29th day of February

Which month of the year 2008 have 29 days? All the month of course!!! This year's 29 days instead of 28 days because its the leap year. Probably due to an ancient calender sage miscalculation discovered many years later on to have a 1 day correction every 4 years. Sadly no one realise that we might be missing one more Sunday in a week.

MacDonald welcome this rare Apendix of a month in a special year with FREE SKILLET BURITTOS with every medium or large drinks during breakfast hour on 29th Feb. Me, my junior Xiao Long and my very very Senior Encik Sin headed down together to Macdonald at 5am, right after the graveyard shift work . We were attempting to buy 3 drinks to get 3 free Skillet Burittos at the drive thru...

We: I have 3 ice coffee with 3 free Skillet Burittos
Macdonald: Sorry Sir, limited to 1 per customer
We: You got 3 customer in the car right now. ( we were all in the same vehicle at drive thru)
Macdonald: Oh....Limited 1 free Skillet Burittos per car.
We: Ok, what if I walk in to purchase over the counter?
Macdonald: You can do so if you want to...

I parked the vehicle, we all went in and got our drinks and free Skillet Burittos in seperate orders, everyone was happy. Thats the wonderful part about dealing with the Ang Mo here, can't go in by the front door? Take the side door...

I was planning to celebrate this rare extra day with a day off just to rest at home, forget about work and play Guitar Hero. Alas, my plans to slack always took a detour eventually. I have been selected to be the In-Processing staff for our new "Boss". Old "Boss" is gonna leave us soon and he kinda took it light heartly with a joke "My COE certificate have expired and I have to be scrapped. Still can take back some PARF value". A gentle reminder here, COE can be renewed for another cycle or the vehicle can be "paper scrap" in Singapore but still be exported to other country for sale ( The analogy here is either extend stay in command or balek Singapore to work). I hope to see the new "Boss" with a good drive but I'm sure won't be able to have any positive or negative reviews for my own COE certificate will expire in May and definately not to be renewed.

Anyway, enough of this confusing analogy mumbo jumbo. It will still be a working day for me later on in the day doing the "In Processing" thingy. At less its something new and anything new is exciting to me. Bonus here is I get to drive a Honda Odysessy thus adding to the list of vehicle I drove in USA. Mitsubishi Eclipse, Mazda Miata, Chevy Suburban, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Pontiac G6, Pontiac Grand Prix, Mitsubishi Montero, Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Sonata...

Wii the citizen of Singapore

Alright!!! Finally land my hand on the Nintendo Wii yesterday after almost 3 weeks of waiting for the stock to arrive at the local BestBuy store. This bugger is always out of stock and the only way to get it is to call each and every store in Dallas everyday to see if any shipment has arrive. I got my unit from Lewisville BestBuy store which only brought in 3 sets of Wii in yesterday's shipment. The numerous XBox360 and the Playstation 3 as usual stacked neatly together in an area, just like last week, just like last month. This is a serious sign of the ferocious sales gap of Nintendo against Microsoft and Sony combined.

The thought of having regular weekend gathering at my home in Singapore for video game session has always struck me thanks to the regular visitors to my US home over the past 2 years. What better way to organize a video game party than to get the Nintendo Wii, extra Wii remote and nunchuk, couple of great multi-player games and a big 42" Plasma TV where the whole action will take place. Wish I was rich enough to own a BOSE sound system to round things up.

I'm was initially planning to modify the set with a mod chip so I could really save the money on the games (you know what I mean). On the other hand, the scarcity of the Nintendo Wii makes me think twice. What happen if I screw up the soldering of the 28 wires and "bricked" the set? Even with money, it will be hard to buy another Wii. At the moment, I stick with buying expensive original games instead and rely on Gamespot.com for the reviews and previews.

Will be setting up the Nintendo Wii on Friday if I get my off-day from work and invite the guys over for gaming session over the weekend. I think Mario Party 8 will be a great game to start with.

"Every decision is ABC- Activator, Behavior and Consequence and in lay man term it means Intention, Action and Outcome. So think before you act, know your intention, plan your action and you will get the desire outcome"

Cooking Mama!!! - Japanese Curry Rice

Using method from the popular Nintendo DS Lite game "Cooking Mama",

1. Dice and slice carrots and potatoes
2. Boil carrots and potatoes
3. Drain carrots and potatoes
4. Fried onion
5. Toss in the carrots and potatoes
6. Fried some more
7. Put in the curry paste cube + 3 cup of water
8. Simmer but keep stirring the mixture till its well mixed.
9. Cook rice.
10. Put rice on plate leaving half the plate for the curry mixture
11. Pour curry mixture into the empty portion of the plate
12. Enjoy... (Chicken is optional).

