Went for a short 16km run this evening after a week of absence from the sport, maybe I am saturated with glucose or so, but the run was totally effortless and I never felt the “wall” at all, things look good to bump the distance up by another kilometer next week runs. The Alexandra canal route was exceptionally crowded today too, which added more to the buzz on the jog. Moreover, I’ve managed to get a contact who is able to get Polar watches at 25% off the standard retail price, making things looking niffy for my upcoming RS400sd which is most importantly, only available in Black! The RS800sd, silver? urrrghh!

On yea, lastly you may notice that my Final Year spotlight has taken quite a hush hush lately and the project blog and information mostly taken down. Yup it’s because of certain issues my lecturer raised to the whole class last week in school- Most of our final year projects are actually industry based projects, which usually have to be kept “hush-hush” to protect against competitors, especially when we are working on a new “secret ground breaking product”. Furthermore, he also highlighted that there were history of cases of students project groups facing infringements and possible lawsuits due to the leakage of such information. So the stand now is keep the project away from the public eye, which also meant taking all the project content on the site till the exhibition period – SPINNOVEX.

But don’t worry I will definitely check back time to time on the progress on the project, if not I will definitely bore myself which nothing on school, only minus the sensitive information. Stay tuned!

This year’s Track and Field IVP 2007/2008 will be held at the usual Gombak Stadium over a period of 3 days (20th, 24th & 27th of Oct 2007) within the timeframe spanning about 2 weeks. In the event of unfavorable weather conditions, the events will be held on the following Sunday. More details on the event fixtures at the “more” link:
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Remember those LED fans from the previous NDP which paints words on the fan blades upon turning it on? It runs on a rather old concept of frequency timing in response to the blades revolution speed- so when it blinks at just the right rate, it can paint full radial text or even images programmed using only 2 blades. Cool right?

And just when you thought those niffy reflectors are cool on your bike, apparently you can get the same effect on your bike wheels as well, courtesy of SpokePOV on the instructables website you can make your own! Theres even an option to animate the images with one, two or three spoke LEDs. Now this gadget may just redefine everything “bike wheels in the night”, wonder when can you see them on car wheels given the rather dopey idea of ads on hubcaps?

More step by step instructions to build your own at the link: here.

In the light of the Mid Autumn festival going on now, noticeably would be the array of nicely made lights and translucent lantern display on along Chinatown and the Singapore river by the River Walk (specifically opposite the Clark Quay on the Central Shopping Center side). Personally in the light of the rather high standards and taste we people have now in the age of special effects, light an magic, lasers, wide theater screens and booming stage speakers to name a few, I would see myself to spoilt an extent of not even turning an eye to these primitive lantern displays.

However, upon looking closer and paying attention to details, you will notice that there is more to just lanterns but a whole array of Chinese traditions and history which paints to what we are today – Our almost long lost traditions and culture revived in the heart of the Singapore River.

Overview

Dolphin Display

Introductory signage

After all these are the bread & butter, the very basics which ties us down to our cultural roots in this age of bustle given globalisation and rapid westernization. Given the exceptional traditional or culturist, I see that most modern generations these days won’t find street wayangs and puppet shows as irresistible as their Xbox of Playstation, contrary to that by our grandparents who always never cease to amaze them of how boring they can be.

In that limelight, it undeniable that such street performances are slowly dying, given resistance from the young to take on from their parents, slowing finding these props locked off the hands of aged-seasoned veteran hands, and only luminated by museum displays spotlights contrary to that of the stage glory days.

However, it’s still hearting to know that steps are still taken by the current community to showcase the traditions, given this Singapore River display for instance. And do lanterns now had kept up with the times – I remembered going all around for lantern social gatherings with my parents when I was a young kid, then theres always those large group night lantern walks in the night through neighborhoods with our lanterns. Most kids will have the traditional candle lit paper lanterns while those who prefer the edge will have the battery operated ones with the occasional music to boot. Lanterns these days not only have light, sound and blinking LEDs, they even have moving parts, wings and fans driven by motors! Now that’s cultural technology!

