2007 had definitely been a rather interesting year for me, with lots of interesting ups, downs and challenges. I am glad that I’ve met and even surpassed all targets the targets I’ve set the previous new year’s eve. I’ve got closer and became more understanding & tolerable with my loved ones on top of securing my first scholarship for my current studies. It was a rather short year as well and one which not only saw oil prices reaching record highs but the US dollar hitting bottom low and no where close to what we had saw almost 10 years ago.

On academics, I will be graduating from Singapore Polytechnic early next year bringing a myriad of crossroad junctions for me again in the turn of 2008. On the ideal forefront I will be pursuing a scholarship program by one of our government organizations here for fully subsidized overseas undergraduate studies, targeted in commendable universities such as MIT, Stamford or The London Imperial College.

Besides recommendations from others, I personally want to try to study overseas, contrary to my previous thoughts of staying in Singapore and being disconnected from home. But on the contrary, I think I will be more disconnected globally if I stay put here! Moreover, with the exception of SMU, I come to distant the liking of studying in local universities such as NUS and NTU, also considering how rejectingly they can be on entry applications I had come to face previously. Now the tables are turned with them inviting us top students over.

My studies plan B, would be staying on homegrounds on a bond-free undergraduate scholarship offered (ironically) by both NUS and NTU. Studying back at home is not that bad but I foresee that I will learn alot more and take a break from Singapore culture once in a while.

Study Resolutions for 2008
-Secure a place in a top 10 University, otherwise, studying local ain’t that bad either.
-Survive through my first year as a (duh) freshman.

Work and financial wise, I plan to spend more time on flourishing a homegrown business I am planning, on top of pushing a few more others I currently have on the cards. Though I am happy that I’ve met few targets I’ve set for business, 2007 came much of a blow for me too with the US dollar hitting rock bottom exchange rates now and I’ve lost quite alot on the rates. Despite surgery costs (which I will cover in running/sports), I will still consider low-risk investments as a big spending factor of my finances for the next year, also as part of growing my retirement savings. I personally find that I was able to balance out my time quite well this year and I hope I can do even better when I juggle in my degree into the equation.

Running Resolutions
Contrary to plans to always better my running ablity the next year, I plan not to run so much in 2008, considering that I will be down for a minor leg surgery which will put me down for a few months, so technically trying beat mileage from the last year is quite unrealistic. My ultimate sport dream is still to complete a full Ironman, but I won’t see myself doing it so soon next year until I train more specifically for Triathlons, work more on my swim and get a descent road bike in place of my mountain. But that does not mean condemning myself to gaining weight and growing a pot belly.

My sporting goal for the next year is to maintain my fitness and physique to put me though my medical term and recover fully for the following year ahead where the real training begins.

And to close up my running mileage for 2007, with 1101 kilometers covered!

And time to party now!

It’s Christmas Day and what better way to celebrate it but a short run on a Christmas afternoon prior to all your celebrations later in the night? I was happen to be visiting again the new extension of my favorite Alexandra park connector route, now extending all the way from River valley to Queenstown. Though spanning a short 1.39km in total length, it’s one of the most scenic and facility packed running routes through the concrete jungle, not to mention a very breezy place to run as well.

Starting off at the Tanglin road end of the park, where Crescent girls school and Tanglin Regency condominium are, you will be greeted by a long wide and usually long flat tarmac running route running parallel along the build up of adjoining HDB flats. Previously this are used to be a large monsoon canal, which you can see protruding out towards river valley and finally the joining in the Singapore river. Now, it’s all covered up completely and runs under the whole park length, therefore the unnaturally flat park terrain.

Starting off from Tanglin Road

Some of the long open stretches

Tarmac for runners and biker alike

What makes this route so unique is the myriad of park facilities built along the route, with lots of benches and adequate lighting at night. This park is perfect for families with little children and the elders with lots of rather new and interesting architecture and fixtures such as resonating double pans which amplifies sounds made between them (such as clapping), other eye candies will include mini children playgrounds, elderly fitness centers and even a small lili pebble pond over looking large fields.

Some of playground amenities

Few of the children playgrounds along the route

Mini Pond area

Flanked by the sides of the running route are large untouched open green fields which gives the place trademark cool breeze, especially in the cooler December evenings. I just hope that development will hold their horses around here as new buildings are always popping up everywhere along this area. In Singapore, large open land spaces are very hard to come by and I am glad this route has quite a few.