Wonderful Sunday Weather

Today, Sunday really earns its name for the excellent weather we got here in Dallas. The sun was obscured for this cloudless day and the temperature is at a cool 20 degree Celsius. No strong wind to add to the wind chill but just light gentle breeze. Today was heaven compared to the other days in the past where its either too cold, too dark or too windy, no to mention the heavy rain last week that cost a series of flood around the area.

I went for a run today, not the usual route but new ones just to make good use of the weather. Was running along a river stream connecting between Cowboys Parkway and Rodeo Dr, can see ducks, geese and crane sliding in the water without a care in the world. Have not been running for almost 1 whole week and already feeling kinda guilty about it especially when I suppose to work towards my goal of completing the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon 2008.

Came home, took a hot shower and headed out for the weekend grocery shopping. Its time to bring the top down for my Mazda Miata. I love to feel the breeze and sunshine of driving so I guess if I ever come back to US again, I'm sure to get a convertible again. Maybe a Honda S2000? Anyway, the weather again was damn good, I really took my own sweet time driving 20min to reach "Yue Mei" Asian Supermarket. Sunday is a day to stay at home and do housekeeping and grocery shopping. Got myself $28 worth of grocery to sustain for this week.

This Sunday reminds me of the song from No Doubt- "Sunday Morning" shown above in a Youtube video. I wish I could bring today's weather back to Singapore and have it for 365 days of the year.

Its me enjoying the air filled with CO2 emission of my car.

Was digging through the pictures in my camera phone and found this...

I wonder how many people in the world hold a pen this way. What can we tell of a person base on the way he/she hold the pen?

Did I or did I not chiong the red light?

N* N** B**!!!

Today is mail reading day, thats when I read an accumulated 4 days worth of letter in my mail box. Wah lau eh...kanna a traffic fine letter from my local city Coppell Police. Reading it, looks like I was caught running the Red Light on February 10, 2008 at 3:37pm. I DON'T BELIEVE IT? I never run a red light since I came to Dallas. Is this a mistake? In this citation, I have 3 option...Pay the US$75 fine online, reply the authority that the car was already sold and I was not driving it or Contest the fine in Court.

I choose the 3rd option without even reading the back of the citation. With furious anger for been misjudged, I shaft the reply slip into the enclosed envelope and slam a stamp in the corner. To me, there is nothing to loss. If still found guilty, I only need to pay extra US$25 court fine. I was so damn sure I was innocent but I still decided to call my supervisor who got the same fine last time too...

Riccardo: Hey Sir, heard you kanna a traffic camera fine last time right?

Supervisor: Yah lor.

Riccardo: So did you contest the fine in court? You know lah, that stupid camera sometime anyhow shoot.

Supervisor: No lah. I just went ahead and pay the fine. Actually hor...I login online to see the video of my traffic offense. I know why I kanna the fine liao. I slow down but did not fully stop before turning right at the junction during red light.

*In USA, driver are allow to turn right on Red Light, provided they come to a full stop before turning.

Riccardo: Is it? Can watch the video online? Wah....Ok sir I go check it out. Thanks.

So I read the fine print at the bottom of the citation, "Please be aware that there are instructions on how to view the video associated with this violation". I fire up the Firefox browser and type this address;

https://www.photonotice.com/login.asp

Citation number is CPR0005737, Vehicle Lic No. is K95BYN and finally City Code: COPPEL

Thank god I did not foolishly go to court and pay that extra US$25 for nothing. In this world of high technology, nothing escape the eye of the sky and guilty as charged.

Red light is lit for 1.48 secs, a green Mazda Miata with the top down approaches the junction.

Red Light lit for 2.75 secs, Mazda Miata turn right. Jialat liao...

It will be impossible to get acquitted even if Sudas Anadas is my defence lawyer. 100% my fault with not only the pictures but with the video that you guys can see when you login to the website above. Cannot deny is me in the picture especially with the top down. Looks like I was in a hurry to head home for the toilet that day. Anyway, excellent quality photo shot by the Coppell Police and really nice video. I almost laugh my head off at my near silly mistake of heading to the court to contest this traffic fine.

