Hidden "Yaahooooo, yaahooo...!" song on Yahoo! Homepage

TRY THIS: Press the "!" button at the Yahoo! Homepage. It will sing "Yaahooooo, yaahooo...!" followed by a girl's laugh.

NOTE: It has to be on Yahoo! official homepage and NOT on localized Yahoo! homepage for your country. Follow http://www.yahoo.com/ now!

Strategy to win Rock-paper-scissors game

How to win Rock-paper-scissors every time [via]

Need to do more

It's just not enough. I just need to do more good deeds. Not enough not enough.

Decided to meet Mr Tan Kin Lian

I have decided to meet up with former NTUC Income CEO Mr Tan Kin Lian on a Sunday if the day is okay for him. The venue of the meeting will be his office and agenda will be a sharing session on his newly launched website.

Cancelled

Android 2.2 push to HTC EVO phones next week

Android 2.2 will be pushed to HTC EVO phones next week but that is only to US Sprint carrier. Will telcos from other countries do similar on the later HTC phones?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.8

Android 2.2 coming to Motorola Droid next week

It is reported that Android 2.2 coming to US top carrier Verizon Wireless's Motorola Droid next week. Will it come to Singapore?

I shall try updating my Droid next week.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.8

Felt good for being helpful today

I felt good for being helpful today.

A caucasian approached me along Havelock Road near my workplace today, asking for direction to Furama Hotel. I told him it is of walking distance, perhaps 10 minutes walk. He decided to wait for cab instead.

I walked away along Beo Crescent for a cab to Seletar Airbase and got one very soon.

Okay, so what had I done then? I called out to the caucasian guy and gave him a free ride to Furama before making my way to my destination. I was appreciated with a wide smile :)

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Seth Klarman's book "Margin of Safety" that cost over $1,500 is a recommended read for retail investors

Seth Klarman's book called “Margin of Safety” about value investing was not popular in the past and so it went out of print. Recently, this book became popular and hot again when some Wall Street people started to look for it. This book is now even priced at over $1,500 on Amazon!

The book looks like this

Yes, the book may cost thousands on Amazon but it can be downloaded for free from this site. Why wait?

Financial report announcement on 30 July 2010

Quite a lot.

1. Berger International Ltd
2. DBS Group Holdings Ltd
3. HG Metal Manufacturing Ltd
4. Hwa Hong Corp Ltd
5. Japan Land Ltd
6. Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd
7. Lereno Bio-Chem Ltd
8. MAP Technology Holdings Ltd
9. Rokko Holdings Ltd
10. SMRT Corp Ltd
11. Soup Restaurant Group Ltd
12. Tuan Sing Holdings Ltd
13. United Fiber System Ltd
14. Viking Offshore and Marine Ltd

A quote I saw on Facebook

The greatest feeling in life is to find someone who knows ur faults and weaknesses but still willing to embrace u with so much love without doubt.

23岁小女孩 朱洁（童声）很感人

真的很感动。

89% on CNA Poll says "I am not interested at all" on Youth Olympics Games (YOG)

89% voted "I am not interested at all" on on CNA poll asking if they were keen in watching Youth Olympics Games (YOG).

All thanks to the humiliating poll response, the poll was taken down by CNA. The poll result was recorded here before it was removed.

The original poll was at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/polls/index.php?action=vote&id=494&ranid=742&voteNr=5.

MM Lee: "Work as long as you can" - There should be no retirement age

I agree with Minister Mentor Lee Kwan Yew on his comment that one should keep his mind occupied to stay healthy. However, I do not think there should be no retirement age for workers because everyone should have the luxury to rest and relax after having worked for decades.

MM Lee was also quoted

There’s something to do tomorrow and you keep going. If you start saying ‘Oh, I’m old’ and you start reading novels or playing golf or playing chess or Scrabble, you’re on your way down.

Playing chess or scrabble can lead one on his way down? How is that possible?

Never retire [via]

"Miserable" is used often

On my way home from work today, I realised I actually used the word "miserable" 3 times to describe my life for the next 4 to 5 months.

Mentally prepared!

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Aug 9 National Day public holiday is on Monday

This year's Aug 9 National Day public holiday is on a Monday and this means it is going to be a long weekend for many, however, it is not the case for me.

I will be attending lectures on Friday and Saturday!

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July is coming to an end soon

And August will be next.

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My Estimated Dividends Received Per Year .. Shortfall

My estimated dividends received per year is approximately in the range of S$1.1K to S$1.2K. This excludes stocks that have declared no-dividend like Neptune Orient Lines (NOL). When I say dividends, I mean passive income and not profit/loss from selling counters.

If my dividend payout can be S$1.5K to S$2K per month, it would be unrealistically wonderful.

Mapletree Logistics Trust Amount Distributable for 2Q 2010 Rises by 8% Y-O-Y

For 2Q 2010, Mapletree Logistics Trust amount distributable for 2Q 2010 rises by 8% y-o-y. Dividend of S$0.015 per share is announced. Dividend yield for 2Q is 6.780%.

Warren Buffett Philanthropic Pledge

I admire Warren Buffett and he is certainly one I respect a lot.

More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death.

My philanthropic pledge [via]

Rename Files Fast with the Tab Key

Apple White iPhone 4 Delayed Citing Manufacturing Difficulties

Apple cited manufacturing difficulties is the reason in delaying shipping of new iPhone 4 in white casing. Is it really so difficult to do casing in white? Running of white pain?

