An overheard conversation during lunch at Dino Cake House & Cafe
During lunch at Dino Cake House & Cafe at Upper Thomson Road, I heard a woman in her fifties or sixties confiding loudly to her female companion on the what she would get if and when her brother were to die. In this tiny eatery, her strongly Singlish-tainted voice could carry quite far and it did, conveying this rather sordid tale of wants and mores to a small horrified audience.
It was rather amusing as you could almost hear her thump her chest with pride of her meagre means as she remarked to her companion that she was the poorest person in her church, in her extended family and amongst her siblings. It was evidently a badge of pride for her.
She related with relish of how her mother was a wild, uncontrolled woman and also of a rape of a sister during the Japanese occupation to her fascinated companion.
Yikes! I hurriedly finished the bland meal I was having and left the establishment.
11 April 2007
10 April 2007
09 April 2007
Wargaming Sunday
I played the El Arish '67 wargame from the Strategy & Tactics magazine with Seow Buay on Sunday. My Egyptian army got crushed with Seow Buay taking a 30+ VP margin.
A week before I had played Combat Commander: Europe against Zi Zhao and a week before that, against June Hwang. In both instances, my American and my Russian forces were unable to dislodge the Germans and I lost correspondingly.
Siu Hean, Zi Zhao and I also did play Settlers of Catan then. Zi Zhao was obviously on the roll as he won both games effortlessly.
I played the El Arish '67 wargame from the Strategy & Tactics magazine with Seow Buay on Sunday. My Egyptian army got crushed with Seow Buay taking a 30+ VP margin.
A week before I had played Combat Commander: Europe against Zi Zhao and a week before that, against June Hwang. In both instances, my American and my Russian forces were unable to dislodge the Germans and I lost correspondingly.
Siu Hean, Zi Zhao and I also did play Settlers of Catan then. Zi Zhao was obviously on the roll as he won both games effortlessly.
Saturday
What a busy day Saturday proved to be. I was just sipping an ice coffee item and reading Sir Charles Oman's 'A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages Volume 1' at NYDC at the Heeren when Wei Yi and his friend dropped by. We chatted for a bit.
Later, I was looking at stuff at Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City when Brian called. Suddenly, we were playing 'Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War' at the LAN gaming place on the 9th floor of Orchard Cineleisure. Now, Brian had awakened my interest in that game which I had played a bit but was not too impressed originally. Heh.
Wow, that did bring back memories of those years when Wilson, Brian and Willie came back to Singapore and we would visit LAN cafes. And I recalled that Wei Yi and Augustine joined us once then, that was, before they got married and acquired a family.
What a busy day Saturday proved to be. I was just sipping an ice coffee item and reading Sir Charles Oman's 'A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages Volume 1' at NYDC at the Heeren when Wei Yi and his friend dropped by. We chatted for a bit.
Later, I was looking at stuff at Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City when Brian called. Suddenly, we were playing 'Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War' at the LAN gaming place on the 9th floor of Orchard Cineleisure. Now, Brian had awakened my interest in that game which I had played a bit but was not too impressed originally. Heh.
Wow, that did bring back memories of those years when Wilson, Brian and Willie came back to Singapore and we would visit LAN cafes. And I recalled that Wei Yi and Augustine joined us once then, that was, before they got married and acquired a family.
08 April 2007
07 April 2007
06 April 2007
State of Progress: Tribal Wars, World 5
I have managed to seize a 6800-pt village, propelling my ranking in the tribe to number 2, albeit, temporarily. The village was a 7100-pt one until I reduced the level 20 walls to level 0.
The player whom I took it from appeared to be one of those 'SimCity' player types who only built and neglected their defences. I swept aside his meagre defences with 828 light cavalry, 300+ mounted archers, 1000+ axemen. His counterattack swiftly came but was easily stamped out as it consisted only of 200+ light cavalry and axemen!
I have managed to seize a 6800-pt village, propelling my ranking in the tribe to number 2, albeit, temporarily. The village was a 7100-pt one until I reduced the level 20 walls to level 0.