Mazda Miata? US$7800
Chionging the Red light? US$75
Contesting in court? US$25
For a sky view picture of me driving a convertible and a 60 days video? Priceless.
For everything else, there is the Mastercard to pay the fine.

Watch This Movie- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

A relationship gone sour. Clementine hire the help of a professional memory erasing company name Lacuna Inc to erase her memory of Joel. Joel happens to learn about it and was totally devastated that Clementine could not remember him anymore and have already went on with life with another guy. Joel approach Lacuna Inc to erase his memory of Clementine. That night of the procedure, something happen. As Joel memory flashback from the time of the relationship fighting to the time of their happy memorable moments together, he realize that not only the ugly end of their relationship will be erase but all the happy moments too. Joel fight hard to rebel against the operation in his mind while the doctor target individual brain cells for memory erasure. As the memory flash backed in Joel mind, he only have one last look at it before it disappear and it goes all the way to the first day Joel and Clementine met at the beach.

Day break. After a night of brain cell zapping and lot of "mistake" by Lucana Inc staff, a doctor and a beautiful secretary. Joel wake up for work.... somehow he skipped work to head to the beach. He met Clementine again.

Ok... I don't wanna be a spoiler here. Right after American History X and Pulp Fiction... this is one movie you really got to watch, especially for couples facing a rough time in relationship, in the brink of breakup. Never knew Jim Carrey could be less than a funny man and Titanic's Kate Winslet can act like a Ah Lian untill I watch this film. 9/10 rating!

Words of the Devil, the God and Yoda

"Love the hate that generate the rage against a baseless faith that influence the mind of countless age. For when the second armageddon falls upon the Earth, I shall be king of the new world. You will remember me as your lord and know my call sign 666"

"An Interview With The Devil"

"But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation"

"Mark 3:29, Holy Bible"

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

Jedi Master Yoda from Starwars.

2 Singaporean Fighting In Public

Its the long Weekend! Its the President Day!!!

Yeah!!! Time to go shopping! Sadly the weather forecast is for 100% thunderstorm tomorrow so our travel plans had been moved to Sunday instead.

Today I am furious. After paying my credit card outstanding amount, Chase bank still charge me an interest of US$22 when the guy over the phone previously mention no interest rate will be vested on my account. Told the customer service officer over the phone to waive it off (in fact I demand) but she just firmly stood her grounds. WTF. Anyway, its just US$22 dollars. Not that I am rich or what but just wanna keep a good mood for this weekend and no brood over it.

Since there is no travel plan for tomorrow. I'm just gonna organize a Olive Garden feast out with some of my colleague in the evening. As for tonight, after finishing up all the weekend admin stuff like paying bills, laundry, checking e-mails and scanning for good President Day technology deals...I just simply gonna lay back with a Pint of BEN and JERRY ice cream and enjoy a movie.

Talking about movie, I seems to be watching more and more early 90s film like Pulp Fiction which was film in 1994. That was when I was just Primary 6. I'm sure I won't be able to understand the film back than let alone watch it since its R(A). Man...whats the point with the movie censorship grading and rating to deter youth from the influence when everyone can watch or download it off the Internet? For all it does, its not really for protection but to pacify the parents, religious group and anti-violent group. After watching Pulp Fiction, I just don't understand how R(A) it could be to young people...

Its just John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson with Guns. Whats wrong?

Happy Valentine Day to all!

Everyone went home, I blogged in base.

The incident that happen yesterday show that work in the aviation line is not a walk in the park. I am thankful that at less all the guys involve in this mini-episode are given a chance to write in personally to our boss to express our reflection and thoughts. Although I took it like an extra duty initially, I felt relieve in the end to be able to voice out my views on the incident. It make me recall all the screw-ups in the past and counting all my bullet holes.

At less the situation are handled by close supervisors who we all work with and not some outsiders who could easily turn a spark into a nuclear blast. If this incident thought me anything, its first about strict adherence to SOPs and second on allowing the man on the ground to feedback. No one like to have burden and everyone like to have ownership in our work.

This week have been pretty ok, not much of maintenence activity. I am gearing myself in all the secondary appointment to prepare for the annual audit every government department got to face. So many areas to touch up on that one could easily be lost in the a Maze of paper work and organization policy. Thank myself for using a PDA to keep track of target and to-do list.

