same same but different

Spot the 'Real" Team RBS..

Not too hard i presume...

Copyright infringement? Right, My foot...

Today, I thought "somebody" played a trick on me when i saw an email Subject header:
"Notification of Alleged Copyright Violation " from Facebook

Apparently, it's not a joke....
Copyright Infringement..... Well done, out of my many videos there, just 2 particular Video infringe copyright?

Definitely not becos of background Audio, cos i have more other videos with many other songs in it, that didnt suffer the same fate as these 2.
It really doesnt really take a genius to know how these 2 video ended up this way.
See what these 2 have in common?
Btw, I am proud to say I owned these videos, cos i created them myself, something that someone who can't do it, and rather file a copyright infringement.

Well, Just FYI, You may wished to lodge another Copyright infringment complain for my videos in Youtube?
Be my guest.

Good laugh...

How do you define "Optimism"?
A banker who irons five shirts on Sunday.

Q: What is the one thing Wall Street and the Olympics have in common?
A: Synchronized diving!

I had a cheque returned earlier.
"Insufficient Funds"
Mine or the banks?

What's the difference between Investment Bankers and London Pigeons?
The Pigeons are still capable of making deposits on new BMW's

What's the difference between an investment banker and a large pizza?
A large pizza can feed a family of four.

"Sometimes we need to train alone.

Feel the pain in private, then make them pay in public"

还是害怕一个人时就很难忘记

还是害怕突然宁愿当初没有决定

然而当爱最后的出口是分离

我会这么相信

有个人梦见上帝,上帝说可以满足他一个愿望。

那人拿出地球仪,说要世界和平，
上帝说: 太难了,换一个吧.

他又拿出自己的照片说要自己变成绝世大帅哥,
上帝沉思了一下说,

麻烦你把那个地球仪拿来我再看看......

What comes down must go up!

Wheee......!!
Finally!
We see a sea of GREENS across the Global stock Market!!

After like Trillions were wipe out..
yeah, Trillions.. means how many zeros?
1,000,000,000,000,000.00
Isit huh?
Serioulsy , I also not sure.. cos the Calculator dont permit so many zeros, and trades I ever came across was at most in yards? (billions)

All Central Bank finally stepped in.
What this means?
The final heores/heroine that rescued the financial turmoil, is non-other than....... *drum-roll*
yes, you tax-payers. *clap* *clap* * clap*
The commoners and salaried individuals like you and myself.
That's where all the Billions $ bailout came from.

The lender of last resort = Tax-payer.

More GREENS please for the week....

Market has gone down long and bad enuff. Time to go up yeah?
What goes up must come down, what goes down must come up hor.....

A Moment like this . . .

12 Oct 2008

One event, Four Person VICTORIES.

I Did it in this life-time!

Never occurred to me that I will ever take on Quadthlon, not even ever dreamt of attempting a Triathlon before this.

After today, at Last, I can be proclaimed as a Quadthlete (without having to go thru the Traithlon phase... ahhaa..)

And the best part about this achievement, is a managed to complete it with a decent timing.
2hr 21 mins.
Not sure abt position, but I would be anxious to know....

Well for this little life of mine, I have been there, done that , a taste of a Finisher for a Quathlon event.
This means,
We are now all certified as being a Swimmer at sea, A roller-blader, a cyclist, and a runner.

It's really an eye opener and a sight to behold, witnessing fellow participants pressing on to complete the kilometres of blading/cycling/running despite they are very much amateur. A true test of mind over body.

They may look clumsy, but they perserve. *respect*
Some people fell and had bad bruise on legs, face, shoulders, but they pressed on to complete all events.
*respect*
some unfortunate events suffered a crash agst cyclist and had to pull out.

Some had their bike chains fell off, dashing their dreams to complete the race with personal best timing.

Without ryhme or reason, this song chorus just pops into my mind in my last leg of the four event.

Maybe that's what pushes me on, when i can barely walk properly after the firt 1km after dismounting from the bike, I tell myself to at least a real slow jog (40sec/100m)My thighs are like really tight, i can hardly stand straight, thanks to the crunching position from cycling on a racer.