The delay in the release of the White iPhone 4 has given birth to several rumors and the strongest among them is that Apple is delaying its release because it is planning to start selling the White iPhone 4 with an improved antenna design. Notably, iPhone 4, which went on sale from June 24 is facing serious reception issues due to some flaw in its antenna design and the Cupertino-based firm is under intense pressure to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Apple Delaying White iPhone 4 Release For Antenna Redesign? [via]

Apple just couldn't stop being a crybaby, attacking others on antenna issues

Steve Jobs just wouldn't admit iPhone 4 has got a design flaw, resulting in its antenna reception to drop when held in a natural grip. iPhone 4 is totally exposed without proper shield and even contact with wet skin can result in interference.

Yes, almost all smartphones will experience drop in signals but then such phones are designed in a way whereby the antennas are located out of way so that natural grip will not affect obvious drop in reception. Some phones like the Motorola Droid X has got 2 antennas built-in to mitigate such antenna problem.

Apple's latest counter-attack in proving all smartphones are flawed is on Droid X (notice the entire phone vibrates and the position of the index finger)

The difference? For the iPhone 4 to lose signal quality, you only need your palm touching the lower corner of the phone. For the Droid X, you need to cover the entire length of the bottom. It's almost as if, you know, it was engineered for it to be difficult to cut the signal.

I hope Apple stop carrying out such similar demonstrations. iPhone 4 is obviously design flawed. Demo on other phones are mostly either in unnatural grips or super tight grip till the entire phone vibrates!

iPhone 4 is ridiculously overpriced!

Apple said the online store will sell the iPhone 4 for $888 for the 16GB model, and $1048 for the 32GB version.

iPhone4 also at online store [via]

My modules, hopefully

The following are my modules short-listed for the coming semester. I have decided to overload again by clearing my remaining 3 modules.

• IS5112 - Knowledge Systems and Management (Mon 1830-2030)
• IS5113 - Computer Mediated Communications (Wed 1830-2030)
• MT5001 - IP Management (Fri 1800-2100 & Sat 0900-1200)

Backup module in case I couldn't secure MT5001 (cross faculty module offered by Faculty of Engineering, Master of Science) or any of the other 2 modules.

• CS5231 - Systems Security (Tue 1830-2030)

Almost everyone knock off after 8pm daily

Almost everyone in my company actually knock off after 8pm daily. This is certainly a scary sight.

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Insurer AXA fumes at Finexis Advisory Pte Ltd over policy's high lapse rate

Source: The Straits Times, 24th July 2010

A complaint by a client on Finexis Advisory Pte Ltd

Read on.

Be Very Careful of finexis advisory Pte Ltd (Reg No. 200408660G) [via]

Added Cambridge Dictionary to Blog

I have added Double-click Cambridge Dictionary Search to my blog. Simply double click on any word you see on my blog to see a  icon popup before clicking on it.

Finished reading SuperFreakonomics and ...

I have just completed reading an interesting book titled SuperFreakonomics and ...

I found an electronic version of the book on the Internet! But I still highly recommend getting the book from a book store instead for keepsake. The book in complete is of 270 pages thick.

Thermal Properties of Water

Almost forgotten but it certainly refreshes my memory. The part I was looking for was actually Thermal Expansion Properties of Water.

Water - Thermal Properties
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/water-thermal-properties-d_162.html

Top 10 most popular Android apps

The top 10 popular apps on Android phones contain no surprises. Here is s a list together with the percentage of phones they are installed on:

1. Google Maps: 99.1%
2. Facebook: 84.9%
3. Barcode Scanner: 63.8%
4. Google Goggles: 50.5%
5. Astro File Manager: 49.3%
6. Shazam: 46.7%
7. Amazon MP3: 46.3%
8. Google Sky Map: 43.5%
9. Advanced Task Killer: 37.1%
10. Pandora: 34.3%

Out of the 10, I have all of them installed except 7th and 10th.

Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts, including Ctrl+Shift+Click to open program as Administrator

Below lists 15 killer Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts that are sure to improve productivity.

1. Ctrl+Shift+N to Create a New Folder
2. Ctrl+Shift+Click to Open a Program As Administrator
3. Shift+Right-Click Enhances Send to Menu
4. Shift+Right-Click on a Folder to Open Command Prompt
5. Win+Space to Quickly Show Desktop
6. Win+Up/Down/Left/Right for Moving the Active Window
7. For Dual Monitors: Win+Shift+Left Arrow Key to Move Active Window to Left Monitor
8. For Dual Monitors: Win+Shift+Right Arrow Key to Move Active Window to Right Monitor
9. Win+T to Get to Taskbar Items
10. Shift+Click on a Taskbar App to Open a New Instance of the App
11. Win+B to Move Focus to the System Tray
12. Win+P for Quickly Connecting Your Laptop to a Projector
13. Win+1, Win+2..so on for Opening Taskbar Programs
14. Win+Pause helps you check System Properties
15. Ctrl+Shift+Esc Can Quickly Windows Task Manager

15 Killer Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts That Might Surprise You [via]

T1 Typhoon Warning in Hong Kong

It is currently raining with T1 Typhoon warning in Hong Kong. Take care to those in Hong Kong.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.8

North Korea hired Chinese actors to show up to the World Cup and cheer for their team in the stands

I know this is an old news but then since I happened to come across this old piece of news, I thought I might as well post it here in case there are still someone who don't know about it.

As many of us would have known, many supporters supporting North Korea in the recent World Cup 2010 held in South Africa were from China. Most North Koreans wouldn't be able to go anyway because either they couldn't afford to go to South Africa or they weren't allowed to get a visa to leave North Korea. It was said that these Chinese fans for North Korea were actors and musicians.

Source

• North Korea’s hired Chinese fans
• Chinese actors to cheer for North Korea during World Cup

Google Font Directory Allows Previewing of Fonts

Google Font Directory not only provides us with free fonts to use, it also now allows us to preview these fonts and trying them in various settings e.g. setting font sizes, spacings, own sample text, capitalize the text, add underlines and shadows.

