Today will be the last day of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon early bird special, do quick make your registration if you do not want your fee to jump by by $20. Today is also the last voting day for the Singapore blog awards, so do help support the site by voting for this very last day!

Been around a run this evening and noticed a few things I believe people on the streets now should take note now. Today is also the start of the 7th month aka the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore, you will be seeing alot of prayers and incense being offered on the streets these few days, not to mention rather interesting Wayang stage shows you can see sprouting up in mature estates, (especially particularly where I live in the south).

For runners, when you are out running these days on the streets or roads, do keep a look out for prayer altars or stray pieces of incense paper on pavements- be careful not to step or disturb them. My parents used to tell me that those paper are like Gold to the dead so, it’s like stepping on their belongings- something you won’t want to offend with the hell gates officially open for this month. What I can say is even if you are a non-believer. If you do do kindly apologize if may as well, after all how hard can it be?

Otherwise, do enjoy a great August ahead! National day is something to look forward to.

Sigh, I was clocking in at least 600km at this time of the year last year, seems that I am really cutting down to one run a week these days. I usually do not include gym sessions in my running log now on as that do not affect mileage, except for threadmill runs.

If you were to followup my past articles on virtual map (aka the peeps who run the streetdirectory.com web portal) being shut down by the SLA Singapore Land authority after breaching copyrights, only to be revived back online only to be left without it’s maps after being denied it’s appeal to get back up into operations. Got a tip of from Virtual Map PR recently that the website is back now online with its maps! Ya! no more messing around trying to make the dumb and ridged SLA maps services work for me.

The site is now owning by the company which created JobsDB, so it’s not owned by virtual map anymore, but 10 of the senior staff previously from virtual map had joined the present website team. Dissecting the site, the interface is largely the same, so no revamp of the current site design, only with the functionality of the maps back online and running. In fact it’s even better than before with dragable maps just like in google earth. Dominated throughout the site are still litters of google ad-sense advertisements which always seem to crowd and over-saturate all the pages you visit there. I will recommend a google adsense ad-blocker (firefox has few good add-ons) when visiting this site if you do not want to accidentally click on the very deceiving well-placed ads.

For those looking for directions via public transport, you are not in for anything new either- SMRT bus services are still not included in the Bus search, but the SBS and MRT ones are still good.

Now time to get finding some places!

THE NORTH FACE 100® REGIONAL SERIES MAKES ITS WAY TO SINGAPORE! – CAN YOU ENDURE?

This event is not like your average typical marathon along red-carpet tarmac or pavements, but for those who desire the thrill or trail and off-road running. Being a cross country runner myself before hoping on as a road runner, I cannot deny that this run will be easily be twice the difficulty to complete given off-road and terrain- a real challenge for those who want to test their limits of what they can achieve and desire to live the marathon life further on the edge and wilderness.

More on the official excerpt:

The North Face 100® Singapore Schedule

Event date: October 4 2008
Race pack collection: Sept 27 2008
Closing date (Early bird): 15th August 2008
Closing date: 12th September 2008.

Race Category
MENS DUO (2x 50km)
WOMENS DUO (2x 50km)

There will not be a solo category this year. Only a team category is available. Each team will be made up of 2 members of the same gender. Each member will complete approximately 50km. Team members may run individually and need not cross the finish line together. The finish time of each member will be total final finish time of the team.

Registrations
Registration forms and Race Rules can be downloaded here. All completed forms must be accompanied with payment and submitted at The North Face Shop or Running Lab outlets by 12th September 2008. Closing date for early bird registration is on 15th August 2008.

Course Map
The route will be around the central catchment area, Singapore. To keep runners on their toes, the exact run route will only be revealed 1 week prior to race day on Saturday, Sept 27 2008 at the race kit collection. The race kit collection will be held at The North Face Shop.

Participant’s Promotion
- 30% off all products at The North Face shop (The North Face products only).
- 10% off for SALE items (The North Face products only)
- Valid for 1 time purchase for each participant.
- This offer expires on 11th October 2008

With Mas Selamat all round the paper’s these days with the 1 million bounty on his head now, that may at least get some fingers working. Looking at the papers today, the $1M is kinda negligible to the ones on Osama’s head, not to mention those on his right hand personnel. Nevertheless, it beats to puny few thousand reward previously posted by the Singapore police, not to mention with the possible new barrage of calls giving this now.

On 999 calls, I happened to meet and caught up with an old friend recently who is now serving his active national service in the police force. Just as how nominal I find army stories, I’ve always have a keen ear about the real experiences our men and women in the force have to deal with everyday, let be the civil defense. Not to mention just as how chilling some stories I heard from an ex-secondary school of mine who handles accident calls (we get 7-10 fatalities on our roads daily). This particular friend mans the reporting and messaging of 999 calls from the operators, with some rather interesting stories and experiences.