Its really a very different kind of race.
A race to overcome oneself,
a race against oneself,
a race for a moment like this.

D-Day soon....

OK, Time for Equipment check for the "Big-Day" tmrw.
First up, the swim leg... Need my trunks and reliable goggle to make sure no sea water seep thru into the eyes....

Then comes the blading part, new pair of "Big Wheels", well90mm, almost the biggest you can get (Size Matters!), of cos there are those bigger one with Air-pump tires! but errr.. no need bah....

and yep, matching coloured Helmet(compulsory) for the blades and the bikes. As the saying goes, (in Hokkien): "Su Lang, Mai Su Sey!" i.e. Lose people, but dont lose Style
Coincidentally, the bike i borrowed from Chen Qian (last min) happens to be red and White! matches the blades... !!
Got this pair of cycling/blading top last min for comfort and quick dry (as it claims) from WOS last min.. Great Bargain, cos Citibank got 20% Discount!!Hmm.. the only matching item this pair of Blading/cycling tights can go along with, is my reliable Livestrong shades! And the Design not bad too... =) And last but not lest, the running leg, cheap and good, that suited me just nice, the SAF New Balance! The brand/make that gets me those Silvers and Gold in IPPT. So, it shouldnt fail me in this 6km run, i presume....
Ok, "season" colour for this race, Red and White rules....
suddenly, I was reminded a fren of mine (a team mate to be specific), recently got something very Red and white too.... hahaha... Should T-loan from her... lol...

Kaoz... Really need to prepare lots of things for a Quathlon... Machiam Change Parade in the transition area.... Well, thats how it is, I heard..

Weekends

Weekends now poses a new meaning.

Weekends are what everybody is looking forward to after 5-days of consecutive work/schools.

But in recnet weeks, Weekeneds, Especially Sundays, are the days when the worst news are revealed...

Is another Bank gonna make the news this sunday?
hmmm.... watch the news bah....

That's why the Banking sector is so exciting, and yet, so scary when a storm starts...
I'm lovin' it...

"Gossips"

what do you get when u put a group of ex-colleagues in the banking industry tog at a wedding banquet?
Endless exchange of "financial gossips".
Though as much as everyone tries to playdown on the "hype" now, its just not easy..

So, the principle to it,

"Say only the Good things"

"Hear only the good stuffs"

Jialat !!! 5 days left.....

Jialat liao lor.....
I didn't realise time pass so fast...
went to collect race-pack on sat for Quadthlon, then i was reminded i am only left with less than 1 week for my trgs.

And the Best part is, I thought it's "not-so-soon" yet, and have not really started on the trgs!!

And I have been procrastinatinig on sourcing for a decent Bike (racer) for the race....
Don't know if I'm lucky or what, bumped into Chen Qian who happens to be joining the event and had a spare bike to loan me!

He's my SAVIOUR!!!

Time to get my butt on the bike, to make sure i dont fall off during the course... (p.s. I have nvr ride on a racer ever in my 28 years.... wished me luck...)

Die la....how to train Swim, Blade, Cycle and run all in one week?
Heng still know basics of each...
Have to do "selective" trg to build up my confidence and strength for the weaker categories I guess....
But then, the more I run the distance and "procedures" thru my head for the race day, the more I started to get paranoid and getting cold feet liao...

All events equates to non-stop utilisation of the lower body muscle grp (read: Thighs, claves), for the grueling 36.5Km.

Chiam...., after 500m swim, maybe the leg is warmed up,
then blade 10Km, i think my legs will turn "嫩",
then 20Km cycle, by then, the legs will become jelly...
how to complete the 6km run??! Crawl? Can row anot??
Hope i dont crawl past the finishing point....

Thanks to the financial turmoil that makes me plough thru the night, or rather morning for the past weeks, that i clean forgotten abt my race preps...

Well, hope the remianing 5 days of intensive trg can pull me thru with a satisfactory result...
Now whats on my mind is Cycle, Cycle, Blade, swim, Cycle , Blade Swim..... and
carbo load, carbo load, and carbo load...