The long weekend coming this week, we got a holiday on next Monday which is call "President Day". No election is going to happen in USA anytime soon but I wish Hillary Clinton win the presidency. Time for a change and have the first women President in the USA. This long weekend, I am already planning a shopping trip to Round Rock and San Marcos factory outlet. Its my last long weekend in USA so its forgiveable to spend a bit more this time round. Maybe heading down to WinStar Casino on Sunday.

Difference between 1st and 2nd generation R4DS

Gambling on 大年初一

What better way to start the New Year by engaging the the most popular socialization activity of Chinese New Year, gambling. Its nothing evil at all to gamble for the 15 days of Chinese Lunar New Year celebration because its a great way to get everyone together on this very popular activity. As always the gambling activity leads to lots of chatting, laughing and sharing of fortune which is not too bad a way to break the ice sometimes especially with relatives you only meet once a year. There was an old saying, your luck on the first day of Chinese New Year will determine your fortune for the rest of the year. So today plan of going to the strip club after dinner scrapped, instead I invited couple of our colleagues from the base for rounds and rounds of Texas Hold'em and Blackjack.

I was pretty lucky to start this New Year with a US$20 winning in the end which could mean a prosperous year ahead for me . Could have walk away with more money but been a host means I got to sit till the end of the game, not an issue at all since gambling to me is an entertainment, win or loss. Gambling aside, I really enjoy the company I got in my house today cause having friends and guest in the house to warm things up is already a great blessing for the New Year.

Been far away from all my family, relatives and close friends in Singapore... The guys and gals in Peace Prairie Detachment are my friends and family now . Who will be with you and who will help you in times of need when you are working overseas? I am thankful to the people right here who point out my mistakes so I never repeat them again, people who silently helped, pulling me out of a major disaster in my career and finally those who accept just the way I am.

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone!!!

新年快乐
恭喜发财
万事如意
身体健康

Its officially the first day of Chinese New Year today in Singapore however back here in Dallas its Chinese New Year Eve. It was suppose to be half day of work that eventually roll over into a full, 8 to 5 working hours. Somehow manage to complete our aircraft phase servicing before the Chinese New Year Day. I believe the management wants to meet this target to bring in good luck for the New Year. As the old saying goes, don't own anything over the Chinese New Year. Well we got everyone available in the same working shift today, a full force of focused manpower to accelerate the last few miles of this phase bird.

Out from work in the evening, just before Sunset with the sky splitting North and South with a hue of night blue and orange dusk. Couple of our guys headed to Wingstop a "Reunion Dinner", at less a small fanfare for CNY eve.

Once again, I miss out having reunion dinner with my family this year. Last year it was due to an exercise which eventually never happen and this year Ah Bao and Gary took the flight out of Dallas to Singapore thus the rest of us have to be back here to support our Base. Not an issue actually for I will definitely be celebrating CNY2009. I have planned for a reunion dinner tomorrow with my section guys and couple of other close friends from other section and on Friday, Peace Prairie Detachment will be holding a Dinner at MAXIM restaurant in Richardson to celebrate Chinese New Year and also to mark our 12th Anniversary of operation in United States. In a pure sheer of coincidence, I was selected to be the MC for the Dinner co hosting with LTA "Han Solo". Ah.... I guess I will not do some fancy stuff like last year Chinese New Year dinner. Just gonna prepare some simple script and some improvised dynamic speeches to suit the flow of the dinner program which include lottery, singing, Bingo and a video presentation made by our in house video editor, James a.k.a "Toyol".

Today I decided to call everyone in my phone list to send my Chinese New Year wishes. First off is Mum and Dad, than Sis. My brothers from the 9 Dragon clan is next before calling a couple of close relatives. Finally I send my wishes and blessing to a couple of significant women in my life. I think I have been neglecting the values of keeping in touch with my family and friends. When I am back in Singapore this May, its time to work on building a better relationship with all the people I should have treasured in the past.

As for the Chinese New Year resolution, its got to be forging better ties with people around me.

Korean Food.