Check out the displays at the Chinese garden as well, the display is definately a must see and is supplementary to that along the Singapore river. After all, no matter how thin these lanterns can be physically, deep inside is a rock solid tradition which only time can tell, will stand up to the elements and the test of time.

This evening we were at Merchant Court Hotel. Tonight was the planned second part of my mum’s birthday dinner celebrations with my family at the Ellenborough Market Cafe restaurant, only that theres no cake and cards planned for this round as compared to last week’s round. It’s an international buffet with an adequately sound spread of Local, Western, Thai and Seafood.

I remembered dining at the Ellenborough Market Cafe (not the like the free and easy movenpick marketplace or village) before quite a few times, but I didn’t had quite an impression of the place and I wonder why. The place is similarly lined and styled to a traditional market place setting typical to that of the early western colonial days with lots of china displays and red wood around to boot. Only that those big signs and posters dominating the walls previously had all been removed.

Though there’s more than enough in the international buffet to fill you up greatly, but what I think the place lack is variety within each of the various cuisines itself, it’s simply just a very large cuisine spread to encompass all, but not as much as I seen from other buffets of the similar price per head- There is just a small short row for Chinese and Western dishes all over the place. Theres a central salad bar a long dessert row which doesn’t really catch your eye with the exception of the rather nice durian pudding. A miserable Japanese section cease to exist with only 2 dishes which also seem to go empty despite being constantly refilled. Far tucked in a corner where the Thai and Seafood resides which I guess not many people know much of either. Then there this usual “chief’s special corner” where you can check back regularly for whats been served in the “first come first served” batter.

Quality is exception, no burnt or over cooked food so quality is very much on par with standards for the price range. Also, commendably, the staff there were exceptionally friendly and helpful, only that you can’t stay around past 10pm for a chat as it’s closing time by then. The place is always packed on weekends and if you are lucky, you can get a reservation indoors contrary to sitting outside by the river walk which by itself isn’t as good as it sounds. Seating, space and the ambiance is OK. Overall the joint is not a place for those who prefer the fine touch as it caters to more of a social group with prices slightly above most social groups would willingly accept. Not a place I would bring guests to, but otherwise a nice place for family dinners or with a group of school friends and such for a casual outing.

What do you get when you cross the front of a Liana and the rear a Chrysler Grand Voyager? You get the 2008 Honda Odyssey Touring. Contrary to the 2007’s lower and more sportier Odyssey, the 2008 model had definitely much grown up with more practically as a family MPVs it provides for. Honda’s incrementalist approach to improving its models continues unabated – with a facelift to match it with the new similarly styled Accord.

It seems that the Stream and Airwave models in Singapore will still continue as the lower end MPVs. And while this new this look will come much of a disappointment who those who fell for the 2007 Odyssey looks “with the unmatchable sports handling from an MVP”, it’s time Honda set it crosshairs straight on their flagship people-carrier model to achieve what MVPs are built for – for the down to earth and practical family people.

Practically comes with practical looks – off with the flashy low profiles and glaring front headlamps in place of more conservative looking face which won’t give your children the chills when come to. But the main difference is the engine of the Odyssey EX-L, spotting a more fuel-efficient, 3.5-liter V6 Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) i-VTEC powerplant. This deactivate two or three of its six cylinders when they’re not needed, such as during cruising or deceleration.

The Odyssey comes filled with toys too, with new Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and onboard Navigation just to name afew. Throw the baby in reverse and see the rear-view mirror come to life with video feed from the rear camera display, with memory-linked side mirrors with tilt function.

The 2008 Honda Odyssey Press Release at the bump:
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I was down with a slight cough over late last week, a viral infection possibly caught from my mum who is ironically gotten less hindered by it now contrary to me, but I kept it at bay with lots of fluids and that not as much rest. Nevertheless caught up with the runs this week, with nice scenic runs along my favorite Tanglin Alexandra canal route to boot.