Gmote Turns Your Android Phone Into a Remote Control for Your PC

Gmote turns Android into a remote control for a computer, allowing users to run movies and music at a distance. It supports all of the standard remote control features such as play, pause, rewind, volume controls etc. It also has a built-in file browser that lets you select what to play.

Gmote
http://www.gmote.org/

Display your foursquare checkins on Google Maps the easy way

There is an easy method to view your check-ins with Foursquare by using Google Maps. All you need to do is to supply your Foursquare kml link to Google Maps.

1. Visit your foursquare feeds page. Right click the KML link and copy it to your clipboard (don’t download it).
2. Visit Google Maps and paste the link you copied into the search box. Hit enter.
3. There is no step 3.

Display your foursquare checkins on Google Maps the easy way [via]

An excerpt from 'SuperFreakonomics' on defying Mother Nature and killing Hurricanes

An excerpt (copied from here) from 'SuperFreakonomics' on defying Mother Earth Nature and killing Hurricanes.

Since 1900 more than 1.3 million people worldwide have been killed by hurricanes. Usually hurricanes location is predictable, and even their timing is known. Hurricane is a dynamo that comes without an ‘off’ switch. Once it’s begun amassing energy it cannot be shut down, and it’s far too powerful to be blown back out to sea with a big fan. All you can do is run away.

That’s why physicist Nathan wants to dissipate the thermal energy before it has a chance to accumulate. In other words: prevent the water in Hurricane Alley from getting warm enough to form a destructive hurricane in the first place. The anti -hurricane solution he proposes is so simple that a Boy Scout might have dreamt it up (a very clever one, at least).

The trick is to modify the surface temperature of the water. The interesting thing is that the surface layer of warm water is very thin, often less than 100 feet. And right beneath it is a bulk of very cold water. If you’re skin- ‐diving in many of these areas, you can feel the huge difference. The warm surface layer is lighter than the cold water beneath, and therefore stays on the surface. So what we need to do is fix that. It is a tantalizing puzzle, all that cold water, trillions upon trillions of gallons, lying just beneath the warm surface and yet impotent to defuse the potential disaster.

But he has a solution. It is basically an inner tube with a skirt. That is, a large floating ring, anywhere from thirty to three hundred feet across, with a long flexible cylinder affixed to the inside. The ring might be made from old truck tires, filled with foamed concrete and lashed together with steel cable. The cylinder, extending perhaps six hundred feet deep into the ocean, could be fashioned from polyethylene, aka the plastic used in shopping bags. That’s it!.

How does it work?

Imagine one of these skirted inner tubes,a giant, funky, man- ‐made jellyfish,floating in the ocean. As a warm wave splashes over the top, the water level inside the ring rises until it is higher than the surrounding ocean. When you have water elevated above the surface in a tube like that,’ Nathan explains, it’s called hydraulic head. Hydraulic head is a force, created by the energy put into the waves by wind. This force would push the warm surface water down into the long plastic cylinder, ultimately flushing it out at the bottom, far beneath the surface. As long as the waves keep coming,and they always do,the hydraulic head’s force would keep pushing surface water into the cooler depths, which inevitably lowers the ocean’s surface temperature.

-- Steven D. Levitt, SuperFreakonomics (Chapter 4)

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Should I take up this stressful module?

CS5231 - Systems Security is said to have no examination but assessment is 100% based on continual assessment - 3 individual coding projects and 1 final group project.

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My short-listed modules

The following are my modules short-listed for the coming semester.

Offered by National University of Singapore, School of Computing, Master of Computing

• CS5231 - Systems Security
• CS5351 - The Business of Software
• IS5112 - Knowledge Systems and Management
• IS5113 - Computer Mediated Communications

Offered by National University of Singapore, Faculty of Engineering, Master of Science (Management of Technology)

• MT5001 - IP Management
• MT5005 - IP Law for Engineers and Scientists

Marina Barrage cause of recent flash floods?

The following article is an interesting read. It wrote the possibility of Singapore's Marina Barrage as a likely culprit to the recent many flash floods. Areas like the Orchard Road that have never experienced such serious flash floods are now seeing them frequently.

I strongly suggest reading the article and all its comments as well. However, do take a step back and make objective conclusions, rather than believing everything that was written. I am agreeable to some of the points written.

Marina Barrage and the floods.... [via]

Do not understand Singapore's foreign workforce strategy

Just last February, the Singapore government announced steps to raise foreign worker levy gradually in an attempt to regulate foreign workers influx. Now, after having announced Singapore's hot growing double digit growing GDP numbers, the Singapore government announced we need to import an additional 100,000 foreign workers.

What is happening? This sounds contradicting to me. I do not understand Singapore's strategy.

I hope the Singapore government will take note of other indicators other than the GDP. Early this month, I posted a video Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile. From the video, Chip Conley suggested measuring the happiness index of the people instead of GDP. A country is successful only if its people are happy and satisfied.

China tourists warned off HK

What a news!

CHINA'S National Tourism Administration has issued an advisory on travel to Hong Kong after a video of mainland tourists being insulted and 'forced to shop' by a Hong Kong tour guide sparked outrage on the Internet.

A 65-year-old tourist from Hunan Province died from a heart attack in Hong Kong in May, after arguing with a tour guide over being forced to shop.

China tourists warned off HK [via]

To eat list

Very likely to be aborted. Set a date!