"Have you ever had this feeling

When you saw someone happily together

yet you are all along by yourself walking

on the street...

in the car...

on the boat...

or wherever you are..."

请你放心

an old song, but never sick of it...

"Toys"

Now I truly understand how expensive can Children's stuffs can get.
and it relates to anything!!

Something came into me to 'transform' my room into a "kids room".

Instead of Zen-style, Retro-style, country-style etc settings for my room, i toyed with the idea of tranforming it to something that ould be soothing to me and makes me feel happy upon entering. (read: Not paedophile, pls...!)
So , went Ikea, and immediately, a numbr of items caught my eyes.
Not to mention they are of matching colour to my room's wall colour, and existing "decors"!

Quite standard, Boys room is blue, an gals red, so i had no issue with deciding which colour to take, and the limited colour choice really aids my decision.

That's when i also realise how Expensive kids' stuffs gets..

A cute little (not so little , as it can really pack in lotsa stuffs!) cupboard with 3 big drawers cost almost $200!!
But then, its me lah, I still get it... hahhaa...
and it fits perfectly with my room!!

Wala 99% assembled!

Then on a rather coincidental ocassion, I chance upon something as simple as a Clothes Hanger Stand that I've been sourcing for months!
Been tot he likes of Bee-hive, Barang-Barang, Courts, Ikea, and those "up-market" stores, didnt beat this one that I found in Liang Court!
Name of Shop is FBT (not that Thai Sports wear brand..), which specialises in all Kids bedroom's items.
I must say, The price of the kids stuffs there to decor one room, will definitely deter anyone from having a child...
Though it stands almost as tall as I am (that alone doesn't really make it suitable for a kid's room item, isn't it?), it still fits into my reliable "小白" without much struggling...

See..., who can resist this 'gadget"??!

And there it stands, stadfast and complementing so nicely..

F1 - Fantastic!!

What an Interesting F1 Night Race finale!

1st Action, A rebull went into a wrong turn and hit a deadend at one of the turn!
That cost him 4 cars!!
BUT, you should see how he U-turns, Damn Super solid man!! *respect!*

One of Renault car crash!

Touted top contender Ferrari Massa pulled off from the pit-stop with the fuel hose attached!
AT & T Williams Toyota kena 10 Secs penalty for early re-fuelling!
Yet, still managed a 2nd position on te podium!! The 2nd Ferrari crash out...

*** Financial News-feed: UK Mortgage Co, Bradford and Bingley under bailout.
Fortis in the reds... ****

Hooked!

Think I'm "hook-ed"..
I lived my life for Volleyball,
and yeah, you're right...
"I'm Living my life for Dragon Boating...",

****Financial News Feed: HSBC is retrenching..... UK bank also kena!! ******

Well, It's Branding, Branding, and Branding recently...

Kaoz...
why not spend more money on US..>?!
Full page colour somemore.... -_-"

Start Studded Afternoon

"Star-studded" afternoon along the Singapore river in the heart of CBD.
The Day: 3 days before the F1 D-day In case nobody know who's the guy beside me, its Kazuki Nakajima [3].
One of 2 F1 AT & T Williams Team, (sponsored by non-other than RBS), was told he's the only Asian F1 Racer currently in this race. ( the other AT & T Williams driver is Nico Roosberg [7])
Very young guy, but already a great Racer.
He's the limelight on the day, media interviews, people queueing for photo/signature, yours truly not an exception...
Not everyone get such a chance to get up close and personal with F1 Drivers hor... even if you pay hundreds of dollars to cathc the action along Marina Boulevard...
Kazuki Nakajima & Me!
RBS , hmm.. our own boat? only for that hour.... If we had these people forRBS, confirm win all races.. hahaa Living Advertisement on the waters

Today....!!

1 Day to Go

2 -Days to go

崇拜

“。。 可能的 可以的 真的可惜了 幸福好不容易 怎么你却不敢了呢？

我还以为我们能不同于别人 我还以为不可能的 不会不可能 。 。 ”

" . . . 一失足成千古恨 . . . "
" ... A leopard never chang its spot..."
" . . . The past is haunting, the present repeats, the future is bleak . . . "

"Sheryl Crow - First cut is teh Deepest"

4 Days to go...

Leave the fianancial melt-down saga behind, as it seems like things are not going nose-dive all the way after-all.
明天会更好！(hopefully...)
Some 'events' on a "higher-note" to keep my thoughts off my 13hours daily desk-bound job for the past gruelling week...

