What a Day!!

Yesterday ..... Ana and her mum spent the day here.  It was a hot but breezy day.  It was a nice day for a swim.  Wow!!  Its been ages since I have been in the pool.  Out of pure laziness giving excuses of being busy which is true.  But I suppose I could make the time if I wanted to.  The water was freezing ..... well, that normally happens on hot days.  But once you are in the pool.it was ok.  Ana didn't come down with us .... she just wanted to rest and chat with her friends on-line.

So we had the afternoon swim and was famished by the time we were done.  Showered, got dressed and left for Jurong Point.  Its a shopping complex near my place.  One station away.  It was eve of Chinese New Year all shops or rather most shops would be closed.  I did tell the mum that but she did not heed my warning and still we left.  I had to follow her.

True enough the food stalls are closed all except for KFC, Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut and Delifrance.  So we had some pasta from PIzza Hut and some chicken from KFC and went back home.  Set the food down and the telly on as well ....... American Idol season 7.  Watched it for a laugh.  I actually liked Simon Cowell.  His funny and his views are sometimes merciless to one's ego.

They left once it ended for it was already late and Ramlah, Ana's mum was getting sleepy.  Later I did some house chores before I slept.  But I was not sure why I could not sleep.  I got up and watched History channel and the were showing USS Indianapolis and the Mafia story on Valachi.  Absolutely amazing.  But the Indianapolis story really touched me as do most history.  I get a little emotional when wound up about something.  By the time I went to bed its about 5am or later!!!

This morning I got up at close to 3pm!!  Made my lunch and coffee.  I NEVER start the day without coffee.  I didn't do much today.  I must have over done myself yesterday .. suddenly I was hit by an excruciating back pain.  I have never encountered this before and not quite sure what to do.  I took some paracetamol for it.  Hhhhhmmm doesn't seem to work.  Perhaps I need someone with the magic touch to massage me  .

I hope to get better tomorrow.  My cousin has a small get together - some form of thanksgiving for the birth of her grandchild.  I called her up already and regretfully told her that I might not be able to make it.

Some sad news for the day ... my closest friend grand father passed away yesterday and this morning at 2am Ana's grand dad also passed away.  *sighs*

As I am writing this Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is playing in the background on HBO. 

I am glad to hear that you are  doing better than me.  Today is Thursday and its a Public Holiday because of the Chinese New Year so it will be a long weekend.  Offices will only open on Monday.

I love travelling and meeting new people. I have worked in England doing various odd jobs. I have relatives in the UK and went there often as all my sisters were studying there in different parts of the UK. Countries I have visited:

• Far East – Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia

• Middle East – Jordan and Jeddah

• Other countries – Europe, Britain, Australia and Canada.

I do not have any favourite country.  Though I enjoyed Italy tremendously ..... well, maybe because its rich in history.  I to loved Germany and Austria.  Vienna ... there's a garden there where they play waltz music through the night and you can see couples dancing.  Its such a beautiful sight!

Jordan - Aman ..... another country reeked in history and its also a VERY expensive place.  Everything is in US dollars.  There are other very interesting countriestoo.  Anyways if I were to tell you all of them .... this email will never end!!  Ha ha.

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Hike of Prices

Singapore is made up of not just one island but a main island with 63 surrounding islets. The main island has a total land area of 682 square km.

However, its compact size belies its economic growth. In just 150 years, Singapore has grown into a thriving centre of commerce and industry. Its former role as an entrepot has diminished, as the nation has increased its manufacturing base.  With a current population of 4,553,009 (July 2007 est.).

The government quote "

'We can overcome this problem, by working together. People making adjustments, the Government doing its part. We must stay together even during difficult periods,' said Mr Lee.

But I have a problem to foresee how this can be accomplish.  "STAY TOGETHER"??   How??  Salary increment in the private sector is very low or almost none despite of  the hike in prices.  Perhaps not in MNC companies.  it does not happen in the small or mid size businesses.  So how do the population of such category survive?  They plead and appeal to the MP of their respective constituency.  How much can the MP help?  A pittance of what the realise amount is actually needed.   They are however greatful for what little financial help they received.

How can the government help us even more?  This is not so much for the government sectors but more for the private sectors.

How can they increase prices at a more difficult timing like this.  On top of that .... the increase of Electronic Road Pricing gantries.  All this just to decrease the numbers of cars on the road??  I doubt it will help.  Its like ...... smoking is bad for you.  So they increase the non-smoking areas, have adverts on how smoking can affect one's health.  Why don't they just ban cigarettes??  They can't!!  Why??  It is because it brings one of the biggest revenue to us!!  So .... we buy and smoke at our own risks.

As for hike of prices of other commodities and amenities we the citizen here are just thrown into the storm to struggle with what life savings we have.
 

Feb 3, 2008
S'pore can overcome rising food prices by working together: PM Lee
By Li Xueying
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong assured Singaporeans on Sunday that their concerns about rising costs of living including food prices have been heard - and are being addressed. But Singaporeans themselves will, at the same time, have to make adjustments, he said. One suggestion: Go for cheaper house brands. 'We can overcome this problem, by working together. People making adjustments, the Government doing its part. We must stay together even during difficult periods,' said Mr Lee. Speaking to 1,400 residents and grassroots leaders at a Chinese New Year dinner at his Teck Ghee constituency he however rejected calls for the Government to control the price of essential goods. 'Residents asked, why can't the Government just control the prices?' he recounted. His response: Singapore was an open economy and imports all its food. 'We can't just order wholesalers and retailers to fix or reduce prices. They have to pay the overseas suppliers - who will bear the loss?' If the Government subsidises essentials, it will be 'very expensive, and also ineffective'. As higher-income households spend more, such subsidies will benefit them more than the poor. It is better to use the money instead to help the needy more directly, he said. Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.

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The Empress

The Empress card affirms that my alter ego today is a Domestic Diva, whose superpower is to conceive, nurture or create potential by labors of love. I'm mother to natural conditions, ideals or invention and when I hold court, I please or preserve by need or design, depending on my mood or hunger. I liberate dramatic results to inspire devotion, or make them over according to my own story.

Today then, I shall indulge the pleasure and luxurious comfort of some romantic repose or pamper a delicious obsession with room to enhance my standard or vision of beauty.

I set aside trends or time to exhibit style and charm assigned by heartfelt passion or wild fantasy, but in true multi-task fashion, I also support the progress of other fertile interests now poised for payoff beyond reproach, so don't cross me in my enchanted garden or I'll let you have it -- that's a promise.

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Ben Hur 1959

To me this is the ALL TIME BEST ..... I was fortunate to go to Italy to have seen the place where this movie was shot and the place where the race took place.  It was during this movie that one stunt man died on the set.  Though Charlton Heston denied this fact.

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Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. Together with the new governor his old friend Messala arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions. At first they are happy to meet after a long time but their different politic views separate them. During the welcome parade a brick falls down from Judah's house and barely misses the governor. Although Messala knows that they are not guilty he sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison. But Judah swears to come back and take revenge. Written by Matthias Scheler {tron@lyssa.owl.de}

When Prince Judah Ben-Hur hears that his childhood friend Messala has been named to command the Roman garrison of Jerusalem, he is thrilled. He soon finds however that his friend has changed and has become an arrogant conqueror, full of the grandeur of Rome. When Judah refuses to divulge the names of Jews who oppose Roman rule, Messala decides to make an example of him and sends him off as a galley slave. Through fate and good fortune, Judah survives the galleys and manages to return to Jerusalem in the hopes of finding his mother and sister, who were also imprisoned, and to seek revenge against his one-time friend. Written by garykmcd

The Making of Ben Hur

1959 Movie

With the advent of television into many American homes in the 1950's many theaters closed and movie studios suffered. M-G-M was no different and decided to return to Ben-Hur in an effort to emerge from their financial difficulties.

William Wyler, who had already earned two Academy Awards for best director, was selected to direct the film. British actors were cast as Romans and American actors, for the most part, were cast as Jews. Charlton Heston was chosen to play Ben-Hur and Stephen Boyd was cast as Messala. Filming was done in both Italy and California, just as the 1925 production.

Despite some lobbying from Crawfordsville, Indiana residents to host Ben-Hur's premier, it opened on November 19, 1959, at the Lowe's State Theater in New York City. Ben-Hur's initial release grossed in excess of $40 million.

The 1960 Academy Awards presented Ben-Hur with eleven of twelve awards for which it had been nominated. The major categories, Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, were all won. Curiously, the only category for which it was nominated but not awarded was Best Screenplay. This faux pas was largely the result of confusion and controversy over who had written the script. Karl Tunberg was credited with the screenplay but others had also worked on the script including Gore Vidal. Many however attribute the initial screenplay to Christopher Fry, but due to a falling out he did not receive credit. Nevertheless, as Charlton Heston delivered his acceptance speech for Best Actor, he made certain to thank Fry for the screenplay.

The 1959 Ben-Hur is a cultural icon. It has become an American tradition to broadcast Ben-Hur over Easter weekend. In 1998 the American Film Institute listed Ben-Hur as one of the 100 Greatest Movies.

Ben-Hur Pictures:

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Birthday Wishes

To All Who were Born in these past few months ...............

Some I remembered some I didn't ............ so I hope you would not hold it against me  ya.  Anyways ........  birthday wishes all around and best of luck for all your future endeavours.

Birthday Blessings

Instead of counting candles,
Or tallying the years,
Contemplate your blessings,
As your birthday nears.
As for those that have passed by like the wind

Consider special people
Who love you, and who care,
And others who've enriched your life
Just by being there.

Think about the memories
Passing years can never mar,
Experiences great and small
That have made you who you are.

Another year is a happy gift,
So cut your cake,
OR cake cut and had a blast
and say OR MIGHT have said
"Instead of counting birthdays,
I count blessings every day!"

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