1. Ghim Moh Master Crab - Salted-egg crabs
   Blk 19 Ghim Moh Road #01-229 Singapore (270019) [map]
   
   
2. Zhou's Kitchen 周庄 - Casual dining treats in buffet style
   Jurong Point Shopping Centre #03-28, 63 Jurong West Central 3, Singapore 648331 [map]
   
   
3. Upper Thomson Fish Buffet - Shall find out

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PUB asked to explain floods

Mr Lui, who is the Member of Parliament for the Tanjong Pagar GRC, has asked PUB to explain what the situation is, as well as to know what plans PUB has in place to alleviate the situation. Parts of his Tanjong Pagar constituency were affected by the 17 Jul flash floods.

In times like this, I hope the Prime Minister, Environment Minister, Home Minister and PUB can come out and speak up. Such act of slowness in handling calamity would have been slammed openly if it happened in United States.

PUB asked to explain floods [via]

Singapore flood (17 July 2010)

My emails requesting to map modules to my specialisation

Email 1

Dear Sir/Mdm,
...
ITPM specialisation focuses largely on appreciating both the technical and business aspect of technology. Such specialisation equips students with relevant skills to become successful Business Analysts, Project Managers, and future Chief Information Officers.

From the list of modules offered by SoC in the coming AY2010/11 Sem 1, I am interested in "CS5351 - The Business of Software". Despite not being listed officially as a ITPM module, I certainly do feel it qualify 100% as one. As described in the module's course description, the course will cover the evolution of software business, and the continuous reshaping of industry. This relatively new course is in its 2nd running year and I believe it is here to stay given the ever growing software business. From this course, I will be able to gain exposure to market dynamics affecting the birth, growth and transition of these software businesses. Business strategies and the intergration of innovative technologies and evolving consumer and enterprise needs are also taught. I believe "CS5351 - The Business of Software" is a good fit for students opting for ITPM path.
...

Email 2

Dear Sir/Mdm,
...
ITPM specialisation focuses largely on appreciating both the technical and business aspect of technology. Such specialisation equips students with relevant skills to become successful Business Analysts, Project Managers, and future Chief Information Officers.

From the list of modules offered by SoC in the coming AY2010/11 Sem 1, I am interested in "IS5112 - Knowledge Systems and Management". Despite not being listed officially as a ITPM module, I certainly do feel it qualify 100% as one. As described in the module's course description, the course will cover detailed understanding of Knowledge Management (KM). In this fast growing economy, we are moving quickly towards a Knowledge-Based one. KM comprises a range of strategies and practices used in an organization to identify, create, represent, distribute, and enable adoption of insights and experiences. KM has proven to be an important concept and is now included in the fields of business administration, information systems, management, and library and information sciences, information and media, computer science, public health, and public policy.

A little research on KM revealed that SoC's "Concurrent Bachelor of Computing (Honours) and Master of Science (Management) Programme for Undergraduates" allowed SoC students to take "CS5253 - Knowledge Systems and Management in Organizations" to meet MBA-type modules requirement. I believe "IS5112 - Knowledge Systems and Management" is a good fit for students opting for ITPM path.
...

Email 3

Dear Sir/Mdm,
...
ITPM specialisation focuses largely on appreciating both the technical and business aspect of technology. Such specialisation equips students with relevant skills to become successful Business Analysts, Project Managers, and future Chief Information Officers.

From the list of modules offered by SoC in the coming AY2010/11 Sem 1, I am interested in "IS5112 - Knowledge Systems and Management". Despite not being listed officially as a ITPM module, I certainly do feel it qualify 100% as one. As described in the module's course description, the course will cover Computer Mediated Communications (CMC) concept like virtual teams, psychological contracts and social exchanges in distributed work. CMC focuses largely on the social effects of different computer-supported communication technologies. Many recent studies involve Internet-based social networking supported by social software. I believe soft skills such as the ones just mentioned are especially important for Business Analysts, Project Managers and CIOs. I believe "IS5113 - Computer Mediated Communications" is a good fit for students opting for ITPM path.
...

Does the Singapore Government owe us a Commission of Inquiry on the obviously frequent flash floods?

Question: Does the Singapore Government owe us a Commission of Inquiry on the obviously frequent flash floods?

I think the answer is a resounding YES.

On 16 June, just a month ago, shopping district Orchard Road was flooded after a heavy morning downpour, resulting in millions dollars of losses. Businesses were disrupted, retail goods were damaged, fittings and fixtures badly damaged and they needed million dollars of renovation. Such "freak" incident happened was due to a choked drain - as pinpointed by the PUB. Debris from the choked drain were supposedly cleared and this once-in-50-years "freak" event should not happen again.

Weeks later on, Orchard Road suffered yet another flash flood, after having spent money renovating their premises. If floods do become a common thing in the shopping district, these vendors' confidence in the area is sure to be dampened. Will they or anyone even consider doing businesses in Orchard Road?

I hope the Singapore government which includes Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Environment Minister Yaacob Ibrahim and PUB CEO Khoo Teck Chye, can step out bravely and timely, telling us the root cause of flood in Singapore. If there is an error on their side, an apology should be given. Hiding away from the public for weeks before coming out telling we Singaporeans of having "unrealistic" expectations, expecting Singapore to be completely flood-free, is "impossible". Here we are, seeing floods occurring on a weekly basis for the last two months is unacceptable to me.

Yes, the Singapore Government owe us a Commission of Inquiry.

Businesses in Orchard suffered massive losses from second flood in a month [via]

De Facto Double Dips

Paul Krugman's blog

Let’s be clear: a recovery that involves growth so slow that unemployment and excess capacity rise, not fall, isn’t really a recovery. If we have only have 1 1/2 percent growth, that will amount to a double dip in all the senses that matter.

De Facto Double Dips [via]

Hong Kong passes minimum wage law

Hong Kong passds minimum wage law and this will take effect in the first half of 2011 despite several businesses voicing concerns over operation cost. However, with the best interests of citizens, the minimum wage law was passed.

