Is Blogging a fad?

If bubble tea was yester-years’s fad, web-logging or blogging, is today’s equivalent. The trend of blogging – the e-equivalent of an online diary – is, as Rupert Murdoch observed, somewhat exciting ‘simply by virtue of being something new.’ From cyber ‘I-hate-my-boyfriend’ Bridget Joneses, to why-hasn’t-osama-been-caught-yet.com, to some other complete junk, most blogs are generally read with a pinch of salt. Established Australian web-blogger Tim Dunlop has lovingly described it as ‘a geek hula-hoop’ while acknowledging that the majority, on the other hand are just waiting for this one-hit wonder to fizzle out..

But if blogging is a fad that need not be taken seriously, why are there an estimated seventy people jailed worldwide for publishing comments critical of a government or its political nature? How did five female Singaporean students get suspended for simply criticizing two teachers and a vice-principal on their blogs? Moreover, why did Singapore arrest bloggers last few months for posting racially offensive comments on their personal websites, sentencing one to jail for a month while fining the other a hefty $5,000?

In the era of digital communication, blogging is looking less like a tenant and more like a proprietor. People are starting to pay attention to blogs and admittedly, governments have begun to recognize that. Earlier in April, Murdoch himself confessed to underestimating the challenges posed by this new media. An area he thought would ‘just limp along’, blogs have proven themselves worthy challengers for news presence with the mainstream media. And if the world’s most powerful and notorious media mogul can marvel at the tenacity of this medium, how realistic are beliefs that blogs are just a passing rage and nothing more?

Need Help Collecting NDP2008 Tickets?

As my tittle reads, need help? Fret not, because, Just read my Intensive walk through guide and you will be enlightened!!! Lots of helpful pictures ahead; cos a picture tells a thousand words. Don't worry, just print out the guide, and you'd be at the Multipurpose facility in no time.

How to go to Marina Bay Multipurpose Facility, Singapore to collect National Day Parade 08 Tickets

Written by thesaint; everyonelovesthesaint@blogspot.com

But before that, a short advisory from the Organizing Committee:

Ticket Collection Period: 13 Jun - 22 Jun 2008
Opening Hours: 9am - 9pm
Location: Marina Bay Multi Purpose Facility Function Room 2
Documents to Bring: NRIC / Passport / Photo Driving License
There is no parking provided. You may proceed to park your vehicles at the nearby shopping malls.
If someone is collecting the tickets on your behalf, please inform him/her to bring along your document as well as theirs.
For any further enquiries, you may contact us at our hotline at 1800-637-2008.

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This information will help you plan your journey to and from the Marina Bay Multi Purpose Facility.

Arriving By Train: City Hall MRT Interchange.

Take a 10 minute walk Via the underground City Link Mall, exiting at One Raffles link to reach the Multipurpose Facility.

Step 1: Take from your nearest MRT Station to City Hall MRT Station, Alight at City Hall MRT Station then, go out of the gantry.

Step 2: After exiting the gantry, exit the MRT Station, and turn to your Right towards City Link Mall.

Step 3: Walk through the City Link Mall.

Step 4: Walk Pass the GNC, proceed down the escalator or the flight of stairs. then walk pass HMV.

Step 5: Continue walking pass many shops i.e. NewyorkNewyork restaurant , MPH Book Store, CK Underwear, Giordano etc. Look out for Adidas, Then turn Right after the Adidas Shop into a flight of stair which leads to Esplanade.

Step 6: walk through the tunnel with glass exhibits along the side.

Step 7: Walk along more exhibits, and eventually take an escalator from B1 to level 1.
Step 8: Proceed to the Esplanade Mall area, and then walk pass the "chocz" and "movie popcorn shop", then take a escalator down to B1. Exit Building via this exit, Once you see the Bus stop, turn 90 degrees left, and walk about 200 meters, and you will see the Multipurpose Facility by the bay.
Eventually, you will see this place.
I hope my walk through will be of help to those who can't find their way around. Remember to get your tickets before 22 June 2008!!! :)

Sign up at http://apps.facebook.com/hellolife to receive FREE LIVE NDP Traffic & Transport info via SMS! Be one of the lucky people to stand a chance to win a pair of NDP tickets!