Though I’ve never and never wish to have the need to call 999. He told me of how some Singaporeans can call the 999 line just as often like they are calling for Pizza, not counting “returning customers”. Complaining over simple matters like low tap water pressure to sounds of mating cats, to remote control airplanes flying into their gardens- In other words, anything you can complain of under the sun.

He told me that people usually have the impression that they have to make taxpayer’s money worth by bugging the police time and again, but the callers seldom put themselves in the police’s shoes on how actually can the problem be solved practically. Say for instance the mating cats, they are not going to sit there and watch them throughout the night right?

Funny Mas Selamat tip-offs
Given that, if you were to ask any police personnel about their experiences with the Mas Selamat followups, I believe each and every one of them have their own head-shakingly unique and funny stories to tell, which can be rather assumingly funny too, here’s some I was told for the record:

People called 999 on Mas Selamat because:

• They saw someone walking with a limp on his leg, but he is not Chinese.
• I saw Mas selamat, and he is 1.8m tall.
• He is playing his PSP on the SMRT bus with the volume turned up and not using headphones like what people will normally do.

No matter how dumb these reason are, the thing is that every call will be investigated, so it will be a great wasteful drain on the force which have their opportunity costs. So next time, do give the people on the force a thought before calling.

The Ngee Ann Kongsi 2008 scholarship ceremony was on today. Though I did not apply for the scholarship this year. They kindly invited me and my family over to witness their prize presentation ceremony. Held at the Teochew building along Tank road, it’s almost like a memory of the award ceremony I went through last year. The interesting thing is that the value of the scholarship and bursary awards had risen by 20-25% from last year, totaling $0.8 Million SGD given out.

I cannot deny that the Teochew in Singapore are very proud of their rich history and culture, as displayed in their heritage center which I always time and again don’t seem to get tried of visiting every time I come to the Teochew center. The Kongsi have a long belief in supporting education, culture and the poor, namely through financial prizes given out in support of their various education institution such as the Ngee Ann primary and polytechnic to name a few, not to mention the Scholarships and bursaries given out today- all with no strings attached. Part of their most accomplised portfolio will involve owning land spanning from Orchard Wisma all the way to Cineleisure orchard.

There was a clay and stone art exhibition on as well (The 5th art exhibition titled the 3 elements), which was a needed break for me to appreciate the arts. A framed certificate token was presented to me on stage as congrats for graduating this year (despite it having a typo which they promptly rectified and fixed).

My group of graduates were called upon a casual chat session by the chairperson who told us more of the organisation and answered some queries on why the Kongsi only sponsor local university studies (and not overseas), together not funding post-grad studies. Apparently, it’s all about the opportunity costs- he explained for the price of one overseas scholarship, they can sponsor 3 local scholars. With rising costs, funds are limited and they would find it fairer this way. On post-grad scholarships, he also mentioned that it’s more feasible to be able to put money into sponsoring students who have yet to do their first degree rather than one looking for a masters or a PHD. He also shared plans with us to create a Ngee Ann award recipient’s alumni which he looks forward into us spearheading and kick-starting the initiative with an invitation to the organisation as volunteers and organisers.

Will be looking forward to that.

And just as I thought last year’s was the last year Standard Chartered will be organising and title sponsor for the Singapore Marathon, being rumored to be their last, well, last year. Apparently, not so for time to come as well. This year will be a big bump in budget for the professional breaking annual event- up by almost twice of that of last year, with a new expanded Team category!

I however, will not be running this year’s race and the Sheares’s bridge half-marathon will be my last race for this season before flying abroad. Nevertheless, given what Stand Chart had achieved last year and the year’s races before as a participant myself, I believe you won’t be disappointed in this year’s race.

For those who participated in their races before, you should have received discounted early bird mailer by last week. Simply login at the registration website and sign up with your details saved in their database.

Event Information

Event Date: Sunday, 7 December 2008
Closing date: 15 October 2008
Start Point: Esplanade Drive, The Esplanade Bridge
End Point: St Andrew’s Road, The Padang

Enquiries: + 65 6248 6033

Only one parent/guardian issued with an identification tag will be allowed to accompany any child 6 years old & below.

Team Categories (& their respective start times)

• Team – Men: 7.30 am
• Team – Women: 8.15 am
• Team – Mixed – Men: 7.30 am
• Team – Mixed- Women: 8.15 am

(At least 1 member of the opposite sex)

All men participating in the 10km-Men, Team-Men and Team-Mixed categories will commence their race at 7:30 am.
All women participating in the 10km-Women, Team-Women and Team-Mixed categories will commence their race at
8:15 am.