Michael Chan, chairman of fast-food giant Cafe de Coral（大家乐）-- who was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 35th richest man in Hong Kong in 2009

his company might issue a profit warning if the hourly rate proposed by the unions became law.

Hong Kong passes minimum wage law [via]

Apple July 16 Conference - Address by Steve Jobs Towards iPhone 4.0 Antenna Issue

You may download and watch the QuickTime video on the Address.

July 16 Conference
http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/100716iab73asc/event/index.html

Defiant Jobs Stands by iPhone 4 and attacking rivals; Rivals Hit Back at Apple

Follow up news.

Rivals Hit Back at Apple Over iPhone 4 'Death Grip' Claims [via]
Defiant Jobs Stands by iPhone 4 [via]

Motorola Droid X Sold Out After First Day; iPhone 4 Getting Negative Press

As iPhone 4 is getting negative press due to its notorious antenna problem, Motorola Droid X is seeing its supplies running low after its first day debut.

Motorola Droid X Sold Out After First Day [via]

道琼斯工业指数股市欠佳

道琼斯工业指数股市欠佳。开盘不到两个小时就跌200点。这是时机。

下个星期将会有看头。

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Motorola runs full page Droid X ad; proclaiming you can “hold the phone any way you like it”

Motorola has reportedly taken to print with this latest Droid X advertisement on the New York Times. Its fine print reads

...allows you to hold the phone any way you like and use it just about anywhere to make crystal clear calls...

Goldman Pays $550 Million to Settle Fraud Case

As reported on New York Times

The investment giant Goldman Sachs agreed Thursday to pay $550 million to settle federal claims that it misled investors in a subprime mortgage product as the housing market began to collapse three years ago.

If approved by a federal judge in Manhattan, the fine by the Securities and Exchange Commission would be only a dent in the balance sheet of Goldman, which earned $13.3 billion last year.

Goldman, which had been under pressure from shareholders to resolve pending investigations, did not admit wrongdoing under the terms of the agreement.

Goldman Pays $550 Million to Settle Fraud Case [via]

Manulife - Financial Fraud?

Not familiar with their products but then there is this website - Manulife Victims.

Google released the most loyal football fans during World Cup games

Google tried to determine the most loyal football fans from the 32 qualified World Cup 2010 teams by the ranking the drop in searches on Google.

Brazil emerged the winner, followed by Germany, Netherlands and South Korea. Only Honduras and North Korea increased significantly - perhaps they use Google to get latest results.

The most World Cup-crazy countries [via]

Consumer Reports: Apple Bumper Fixes iPhone 4 Reception

Apple iPhone 4.0 reception problem goes away after putting on a 'bumper'! However, the 'bumper' cost US$29 in the market right now.

Apple’s Bumper case alleviates the iPhone 4 signal-loss problem [via]

Letter from Apple Regarding iPhone 4

As lifted straight from Apple's July 2, 2010 media release,

Dear iPhone 4 Users,

The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple’s history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned.

To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.

At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?

We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising.

Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.

To fix this, we are adopting AT&T’s recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone’s bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.

We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same— the iPhone 4’s wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.

As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

We hope you love the iPhone 4 as much as we do.

Thank you for your patience and support.

Apple


Press Contacts:
Natalie Harrison
Apple
harri@apple.com
(408) 862-0565

Steve Dowling
Apple
dowling@apple.com
(408) 974-1896

In response to Apple iPhone 4.0 'Death Grip'

Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner said

One of the things that I want to make sure you know today is that you're going to be able to use a Windows Phone 7 and not have to worry about how you're holding it to make a phone call.

Nokia Blog said

Realistically, you’re free to hold your Nokia device any way you like. And you won’t suffer any signal loss. Cool, huh?

Apple's CEO Steve Jobs said

Just avoid holding it in that way.

Cambridge Industrial Trust announces 1.238 cents DPU for 2Q

Cambridge Industrial Trust [J91U.SI] says it achieved a total distributable income attributable to unitholders of $10.8 million in 2Q2010. This translates into a DPU (distribution per unit) of 1.238 cents for the quarter.

From 1 – Mar 10, its dividend yield was already at 10.131%. For Q2 - Jun10, its dividend yield was at 9.737%.

Well done CIT !

Singapore may need to ‘tighten screws’ on expansion

Quoted from Bloomberg Business Week

Singapore may be forced to consider allowing further gains in its currency after a record first-half expansion put the economy in contention for the world’s fastest- growing this year.

The government yesterday reported an 18.1 percent surge in gross domestic product in the first half, unprecedented in data going back to 1975. Record tourist arrivals are benefitting companies from Singapore Airlines Ltd. to casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp., while a two-year-low jobless rate has helped spur a 38 percent jump in house prices in the past 12 months.

The Monetary Authority of Singa pore, which revalued the currency in April, may need to repeat the move at the next meeting in October without a cooling in growth, according to HSBC Holdings Plc. The boom is a reflection of a strengthening across Asia that’s prompted policy makers from Thailand to Taiwan, Malaysia and South Korea to boost interest rates in recent weeks.

“With numbers like these, there is a growing chance that the MAS will have to tighten the screws again in October,” said Frederic Neumann, co-head of Asian economic research at HSBC in Hong Kong and a former consultant to the World Bank. Slack in Singapore’s economy “appears to have already vanished over the course of the first half of the year. Domestic demand continues to expand briskly, which should help to offset some of the emerging weakness in export markets.”

Overheating Risk

Singapore’s economy will overheat if the country doesn’t let in more foreign workers to counter a “tight” labor market, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was cited as saying by the Business Times today. The government will introduce more measures to cool rising property prices if necessary, he was cited as saying in Houston, Texas, at the end of a visit.