Got of from Guard duty today but screwed up some of the duty paperwork. Regrettable but nothing I can do now until I head back to work tomorrow to settle those papers in the name of organization policy. I kept that whole episode in the back of my mine and head to the kitchen to make some Korean Bi Bim Bab, Rice with meat, season vegetable, seaweed flakes and a douse of Korean hot chilli paste called "Gyo-Chu-Jung". Not a difficult rice bowl to cook but require time to slice and dice the season vegetable like Zuccini, carrots, mushroom, onion, Enoki mushroom, radish, seaweeds (as many vege as you like). Not to forget seasoning the meat for the dish. Finally a fried a sunny side up egg and place it at the top of the rice, veges and meat.

A violent conflict of green, brown, white, yellow and peach ended in a bloody conclusion at the top of the rice hill.

The highlight of the dish that make it Korean goes "Gyo-Chu-Jung", hot chilli paste. Its my next favorite chilli sauce after our Singapore Nasi Lemak chilli. This can be brought from any Korean or Asian supermarket right over here in Dallas and it comes stored in a glass container. It looks and feel kinda dry so some preparation got to go to it before serving with the rice bowl. Thanks to tip from a friend from a Korean restaurant over here, I learn to mix the chilli paste with sesame oil, some sugar and (this may sound weird) some Gatorade, Sprite or clear color soft drinks to slightly liquefy it. Took me 1 and a half hours to prepare 2 serving of Bi Bim Bab, one for dinner and one for lunch tomorrow.

The correct way to eat Bi Bim Bab, 1) Put the red sauce in the rice bowl, 2)mix everything up like rojak, 3) Use a spoon and god given mouth to eat. 4) Wash the dishes.

This is the third time I made Bi Bim Bab, the first time is a year ago . And that brings me to the next after dinner activity, playing around with photoshop on one of the pictures we took at Ruidoso during my last vacation... Opps! Korea theme again!


Less than 24 hours to Chinese Lunar New Year eve, this is the second year in a row I missed Reunion Dinner back home.

Germany, Italy and Japan

World War II begins in the year 1939. The major players in the Axis power were Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan. They dominated the early period of World War II in the battlefield with their Blitzkrieg attack on neighboring countries. The Axis power were defeated by the combined might and brains of the Allies.

Flash forward to the 21st Century, Germany is the world leading luxury car maker the likes of Audi, Mercedes, Jaguar, BMW, Porsche. Japan is the leader in light, compact and fuel saver car brands like Honda, Toyota and Mazda. For the high end performance sports car categories goes to Italy for their Ferrari and Lamborghini.

This are the 3 major players in the car maker market. Could you imagine this 3 country coming together again as an Axis Power of car industry?

Another 45 million dollar for me.

I think its time to change my e-mail into something less moronic. My e-mail seems to give internet swindler an impression that I am a moron easily giving in to their e-mail like the one I just recieved...

Hello,

I am Ching-Hua Hsu, Executive Vice President, Head Auditor Wealth Management Division of Taiwan business Bank, Taiwan. in our current performance of Annual Account Audit, I found within our database a domant accounts with $44.5m USD deposits that has a registered name to it, following the domancy of the account, an investigation was plunged, the result was that the account owner had died, further investigation for the next of kin to the account owner proved negative as both the depositor and family were killed in Iraq.

Being in the helm of affairs, I have the power and expertise to have these funds moved but there has to be a recipient, I therefore seek you consent to collaborate with me by letting me document you as the relative to the deceased client in position to receive the $44.5m USD on our behalf.
Interested in working with me on this, do send me an email providing me with your name and telephone No. indicating your interest, on hearing from you, I will provide you with further information to the logistics of having these funds moved. I would prefer you reach me via my personal email
address:

Email: info_ching_hua_hsu1@yahoo.com.hk

I immediately will provide you with more info.

Sincerely,
Mr. Ching-Hua Hsu

Looks like those f**king Nigerian scam company have move their HQ to Taiwan. But wait a minute, did you guys just notice that his e-mail was xxxx@yahoo.com.hk? E-mail address registered in Hong Kong, bank in Taiwan, no official business e-mail...very very suspicious. I decide to reply to his e-mail... Hopefully this guy is really a Nigerian and don't understand what I am trying to say...

Hi,

Well, about that huge sum of money… here is my details..do contact me ASAP!!!

Name: 卡尼娜
Age: 赵记白
Contact Number: 兰教逃
Address: 他妈的！！！ 以为华人好骗是吗？

Sincere,

The Devil who will thrust his flaming lance up your ass.