Large breezy fields

Micro Parks

The only dividing small 2 lane crossing

This extension takes a very straight forward route with a whole long flat straight and nothing else. this place is good for people learning to skate as well, given the long flat areas with the occasional slope for thrill or two, those cycling may be a bit out of luck given the short range of this park connector, not to mentioned being segmented by major roads around the area, so unless you are willing to dismount to cross the major roads each time, it would be better if the running pavements are connected with an underpass or sloped overhead bridge. The route itself may not be rather “connected” in a literal sense, more like many little segmented parks connected in a line.

Runner’s Safety
Interesting, lined along the running route are few EAB posts, called Emergencies Alert Beacons. These will flash in the midst of an incoming storm and lightning risk, warning park goers to head in doors and avoid open spaces. These are almost like the CAT status indicators

You will be greeted by a mini bungee playground nearing the Queenstown end of the park, not exactly the biggest of the cable-endowed play areas (like the pasir ris spider nets for example) but they are descent for the size of the park. There is also a mini skate park near that bungee playground for those who yearns the thrill of aggressive skateboarding or inline skating.

Few of the playground & bungee jungle

The Mini skatepark

The route end loop at Queentown

The park from Tanglin will run about 1.2km from Tanglin road all the way till you reach an open red tiled space. Here you will be able to see the old Queenstown cinema and the Queenstown MRT station in the distance, tracing back the running route will set you back close to a 2.4km distance, though I won’t particularly recommend you to use this route for your 2.4km time trails given the mid point road crossing.

Overal this route is recommended and perfect for families which is what it’s actually popular for, but not very much recommended for serious runners and bikers who want a clear long training route. You will be better of at the Tanglin-Rivervalley segment of the Alexandra park connector.

You can view more of the park photos in it’s own photo album.

Yup it’s the season to be jolly again. Wishing everybody a Merry Merry Christmas and enjoy the best of the holiday season for the year!

Here we have it, the 2nd official international marathon in Singapore for the 2008 season. Part of the Uniquely Singapore experience starting from the city to the west north up to Mandai. From what I see, the run will be rather scenic and cooling around the water catchment areas (mandai) so be prepared for a rather nice run away from the city wilderness.

However, due to the start/finish in the city (Bugis) be prepared to run along crowded city routes at the end with possible Deja-vu(s) of incomplete road closures just like Sheares Bridge Run AHM 06 (brrrrr!). Nevertheless a welcome to the many marathons lined for our running calender this year!

Event Details
Date : Sunday, 29 June 2008
Eligibility :No qualifying times required. Everyone is welcome!
Race Categories : Open to all runners, in-line skaters & athletes with disabilities of all ages
Start Times: 4 am or 6 am (different waves of start times depending on best marathon times of participants)
Field Size Limit: 10,000 participants (from Singapore and overseas)

Categories
50km Ultra Marathon
Full Marathon: 42.195 km
Half Marathon: 21.1 km
2km/5km/10km RunTeam (6-8 participants)
Kids Marathon (below age of 13 years old): 1 km which is run on Marathon Day ASEAN YOUTH*

*To promote an exchange of youths among ASEAN. Promising youths from ASEAN will be given travel and accommodation awards to come to Singapore for the Lion City Marathon and vice versa for Singapore youth.

Invited AthletesInternational elite athletes will be invited and sponsored to come to Singapore to conduct marathon clinics and to participate in the Lion City Marathon. This will assist our local athletes to step up from national to international level.

Entry Fees
Will be announced in due course

Race Route
The Lion City Marathon aims to attract tourists to discover Uniquely Singapore. Hence the marathon is held in conjunction with the Great Singapore Sale, Singapore Food Festival and the Youth Festival. The marathon course is designed to showcase Singapore抯 places of interest in the West and in the North. Start and finish will be at Bugis Junction (open field opposite Raffles Hospital and Bugis MRT). The route will go by Esplanade, Fullerton Hotel, Singapore Cruise Centre, World Trade Centre, Singapore Maritime Showcase, Sentosa, Mount Faber, Cable Car Station, Har Par Villa Dragon World, Ming Village, Singapore Science Centre, Japanese Garden, Chinese Garden, Tang Dynasty City, Jurong Reptile Park, Jurong Bird Park, Kranji War Memorial, Mandai Orchid Gardens, Singapore Zoological Gardens/Night Safari (Ah Meng will be cheering for you), Boat Quay. Route will eventually be certified by the Association of International Marathon and Road Races (AIMS)

Registration
First-come, first-served basis. Online and in-person registration will be available in due course. In anticipation of overwhelming response from local and overseas participation, we encourage you to email info@lioncitymarathon.com to express your interest.