Need i say more? Ok, I admit, am egoistic. I think its in-born in all man, sad to say.. haha
"ask for more?"

Thats what the hype is all about for the recent weeks. Pictures, adverts, event splashed all over our daily newspaper. Well , well, I think I will still prefer to watched it "LIVE" on tV at the comfort of my home perhaps? can switch off anytime I find my eyes getting tired locking on some makes/models.

After the re-furbuished Cathay opens its doors since years ago, this is the first time i steeped foot into its "Grand Cathay Theatre". Really very very Grand lor... Machiam "Suah Ku" today.
I'm still awed by its majestic screens and seatings capacity... Mama-Mia is indeed an all time favourite.
Even though I did caught the live musical, catching the movie was still not a bore at all!
Everytime the songs are sang, it just gets my feet tapping.
Undeniably, some songs really brings me back to those Good old days at Zouk.. Lol.
I still LOVED 'that' song lor...!! " ...diggin', the Dancing Queen...."

Oh yeah, time to do my part for publicity....
If anyone happens to stopped by here, please take a minute to read the below.
I'm 'obliged' to do so, but atthe same time, am 100% more than willing to publicise this..

RBS Dragon Boat Race with Kazuki Nakajima of AT&T Williams F1 Team Race along the Singapore River
There really are some weird and wonderful things going on around the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix: this is one of them. Take time out to watch Kazuki Nakajima and racing legend Jackie Stewart take part in a dragon boat race down the Singapore River with the National Dragon Boating Team of Singapore. It's all about showcasing Asian culture to the world of course, but we like to think of it as a good way to spend your lunch break watching from one of the bars in Boat Quay.

RBS Dragon Boat Race with Kazuki Nakajima of AT&T Williams F1 Team and racing legend and RBS ambassador Sir Jackie Stewart
Race along the Singapore River with Kazuki Nakajima of AT&T Williams F1 Team, and racing legend and RBS ambassador Sir Jackie Stewart.

Revel in the excitement in the lead up to the 2008 FORMULA ONETM SingTel Singapore Grand Prix in September with Formula One AT&T Williams driver, Kazuki Nakajima, and Formula One racing legend, Sir Jackie Stewart, as they race down a different type of track.

Both of them will take to the waters in a special dragon boat race with the National Dragon Boating Team. They will power down the Singapore River against the backdrop of the Central Business District. This will be a race of a different nature and will showcase the Asian culture to the world.

So come down to the Singapore River at Boat Quay and soak in the electrifying atmosphere of the river with the AT&T Williams team on Wednesday, 24 September 2008 at Boat Quay at 1.30pm!
Date : 24 Sep 2008 1.30pm
Venue : Singapore River, Boat Quay

Apparently for publicity sake, RBS DB team will forming the Team with its F1 racers, and pitting against "National Rowers" (how to fight lor, unless we got F1 engine installed at teh back of our boat!) and some "media" Team. So that we won't come in last at least?

Well, Come down and support whichever Team you fancy , and expect to see a full publicty stunt for RBS from its "DB Gears" on each paddler, dressed from heat to... Phew, spared the toe...
hmm.. we are just lacking the "All-white" carbon-fiber paddle that Citi has... Maybe the management can do something about it?? HA , Ha , Ha!

AIG - Who's Next?

If you hadn't known by now, AIG is heading downhilll...

What this means for small frys like us who dont play with millions/billions of stock/shares.
Your AIA linked premiums?

More related, your AIG Home/Car Insurance !!!
this means if AIG really Collapse like Lehman, and you are insured under AIG, does that mean if anything happed to your car/house, you have no recourse to it?
very likely...
So, dont get into any accident (no one wants), and dont disclose to anyone your asset is insured by AIG...
*I'm Not, I am not insured under AIG.*

BTW, I realise many homes in Singapore are also Insured by AIG..
Maybe many will not know, but your parents will know.. hmm....
Will it be the next to go?