I was hoping to clock at least 70km in total for the 2 weeks but fall short of 15km to the target as I won’t be able to find time to run this busy weekend. So the total runs for this week including the unaccounted mileage from last week totals a descent 54.98km to 736.33km in total so far for this year. Strangely when you run with a sore throat you actually feel better and cleared during the run, it’s usually at the end of the run when phlegm starts to build up in my throat again, dammit!

This week also saw a revisit to the SP gym and dang is the place much in the ruins now – the staff center toilet is demolished for upgrading in line of the pool-retiling works, so the next nearest toilet is a good 400m away. This didn’t came much of a problem for me as I always gym with my required equipment and hydration too keep me self-adequate for hours at ago, contrary to most students who need to visit the toilet regularly for a drink. Moreover, the toilet closure as told by the Gym in-charge actually turned down quite a few people due to the lack of changing rooms or place to put their bags. This actually came to quite a welcome to many as lesser people = more free machines and little or no station waiting time.

Moreover, my last gym visit saw my record distance (12km) I’ve ever did at a ago on treadmill. Though minute compared my regular run distances, it’s actually quite an irritating feat to get the treadmill to go for so long- being only programmed to only dish out training intervals of 30mins maximum, it made such a big fuzz on the distance and 30mins maximum possible running time. I had to constantly reset the treadmill each time it forces me to cool down after the 30mins mark, 3 times in all to be exact! Irritating!

Would be looking forward to get my RS400sd sometime soon. My dad offered to purchase it for me as a reward for my last semester results. Now I am thinking should I go for the RS800sd.. evil me…

The Omy.sg launch party was on tonight and shaunchng.com was in on a trade invitation. So what else can we do on a holiday but PARTY? Held at Clarke Quay’s outdoor atrium where the fountains are we see a fusion of fellow bloggers together with corporate guests all gathering to witness the sneak preview and soft launch of the site itself before everyone else (25th Sept is the date folks!).

Atrium Partygrounds

Fancy!

Burp! I am not “driving”

Omy.sg is Singapore’s first bilingual news and interactive portal launched by Singapore Press holdings. It’s due to be officially launched on the 25th of September & showcases a fusion of news content from SPH themselves together with interactive web 2.0 content, mobile application, lobangs, showbiz & games just to name afew.

Moreover, it’s an instant mobile-photo news site where you can send in your MMS photos on anything captured hot from your handphone to 75858 or emailed to 75858@omy.sg if may. Take it like STOMP.sg but much better all round!

The event saw quite a few outstanding features of the site as well, namely few of the services they provide such as being able to also recieve offline IM (like MSN) through SMS, a Google Earth powered lobang finder and a citizen journalism section encouraging budding contributors from the community.

Talked and exchanged name cards with few of the trade visitors there. Whats more there’s a quality buffet dinner with free flow of champagne, red wine & soft drinks, not to mention showgirls roaming around with their Sony Ericsson K810i phone snapping pictures of you to be used on the event’s OMY crazy photo competition. And my, I know the emmys are over, but my photo was called out as a nominee up to go against 5 others in the party to win a brand new laptop PC!

Lol, but I didn’t win the laptop anyway (and not that I actually needed one), but I close! There was only one winner who was rubber faced enough for the cameras to be selected for the “000oooo-my” expression, Congrats!

Nevertheless all of us walked away with a rather attractive special goodie bag as well. Looking back it’s not everyday where you get to stand on stage making funny faces while 6 over photojournalists from SPH go crazy snapping pictures and video taping all over you under the spotlight, if my gypsy ball don’t fail me I think I might just appear on tomorrow’s papers, again! & man will I look freaky!

In media goodie bag you get an information leaflet about the site together with a pointer mouse pad and some miscellaneous cards and other free invites to various upcoming party events. It’s the mid autumn festival too so a mooncake is included in the package as well! For me I got an additional prized goodie bag containing a boynq USB VOIP handsfree speaker together with an Asiaone USB hub mousepad from my constellation gift.

Thats all folks! Omy!