Race Pack Collection
Race Entry Pack can be collected at the Fitness for Life Expo at Bugis Junction from Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 June 2008 on presentation of photo ID and confirmation card. Participants will receive a special Race Entry Pack which consists of commemorative singlet, Race BIB number, a championChip (returnable) and heaps of other goodies. All finishers will receive a Finisher抯 medal and a Personalized Race Certificate.

More Event Info

Behold Singapore’s first marathon for the 2008 season! And looks like Formula 1 is not the only one racing at night for now! The route will take on the spanking new East-North park connectors with 42km under the belt in one loop (hint hint) and 2 loops for the 84km ultra marathon.

It had been time that we get a decent non-repeating marathon route around Singapore Yea! Only time will tell whether hivelocity will organize a good event up to runners expectations, especially the crowd and baggage collection area (hint hint).

“Take part in the event as an individual in the Marathon category or take on the challenge of the Ultra-Marathon in the first ever night marathon in Singapore.”

Race Details
Date: 31st May 2008
Distances : 21km, 42km, 84km
Start Time: Early Morning- Varied (To Be Confirmed)
Venue: East and North East, Singapore

Categories

Runner’s Entitlements
Each participant of the Sundown Marathon will receive:
-Athlete’s Circle Visor
-More coming up shortly…

Each finisher of the Sundown Marathon will receive:
-A Sundown Marathon Finisher Medal
-A Sundown Marathon Finisher Certificate

Registration
Online Registration (Credit Card payment)

In Person (Cash and Cheque payment)

Bulk Registration
Gather a group and take part in the Sundown Marathon together. For bulk registration enquiries, please email to info@hivelocity.com.sg.

More Event Info

Dang I am really hading it with software activation. Did a reformat of my computer and installed my Norton internet security 2007 only to be told that I can’t activate my software as I had exceeded my allowed number of activation for my CD key? WHAT?

Called them up on their 1800 toll free number which kept me like 5 mins on the hold before speaking to a human, who not amusingly seems speaks like someone on the other end of the earth, also given the second long delay between talking. It turns out that they could not do anything about it as their system will auto lockdown any CD key (original or fake) if it had exceeded the number of 3 activations on their server.

That is given people who reformat our computers regularly every year, we are quite out of luck with only 3 installs on the same PC before having to void that Key and get another.

So I told them “thing means I can throw away that $99.00 CD I’ve brought as I could not even install it again on the very same PC?” They operator coyingly said “No” but they did mention that I can go purchase their LATEST! 2008 version with 3 more activation KEYS! Like “WOW!”

And they can transfer my Norton account over to that with my subscription, then call them up first so they can tweak the system before activating any future copies. Yes thank you Symantec, for so much for your “excellent support and convenience for customers” you scored a blacklist on my cards now.

I understand the need of software activation but they should not bring it to a point that it even hurts rightful paying customers who can’t even use the legitimate software they had purchased. Some people recommended using key-generators or cracks for the software, but I can’t believe that legal users even have to crack their original software to work. This is completely Absurd. Thumbs down for Symantec.

The thing which pisses me off is the lack of flexibility on Symantec side, even their operators cannot do anything about it without caring whether you can run their software. Recalling on a opposite light, I remembered I had a similar problem once with Microsoft on my Windows XP OS activation, till I called them up and screwed them totally on the phone. In the end, activation is not a problem with them now.

Guess I just caught the Christmas bug a little earlier than usual, nevertheless Merry early Christmas greetings everyone! it’s the season to be merry now with greetings and a happy new year to come! It’s all parties, Christmas gifts, cards and the spirit of giving now. Man do I love this time of the year…

I believe it’s also the time again to reflect on the year’s happenings, achievements and make our upcoming resolutions. And better don’t let be the all common “aim to lose weight” or “exercise more” or “earn more money”, well if one of your resolutions is the “be more creative”.