Singapore’s central bank has for three decades used the exchange rate, rather than a benchmark interest rate, as its main tool for achieving price stability. The currency rose as much as 1.2 percent versus its U.S. counterpart the day of the April announcement, before slipping the following month as Europe’s crisis threatened to slow the global expansion.

The Singapore dollar advanced 0.5 percent to S$1.3747 per U.S. dollar at yesterday’s close. The benchmark Straits Times Index of stocks posted its highest close since April, at 2,952.81. Both were little changed at 2:02 p.m. today.

Growth Forecast

The government raised its full-year GDP growth prediction to as fast as 15 percent after yesterday’s figures. Private economists also rushed to revise their projections after the numbers, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now expecting a 16.5 percent expansion this year, and Citigroup Inc. predicting 15.5 percent.

Among the 183 economies for which the International Monetary Fund has forecasts, only Qatar is calculated to expand faster than the government’s forecast for Singapore. The IMF expects Qatar, where the GDP was less than half of Singapore’s $177 billion last year, to grow 18.5 percent in 2010. China said today its economy grew 11.1 percent in the first half, while the expansion in the second quarter was less than economists had predicted.

Singapore’s retail sales excluding vehicles rose 7.8 percent in May after a 7.7 percent gain in April, the Statistics Department said today. Inflation held at a 14-month high of 3.2 percent in May and the central bank forecasts the rate may average as much as 3.5 percent this year.

Policy Moves

Asian economies are leading a global recovery that’s been restrained by subdued expansions in Europe and the U.S., where the jobless rate remains above 9 percent. Policy makers in the region have moved to withdraw monetary stimulus, with Thailand the latest to join in raising rates yesterday.

The MAS in April said it will “re-center the exchange rate policy band at the prevailing level” of the Singapore dollar, shifting to a stronger range for the currency to trade in. The central bank guides the Singapore dollar against a basket of currencies within an undisclosed band.

Citigroup analysts said yesterday a further tightening “cannot be ruled out” for October, an assessment echoed by Standard Chartered Plc economists. The analysts, as well as HSBC’s Neumann, expect the central bank to at least maintain its stance for a “modest and gradual appreciation” of the Singapore dollar.

Singapore’s growth may slow in the second half as the outlook for global trade is clouded by European budget cuts and a slower-than-forecast American expansion.

Record Arrivals

“I wouldn’t expect an immediate reaction to the strong growth data because the outlook remains clouded and there is likely to be some weakening in the second half,” said Dariusz Kowalczyk, a Hong Kong-based senior economist and strategist at Credit Agricole CIB. He forecasts the currency will end the year at S$1.38 per dollar.

Visitor arrivals reached record levels in the six months through May and tourism is likely to continue to increase as millions throng Singapore’s two casinos that opened this year. The island will play host to the inaugural Youth Olympic Games next month, and the Singapore leg of Formula One, the world’s most-watched motor sport, will take place in September.

“The continued improvement in the economy has certainly boosted demand for travel on our flights,” said Singapore Airlines spokesman Nicholas Ionides. “Advance bookings are encouraging, especially in business class.”

Singapore’s private home prices surpassed the previous all- time peak achieved in 1996, after they rose 5.2 percent in the second quarter following a 5.6 percent gain in the first three months of the year, according to data released this month from the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

“Jobs are being created, companies are expanding, and there’ll be more demand for real estate, whether it’s for homes or offices,” said Christopher Fossick, managing director for Singapore and Southeast Asia at Jones Lang LaSalle.

Facebook Privacy

A Movie for Anyone On Facebook

Starhub CEO predicted pricing-based model for application access

Starhub CEO predicted pricing-based model for application access e.g. S$3 per month for use of YouTube. In this way, telcos can also charge Singaporeans for use of popular applications like YouTube and Facebook even though the YouTube and Facebook are not charging anyone. This is cunning of the Singapore-based telco and an excuse to squeeze more money from consumers. Shame on them!

Starhub CEO predicted that the industry is headed toward pricing-based model for application access, where users will pay, for example, S$3 a month to access YouTube video clips for a month. However, Skype CEO Josh Silverman, who was also a panelist, disagreed - telcos should charge for the Web access and let users choose the apps they would like to consume.

Shame shame shame!

S'pore unveils new services in ICT roadmap [via]

Standard Chartered Credit & Debit Cards: Password security for online purchases

Password security for online purchases

For a higher protection against fraud, you will be required to enter a One Time Password (OTP) before any transaction on a 3-D Secured website can be completed. 3-D Secure is an added layer of security for online credit and debit transactions.

Introducing enhanced security for your Credit and Debit Cards [via]

Consumer Reports Asks Apple to Fix iPhone 4; Apple's Shares Fell

Consumer Reports has stepped up its criticism of the Apple iPhone 4's antenna issue, asking Apple to fix the phone, free of charge. The reception problem is 'famously' known as the 'Death Grip'. A recall, if it really happen, could cost Apple US$1.5 billion.

This antenna issue is certainly a blow to Apple's bottom-line.

Consumer Reports Asks Apple to Fix iPhone 4 [via]

Solution to getting "Oops! Google Chrome could not find" error message on Google Chrome browser

In your Google chrome, go to

Options → Under the Hood → Uncheck "Use DNS pre-fetching to improve page load performance"

This should work.

File Upload Regular Expression not working on Firefox, Chrome and Safari

Ever tried using regular expressions to validate file upload extension when doing web development and ended up finding it to work on Microsoft Internet Explorer but not on Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Apple Safari?

Scenario: Allow only files of extensions jpg, gif, png and bmp.

The first code snippet I am presenting is valid but will only work on Microsoft Internet Explorer.