The player whom I took it from appeared to be one of those 'SimCity' player types who only built and neglected their defences. I swept aside his meagre defences with 828 light cavalry, 300+ mounted archers, 1000+ axemen. His counterattack swiftly came but was easily stamped out as it consisted only of 200+ light cavalry and axemen!
05 April 2007
Men in Shirts
Yes.
Yes, it had to happen some day. The inevitable. Horrid images that mankind were not meant to see. Things that mankind were not meant to know. Things that could induce insanity. The netherspawn from the Old Ones? Cthulhu rising from the depths?
No.
It was worse.
It was the very image of Wilson and Brian in shirt and pants!
The End of the World is upon us! Nooooooo!
Someone, save us!
Now, to complete this picture, we just need Colin in shirt and pants too!
Yes, the Anarchist and the Grand Admiral were spotted in Tec-Drome at Sim Lim Square. Will the universe implode now? It is not a steady state universe, is it? (Given that Brian expands and expands each time I see him...)
Brian was spotted with the Warhammer Dawn of War Anthrology!
Yes.
Yes, it had to happen some day. The inevitable. Horrid images that mankind were not meant to see. Things that mankind were not meant to know. Things that could induce insanity. The netherspawn from the Old Ones? Cthulhu rising from the depths?
No.
It was worse.
It was the very image of Wilson and Brian in shirt and pants!
The End of the World is upon us! Nooooooo!
Someone, save us!
Now, to complete this picture, we just need Colin in shirt and pants too!
Yes, the Anarchist and the Grand Admiral were spotted in Tec-Drome at Sim Lim Square. Will the universe implode now? It is not a steady state universe, is it? (Given that Brian expands and expands each time I see him...)
Brian was spotted with the Warhammer Dawn of War Anthrology!
In which AK illustrates why he is a D&D Loser
Another funny Windows Live Messenger exchange:
AK Silverune says:
anyhow, the D&D game was fantastic yesterday. we went up against frost giants. i took out 3 by myself.
AK Silverune says:
144 points of damage in one round. it's because i had maximized spell and the frost giants were double damage for fire. i used scorching rays.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Sounds like you have completed your Loserhood after all.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You are now a complete loser.
AK Silverune says:
i won't be goaded by you. i'm reformed.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Reformed loser or unreformed loser, you're a loser.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Capital L.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
LOSER.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
D&D Loser.
AK Silverune says:
it took 12 rounds to kill everything in sight, that's 72 seconds.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Yes Loser?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You killed a roach?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
In 72 seconds? That's admirable.
AK Silverune says:
frost giants you fool
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You better go defrost your fridge before it breaks down.
AK Silverune says:
where did it go wrong for you? from birth?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Woo! Snap!
Another funny Windows Live Messenger exchange:
AK Silverune says:
anyhow, the D&D game was fantastic yesterday. we went up against frost giants. i took out 3 by myself.
AK Silverune says:
144 points of damage in one round. it's because i had maximized spell and the frost giants were double damage for fire. i used scorching rays.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Sounds like you have completed your Loserhood after all.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You are now a complete loser.
AK Silverune says:
i won't be goaded by you. i'm reformed.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Reformed loser or unreformed loser, you're a loser.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Capital L.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
LOSER.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
D&D Loser.
AK Silverune says:
it took 12 rounds to kill everything in sight, that's 72 seconds.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Yes Loser?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You killed a roach?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
In 72 seconds? That's admirable.
AK Silverune says:
frost giants you fool
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You better go defrost your fridge before it breaks down.
AK Silverune says:
where did it go wrong for you? from birth?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Woo! Snap!
Message from Amazon:
"Important Message Please note that the price of "Infantry Warfare in the Early Fourteenth Century: Discipline, Tactics, and Technology (Warfare in History)" has increased from $35.00 to $29.95 since you placed it in your Shopping Cart. Items in your cart will always reflect the most recent price displayed on their product detail pages. "
Hahahahah. Let's see more prices increases please!