NDP tickets Collection

My Internship ended early today; 2pm, due to come company event, but interns are not required to join them. hence I went to collect my National Day Parade 2008 Tickets today after work. Jake took the same bus; No. 14, with me, but alighted at Plaza Singapura while I alighted at the stop after Raffles Hotel, then i walked over to the floating Multipurpose Facility located across the Pan Pacific Hotel. Almost lost my way, but I made the Singapore Flyer the landmark, and walked towards it. I was very tempted to hop on a taxi, to go to the floating pontoon, because the journey was both far and long.

Okay, enough of typing, cos a picture tells a thousand words.

Ticket Collection Center at the Multipurpose Facility

My best Picture of The Day
Paranormal Picture of the seats, Singapore Flyer and part of the stage.

Paranormal picture of the Stage; badly taken

My Tickets!!! all 6 if them, Green Sector

After collecting the tickets, I walked back to Cityhall Mrt Station, then took Mrt home. tired legs.

What does the Singapore Spirit mean to you?

They just called me this afternoon!!! *who?*

NDP Organizing Committee Personnel!!! Short form: NDP OCP



Phone Rings *ring ring*
Me: Ohaiyo, Moshi, Moshi?
NDP OCP: *wonders who is this Japanese fellow?* Hi, I am calling on behalf of the National Day Parade Organizing Committee, can I speak owner of NRIC of S8****55B?
Me: Hai! Its me. Can I help you?
NDP OCP: Oh, can you please tell me your NRIC number again?
Me: huh? but u just told me my number. *ponders*
NDP OCP: Ya, but I need to verify your NRIC.
ME: oh, *recites* S 8 * * * * 55 BRAVO
NDP OCP: Congratulations Sir, You won 6 tickets to this year's NDP.
Me: ok. Thanks.
NDP OCP: Collection would be from 13th June till 22nd June. Our opening hours starts from 9am till 9pm.
Me: ok, where to collect?
NDP OCP: Our Collection center is at Marina Bay, Multipurpose Facility Function Room 2.
Me: wait arh, I write down, M-a-r-i-n-a B-a-y, M-u-l-t-i-p-u-r-p-o-s-e . . . .
NDP OCP: Yeah, it’s on the floating platform on level 1.
Me: ok. I am done.
NDP OC: you need to bring your IC for us to verify. And there will not be any parking spaces available, so please park elsewhere.
Me: Hmm. ok, but which is the nearest MRT arh?
NDP OC: That would be City Hall Mrt.
Me: ok. Thanks you.
NDP OC: Ok, that’s all. Have a nice day.

Cool right? Its the 1st time I won tickets since the e-balloting of national day tickets started. But anyway, I am going to give some of the tickets to my auntie and her family. It was her who told me to try my luck and see if I can get the tickets. The last time I watched a live NDP is 2003 and I want to relive the live NDP feeling.

My record of watching Live NDPs are the following years, 1998 (preview), 1999(preview + live), 2001(live), 2002(live) and 2003(live) In all my past live NDP experiences my favorite part of NDPs are neither the dancing nor the fanciful costumes but it’s the Marching In and Marching Pass!

I assure you, watching NDP live is different from watching it on the television as the feeling is really different. Let me relate some of my experiences watching live NDP. While the Marches played by the SAF band fills the "stadium". The Smartness of the contingents and the regimental togetherness makes me feel awed each time I watch the marching in and during the march pass.

I love the part when the parade commander asks, "Mr President Sir, May I ask for your permission to inspect the parade, Sir." then the President nods, then the parade commander does the "hormat" to the president with his sword, by kissing the sword.

Who says people are united only in times of disasters? Singaporeans are united both physically and in spirit, especially so, when the president goes around the "stadium" on the little buggy, Singaporeans will then stand and wave the Singapore Flags at the president, followed by doing the Kallang wave which is unique only to Singapore.

And the even more heartwarming moment would be when the whole "stadium" stands up together to Sing the National Anthem followed by reciting of the Pledge. I don't know why but usually at this moment, I would be moved to tears or feeling all the goose pimples all over me because, of the Singapore Spirit. The oneness of our people, people of different race, religion and background, together making a stand, to set aside their differences and to pledge themselves to be Singaporean. This is truly a moment of wonderment despite our cultural differences.

As the NDP comes to the ending part, Songs like with lyrics like, "Five Stars Rising, out of a stormy sea", "Count on me Singapore", "Stand up for Singapore" and “We are Singapore" rings through-out the stadium, with everyone, brothers, sisters, family and friends and even strangers join together in the choruses. Once again, the nostalgic feelings comes to pass, and the Singapore Spirit makes everyone, thus truly, One people, One nation, One Singapore while watching the beautiful display of fireworks.

stay-tuned for more blog updates as i collect the tickets next week.

*Banner and Photos coutesy of www.ndp.org.sg*

The PC Show 2008!

Amid the hustle and bustle of the Great Singapore Sale, the PC Show 2008 lurks around the corner. It starts its international showcase in Singapore, Suntec City. This time, it will be incorporating

• Digital Imaging 2008 (The International showcase of the Latest Digital Imaging Solutions) and

• Game 2008 (The International showcase of the Latest gaming, animation & multimedia exhibitions).

Anyone going? 1 more week to the Show!!!

THE PC SHOW 2008

Start Date : 12 June 2008
End Date : 15 June 2008

Description :
The PC Show, Singapore's Longest-running and Most Successful IT and Consumer Electronics Exhibition is back again with its 18th presentation. Following a successful showcase in 2007 with more than 400 exhibitors chalking up on-the-spot sales of over $26 million from the 907,000 visitors, The PC Show 2008 will present another significant and exciting showcase for all exhibitors and visitors.

A ONE-STOP SHOP with the latest trends, variety of products and great offers to satisfy our IT-savvy consumers…

Don't miss out on The PC Show 2008!

• Venue : Suntec Singapore International ConventioPost Optionsn & Exhibition Center

• Location : Level 3, 4 and 6

• Organizer : Lines Exposition & Management Services Pte Ltd

• Time : 12.00 pm - 9.00 pm

I'd be working there at the Hardware Zone Counter for all 4 days. Want to sign up for some HWM magazines? or Deluxe member? Come and find me!!! Let me know if you are dropping by to say hi, maybe, I can give you some freebies! things *if my boss isn't looking lah* haha. . .

ERP in operation

Picture from WahPiangEh

Congratulations to Singapore for Her recent win; Pedra Branca aka Horseburg Lighthouse. But let me 1st give you some quick information on ERP.

Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is an electronic system of road pricing based on a pay-as-you-use principle in Singapore. It is designed to be a fair system as motorists are charged when they use the road during peak hours by Cash Card. Sea Route in this situation.

The picture should be self explanatory. Might happen in near future. =P

Sg basher grow up please!

It appears that someone, hates Singapore to the core. . .

http://www.fcuksingapore.blogspot.com/

You guys should go and take a look at his posts. according to Marc, who discovered the shocking revelation, he revealed that author of fcuksingapore is a M'sian

I was shocked while reading some of the posts. Most of them are quite political while other posts are just purely anti-Sg. The fact is that Singapore didn't rob Malaysia of Pedra Blanca. Singapore gained gain sovereignty over the rocks and was given authority over it by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The case is already all over, and yet the author of fcuksingapore is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Malaysia agreed to settle the case with Singapore at the ICJ, and also agreed to accept what ever judgment which proceeded after the judging.

So, what is the motion? There is none, because your leaders already accepted the fact of the ruling. Why continue to cry over spilled milk. There goes a saying, empty vessels makes the most noise. I guess, author of fcuksingapore is one of em'. and if you really want to know what is going on in Malaysia, read this. Author of Shiokguy is more of an academic and more enlightening than of silly fcuksingapore's blog.