On sporting events, there are quite alot of runs coming up next year. I am already planning my 2008 calendar with the most interesting thing being 3 marathons coming up for the year of 2008 contrary to a single official one this year! Will it be interesting:

Inaugural Lion City Marathon 2008, 29 June 2008 - Mandai Area, Distance: 42km
Sundown Night Marathon 2008, 31 May 2008 - Singapore East Park Connectors, Distances : 42km, 84km (2 rounds)
Singapore Marathon 2008 (Date December 2008, Day TBC) - City and East coast

I would like to run more these weeks, but didn’t do so much of the the last week mainly due to projects piling up (besides the weather as well) and of course, having to rush my final year project for the SP 2008 exhibition and open house in the white main Tentage as well. If do, do pop by the Singapore Polytechnic public open house from the 10-12 January to say hi and try out my Final year motion simulator project in action! In the meantime I need to get some rest over tomorrow as my hands are all sore form all the metal work over the last few days (despite it being a school holiday). But man did we make lots of cool stuffs!

Wishing Selamat Hari Raya Haji going to all our Muslim friends out there, and enjoy your public holiday tomorrow everyone!

Nope it’s not Red Alert 3, but it’s still form the good ‘ol command and conquer universe. It’s EA Games “Tiberium” first person shooter coming up autumn next year. Though obviously uncreative name “Tiberium”, I guess the peeps at EA mus tbe thinking, “Hey! since we should all know about it’s toxic nature which not only kills and mutates people real well, it makes a cool name for a new game as well!”

I just hope beside the overused “Tiberium” term, it’s not something like C&C Renegade revisited or it’s sequel. I was wishing they put the havoc engine into a better light with so many benchmarks set all around by UT3, Call of Duty 4 and even Crysis. Only time will tell whether this game will set the new benchmark on 3D FPS or simply fall like a flop like it’s predecessor.

You won’t totally experience the N82 after using it for a few days and putting it through the “real world” tasks. Overall my reactions are mixed, but I felt that Nokia could have made the N82 a better phone.

The main thing which shines in this phone is the camera, throughout this blog posts are some photos taken with the N82 today.

Battery
To me, battery life is a great concern for gadget the road warrior. Battery life is actually descent, but still about the same as the N95 8GB for my regular usage, despite being smaller. It needs charging almost every 2 other days. Even without using Wi-fi, the most I can bring it up to is 3 days on a quad band network, UTMS will be even worst hardly reaching 2 days. Battery drain is generally the same as the N95 8GB with wi-fi on- hardly with 4 hours of usage, it’s almost the same drain as talking on the phone for the same period.

Cavenagh bridge

Merchants Statues

Reflections on the bench

A good camera needs good fuel, but the performance is just acceptable- A full battery charge can last you (to black out) about 200 shots without flash at 5 Megapixels, use the flash and see the battery bar fall exponentially with every shot. The xenon flash have its good and bad points. The good obviously having a large flash area to light in the dark (see sample shot below).

Flyer

Without flash

With xenon flash

The bad is that it drains battery by ALOT and frankly speaking, you are better off with a digital camera which can last you much or even twice more the shots. The phone may be feature packed, but not exactly practical as a dedicated main device.

Furthermore, you cannot use the N82 as a torchlight (with third party apps) with a xenon flash lamp or have a “constant-on” video light at night, so thats a few plus for the N95 8GB LED lamp. Frankly speaking, the LED flash of the N95 is not as bad as it is- it still gets night shots decently done most of the time, it’s only the exceptional darker shots where the N82 really show it’s ommph with Xenon.

Build and Quality
Though a solid piece, the N82 feels much cheaper than the N95 8GB mainly because of the full slippery plastic casing. The worst thing is that the front face is made out of a coated chrome plastic made to go with the rest of the front face of the phone.

This is the same material they use to make the opening windows for the secondary camera, screen and light sensor, (unlike the N95 with dedicated plastic housing). This means that over time this chrome firm can be chipped or be rubbed off the bottom transparent plastic and you won’t want that right on the face of your phone! I can see to that being accelerated if you leave it with keys or coins in your pocket or even scratching/dropping it. You really need a front face protector for this phone.

It’s actually quite practical
On a brighter side, the thing I really like about the N82 is the lens cover which actually allows faster startup of the camera rather than unlocking the keypad and holding the shutter key to start, this is particularly useful to capture quick pictures on the streets when you least expect it as a moblogger. Pictures on my old N95 8GB sometimes turn up misty due to particles sticking to the lens.

Furthermore the audio 3.5mm jack at the top is a right position, whether in your pocket or in a slip/ exercise arm pouch while running, the headphone jack is best placed at the top so as I come to realize, practically on the design part.

Indoors

Merlion

Landscape views

Interface
The interface of the N82 is faster than my N95 (stock) out of the box, especially viewing GPS maps. I believe this is mainly due to updated firmware. But this is a minor plus point considering that firmware can always be updated for either phone.

Conclusion
Overall, the N82 compared to the N95 8GB is either on par in most areas, despite being worse in a few. That can still justify the standard retail price of the N82 being $988 and cheaper compared to the N95 8GB’s $1188. So it just boils down to what form factor you want and whether you want a bigger screen/battery or need to take better night shots.

In all, frankly speaking for photography I can’t name or deny that there isn’t any other Nseries phone other than the N82 which can be better for the job. It is not perfect, but what cameraphone is?

Got the N82 today. Nicknamed, “the imaging king”, the Nokia N82 is a Candybar form factor phone which is the latest crown jewel in line of the N series line of phones. On paper the specifications seem impressive, feature-wise, the N82 is in not much in any very much different from the flagship N95 8GB and very very way ahead above the N81, so why the lower model number of 82?

Has Nokia tech or marketing team forgotten something in the phone which do not entitle it to be called the N94 or N96? The obvious overlapping features with the N95 means that this is the prefect contender to the N95 now, so how will it stack up to it? Well we will find out in a moment.

N82 Box exterior

Inside the Box

Full contents of the Box

Open the Box and be greeted by an array of accessories and eye candy, otherwise what you get is rather basic for the fat-free operation of the phone. Here are a list of of items you will get:

• N82 set
• BP-6MT Battery
• TV out Cable
• Compact Mini-Charger
• Micro-USB Sync Cable
• 2GB Micro SD + Adapter
• 3.5mm PTT headset
• Generic 3.5mm headphones + Ear Sponges
• Manual + Quickstart, GPS instructions
• Nokia PC Suite DVD

External Looks & Ergonomics
Spec-wise, the closest contenter to the N82 will be the N95 8GB, and in case if you wondering which to get, size-wise first, obviously the N82 wins with thinner depth but only a few millimeters shorter in it’s width. Height-wise, the N95 wins with it’s slider layout. However, the N82 will fit nicer into the long pockets with it’s relatively more slender profile.
inline

Well the rain had been continuously pouring down these days, the weather is great but dampened are always my planned runs in the evening, which always so coincidentally pours around my usual 5-6pm running periods. The mornings though are much drier and pretty much cooler as well, only that I have have to be in school at that time or simply just can’t wake up early enough to see my weekend mornings.

Set another well… personal feat last Saturday with my longest non-hydrated run. Well though it’s nothing something to brag about considering that I might actually be a fool possibility killing myself running myself dry.

But maybe it’s more of a personal challenge of seeing how far I can go- with lots of pre-run hydration before the run, I actually managed to run a full half-marathon without any experiencing any signs thirst or discomfort at all (possibly an excuse of cutting myself off from waterpoints during races). Come to think about it, elite runners seldom hydrate, only with about 1-2 points for a full marathon.

Back on my run, so I was like running at the 16km mark and it was like “hey why not explore the new Alexandra park connector quote leading up to Queensway?” before I know it I was covering 18km when done. Then it was like “so why not just bump it up to 20km and beyond for the full 21km?”.

It’s a thrill to run in such cold whether now, you will never ever feel very tried or encounter excessive perspiration these days, it’s always cooling and windy throughout the run, nice, minus the rain… when it does when you least want it to.

For those who had been tuning into 91.3FM 5pm Married Man Show, and wondering about the rumors and news of the show terminating, the show is still on! Only that the crew: Rod, Andre & Audrey will be out on a 2 week holiday from boss.

Labeled as the “largest record setting Kana plucked ever” by Rod, talking about crying wolf! In place, the show will still be continued by in-house part-time DJs. Well, at least that will put Singapore 2 weeks free from of og-gee married madness. Till then, “Lawyer DJ” Elliott Danker will be there to cover the evening show.

Heres the “Kana plucked part”: