Was at the Comex Show again tonight after the Nike Human Race. Some of my running kakis wanted to go check out the show after dinner around the area. There were few rather cool last minute deals includes bluetooth headsets going for $29 with 1-1 exchange. Display set cameras at 40% off retail prices as well as laptops slashed $1000 off their retail prices (such as some Sony Viaos going at $1299 from $2199), though similar spec-ed models from other brands are already selling at their “discounted” prices.

The place was in a great mess with lots of slippery waxed-flyers and litter all around, very different from the spick and span conditions when I visited on the first week days. Especially on the 6th floor with smaller exhibitors. At around 9pm, there were many exhibitors who had already vacated their booths, while some desperately trying to sell off their remaining stocks. Gone are the soft and calm mood of the place where both customer and exhibitors alike are all fighting for deals and bargains, let be blasting the air waves with their voice and PA system to out shout each other from booths getting the attention, deals and offers across to customers.

Anyway, managed to get quite a few good deals for some of my Shunqiang, Eric and Qiwen who were looking to get memory cards. They got quite a good deals for Kingston MircoSD cards going at $8 each with a full-sized SD adapter. I remembered paying close to $30 for that almost half a year ago darn! Goes to say how low memory card prices had gone down over the years, not to mention the large profit margins earned from early adopters.

Sean was a little more spendthrift, who dumped $799 on a Sony Cybershot semi-pro camera with tons of freebies such as a free photo printer, etc as well.

For me, this is one IT show where I didn’t even put a penny on, well mainly as I didn’t need anything at the moment. But the show was a good eye-opener to update myself and do some market research on current IT prices. I will be sinking most of my purchases next year before flying off the UK, where I will get a new hybrid video/still camera and multifunction Canon printer which I will bring abroad with me. Thereafter, I will be intending to purchase an Alienware laptop in the UK itself.

On my way home along Nichol highway, lines of trucks are lined up alongside the convention center by the loading bays, presumably the staff all getting ready to vacant and move out of the exhibition area after the event.

Will update on the Nike Human race tomorrow.

Was around comex on Friday mid-afternoon. I think visiting during office hours may be the best time to check out the deals, especially before the weekend rush. Technically, we can say that is the last of the IT shows we can expect this year, with PC and the IT show 2008 over for this year already. The place was packed but largely only around the entrances where all the flyer distributors are clogging up the entrances, the 4th floor is crowded, but still allows traffic flow with the 4m wide walkways. Everything is much clearer on the 6th floor.

There were not many good deals, NEC, HP/Compaq, let be Fujitsu and Sony do not even have any deals which can raise any eyebrows. If I do not miss much after walking around, I think much of the specials for this year’s fair will largely be peripherals. I think a good buy there will have to be few Logitech products Mclogic were having on sale, to my surprise, the $129 Logitech VX revolution mouse selling at $59 was sold out right at day one. There was no stock for the whole show period when I was there on Friday. Singnet is the only one in the house giving free laptops with their broadband plans while Starhub’s offers are simply plain to none.

Being largely a consumer fair, there wasn’t anything for corporate users, let be managed networking products on sale which I was looking for. I was scouting around for a new managed switch, but seems that Linksys is the closest you can get to Cisco in the fair. 3Com only had gigabit switches the most. Nevertheless got some contacts from few stores who have their shops back at Simlim, I guess it goes to say with the exception of only very few very good bargains, the line of IT shows in Singapore is just a no mere “get together” for vendors, let be part time students looking to distribute flyers and earn a quick buck here or two. Why people always have the impression that IT show deals are cheaper? it’s not at all!

This post is to help out a fellow blogger in need, with regards to his missing pet angel, Kiki. Apparently, just yesterday, Kiki went MIA after flying off from Bryan’s 10th floor flat window- she flew out of the window while perched on his mum’s shoulder while bringing in the clothes. You can follow up more on Bryan’s incident on Kiki and read up more in his blog post here.

She has not been found. If you’ve seen here or have any whereabouts on Kiki around Block 504 Bukit Batok Street 52 at 8.45am (28/08/2008), please contact Bryan at 93850598. She is not wearing any identification leg band.

Here is a quote from Bryan’s Blog:

I hope Kiki’s fine. Bryan, stay strong and don’t give up you will be able to find her.

The Singapore Sheares bridge/Singapore bay run/Army half marathon was on this morning. The promise of the new route across the Marina Barrage is well, promising as it sounds and I believe the key selling point of this year’s race. I believe with so many new developments sprouting up around the Marina bay area, it’s just pleasing to know that every annual race from now on will be bolstered with something new.

The race conduct
The race generally started smoothly, with the waiting pens dedicated to their respective categories. In other words, only after the 21km runners are off, the place is not swarming with the 10km participants, allowing the 21km latecomers to join the race fast and smoothly. So as I come to know after starting the race late myself. Though the staggered race timings have something to do about it, I remembered a different situation last year, with many runners from other categories taking up the waiting pen area. I started off slowly at about 8km/hr on my calibrated watch (update: this is on a Polar RS400SD, thanks Sean for the heads-up I missed on this part) as I felt a stitch from breakfast not too long ago and bumped by to 10km/hr when it cleared upon touching the ECP.

The starting at esplande bridge

The open lanes of Sheares bridge

Check!- Distinctive circular object

First time ever, with the new widened ECP highway, especially the stretch by the Sands resort, it’s now it’s possible to have up to 3 lanes opened up for runners, with up two 2 lanes only opened to traffic. The result? A large and open overtaking area for runners alike and there was no crowd of choke zones even leading up towards the Sheares bridge, with 2 lanes open to last year’s one.

Things are not so picture-perfect given the confines of the east coast park, especially when runners start walking on the pavement, that proved to be quite of an obstacle for many runners- you can often see the whole group of runners slow to a jogging crawl especially on the return stretch after the U-turn. Runners have to squeeze through the walking pavement or go on the muddy grass to overtake, orange barricaded lined along the 2-way route evident near the U-turn point made overtaking harder in the crowd. On the contrary, the street side festivals were nice, I think CSSOM has the nicest booth, with the MPs taking the next best. Interesting to see many units using pressurized water jet guns set on sprinkle who serve as shower/mist points now, beats the used of the pump action bottle canisters many times over.

Is that an off-road trail I see?
Fort road will usually greet you again after east coast park, thereafter comes the route pointing into the usual “out of bounds” construction area which was opened for the event. This route is a gravel laid service road which serves as an entry point for construction vehicles serving the barrage construction and future developments. The trail area was very unexpected though, I saw the combat engineer’s banner on the top stating about a challenge route, but never know the trail conditions would be so bad- it was uneven and muddy, especially from the rain the night before.

The unexpected trail areas

The marina barrage

The barrage main complex and visitor center

There were many puddles and caked mud (which reminds you much of the Mizuno wave run at Bedok Reservoir). You can almost call it will a prelude’s prelude of the NBRR (New balance real run) trail run! Apart from the new route, what I can say is that overcoming this trail area would be the deciding factor for those looking to beat their 21km PB, especially if you are looking for a clean level race throughout, you will be quite out of luck with this new route.

Noticeable were the many marshals stationed on many points throughout the route, not to mention demarcated meeting points for casualty extrication, even on hard to reach areas like the Sheares bridge and the trail route, this is definitely an improvement of safety coverage from the organizers this year.

A brief highlight of the race was the run on the marina barrage which not only links the reclaimed lands of marina east and marina south, but damming it and turning the Marina Bay and Kallang Basin into a new downtown freshwater reservoir. The Marina barrage goes very much in line that anything we built here in Singapore as an icon should have it’s own building and visitor center attached to it. The barrage is no option either is a the plaza area is huge- a perfect place to complement the upcoming gardens by the bay attraction.

Photo happy
In all the race went on rather well for me, I finished on an estimate of about 2hr 40mins for this year’s race, (about 40mins longer than last year) with a bulk of the time on the barrage itself. Anyway I was not running for a PB this year and was shutter happy on the barrage. Nevertheless, took some good pictures on the views from the barrage, I even got a photostitich treat (and possibility a first) of the barrage, check it out!

A 360 degree paranomic photo was shot at mid-span of the pedestrian bridge which sits ontop of the barrage itself, showing the view of the central business district and the out lying open waters of the southern straits. Note that the ends of the picture overlap by a little.

So far the race had been quite flawless, with regular water points and no considerable shortage of water or 100 plus (unless if you are a runner who started late). Striking distance markers are evidently at placed at 1km intervals throughout the route, with the last km split into 2×500m intervals towards the finish.

Post race
Contrary to many, the event do not end after you’ve crossed the line, there is still alot to do before you are done with he event. Noticeably is the ramp at the finishing line, because of the concrete F1 barriers in place, a ramp platform have to be erected to bring runners over it into the padang which is sadly very much a mud bath itself, but that’s something beyond the organizer’s control either. Maybe getting the various NSFs to gather out of the Padang will help much in the crowd management. There were ample drinks to go around, even after all the 100 plus were exhausted. There were plenty of seating areas within the runner’s pens for de-chipping, though many of use would have already got it off right after the finishing line.

This year, there are no tents stating clearly the baggage points as well as the runner’s post race admin and medal collection area, you will be quite lost if you do not know the padang floor plan of the event beforehand, but there were many army helpers you can always reach out for queries.

Inside the plaza area of the main complex

The run finishing crowds

Speedy baggage collection

Speedy baggage collection
An army-manned locker area is a new introduction this year, but I went for the baggage deposit as such services usually come standard and can either make or break a runner’s race experience. Even when I knew where the baggage collection was, I actually spent sometime getting to it from the padang- the 21km competitive collection points are located far right on one end of Connaught Drive, which not only made my deposit quite a pain to walk from the Padang entry point where everyone came from, but after the race through the mud pool as well.

Thankfully when you finally reach the point, baggage service was a breeze, not only there was no queue, I got both my bag deposited and retrieved in less than a minute. Jokingly, I remembered asking the baggage handler before the race what are their plans when it rains (as there is also no visible shelter over the baggage area besides the locker area), they said “just let it rain” (presumably as the items are already all cable-tied and water tight, or say, ground sheets will do the trick as well).

The only area for baggage I see can be improved is the location but nevertheless still a good thumbs up for the organization, this definitely beats the “dump in tonner” baggage collection back in the 2005 race. I can’t deny that AHM baggage collection are getting better and better each year.

Met up with SGrunners, saw Sotong, IMD, brokenrunner (brokie) and few new faces, as usual for the 2nd year running, I missed the photo taking again haha. Didn’t know it was so long till we last met, even brokie mentioned that it was a long time since she met Sotong, for me, it was even longer! Elrick my SP track and field senior who was in the Commando’s half-marathon team ran about 1 hours 40mins for his race, with his team coming in champions with their fastest runner at clocking in at about 1 hour 20mins.

Dinner tonight was with Aunt Jenny and family, with Richard, and their kids Anthony, Michelle, along with 2 acquaintances whom were Jenny’s ex-colleagues together with my Mum where they used to work as colleagues. They are still kept in contact, even after 36 years, so this dinner is more of less and annual affair where their family will fly to Singapore where their Mother Jenny, who is based in Singapore can visit her parents.

We had seafood at Jumbo Riverwalk. My old impressions of Jumbo was very much dated back to my early childhood where I used to frequent their East coast branch where there is this large carpet grass field and play area where I can play catching with other kids or cycle my kiddie bike around the area (when I still had training wheels on). Even my visit to HongKong almost 8 years ago didn’t see me on that rather iconic floating restaurant either, oh the hype.

Nevertheless, the dinner didn’t disappoint, we had crabs and yea that’s what no trip the Jumbo will be complete with. We chatted and catch up on times, I am not exactly very close to them, but more or less kept in contact largely through phone or email when they are away, it’s different actually meeting them in person. So as I come to know, they are quite avid fans of formula one back in the UK, following the races season by season, there is no wonder they are just as anticipative of the first night F1 Race here coming up late next month. That will be something definitely to look forward to.

The Special Awards 2008 was on today at the SEAMEO regional language auditorium. I was there to witness the special awards 2008 ceremony besides being a recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew award for Mathematics and Science. The award ceremony saw awards being presented to top students from the various secondary schools, ITE and tertiary institutions alike.

Met with Cliff and Andrew, who were there at the event as well so we chatted quite abit. Our Principal, Mr Tan could not make it due to his commitments with a project overseas, so his deputy sent his regards who present at the event. A photo taking session and food reception followed after the ceremony. Got to mingle and talk with few distinguished guests of the event, especially Mr Lee Hsien Long our Prime Minister and Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister of the environment and water resources. It was a joyous occasion, and marks another event on the books after my last scholarship ceremony.

The special awards 2008 at SEAMEO regional language auditorium

Interaction with Mr Lee Hsien Long, our Prime Minister

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister of the environment and water resources

It’s a small world, I met my GP teacher Miss Dorothy Ong at the event as well, I called their office previously on some enquiries about the event dress code and was surprised that she still recognized me after all these years, (about 5 years to be exact). Moreover, it didn’t dawn to me that my class had left an impression on many of my lecturers in JC previously as told by her, through most of the them are not all reorganized all over the system. Always glad to meet and catch up with old friends on times.

I’ve held this update till it’s officially released today worldwide. Today will mark the day where the 3rd line of class achievements are released. This time particularly for the Heavy class. As stated by Robin Walker in the official Team Fortress 2 blog, their main goal for the Heavy is to make the big guy be more effective even when there’s no medic around, so there is no pondering what type of weapons we can expect in this update.

The Sandvich, Natascha and the Killing Gloves of Boxing
The first of three unlockable weapons planned for the The Sandvich which is very much a standalone survival tool in place of the shotgun (which nobody ‘really’ uses if you are a heavy). Eating (activating it) heals 120 health. Eating a Sandvich in the heat of the battle will make a heavy stationary and completely vulnerable to attack during the four second eating process, even when his loud, happy sounds of vigorous chewing won’t draw enemies to him the least. The Heavy’s Sandvich supply is unlimited.

The Heavy’s second unlockable, Natascha, is a level 5 minigun with 100% chance to slows enemies with her bullets on hit, encouraging enemies to think twice when attacking him and find cover. Natascha is slightly weaker than the standard minigun ‘Sasha’ (25% lower daamge), so she takes longer to finish off a victim. Natascha have the same chance of criticals as the normal minigun.

Heavy’s Natascha Minigun

The heavy killing gloves of boxing

The heavy sandvich edible device

Heavy are Killing Gloves of Boxing (or K.G.B.), will replace the Heavy’s bare fists as his melee attack. The Heavy receives five full seconds of guaranteed critical hits to any of his weapons after killing any enemy with the gloves (i.,e you can switch to a shotgun and minigun with criticals for 5 seconds), the effect can be further extended (added on) with any additional foes he kills with the gloves. The gloves offer a slower swing speed than the Heavy’s uncovered fists, making use of the item somewhat riskier than the standard equipment roll-out.

The Heavy’s new weaponry will likely see a similar structure as the previously released Pyro update, which granted unlockable weapons at 10, 16, and 22 earned achievements.

Sorry for my dated entry. Been rather caught up with work back to back projects. Nevertheless found time to update this very much dated entry which I should last week.

The Poly 50 was on, well last week, the 6th August 2008. This year’s race was my third one in the running in SP and it was infact the only one I didn’t get prepared or actually seriously trained for. Neverthess, all our teams did very well- Our current student team came in both champions as well as third placing. My team participated in the alumni category and given on our side, all we know running the race this year from track and field are our 3 active student teams together with 2 teams from the alumni side. Later do I know that our even more senior track and field alumni elder were in as well, coming in 2nd on our category with my Alakazoom team on third placing, so technically you can say that all top 3 places of the Alumni category are from the track and field! And we have the Challenge shield for Track and Field to keep for another whole year!

Poly 50 Track and Alumni

The Champion student team

Another Group shot!

The race have it’s both ups and downs for me. I’ve not trained specifically for the event, which I pretty much still set in LSD mode, and not the sprint-stop sprint-stop demands for this type of race. Moreover, neither did I actually did a full dry run for this year’s event, as opposed to my previous year’s race in the active team. No wonder I felt rather light-headed midway in the race- No wonder one of my team helpers notice I was rather pale at one time- I ran myself out during the first half of the race. Then for the 2nd half, I was not panting crazy like what I did initially- a bad sign that my lactic is building up and my muscular endurance cannot meet the demands of my Cadrio- no wonder I started finishing my laps rather relaxed, but heavy footed. Constant stretching before and during the race kept any potential cramps and pulls in check. As usual David Goh was around with his hailer shouting at anything that moves. Our Principal, Mr tan was on the field himself as well, cheering runners along, never saw a principal so down to earth before remarkable!

After the race, we celebrated for the night with a planned steam boat dinner at Bugis’s popular street of Steamboat restaurants. It’s at this restaurant called Xian de lai (which laughingly reads “lazy to come” in Chinese). Reservations were made courtesy of track mate KC (whom I always share his police stories on my blog), so we were already more of less prepared to party for the night, whether we win or not. So it turned out to be a bonus celebrations for us. Together with big Leslie, we kinda raided the joint with continuous orders of seafood and meats. The placed remained open even till late 11pm+, so there was not issue of being chased out.

Ah Xian de lai!

Celebration steamboat!

Pile the plates!

Looking back at how this rag and bone team emerged champions- my team was formed under the leadership of Eric, who is also my fellow DSTA scholar. I was the team captain for my last few year’s of poly 50 races, but so given my lack of time and commitment I have last month, Eric was the best person fit and experienced enough to take on the role of captain for this year and he did a rather good job in getting all us ex-trackers back together whether it’s email, msn or cold calling.

I went with the follow as a member as good to be a follower once and get together for this “leisure race”, little do I expect anything but a finish, but there’s more.

And so my team “Alakazoom” was formed, well if that didn’t strike any bells of it’s similarly to a harry potter spell call, this name actually dates back to even way before the potter frenzy took place together with the other team name “Zoom” which track and field always used.

The team was not totally the best of a team you can expect, comprising of a mixed set of trackers with some serving national service, some working and we were not always all present for training on the weekends. But I can say, the thing evident in each and every one of us is the bond and spirit for running which we all shared during our active student days, flourished over countless races all together.

I guess that’s what made us run, and win the alumni third place. Go Trackers! Go Runners2