"Important Message Please note that the price of "Infantry Warfare in the Early Fourteenth Century: Discipline, Tactics, and Technology (Warfare in History)" has increased from $35.00 to $29.95 since you placed it in your Shopping Cart. Items in your cart will always reflect the most recent price displayed on their product detail pages. "
Hahahahah. Let's see more prices increases please!
Malaysian Government offended yet again
Oh-oh. Here we go again. First, it was the slums scene in the Sean Connery flick 'Entrapment' which had Mahathir* railing against it, then there was 'Zoolander' a movie about male models with its depiction of the Malaysian Prime Minister. Now, a humourous and highly popular British automobile show, Top Gear, gets it for deriding the Perodua Kelisa, a Malaysian sub-compact, on its programme.
Quote from BBC News:
"Jeremy Clarkson thinks Perodua Kelisa sounds like a disease. Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has come under attack in the Malaysian parliament for labelling one of the country's cars the worst in the world. "
More:
"Mr Clarkson has voiced his frustrations with the small three-cylinder model in both magazine articles and on the Top Gear motoring show.
In one article, he said its name was like a disease and suggested it was built in jungles by people who wear leaves for shoes.
And on the show, he described it as "unimaginative junk, with no soul, no flair and no passion".
He then smashed it, hung it from a crane with a one-tonne weight attached, before blowing it up."
Hahahaha. Too funny.
And of course, there is that military comedy north of Malaysia. Kinda like MASH if you know what I mean...
*He had expressed strong anti-Jewish statements loudly again and again in his long political career.
Oh-oh. Here we go again. First, it was the slums scene in the Sean Connery flick 'Entrapment' which had Mahathir* railing against it, then there was 'Zoolander' a movie about male models with its depiction of the Malaysian Prime Minister. Now, a humourous and highly popular British automobile show, Top Gear, gets it for deriding the Perodua Kelisa, a Malaysian sub-compact, on its programme.
Quote from BBC News:
"Jeremy Clarkson thinks Perodua Kelisa sounds like a disease. Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has come under attack in the Malaysian parliament for labelling one of the country's cars the worst in the world. "
More:
"Mr Clarkson has voiced his frustrations with the small three-cylinder model in both magazine articles and on the Top Gear motoring show.
In one article, he said its name was like a disease and suggested it was built in jungles by people who wear leaves for shoes.
And on the show, he described it as "unimaginative junk, with no soul, no flair and no passion".
He then smashed it, hung it from a crane with a one-tonne weight attached, before blowing it up."
Hahahaha. Too funny.
And of course, there is that military comedy north of Malaysia. Kinda like MASH if you know what I mean...
*He had expressed strong anti-Jewish statements loudly again and again in his long political career.
Roma 2 Manchester United 1
YESYESYES! Still, it is only the first leg. I certainly hope that Roma will go through. The Red Devils are still the heavy favourites.
As for players with suspect temperaments like Rooney and Scholes who have long red card histories, BRAVO! Please get sent off more often. Christiano Ronaldo, please learn from these two clowns.
On a related note regarding clowns and football, I hope the FA will wake up and remove Steve McClaren.
YESYESYES! Still, it is only the first leg. I certainly hope that Roma will go through. The Red Devils are still the heavy favourites.
As for players with suspect temperaments like Rooney and Scholes who have long red card histories, BRAVO! Please get sent off more often. Christiano Ronaldo, please learn from these two clowns.
On a related note regarding clowns and football, I hope the FA will wake up and remove Steve McClaren.
04 April 2007
Surveys
I just received a telephone call a few moments ago.
J: Hi, this is J. from A.C. Nielson, I would like to speak to someone who does transactions on government systems.
Me: I do.
J: I have a short survey. Can you help me with it?
Me: No.
J: It's just a short one.
Me: I don't do surveys
J: Thank you.
My only feedback? Don't force people to use those electronic forms (ie Income tax, etc) and voice response systems. I know a lot of old folks (and also younger ones) and they don't talk to machines for a variety of reasons, thank you.
I just received a telephone call a few moments ago.
J: Hi, this is J. from A.C. Nielson, I would like to speak to someone who does transactions on government systems.