From latest news, dont seem likely, "people" are trying their best to hold it up...
by pumping billions of $$...

Who's Next...?
No prize for guessing correctly...

Suddenly Business news gets so much more interesting and relevant.....
Welcome to teh Financial world....

Financial Meltdown?

It was an unexpected and really Blue monday.

First headline news in the morning, it was the pending Bankruptcy of Lehman.
By Noon, they have filed for Bankruptcy protection.
Who would expect it when they kept it under wrapped for so long, where trouble only starts brewing during the weekends.

Then at the same time, another shocking news of giant bokerage instituition, Merrill Lynch, is being bought over by Bank of America.

within a year, there's really countless of merger and acquisition among banks and financial institution.
Its really "exciting". That's where the Banking world is that "interesting".
"It goes up and down like no one's business"

Yesterday the effect was the hardest hit thus far, personally.
Practically you see all red in the Dow Jones/WSS stock index.
It felt that the financial meltdown is inevitable.

AIG is in the red as well.... something tells me they are holding on to their last grip, but for how long...?

Another wave of financial crisis dont seem too far away...
Felt so insecured in this industry right now...
Every morning, its waking up to channel news asia.

everyone just putting up a brave front, until they can no longer hold it, and they hit the headline news.

*stunned*

SAVA Sprint after thoughts - The Lady Valours

The SAVA was organised in conjunction with the support shown to the Singapore Breast Cancer Foundation.
Inevitably, Paddlers in Pink are the main focus, despite teh inetrnational Teams and school Teams dominating the races.

A segment was set aside during the race, for the breast cancer surviors.
They hail from Hong Kong, KL and Singapore.
A tribute was paid to all who didnt managed to fight a victorious battle against the illness.

Paddlers from all background came together as the 3 lady valour teams belt out their athem "If we hold on together".

That moment, with teh lyrics, and the comradeship, courage they showed, it just touches everyone ashore.
To me, they are the courageous lots.
They never succumb to the illness, instead, they stood up, and took up what may sem an extreme sports for them. One that demands not only physical but mental endurance.
When you see how much joy , happiness and support they got from one another, it just warms your heart.
You feel so minute compared to these ladies.

One of the rower even postphoned her surgery a day later because she wanted to share the moment of SAVA with her comrades. *respect*

"you've come so far, don't throw it away"

"Live believing, dreams are for weaving"

"Live your story, faith, hope and glory, hold to the truth in your heart"

"If we hold on together, I know our dreams will never die. Dreams see us thru' to forever"

"Valley, Mountain, there is a fountain, washes our tears away"

"words are swaying, somebody is praying..."

Are you ready....?

A fantastic weekend.
Especially the Satuday.

The last race was in July during CCG.
This weekend, its the SAVA international.
Really like the 'ID card" they have for each participants. Can keep as momento too. (aiyah, forgot to buy 4-D!)

The Team this time would said to be less well prepared, with many rowers taking absence from the weekly training.
Coupled with the low participating rate from many senior rowers.

Frankly, most of us were not really hopeful of a spectacular performance in SAVA.

Not to mention SAVA is one of the international race with some of the big names taking part in, and we have enuff only to make up 1 men's and 1 women's boat, and a mixed boat utilising the same people in the latter 2 events....

It was really a tough race, as most of us had to go down for 2 events one after another. Moreover, we are all out for all events, pinning more hopes on the Corporate Event.

I'm proud of fellow team-mates that didnt disappoint in the boat. Though we had a couple of new rowers, and rowers who had taken a long break from training, we managed a great showdown with our no.1 one corporate enemy, and yet frens off-the-water, Hewlett Packard (HP) , time and time again.
Still within splits seconds from them, our utmost aim is to beat them in the next DB competition (read: regatta)

this race affirms where we stand, and only 2 other corporate teams are ahead of us . FHI, HP.
we aren't far, cos we are all split seconds apart in the weekend 500M/200M.
RBS medals haul from SAVA International IV 2008:

• 5oom Corporate

Gold - FHI
Silver - Hwelett Packard (HP)
Bronze - Royal Bank of Scotland

• 200m Corporate Bronze

Gold - Hwelett Packard (HP)
Silver - FHI
Bronze - Royal Bank of Scotland

500m Corporate Bronze / 200M Corporate Bronze

On the way back home,it looks like the sky depicts the after-race mood.

you wont want to know how was this pic taken...

It's really no easy feat for a "new formed" team to be able to achieve so much in all races thus far. As the coach puts it, its really heartening to see the team bring home medals in every race for the year thus far.

However, ended the 2 days with mixed feelings.
No doubt I'm really happy with garnering Bronze in this 2 event, given the fact this team came together as one only at the begining of this year.
In fact, after getting the bronze on Sat 500m event, I was really very highly anticipating if the Team could go on for a better result in the 200M on sunday.
After all, short D is supposed to be our stronger event.
But we have to settle for a split seconds Bronze.
Maybe I'm too hunger for medals?
But still, am realy greatful to the whole team for the medals.

We did it, we will do it again (better) in Regatta!
Watched for the Bankers in Blue and white, we don't just sit and type...!

Xperia X1

http://www.sonyericsson.com/product/x1/video/high.html

I am so gonna get this...

"The XPERIA X1 is the company's first PDA-phone running on Windows Mobile OS. It features a 3-inch WVGA touchscreen display, slide-out QWERTY keypad, HSDPA/HSUPA, wireless LAN and GPS. You can get our early impressions here. "

The "not-so-good" news though...

"According to the table of release dates, the X1 is expected to roll out only on February 10 2009."

Oh no... such a long wait..... But some say in Oct this year.....

Hmmmmm......

Don't under-estimate...
"Expect the unexpected"

記 得 愛

記 得 愛　 所 有 幸 福 的 片 段

所 以 才 一 直 忘 記 要 离 開

伸 出 手　 繼 續 勇 敢 付 出 我 的 愛

原 地 不 動 的 等 待

就 算 風 把 我 的 頭 發 吹 亂

記 得 愛 是 我 給 過 的 答 案

就 不 再　 考 慮 應 該 不 應 該

Fe(e)tish

Alas I've come to terms with myself.
yesterday "shopping" trip for a pair of blade confirm my "fetish" for anything related to my feet!
Sounds uncouth, but then, walking through the many shops in Queensway Shopping center, I was lured unconciously shops into shops and admire the gorgeous sports shoes.
So chaep, so nice! So tempted to try and buy!

But then, remember my sole purpose is for a pair of blade.
yeah, anything that I can don on my feet gets me all hyped up.
Slippers, flip-flops, shoes, Blades, etc...

And thanks to this unusual "disease", I spent slightly over my budget for the pair blades , that wowed me over with it coulour, it's looks , it's comfort, and it's BIG Wheels.....

"Size matters!"

Move, move , MoVE!

Mr Law, time to start your training..
No More procrastination...

1. Get a pair of blades by this Thursday!
2. Start swimming practise by Wednesday.
3. Blade session on Friday.

Get it moving man....

Back to Training...

It's back to normal training regime after 2 weeks break due to reservist/AHM and the unpredictable weather.

Experienced the long hours under the "sun" (if any today) and the endless 4 hours trg.
Vast difference for 12pm and 330pm session, but results are evident in both.
Just that both are at different stages.

I must say, I am beinging to enjoy more and more of the coporate training session.
Can see the effort everyone is putting in , and the passion they have.
Despite corporate Teams generally being 'stereo-type" as Lesisure Teams, I beg to differ with this Team, and many others too.

Without doubt, discipline is not as tight as those in school and clubs/institution. But people still take the time out to attend most practices, even when they have no opportunity cost should they skipped any session. After-all, Corporate team provides almost everything, and all that they require is your committment.

And its with this committment + passion displayed from fellow team-mates that keeps the Corporate Team a Competitive one.

I'm really looking forward to the race in 2 weeks time with you guys. Hopefully we can achieve something again this time....

Something better?