaven.

      Getting too long. Better stop here.
      23 hours ago · 
    • Joel Tan If Christ is grace than to die to go to grace. Which is eternal life. :)
      21 hours ago · 
    • Lane Anderson Either way, I win.
      5 hours ago · 
    • Sandra Leow Lane: I know you're trying to win 1st prize too :)
      5 hours ago · 
    • Lane Anderson Heaven is 1st prize.
      3 hours ago · 

Clumsy?

The elder girl broke an egg onto her lap at Kopitiam Jurong Point. This was the second egg. The first one was alright.

But she is alright in the lab. Thank God. Doesn't come naturally for her. Everything must be learned


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Asperger's Syndrome

I ordered fishes and ikan bills but the stall holder gave me chicken wing and luncheon meat. One realized I was pulling their legs but the other did not.

These things are learned opportunistically. The more practical approach is to learn to recover from such social faux pas gracefully. If you can laugh at yourself, that is even better.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Talk on ASD

Attended a talk on ASD yesterday afternoon. I already knew most of what was shared and yet I came away with much deeper understanding of the subject than I had ever had. I concluded that most interventions are way too late. In fact, intervention must began even before detection. This will help to unleash the greater potential of our specie. Get to it too late, and the disabilities threaten to overwhelm the strengths.

Can late intervention repair the damage? Given ASD diversity, I think in some cases late intervention, though unintentional yield better outcomes for some individuals.

Many of the secrets of human intellectual abilities and leadership are locked up in the autistic spectrum. A surprising number of the key contributions to this world come from people with Asperger's Syndrome because they have a bridge between the Autistic world to the regular world.

One day we will develop the technology to draw out those with non-Asperger's autism just like we have figured out the super senses in the animal kingdom.

As it is, ASD is one of God's favorite nesting grounds to inject creativity and life into our world. So when we say an ASD child is special, we make that statement by faith. Perhaps God will gift it to us as science eventually. I just hope we do not repeat history by crediting ourselves instead of him for it.

Since God gave our ancestors their first clothes of skin to replace the ones they made out of  leaves, he has continued to be very gracious to us.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

A good explanation of Asperger's Syndrome

It is far more complex and richer than this, but for a simple explanation, this one is hard to beat.



And something I can identify with and has advised others especially in the aspect of communication.


China jails father of tainted milk victim

Well this is China. Totally unlovable, feared and may be hated. They have a lot of work to do if they want to be welcomed as a global power. As it is, they are more likely to herald Big Brother but might not be stupid enough to create a Dark Age.


China jails father of tainted milk victim
A Chinese activist who organised a support group for parents of children affected by one of the country’s worst food safety scandals has been sentenced to 2½ years in prisonhttp://link.ft.com/r/S4XZQQ/BM192P/10OVM/0GEE3V/HDUCJS/1G/h?a1=2010&a2=11&a3=10

Wall Street to sidestep ‘Volcker rule

The rule doesn't work. All the lobbying, the campaign funds....damn corruption


Wall Street to sidestep ‘Volcker rule’
Wall Street banks will continue to invest billions of dollars of their own capital in spite of new rules aimed at stopping them from taking risky bets, executives sayhttp://link.ft.com/r/S4XZQQ/BM192P/10OVM/0GEE3V/GKP0SN/1G/h?a1=2010&a2=11&a3=10

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Commodities prices

Commodities prices are running away. Blame in on the Fed money printing. Blame it on speculation. Blame it on anticipated emerging markets demand.

I expect all these to end in grief. Commodities get over priced beyond the realities of supply and demand.

In short, this bubble together with other bubbles will burst.

Inflation is a problem that could well be short lived and temporary.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

ACJC a school to avoid sending your kids

Sick students with a warped sense of fun and a clueless school leadership. I quote the foolish remarks by the principal,

"The College is aware of the incident which was a birthday celebration of a student who was popular with her peers. We understand that the student was prepared for the celebration, and that there was no malice nor bullying involved."

Just watch the video and judge for yourself.


ACJC responds to 'birthday hazing' incident
ANGLO-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) has responded to an incident where a girl was tied up and humiliated on her birthday. The girl was tied to a chin-up bar by her wrists while friends pelted her with milk and cake.
Principal Mrs Kelvyna Chan emailed STOMP with this reply:
"I refer to an article put up by a STOMPER regarding a birthday celebration of an ACJC student.
"The College is aware of the incident which was a birthday celebration of a student who was popular with her peers. We understand that the student was prepared for the celebration, and that there was no malice nor bullying involved.
"When a teacher saw the celebration, he immediately stopped it and counselled the students. The birthday girl also assured the teacher that she was not hurt physically nor emotionally. Some weeks after the event, a teacher again enquired about the girl's wellbeing, and she assured the teacher and the College that the celebrations were all done in good fun and she was well.
"Although the activity was done in good humour, the college has counseled the students involved on the possible hazards of such activities and that there are more appropriate ways to show friendship among their peers.
"The STOMPER had erroneously interpreted the video as a case of bullying when in fact it was a birthday celebration between good friends as seen by the laughter shared by the birthday girl and her friends."
» See video

Update: Feb 19, 2013

I knew I would get a chance to add to this before any other JC. Clearly the uniforms are those of ACJC. The tell tale collars.


Update: July 6, 2013

Wonder what's coming after this...2013 hasn't been a good publicity year for them.









Monday, November 8, 2010

Relocating the website

The transfer from GNAX to the new host is complete. It would completely stabilize within 48 hours I think.



Pinging  InspiringThots.net [72.167.232.101] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 72.167.232.101: bytes=32 time=216ms TTL=44
Reply from 72.167.232.101: bytes=32 time=218ms TTL=44
Reply from 72.167.232.101: bytes=32 time=217ms TTL=44
Reply from 72.167.232.101: bytes=32 time=232ms TTL=44

Ping statistics for 72.167.232.101:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 216ms, Maximum = 232ms, Average = 220ms

Billy Graham 92nd birthday

The following is excerpted from Graham's biography. At this point of my life, I certainly agree with him.

One of the joys of Heaven, I am convinced, will be discovering the hidden ways that God in His sovereignty acted in our lives on earth to protects us and guide us so as to bring glory to His name, in spite of our frailty.

Losing to inflation.

Just as I have been telling some people. It is quite obvious to market persons: We are all going to help pay for the mistakes in America. No way currencies can strengthen by a degree to keep inflation low. These export oriented economies would be bust doing so.



Asia's Tepid Inflation Fight
While the Fed has taken flak for a new round of bond buying to get the U.S. economy moving and avoid deflation, in Asia the worry is that central banks aren't doing enough to fight the opposite problem: inflation.

Small Worlds

They returned the money today. Don't know why they accepted our Paypal payment or even allow our younger daughter to get on the site and play in the first place when they had a minimum age limit. This is the good thing about Paypal. They are always on the buyer's side.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

More iPads

We bought our second iPad today for our elder daughter to use. This time we got the 16GB one. She has scanned her Physics text and I have helped her prepare it as a PDF document. All 460 or so pages of it. iBook handles it very well. All her major text books would be converted this way too before the new school year begins.

Depending on which school her sister gets into, we might also do the same for her.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Lesson from a cheapo wallet

Bought a cheapo wallet last year like I always had for as long as I can remember. This last one was a complete disappointment. Yesterday decided to move up and bought a Renoma. On offer it was $49. So far, I am quite pleased with it. I hope it lasts me a few years.
Look at how badly worn it is in such a short time! Can't remember the exact price but it was between $10 and $20.

Friday, November 5, 2010

The value of the USD

The USD was 1.8 to ours when I started work in the late eighties and was busy developing software to sell on the side. This morning after the Fed announce their QE target up till first quarter next year, the USD is only worth 1.28. Indeed this currency is in the long term going nowhere except down even when they manage to grow their economy handsomely.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Book: The divine commodity

I feel companionship with the author reading this book, and also learn a few things too. Got to travel to places where I didn't get to go. I don't go to church yet and all these years somehow I keep serendipitously coming across good Christian writing.

I got this free earlier in kindle format.


Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Pantene commercial

I wonder to what degree this commercial reflect the upper class and the rest in Thailand.

Air time must be really cheap there for the firm to indulge in a four minute commercial.