choices

The choice is clear, so drink your Pepsi
Wear your Nikes and Just Do It
I know it corny but can't help it.
So make your choices and live with it

Car Servicing

Have you ever brought a car for serving and come back with a host of problems? I haven't till my father bought a german made car.

eg 1

Driving happily for 1-2 years. Sent for servicing. Drove the car back home after servicing. 1 Hour later. Getting ready to go out for dinner. Engine stall. Call the tow truck to pick up the car again. Alternator spoilt. PAY for a new one and got it replaced. Do you come back from servicing with a damaged alternator?.

eg 2

2 weeks after servicing, the engine boom like a mustang. One would be happy to have a turbo charged booming engine except mine is misfiring. Guess got to go back to the service center for a cup of cappuccino from their spinelli coffee maker and get the problem fixed.

eg 3

2 months after servicing, front brakes gives off screeching sound. They just change the 2 front brakes 2 months ago. Send to the service centre. After diagnosis, they ask me to replace the rear brakes. I have a problem in the front brake and they are asking me to change the rear brakes?????? Upon further questioning, I discovered that a splint in the front brake went off position and they've already adjusted the splint back in position. I got a few question swirling in my mind. How the hell did the splint go off after 2 months? I can only conclude they did a bad job installing the brake. Why did they ask me to change the rear brake when the front brake is giving the problem. It seems like not only did they do a bad job in installing my brake they try to rip me off.

A conspiracy theorist would think that the service centre deliberately do a bad job so that they can 'service' me more often. I certainly didn't ask for special treatment but I am getting more 'service' then I need.

Vote secrecy?

I wonder why would a secret vote need to be traceable. If the vote is secret how would they know if someone has tempered with the a vote? There is no way anyone can know if the vote is tempered with unless the perpetrator confess. If you get a confession what else is needed? Any brillant minds out there can help me with this puzzle?

What do you do when people irritate the hell out of you

James 3:9-12

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig-tree bear olives, or a grapevine berar figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

I think I really need love for these irritating people out there. I find myself complaining about them which is of course a natural but not Christian thing to do. I wonder how I can cross from being a salt spring to a fresh water spring. Time to pray and ask for wisdom......

O Lord grant me understanding and love. Put in my mouth words of healing and remove the spite and venom. Clothe me in humility and forgive my haughty eyes.

Upgrading?

I think the issue is not about upgrading. It is about the disbursement of funds. Depriving the opposition of funds for maintenance work so that they look like slums aren't the type of diversity that Singaporeans are looking for. I think PAP misunderstood that everyone wants a PAP-styled upgrading. No they don't need PAP-style upgrade plus all the expenses and inconvenience. They just need some funds to spruce up the surroundings and make sure that this developed nation doesn't have slum areas. They don't need designers' facade and modern shelters that block no rain. What they need is a compassionate government who understands the needs of an arthritic elder conquering the stairs. If I didn't remember my facts wrongly Potong Pasir only need 1/8 of the funds promised by PAP to upgrade all the lift. If they can spend 8 times the money on just one constituent I don't see why they have no money to upgrade the lifts in Potong Pasir. I really like to see a more compassionate government and not one that just talk about dollars and cents.

Well it is still elusive after Minister Mah's explain on how the money is distributed. What is so difficult about coming out with the criteria? Whatever budget surplus set aside for upgrading/maintenance work, distribute it evenly according to population density. If that is too simplistic, factor in the age of flats. Instead they choose not to be transparent about the distributing process. Whatever justifications PAP gives sounded really lame. I wonder who buys those reasoning.

Unarmed combat

Just watched it yesterday.

I think it wasn't well done. I felt that the story was not focused and did not develope properly. They did several flashback from different characters's point of view. However, I cannot find a logical progression for the flashback and I kind of get lost in time between the flashbacks. I was wondering if I am watching the present or still stuck in the past.

It could be due to the lack of time and funds. Well it is still a brave effort and we definitely need to start somewhere. Though I do not think it is a great show but I would definitely support the work. Without support I doubt Singapore film could grow.

Entrapment????

I wonder why is CNB entraping small timers when we don't even know if he is an active trafficker(at least I don't have the information). Instead of surfing the net for prey to toy around, maybe they should really spend more time hunting down the real drug baron. I hope CNB is not patting themselves on the back for a brillantly executed plan. I think they caught a scape goat who bought the drugs from the real trafficker. Don't we watch enough TV drama to know this? I hope Adrian Yeo would be able to move on in life after this episode.

Just do it

Instead of looking at the insurmountable mountain growing taller each day, I've decided to just take a step at a time. Do what I can. 101 errands to run on Monday on top of the current load. This is gonna be a tiring week ahead.

Verses of the day

Psalm 39

I said,"I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as teh wicked are i my presence."
But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish incresed.
My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

"Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
He heaps up wealth, not knowing how will get it.

"But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
Save me from all my transgressions;
do not makeme the scorn of fools.
I was silent; I would nto open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
You rebuke and discipline men for their sin;
you consume their wealth like a moth each man is but a breath.

"Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Listen to my cry for help;
be not deaf to my weeping.
For I dwelll with you as an alien,
a stranger, as all m fathers were.
Look away from me, that I may rejoice again
before I depart and am no more."

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your fiath develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Philippians 4:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Strengthen the word in me O Lord. Grant me your grace and peace and help rise up to the challenges ahead.