^(([a-zA-Z]:)|(\\{2}\w+)\$?)(\\(\w[\w].*))(.jpg|.JPG|.gif|.GIF|.png|.PNG|.bmp|.BMP)$

This code snippet is better since it will work on all browsers, including Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Apple Safari.

(.*\.([gG][iI][fF]|[jJ][pP][gG]|[jJ][pP][eE][gG]|[bB][mM][pP]|[pP][nN][gG])$)

The first regular expression does not work other browsers other than Internet Explorer because the others do not allow JavaScript to get full absolute path name from the file input field. The first regular expression expects to a full path name.

The second regular expression works because it checks only the file name i.e. it does not expect a full absolute path name.

Mobile Blogging

First post using Android.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.6

Google App Inventor help us create Android applications without writing code

Google's just announced, App Inventor, a web-based tool that aims to give non-coders a leg up in creating Android apps, designing their interfaces, and getting them released into the Market.

Google App Inventor for Android
http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/

The danger of 'Deflation' and the need to prevent it

In a paper written by then Governor Ben S. Bernanke on 21 November 2002 to the Federal Reserve, it was mentioned that 'Deflation' must never happen.

The paper is rather lengthy and so I shall cut it short here by just lifting the conclusion here.

Remarks by Governor Ben S. Bernanke
Before the National Economists Club, Washington, D.C.
November 21, 2002

Deflation: Making Sure "It" Doesn't Happen Here

Sustained deflation can be highly destructive to a modern economy and should be strongly resisted. Fortunately, for the foreseeable future, the chances of a serious deflation in the United States appear remote indeed, in large part because of our economy's underlying strengths but also because of the determination of the Federal Reserve and other U.S. policymakers to act preemptively against deflationary pressures. Moreover, as I have discussed today, a variety of policy responses are available should deflation appear to be taking hold. Because some of these alternative policy tools are relatively less familiar, they may raise practical problems of implementation and of calibration of their likely economic effects. For this reason, as I have emphasized, prevention of deflation is preferable to cure. Nevertheless, I hope to have persuaded you that the Federal Reserve and other economic policymakers would be far from helpless in the face of deflation, even should the federal funds rate hit its zero bound.

The writer is now Federal Reserve Chairman.

iPhone 4.0 caught in flames, showcasing pyrotechnic display, during charging

An user of iPhone 4.0 was reported that his new phone was caught in flames during a charging session using the phone's USB port. Overheating during charging resulting in fire is not new to iPhone - a similar incident happened on a iPhone 3G phone back in July 2009.

Malfunctioning iPhone 4.0 Burns User, USB Charging Cord [via]

Referees are usually older but fitter than players on a football pitch

Statement “Referees are usually older but fitter than players on a football pitch” is very true without doubt.

According to an article published on CNN,

Referees, who can be twice the age of the players, sprint across the field keeping up with the players and closely tracking the action. They tend to run 12 miles during the game -- five more than the players, according to data from the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The first fitness test requires speed. A referee runs 40 meters six times. Each of the six sprints needs to be completed in 6.2 seconds for a male referee. He is allowed 1 minute and 30 seconds between each sprint.

The second test examines the referee's stamina in repeated high-intensity runs. He must run 150 meters in 30 seconds, and then must walk 50 meters in 35 seconds. This is repeated 20 times, which equals 10 laps around a track field. Assistant referees have less strict standards.

World Cup referees outrun players [via]

WebMii reveals several links of myself on the Internet

WebMii reveals the following information when I search for myself "Loh Hon Chun"

• 6 Photos
• 1 Facebook Profile
• 5 Persons
• 1 Friendster Profile
• 1 Twitter Profile
• 2 News
• 20 Blogs
• 17 Websites
• 1 Document

Some are accurate while some aren't.

How to Configure Exchange Server 2007 to Block Incoming emails

A good read.

Douple dip recession or depression coming?

Will there be a double dip recession or even a depression after the recent subprime financial meltdown?

A chart from the Wall Street Journal, which superimpose stock chart of the 1930s Great Depression and recent stock movement, seems to suggest an imminent major correction. If the trend is true, there will be just one last rally before the plunge.

Nobel Prize winner, Paul Krugman, believes in a double dip which will lead us to the Third Depression. He is well respected.

Gmail Adds Rich Text Signatures

Setting signatures on Google Gmail is always possible, however, setting rich text signatures without using external scripts WAS impossible. Today, rich text signatures is possible.

To set rich text signature, visit the Settings page and you'll see a rich text editor in the signature section. According to Gmail blog, Gmail also now supports a unique signature for EACH email address associated with your account.

Rich text signatures [via]

Bought HG Metal Manufacturing shares

I managed to buy 1 of 2 stocks today, of which the successful buy being HG Metal Manufacturing Ltd, at the price of S$0.105 per share.

HG Metal intra-day low and its closing price were S$0.105. The buy was based on the fact that bought price is 43% lower than 52-weeks high, an expected lower loss and a highly possible return to black, and a bounce in manufacturing fundamentals.

Paul the Octopus next prediction on politics

This is not real. It is just a cartoon from an anonymous netizen.

the mrbrown show: the wave song

Queuing to buy

After off-loading two stocks, it is time to stock up now. Hopefully I will be able to get it tomorrow.

YouTube introduced new mobile website

YouTube just launched a new version of their mobile site at m.youtube.com, offering higher quality video playback.

As demonstrated, the new mobile website works on both Google Android and Apple iPhone.

YouTube Mobile gets a kick start [via]

Google Android 2.2 outperform Apple iPhone iOS 4 on JavaScript performance

Popular tech site Ars Technica tested JavaScript performance on an Apple's iPhone 4 running latest iOS 4 and a Google's Nexus One running latest Android 2.2. At the end of the test, results show that Android 2.2 outperform iOS 4 when it comes to JavaScript.

Android 2.2 Dusts iOS4 In JavaScript Performance [via]

Run Android on Your Windows Mobile Phone

Interested in trying Google Android on your Windows Mobile phone? Then do try the following "hack". I did not try it myself but guess it should work.

Run Android on Your Windows Mobile Phone [via]

UMS Holdings intraday trading activity

Continue from my earlier posting, the below chart shows UMS Holdings intraday trading activity for today. Absolutely breathtaking.

Regex for alphanumeric password (at least 1 numeric and 1 alphabet)

Suppose we want to validate for password input, making sure it is of alphanumeric pattern (at least 1 numeric and 1 alphabet) and length of 8 to 10, then we can use the below Regular Expression.

Regex regexObj = new Regex("^(?:(?<ch>[A-Za-z])|(?<num>[9-0])){8,20}$");

Off-loaded UMS Holdings shares at a whopping profit of 112.95%

Shares of UMS Holdings Limited [558.SI], a one-stop strategic integration partner providing equipment manufacturing and engineering services to Original Equipment Manufacturers of semiconductors and related products, rallied more than 13% today and ended at S$0.385 from S$0.340.

I have been holding onto their shares from January 2010 and since then, its share price has risen by more than 110%. A decision was made to sell today after some unusually high transaction volume.

In a reply by UMS Holdings to the Singapore Exchange, UMS Holdings commented they were not aware why the unusually high trading activity.

It is time to look out for the next UMS Holdings and Parkway Holdings.

World Cup excel file updated

Download here.

Commuters who make long journeys benefited from lower fares over the years

Public Transport Council (PTC) chairman, Gerard Ee, said those who make long journeys have already benefited from relatively low fares over the years. Such commuters are now seen paying higher fares with the new "Distance-based" fare.

What is the PTC chairman trying to tell us? Payback time for long distance travellers? I do not understand.

Commuters who make long journeys benefited from lower fares over the years [via]

Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile

Android Application Marketplace

http://www.appbrain.com/


http://slideme.org/

Japanese CEOs earning LOTS lesser as compared to peers from other countries

According to an article from the Business Week, CEOs in Japan take home large paychecks and in fact, fewer than 300 people at Japan's 3,813 public companies earned enough in 2009 to require disclosure. In Japan, securities regulators require Japanese companies to disclose pay for executives making more than 100 million yen ($1.1 million).

In Japan, Underpaid—and Loving It [via]

iPhone 4.0 reception problem is due to software fault

According the Steve Jobs, the 'Death Grip' reception problem exhibited on the new iPhone 4.0 phone is due to software fault. Apple says it's been using a bad formula to display the reception bars. All along, the phone has been lying about its signal strength. When it showed four bars, it probably only should have had three or even two.

In response to the reception issues, Apple has announced that it is waiving the restocking fee. Purchasers wishing to return the product—within 30 days of purchase—will be granted a full refund for the device

Apple iPhone 4 Reception Bars: A Distorted Reality [via]
Apple Dumps iPhone 4 Restocking Fee [via]

Android 2.2 Froyo noteworthy new features

Android 2.2 Froyo noteworthy new features include:

• Performance boosts
• Portable Wi-Fi hotspot functionality
• Automatic application updates
• Desktop-based music streaming
• USB-based tethering
• Adobe Flash and Adobe Air support
• New camera controls
• New Exchange features, including Remote Wipe, Calendars, and Auto-Discovery

Android 2.2 Platform Highlights [via]

World Cup 2010: The method in Diego Maradona's Argentina madness

Another interesting read.

World Cup 2010: The method in Diego Maradona's Argentina madness [via]

New transport fare to kick in from tomorrow, 3 Jul 2010

From tomorrow 3 Jul 2010 onwards, the new so-called "cheaper" transport fare will be in place. This new transport fare calculation is based on Pay-by-distance concept - longer distance travelled constitute to a higher fare.

According to the Public Transport Council (PTC), the introduction of the new Distance Fares formula is expected to have an impact of 2.5% fare reduction.

Summary on the changes

• Fares will be reduced by 2.5% from 3 July 2010
• The 15-month fare discount of 3% will end on 2 July 2010
• No more transfer rebates

The question I believe everyone is asking is if the change really bring about cheaper transport fare. A short study by the National Solidarity Party’s revealed that many travels resulted in a higher fares.

At least this is happening to me as well.

Distance-based fare: An outrageous hike in disguise, says NSP [via]

Genting Singapore expected to gain but dropped eventually

Initially, I thought shares of Genting Singapore would gain as the gaming group offers to sell its money-losing U.K. operations to Genting Malaysia in a move set to ease pressure on its bottomline. Impairment loss of S$478.1 million relating to U.K. operations is largely responsible for Genting Singapore's 1Q10 S$396.3 million net loss. With the sale, Genting Singapore is now a pure play on Singapore and will not be dragged down by the continued underperformance of the U.K. business. This is supposed to be a positive news for Genting Singapore.

Despite this positive news, Genting Singapore ended lower in today's trade.

I do not hold Genting Singapore shares.

Economic and Stock Market Outlook: IPC Singapore 20100702 : Standard & Poor's

See report here.

Customizable and Personalized Google News

Google News has redesigned its homepage and to make it more customizable. One of the most important changes is that each group of related news has a topic and you can easily subscribe to the topic. Another one of their many cool features added is ability to use keyboard shortcuts to navigate through news.

About the Google News Updates

Features: The redesigned Google News
http://www.google.com/support/news/bin/answer.py?answer=1005762

About the updates to Google News
http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/news/update/index.html