Me: I do.
J: I have a short survey. Can you help me with it?
Me: No.
J: It's just a short one.
Me: I don't do surveys
J: Thank you.
My only feedback? Don't force people to use those electronic forms (ie Income tax, etc) and voice response systems. I know a lot of old folks (and also younger ones) and they don't talk to machines for a variety of reasons, thank you.
03 April 2007
Absconded with the Loot
AK has an obsession with looting as evidenced by this little exchange early this morning:
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Good morning Friend Kuo!
AK Silverune says:
you're in early. are you there to steal money?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Steal?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm... It would appear that you have confused your own objectives with mine.
AK Silverune says:
yeah, theft. grab. snatch. rob.
AK Silverune says:
since you're in charge, you can loot all you want.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm.. Is that what you would do?
AK Silverune says:
oh yes. that's what i've done - past tense. not future tense.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Was that with your father's bank?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Or your magazine operation?
AK Silverune says:
my planet you fool. i'm the high lord. how quickly the peons forget their lord patron.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Yes High Toad.
AK Silverune says:
but really. steal all the money from your office now since you're there early.
AK Silverune says:
i'm not instigating, merely suggesting.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Is that why you fled to Australia? After stealing money from your ad firm?
AK Silverune says:
did you make your save vs spell? it's a will save vs the suggestion spell.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Did you make your casting roll?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
No?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Obviously, you didn't.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Failed spell.
AK Silverune says:
you fool, i cast the spell, no need to make roll. you have to save.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Is that why you fled to Australia? After stealing money from your ad firm?
AK Silverune says:
you're born a fool! you've got a great chance now to strike it rich! steal the money and pencils and flee to zimbabwe!
AK Silverune says:
you can settle down with some blick chick and be happy with the pencils.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm.. Is that what you did? Stole money and settled down with some blick chick in Australia with pencils?
AK Silverune says:
you're taking my material and using it! plagerising bastard!
AK Silverune says:
get your own shit.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm.. You did not attempt even a denial. It must be true.
AK Silverune says:
i deny your very existence.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Of course you can since you have now absconded with the money.
AK has an obsession with looting as evidenced by this little exchange early this morning:
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Good morning Friend Kuo!
AK Silverune says:
you're in early. are you there to steal money?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Steal?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm... It would appear that you have confused your own objectives with mine.
AK Silverune says:
yeah, theft. grab. snatch. rob.
AK Silverune says:
since you're in charge, you can loot all you want.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm.. Is that what you would do?
AK Silverune says:
oh yes. that's what i've done - past tense. not future tense.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Was that with your father's bank?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Or your magazine operation?
AK Silverune says:
my planet you fool. i'm the high lord. how quickly the peons forget their lord patron.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Yes High Toad.
AK Silverune says:
but really. steal all the money from your office now since you're there early.
AK Silverune says:
i'm not instigating, merely suggesting.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Is that why you fled to Australia? After stealing money from your ad firm?
AK Silverune says:
did you make your save vs spell? it's a will save vs the suggestion spell.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Did you make your casting roll?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
No?
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Obviously, you didn't.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Failed spell.
AK Silverune says:
you fool, i cast the spell, no need to make roll. you have to save.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Is that why you fled to Australia? After stealing money from your ad firm?
AK Silverune says:
you're born a fool! you've got a great chance now to strike it rich! steal the money and pencils and flee to zimbabwe!
AK Silverune says:
you can settle down with some blick chick and be happy with the pencils.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm.. Is that what you did? Stole money and settled down with some blick chick in Australia with pencils?
AK Silverune says:
you're taking my material and using it! plagerising bastard!
AK Silverune says:
get your own shit.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm.. You did not attempt even a denial. It must be true.
AK Silverune says:
i deny your very existence.
Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Of course you can since you have now absconded with the money.
Quotes from David Cronenberg's eXistenZ
Ted: I have this phobia about having my body penetrated surgically. You know what I mean?
Ted: I have this phobia about having my body penetrated surgically. You know what I mean?
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