Registration Closing Dates

• Direct Mailer (aka Loyal Runners Discount): 21 July- 31 July (Starts 10 days later than last year)
• Normal Early Bird: 1 July- 11 August
• Promo Period: 12 August- 31 August (1 month earlier than last year)
• Normal Period: 1th September- 15 October

Running Route
I cannot deny there are very much more to see this year, in addition to running past the flyer with the lack of construction around the area, runners get to run past the new F1 pits area as well. Marathon runners will do an additional U-turn loop towards Suntec City this year, before turning back towards the national stadium and towards fort road for the east coast route segment. More on the route below (click for lightbox popup).

Price and Event Details
Generally, the late comer’s prices still remain the same at $85 for the full marathon. Early prices are up $1 – $2 this year from the last. The biggest jump will be about $5 – $10 for the Aug 1st to 11th period.

Online Registration
Register Here
Online credit card payment (ONLY VISA or MasterCard) is accepted.

In-person Registration
(Strictly limited to Individual or Team (max. 6 runners) registrations only)

Sign up in-person (ONLY cash) at;
Singapore Athletics Association (Head Office)
15 Stadium Road, Room1,
National Stadium, South Entrance,
Singapore 397718
Operating Hours: 10:00 to 17:30
Monday to Friday

Singapore Athletics Association’s Centre of Excellence
Bukit Gombak Stadium
800 Bukit Batok West Ave 5
Singapore 659081
Operating Hours: 10:00 to 17:30
Lunch Hour: 13:00 to 14:00
Monday to Friday

Important: There will be NO registration at Standard Chartered branches this year.
Payment must be made upon registration. Terms and conditions apply.

Upon completion of the race, all runners will also receive:

• Finisher’s Medal specific to their Race category
• Full marathon Finisher’s tee (Marathon Only)
• Personalized Finisher’s race certificate

Anyone up to the job? Project budget: $1M USD to $2M USD, will not top $5M including long range rockets, side thrusters and rover parts (including long range communication equipment). Most of the rover’s drive, imaging system and arm probe can be taken or built easily from off the shelf parts. The requirement is that the project have to be privately (up to 90%) funded and completed by 2014 with $20M to $30M USD prize for the run.

Rocket scientists are welcomed. for me, I am more well versed in Rover automation and mechanical control, let be designing and building the rover’s chassis and off road system. So if this project is in the grasp given the restrictions we have here in Singapore, I will be daring to give it a try, to see how far I can go. Hey you won’t know till you try right?

But anyway, it’s not all rocket science, but here are some preliminary plans I’ve brainstormed at the moment over breakfast this morning:

Options for breaking the earth’s atmosphere and gravitational field:

The modern astronauts who went to the Moon took about three days to fly from the Earth to the Moon. They followed a planned route that took as little fuel as possible, namely roughly 30 kilograms of fuel which is really little in terms of the amount of fuel burnt by our commercial jets these days.

Some of my tentative plan for Rover Design
Electrical driven and powered, solar assisted. Locomotion options are limited to 6 or 8 wheel independent drive with skid steer/directional 6×6x6 or 8×8x8 functionality. Alternate threaded caterpillar tracks with dual segmented track system for rough terrain climbing (may consider due to thread jamming based on lunar soil nature). Mounting of sensors can be overhead together with solar panels. Consideration of “roll over” design with auto righting systems. Internal Li-ion backup and axillary direct-charging on sunlight exposures.

Rover body will be constructed from an array or titanium, aluminum and austenitic stainless steel substructures, all with their melting and “point of frozen brittleness” below exceeding the estimated 127C to -173C celsius surface temperatures on the moon, ensuring the best balance of chassis strength and toughness in all operating conditions. Body be made in several fail-safe compartments with internal temperature monitoring. Heat shields wrapping is not an option.

With that, lets go to the interesting bits:

Kick starting
Come to think about it, this project is still very much do-able, with the hard part getting the rover to land safely on the moon. The rest of it will be like running say, a surveyor just like what we can do simulated underwater. We don’t have a large market here compared to the States, so given our local restrictions, most of the design and controlled testing will done locally here, where external field testing have to be down abroad, as there will be too many rules and regulations here in Singapore to aid the project in anyway. Unless if any official green light is given by the authorities.

There is a new ad only on regular on Discovery now, ah, my favorite channel. And the same can be said for this Ad as well, it had been sometime since I’ve came across an Ad which will just make you go awww, thats so nice and fuzzy. I believe the ad will be more meaningful to those who actually watch discovery and know the people featured in the Ad- Mike in dirty jobs, Adam and Jamie in Mythbusters, let be the Deadliest catch and Storm chasers. Hey even Steven Hawking got some air time on it as well. Surprisingly OCC’s Paul Sr is not in the Ad, if not he would go: “I love my motorbike!” that would be rather ka boom! and iconic too.

I love the world and that is nice, with 1:07 of your time to appreciate it, on the click: