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Saturday, January 31, 2009

More posting on the way

Yes... i am finally free... i am currently sitting down waiting for my fav team to play against Everton and watching a boring Arsenal vs West Ham with Bird and Pep...

Scoreline still stands at 0-0 happy.

I have decided this year to make my blog tag abit better and also to tag all my post... so that people can find recipes i want to post

Category i am thinking

1. Food Recipe
2. Jokes
3. General rant

Hopefully this year i can take some time to improve my blog.

Friday, January 30, 2009

What a day !!

What a exasperating day ! Theft at my office today and my mobile was stolen

I am pretty sure it was the CLEANERS... so if you work in the office please be careful of your stuff.

Now let me relate the story....

Yesterday, at 6pm i realised that i left my mobile in the office. I called the office and asked Caroline who happen to be still there to leave it in the drawer as i thought it would be safe as nothing had happen before.

But this morning when i arrive at work, my mobile was not in the drawer and whats more there was a mobile call made to American Express Customer Service....

My understanding was between when Caroline left and my arrival the next day there was only

The senior estimator, Caroline, the cleaners and 4 other people who arrived to work earlier than me were possible suspect. As nothing like this has happen before, i made a quick enquiry and realized that this week the cleaners were new team who took over from the previous cleaning company.

So, who else could have done it ?? The American express call does raise some eyebrow as it might mean that person have notices our Company accounts as we use American express and might be trying to get more info.

Well... i hope the culprit will be caught...its not difficult... there are only 3 possible suspect...
the 3 cleaners and the one most likely is the one who cleaned my desk.

Hopefully i can find out soon...

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Update

Been awhile since my last post, was so busy with my friends wedding presentation, was scratching my head for a while to try and do a nice presentation, so i came up with the Condor Hero. I was still having problems with Kev's face.. need to find one which is looking to the right.

It will be tight but hopefully i can make the presentation in time.


Kum Heong Chicken

Here is the recipe for the Kum Heong Chicken I cooked on Sunday. Its a very simple dish,which you can try


Kum Heong Kai ~ Golden Spicy Fragrant Chicken

A relatively simple recipe with very few ingredients yet producing a dish with very intense flavour. It is spicy but not 'hot'. This is the healthy version as I prefer not to deep fry the chicken.


Ingredients

6 drumsticks or 1kg chicken, cut to pieces
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp light soy sauce

1 tbsp cooking oil
5 garlic cloves, chopped finely
1 tsp coriander seeds or powder
2 sprigs curry leaves
1 tbsp curry powder
Salt to taste
Ginger Beer

Method
1. Marinade chicken with Ginger beer and light soy sauce for about 30 minutes. You can use also sugar but i think ginger wine is better
2. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a wok or frying pan. Sauté chopped garlic until fragrant. Add in chicken, coriander and curry leaves. Season with curry powder and salt.
3. Cover, turn down the heat and cook for a further 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked.


Note : I did not need to add any water during the cooking process as there was a fair bit of liquid from the chicken. If you find it dry, add in a little water or chicken stock

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Mechanic vs Doctor

Mechanic Verses Dr
Good Clean Jokes




<bgsound src="http://www.danggoodjokes.com/mechanic/icantdance2.mid" loop=infinite>



Morris the loudmouth mechanic was removing the cylinder heads from the motor of a car when he spotted the famous heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey, who was standing off to the side, waiting for the service manager to come take a
look at his Mercedes.

Morris shouted across the garage,

"Hey DeBakey!

Is dat you?

"Come on ova' here a minute."

The famous surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to where Morris the mechanic was working on the car.

Morris straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked argumentatively,

"So Mr. Fancy Doctor,
look at dis here work.
I also open hearts, take valves out, grind 'em, put in new parts, and when I finish dis baby will purr like a kitten.

So how come you get da big bucks, when you an' me is doing basically da same work?"

Dr. DeBakey leaned over and whispered to Morris the loudmouth mechanic.

"Try doing it with the engine running."

Church Bulletin Bloopers

Church Bulletin Bloopers

Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:



1. Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

2. Announcement in a church bulletin for a national PRAYER & FASTING Conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

3. The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."
The sermon tonight:
"Searching for Jesus."

4. Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall - Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.

5. Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.

6. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict.

7. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

8. Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

9. Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

10. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

11. Next Thursday there will be try outs for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

12. Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.

13. The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: " Break Forth Into Joy."

14. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

15. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

16. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

17. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

18. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

19. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

20. Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.

21. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

22. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to
follow.

23. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind.
They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

24. This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

25. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

26. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

27. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

28. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

29. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

30. The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge ! - Up Yours!"

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Named and shamed: WA's filthiest restaurants exposed

Named and shamed: WA's filthiest restaurants exposed

A French restaurant in the leafy suburb of Nedlands has joined fast food chains McDonalds, Chicken Treat and Nando's on the list of WA restaurants prosecuted for health breaches in 2008.
According to figures released by the Department of Health, 18 WA food outlets were prosecuted for unhygienic practices last year - up from 13 outlets fined in 2007.
Food purveyors named and shamed by local authority health inspectors last year were:

. La Cascade Restaurant, Nedlands - Fined $9250 for vermin in restaurant, unclean premises, failing to protect food from contamination, and keeping unclean and disrepaired appliances;

. McDonalds Family Restaurant, Midland - Fined $1500 for selling uncooked chicken burgers;

. Hans Cafe, Leederville - Fined $3888 for vermin on premises, storing hazardous food at unsafe temperatures, offering damaged and contaminated food for sale, having dirty and disrepaired appliances, and keeping unclean and disrepaired premises;

. Fast Eddy's Cafe, Midland - Fined $6957.70 for keeping unclean and disrepaired premises, and for dirty appliances;

. Nando's Restaurant, Canning Vale - fined $3250 for unclean air ducts, not keeping food containers far enough from the floor, and inadequate coolroom facilities;

. Chicken Treat, Maddington - fined $9027.31 for unclean appliances, failing to protect food from contamination and keeping unclean premises;

. Golden Century Seafood Chinese Restaurant, Northbridge - fined a whopping $25,873.68 for dirty appliances, unprotected food, and keeping unclean and disrepaired premises;

. Sarindo Indonesian Restaurant, Thornlie - fined $2981.70 for cockroaches in the restaurant, keeping unclean premises and appliances, and failing to protect eating utensils from contamination.

. Lloyds Bakery and Lunch Bar, Maddington - fined $3660 for having vermin on premises, keeping unclean premises, and disrepaired appliances, and having a light fitting without a protective cover;

. BBH French Hot Bread, Stratton - fined $4950.70 for vermin on premises, keeping unclean premises and failing to control the temperature of its food;

. Utopia vegetarian Restaurant, Northbridge - fined $4957.70 for unclean appliances, and keeping unclean and disrepaired premises.

. Bunbury French Hot Bread Shop - fined $7626.80 for preparing and selling adulterated food.

. Kipling's Indian Cuisine, Northbridge - fined $3057.70 for dirty appliances, unprotected food, and keeping unclean and disrepaired premises.

. Turkish Kitchen, Gosnells - fined $2256.40 for disrepaired and unclean appliances, and unclean ventilation equipment.

. Wanneroo Pastry House - fined $2228.10 for selling adulterated food.

. Wu Ming food manufacturers, Canning Vale - fined $5333.70 for failing to keep waste food in a rat-proof container, keeping unclean and disrepaired premises and unclean air ducts, and failing to protect windows and doorways from insect intrusion;

. An-Nuur Singapore Foods, Thornlie - fined $2568.70 for a filthy hand wash basin, an unclean servery, keeping utensils in contact with poisons, keeping unclean and disrepaired premises, and failing to protect food from contamination.

. Thornlie Halal Meats and Supermarket - fined $3,900 for disprepaired appliances, unclean premises, failing to cover food,and absence of an accessible hand wash basin and single-use towels.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Apple Caviar

Apple Caviar version en español »

Chef Ferrán Adriá of El Bulli - Roses, Spain
As demonstrated at Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía 2003
Adapted by StarChefs


Yield:
10 Servings

Ingredients:

    Apple Juice
  • 1 ¼ pounds golden apples

  • Apple Reduction
  • ¾ pound Granny Smith apples

  • Caviar
  • 8 ounces Apple Juice
  • ½ teaspoon Alginato
  • 1/8 teaspoon citric acid

  • Calcium Chloride
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ teaspoon calcium chloride

  • Garnish
  • 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and very cold
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3/8 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Method:

For Apple Juice:
Wash and core apples and cut into quarters. Purée apples and pour liquid into a tall and narrow container. Freeze about 30 minutes so that the impurities solidify and rise to the top. Remove from freezer and extract impurities with a skimmer. Strain juice and reserve.

For Apple Reduction:
Wash and core apples and cut into quarters. Purée apples and pour liquid into a tall and narrow container. Freeze about 30 minutes to solidify impurities, which will rise to the top. Remove from freezer and extract impurities with a skimmer. Strain juice and place over medium heat until reduced to caramel consistency.

For Apple Caviar:
While cold, mix 1/3 of juice with Alginato in blender until Alginato has dissolved. Heat mixture to 205°F, then remove from heat and stir in remaining juice. Add baking soda and stir to dissolve. Strain and freeze until service.

For Calcium Chloride:
Dissolve the calcium chloride in water and reserve.

To Serve:
Purée Granny Smith apples and freeze in a very tall and narrow container 5 minutes. Fill 4 syringes with apple solution. Release one drop at a time into Calcium Chloride and cook 1 minute in water. Strain and rinse caviar in cold water bath. Drain and add 2 teaspoons of Apple Caviar. For each serving, put ¾ ounce of caviar in a cylindrical mold, season caviar with a little Apple Reduction, cinnamon and 3 drops vinegar. Seal and serv

Monday, January 12, 2009

Perth Best Thai Restaurant

Thai Esarn Restaurant
1/5 Beechboro Rd, Bayswater


Now I am not joking when i say that this restaurant serves up the most authentic Thai dishes. Its no wonder you hardly see any Westerners. We went there for the second time this week and i guarantee that most Aussies would find this a little off their usual taste buds. And if you want authentic thai, its spicy likin good. You got to try their off-the menu dishes.

We ordered 6 dishes, 4 of those were off the menu. But I can truly say it was a really interesting experience

We had really exotic dishes like Som Tum with pickled crabs, Stir fried liver, Home-made sausage and YES !! For my very first time ever !! Raw Prawns...




This is the Som Tum with raw pickled crabs




This is the fried fish with sweet chilli sauce, its abit like Sweet and Sour sauce nice.




This is the sausage which was rather unique, abit sour and sweet. It remind me of Thailand market stall food. Nice.



I call this the volcano pork rib soup cause it is really spicy.. and when i say spicy its really spicy ! But its really really delicious. My nose was watering





I bet not many have tried this... RAW PRAWNS in Chilli sauce... i cannot believe it but i actually ate this. Its abit like sashimi.

As of now.. i think... Thai Esarn Restaurant has jumped to my number 1 favourite Thai Restaurant

Roast Black Sesame Seed Pralin

Here is a recipe which i would be dying to try. Its a recipe by Elbulli's famous chef. Its a 30seconds sponge Cake. Cooked in Mircowave.

I saw this on Anothony Bourdain and found a post on the recipe. Its abit blur just ... double click to enlarge and you will see the recipe







Sunday, January 11, 2009

Christian Leadership and Authority

One of the very interesting topic that was often discussed is Christian Leadership. I think many leaders including myself when i first started out have often assumed the role of a totalitarian leadership. I used to assume leadership position when given require others to submit.

During my early years, leading the youth group, through the mistakes I made , i came to realise one very important fact. Even though my leaders may give me the title of a care leader or unit leader or any leadership position, it does not entail others to automatically submit. I often found that i have to win their respect and their trust and lead by example. I found that when the Lord's divine blessing is upon you, people will follow you, but if you are not ready you will often find that you have hard time trying to win people's heart and willingness. Who you are will often attract the type of followers take follows you.

Look at David, because the Lord's annointing was on him, and because he was a great leader, great men flocked to him without him having to look for them. Look at Jesus, he did not have to demand anything, people were willing to submit because they see that He was a great leader.

If you really want to know if the Lord's favour is on your life, go out and start a group all by yourself. Find your own disciple to train, find the people to follow-up, share the word do whatver you can. If after 6mth to 1 yr you can build a strong group of people who are willing to commit their life to the word. You know you are there. I think one good example was how Ps Kong Hee from city harvest started his church with only a handful of people. Today the church had more then 20,000 people.

Give it a go... you never know.

Thai Esarn restaurant

Thai Esarn Restaurant
1/5 Beechboro Rd, Bayswater


On saturday, we went to try out this Thai restaurant, which was recommended by a friend of Bird. Apparently they serve very authentic thai food, so we had to go and check it out. Currently the ranking for my favourite thai restaurant is as such

1. Saowanee Thai ( Along Fitzgerald St in perth)
2. Dusit Thai
3. Thai Corner
4. Thailand Restaurant ( city)

The rest... well I cannot say any that made it to my list. So I came to this place with a little skepticism as i have not heard about it.




Here is the place. The ambiance in the place well could not beat Dusit or Thai corner for presentation. The place was dimly lit like one of those musky dingy shop in old chinatown. But of course they always say good food will speak for itself.


So with anticipation i await - we ordered

1. Fried Fish with salad - This was really nice and refreshing
2. Gai Yang - not too bad
3. Spicy Seafood soup - oooohhhh... delicious
4. Som Tum with crab - VERY THAI... Bird will love this.. but not my cup of tea
5. Grilled Beef - Very thai, had the crushed rice like Thailand restaurant. Apparently its authentic thai style.





I think overall i like the food for its authenticity and not trying got be too pretentious and suit the western palate. It has all the necessary thai ingredients and was reasonably priced. Overall I think i would place this in the top 3, kicking out Thai corner to No.4

1. Saowanee Thai ( Along Fitzgerald St in perth)
2. Dusit Thai
3. Esarn Restaurant
4.Thai Corner
5. Thailand Restaurant ( city)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Bible Joke

A new pastor was visiting the homes of his parishioners.

At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, Genesis 3:10."

Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter.

Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid, for I was naked."

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

A redhead, brunette and blonde were on their way to Heaven.

God told them the stairway to Heaven was 1000 steps, and on every 5th step He’d tell them a joke. But, they must not laugh or else they couldn’t enter heaven.

The brunette went first and started laughing on the 65th step, so she could not enter Heaven.

The redhead went next and started laughing on the 320th step, so she could not enter Heaven either.

Then, it was the blonde’s turn. When she got to the 999th step, she started laughing.

“Why are you laughing?” God asked. “I didn’t tell a joke.”

“I know,” the blonde replied. “I just got the first one.”

Friday, January 9, 2009

Repentance is only skin deep

One recent lesson i learnt and have an opportunity to witness is the principle laid down by God in the bible, for repentance is only skin deep if we thought that we can get away with sinning against God by just saying that you repent. . If we sinned against God then, i think we need to expect some consequence of our action. The higher we are in God the tougher will be God's expectation on us.

When David sinned against God and openly confessed and repented, Nathan told David in 2 Sam 12:7-12 Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 'I also gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! 9 'Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' 11 “Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 'Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.”'

When Solomon fell from God and worship the idols of his wives, and when his heart was not with God and did evil in the eyes of God. God tore the kingdom away from Solomon and gave it to someone else. 1 kings 11 - 11 So the LORD said to Solomon, Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.

I think God's principle never change, with greater power comes greater responsibility and greater consequence for your action. The bible say that God will judge the teachers of the word more severely and they expected to live a higher moral standard. If in anyway they fail, the consequence of their action is more severe. When a leader sin intentionally against God, and refuse to take the consequence for their action. Then God will do what is necessary.

That is why I think as we grow as a leader in the house of God - our moral integrity and character must be above reproach and if in anyway we fall sometimes its always better to take sometimes off.

Take for eg. the recent case of the Cancer hoax by a prominent Pastor, he had to take some time off. When Geoff bullock had issues in his marriage and sinned against God. He stepped down to allow himself restored and later wrote the book Hands of Grace.

I have learned as a Christian we need to practice what we preach if not then Christianity is only skin deep and we are no different from other religion. And for this I applaud all the leaders who bear the face of the public and stand in front of the church to apologize instead of hiding in secret.
when their actions have caused hurt to the church, so for this i am so happy that people Like Geoff Bullock and Ps Gugelmuci choose the right way out.

SINGAPORE HOSTAGE'S LAST MOMENTS

SINGAPORE HOSTAGE'S LAST MOMENTS
Indian govt releases chilling transcripts of terrorist phone calls
January 09, 2009 Print Ready Email Article

OBEROI-TRIDENT AT 3.53AM, 27 NOV
Click to see larger image
FEAR: A file picture of a hostage peeking from a window of the Oberoi-Trident. PICTURE: AFP

HANDLER 1: 'Brother Abdul. The media is comparing your action to 9/11. One senior police official has been killed.'

GUNMAN 1: 'We are on the 10th/11th floor. We have five hostages.'

HANDLER 2: Everything is being recorded by the media. Inflict the maximum damage. Keep fighting. Don't be taken alive.

HANDLER 1: Kill all hostages, except the two Muslims. Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire.

GUNMAN 2: We have three foreigners, including women. From Singapore and China.

HANDLER 1: Kill them.

The dossier then notes that the telephone intercept records the 'voices of (the gunmen) directing hostages to stand in a line, and telling two Muslims to stand aside. Sound of gunfire. Cheering voices in background. (One handler) hands telephone to (another handler),' who says, 'Find the way to go downstairs.'

THE TAJ AT 3.10AM, 27 NOV

A PAKISTANI-BASED HANDLER: There are three ministers and one secretary of the cabinet in your hotel. We don't know in which room.

GUNMAN: Oh! That is good news. It is the icing on the cake!

HANDLER: Find those three or four persons and then get whatever you want from India.

GUNMAN: Pray that we find them.

Later, time unknown, another call is made to the Taj.

HANDLER: The ATS chief has been killed. Your work is very important. Allah is helping you. The Vazir (minister) should not escape. Try and set the place on fire.

NARIMAN HOUSE AT 7.45PM, 27 NOV

HANDLER: Keep in mind that hostages are of use only as long as you do not come under fire because of their safety. If you are still threatened, then don't saddle yourself with the burden of the hostages. Immediately kill them. The Army claims to have done the work without any hostage being harmed. Another thing: Israel has made a request through diplomatic channels to save the hostages. If the hostages are killed, it will spoil relations between India and Israel.

TERRORIST: So be it, God willing.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Unions defy Kevin Rudd on wage claim restraints

I am absolutely flabbergasted, isn't it no wonder that Unions in Australia are so out of touch that they do not know how to tamper their demands. Isn't it no wonder that from previous history it was because of Unions that cause the Australian Economic Crisis in the past by their exorbitant wage demands ?

"If you don't protect incomes, then that's a negative for the economy as well," Ms Burrow said. "If working people can't pay their bills, if, in fact, their mortgage is threatened ... then that's not going to help the economy survive, nor indeed recover.

Judging from the comments, i would assume Ms Burrows never study economics. Wages should be reflective of demands not the other way round. The crazy thing is Ms Burrows keep forgetting that if company collapse then the people who suffer is the same people who the union try to help. All i can say is the presence of Union thuggery and Union influence often artificial inflate the economy and send a false demand.

Personally, If they are truly underpaid i can understand. BUT they are already earning 100K a year working a 36 hours week. If they can't pay their mortgage something must be wrong. I would suggest instead of increase wages they should go for financial planning seminar. Is 100K sound abit overboard in the first place.

Well what the point of going to university and spend years to learn specialize skills when a joe blow down the street could earn twice your salary for doing nothing more than using muscle power and working less hours ??? No logic but i suppose when Unions are strong this is what happens

People argue they go to apprenticeship and get their ticket. But for argument sake I get 10 Scientist and Doctors and 10 Painters or Scaffolding and get them to swap jobs... I bet i can get the 10 scientist and Doctors to perform the same task in 1 months of intensive training but I can almost guarantee it would not be true the other way. SO THEN WHAT IS THE ECONOMICS OF 100K a yr ??? Most GP dont earn as much and have to work longer hours.

All i can say is Union should go back to their original purpose. If you read the history of unions they were meant to protect workers not destroy the economy. They should allow the free market to dictate the wage and not try and artificially inflate wages, but protect the workers when company do not play by the rules.


Unions defy Kevin Rudd on wage claim restraints



Patricia Karvelas, Political correspondent | January 09, 2009
Article from: The Australian

THE union movement is defying a request from the Rudd Government to show restraint on pay claims during the financial crisis to protect jobs, instead vowing to push ahead with ambitious demands for higher wages.

The peak body representing trade unions, the ACTU, has backed the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, which is asking aluminium giant Alcoa to strike a deal giving power plant workers at its West Australian operations an immediate pay rise of up to 33 per cent.

ACTU president Sharan Burrow yesterday defended the CFMEU, arguing that the claim amounted to annual pay rises of between 5 per cent and 10 per cent over several years.

"If you don't protect incomes, then that's a negative for the economy as well," Ms Burrow said. "If working people can't pay their bills, if, in fact, their mortgage is threatened ... then that's not going to help the economy survive, nor indeed recover."

Acting Prime Minister and Employment Minister Julia Gillard said employers and workers had to show restraint.

"Our message to everybody - to unions, to employers - is these are difficult times," she said.

"After the global financial crisis, our economy is not going to be untouched and the most important thing is to make sure that Australians are still in work. In the short term, of course, our priority is maintenance, and protection, of jobs."

Ms Gillard made a pointed comment about the mining industry, arguing that the boom of the past decade was over.

"We know the mining industry is going to be facing a different era to the one it's been in, with prices for commodities coming down," she said. "So all of that has to be weighed in the balance. Simple message: think about jobs first."

Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout also said unions should be thinking about jobs first.

She said Australia had had a lot of wage discipline during a stable period.

"We've had areas where wage increases have been very high and very generous but that hasn't flowed across the economy," Ms Ridout said.

"But in recent times we've seen an increase in industrial disputes and this new claim on Alcoa, which is totally at odds with where Alcoa was going putting off people.

"This plant is already made up of people already receiving high wage increases and enjoying very favourable working conditions. So these are worrying signs, and we have to be right on this through this bargaining round this year because it won't be about high interest rates, it will be about high unemployment."

CFMEU national president Tony Maher said it was standard for workers to receive rises of 5per cent annually, and up to 10per cent in boom times.

"The union always takes into account economic circumstances," Mr Maher said.

"Right at the moment, we're pushing for job security more than anything else."

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort

Below is a report about Malaysians behaving badly and the country club not doing anything. It is no wonder Malaysia crime is getting from bad to worse. There is just so many crimes in the country that you have to wonder if they will ever come catch up with Singapore.

I used to remember when Singapore as a country was just like Malaysia but we have improved since then. Its sad that there are still so many blatant corruptions and problems in the country.

Well at least the Slogan was right, " Malaysia truly Asia"



'pore couple claim M'sian VIP, guards bashed them
It started with M'sian woman elbowing S'porean in Genting club, they allege
By Teh Jen Lee and Lediati Tan
January 08, 2009 Print Ready Email Article

SHE watched in horror as her fiance was allegedly pinned down on a couch and beaten up by about 15 men dressed in black.

Click to see larger image
INJURED: Miss Nurul showing Mr Mark's injuries, which the couple said were the result of his being beaten up by the VIP and his guards. TNP PICTURE: CHOO CHWEE HUA

She herself was slapped twice on the face by a man who claimed to be a VIP in Malaysia.

Miss Nurul, 20, and her fiance Mr Mark, 31, were so outraged by the incident that they contacted The New Paper to recount the incident.

They didn't want their full names published for fear of reprisals.

Mr Mark, who is unemployed, said he had checked into Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort with Miss Nurul and two other friends on Christmas Day.

They visited the Safari nightclub in Genting Highlands at around 11pm.

At about 3am, three women entered the club, escorted by men dressed in black.

Miss Nurul, who is studying to be a childcare teacher, said: 'An hour later, when they were about to leave, one of the women, who is in her 30s, elbowed me on the way out.

'Not only did she not apologise,' claimed Ms Nurul, 'but the men with her suddenly surrounded us and pushed me away. She even said, 'Serves you right, b...h.'

Miss Nurul and Mr Mark approached the club manager, who had apparently seen what happened, to ask why he did not step in. The couple were told that the woman is the wife of a Malaysian VIP.

Eventually, the club manager alerted the police.

Mr Mark and his fiancee claimed they related the incident the police, who noted their particulars, including their room number, on a piece of paper.

But the couple did not file an official police report. Mr Mark claimed they decided to let the matter rest as they were told by the police that the people involved were Malaysian VIPs.

The same afternoon, the four Singaporeans chanced upon the same VIP group at a theme park. They tried to keep a distance, but Miss Nurul claimed that a woman from the group who was at the club made a hand gesture daring her to come forward.

She claimed they ignored the group.

At 5am on 27Dec, the day they were to check out, the couple were woken up by a knock on their hotel room door.

A policeman and a hotel security guard, both in uniform, told them that the VIP wanted to see them at the hotel's tower lobby, which is not the main lobby.

They also noticed that the policeman was holding the same piece of paper which had their particulars when they spoke to the police in the club.

They claimed they decided to go to the lobby because they didn't think anything bad would happen since the police was around.

According to Mr Mark, when they got to the lobby, they saw the VIP, wearing a batik shirt and jeans, lounging on a couch.

Men in black

With him were at least 15 men dressed in black, he alleged. The clear demarcation led him to conclude that the men were the VIP's bodyguards.

He claimed that he recognised a few of the bodyguards in black from the club incident.

'The two men (who escorted us down) were asked to go away by the bodyguards. The bodyguards then cordoned off the corridor to the lobby and the lift area,' claimed Mr Mark. 'The tower lobby was isolated. There were no other witnesses.'

The couple claimed that Miss Nurul was slapped twice - once on each cheek - by the VIP.

She was then allegedly held from the back by a bodyguard. She watched helplessly as the VIP then allegedly slapped and punched Mr Mark.

After the VIP was done, the bodyguards took over and beat him for about 30 minutes, Mr Mark claimed.

Even as the alleged beating continued, the VIP demanded that the couple apologise for what they had done to his wife.

Miss Nurul, who was in tears by then, said she screamed: 'Where are our human rights?'

Mr Mark claimed: 'The VIP replied in English, 'You have no human rights until you apologise for what you did to my wife.'

The VIP accused Miss Nurul of hitting his wife and hitting his wife's table at the Safari nightclub, Mr Mark claimed.

Mr Mark said: 'None of this happened. They were always surrounded by bodyguards, so how could we have got close enough to hit them?'

Mr Mark's fiancee eventually apologised to the VIP so that they would stop beating him up. After that, Mr Mark claimed, the VIP offered to take them to the hospital and promised he would not hurt them anymore.

They were sceptical about his offer. '(But) if we had said no, we (feared we) could have faced worse consequences,' said Miss Nurul.

The VIP and a bodyguard then went up to Mr Mark's hotel room with him as they were worried that his fiancee, who had left the lobby five minutes earlier, would call the police.

Miss Nurul was crying in one of their friends' room.

When The New Paper spoke to Mr Ryan, 21, one of the couple's friends who were with them, he claimed he did not see what happened in the club.

But he said he was woken up by a phone call from Mr Mark at about 5am on 27Dec, telling them that someone was at their door asking them to go for a talk with the VIP.

Peephole

As he was in the room next to the couple's, he looked through the peephole and saw two men standing outside Mr Mark's room.

In less than 30 minutes, said Mr Ryan, Miss Nurul came knocking at his door.

He told The New Paper that Miss Nurul seemed all right initially, but she broke down as she told him what had happened.

About five minutes later, Mr Mark, the VIP and a bodyguard were at his door.

Mr Ryan claimed that Mr Mark was bleeding from his right eye, which was swollen, and alleged there were blood stains on his T-shirt.

'I was in shock. I didn't expect this to happen, especially at that time (of the morning),' said Mr Ryan.

Accompanied by Mr Ryan and their other friend, Miss Hannah, the couple were taken to the Klinik Genting hospital in the VIP's black BMW X5 Series.

Before the VIP left the hospital, he allegedly told them not to report the matter to the police or blow up the matter. Mr Mark also claimed that he was made to take off his bloodied clothes, which were taken away by the VIP.

He did not report the matter to the hotel management or the police as he was worried about repercussions.

When contacted, the security manager of Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort told The New Paper that he had received no report of such an incident.

The four returned to Singapore on 28Dec, and Mr Mark said he saw a doctor the next day.

He showed The New Paper medical documents from both Klinik Genting and Changi General Hospital to prove that he had been injured.

He said he sustained mostly head injuries, including a small hairline fracture on his right cheek and bleeding from his right eye.

The couple said they reported the incident to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on 30 Dec.

When contacted by The New Paper, the MFA declined to comment on the incident.

Miss Nurul said:'Just because you're a VIP, it doesn't mean you can treat us like that. At least show some evidence that I was the one who provoked the woman on that first night.

'Our family told us not to go up against such VIPs but we can't just pretend that nothing happened. They were so cool and calculated about the whole thing, like they knew they could get away with it.'

'It's really unbelievable.'

New Phone AGAIN !



LG U990

Yes if you must guess ! This is my new mobile. And no i am not phone maniac, unlike some of my friends.

But it was out of necessity. I seem to have misplaced my mobile so I had to get a new one. I went to Kabuki yesterday and still had my mobile. But after that Its seem to have disappeared on me.

This morning, i went to Kabuki to check and went home in the afternoon to find it, but as God would have it. I do need a new mobile, so without hesitation i went down to the 3 shop and just ask for one with a high camera resolution and not cost a bomb. I was offered the LG secret i think, with 8 megapix resolution but i settled for the middle one with 5 megapix. Enough for me to take pictures of food when i go out to eat and post on the blog.

I will test "drive" my new baby and see how it goes. But if you are reading this I am also sad to inform you that i do not have your mobile number

" PLEASE SMS ME with you NAME on my Mobile so i can save it on my phone or else leave on my Chat box"

Of course... one thing about losing the mobile, you get rid of redundant "friends" or people who you have met once got their number and never called after that. I previously had so much trouble when i have like 6 davids, 4 eugenes, 3 John... the worst bit is you keep forgetting to put their surname and end up trying all the phone.

So... remember... if i dont call you.. it means i dont have your mobile as you did not call me often enough to allow me to save your number.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Big Changes in the pipeline

Life is always about change. In 3 month, there will be another big change in my life. New responsibilities and new issues to tackle.

Not sure how things will pan out, hopefully I will know what route to take. I was planning to buy a house but I think this maybe put on hold to see how the market will pan out. Many reports predict a further southward push in house and property price.

My parents are tempted to demolish the Daly St house and build a new one but of course this will take one year of constant moving. This house is in between its ok to live in but too old to renovate i think i shall try to live it out and reduce the book value of the house till it cant be reduced.

So I dont really want to spend more to do up unless its absolutely necessary. But my gut instince is that this year more houses will go under the hammer.

The recent report on Newspaper on Monday predicts either a flat market or a dipping one.. the only one that is worth a look is a new house and land package.

Hope i am proved right. If that is the case then waiting maybe the best option.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Safest Chinese Food to order

Have you ever tried to order dishes at new restaurants you visit and were disappointed with the dishes you ordered ?

Well I did recently, the ex Tung cafe now called HK BBQ Restaurant was one example. I found out that there was a new chef they hired and added BBQ meat. Unfortunately, thought the staff have changed and now ran by the Owner's sister. The food well was still not really up to standard.

I was told it was a hong kong chef. But i reckon, i could cook better than the food placed before us. That was how bad it was. The sizzling was not even sizzling, the taste was well not there. Worst still they used all the wierd Aussie vegetables on chinese dishes.

So i thought next time i shoudl order safe dishes... ok what are safe dish

1. Sweet and sour dishes - This should be a safe bet. Most restaurant's Sweet and sour stuff are quite similar as there is not much skill to it so things like - Sweet and sour pork, sweet and sour fish or even peking ribs

2. Fushan chicken - another idiot proof dish. Fry the chicken and pour the sauce. If any restaurant can mess this up. Then i would suggest the restaurant to close down

3. Sambal Kang Kong - This is another easy to cook dish. If they cant do this well. Then not worth going to Chinese restaurant

4. Combination beancurd claypot - Most resataurants are pretty close in taste, so shoudl be a safe bet

5. Sizzline Japanese Tofu with sezhuan or salted fish and mince pork - Well pretty much a fry and pour over sauce. If they can mess this up. Then i seriously doubt the chef's credential.

6. Fry toothfish with soy sauce - Yes ... i have ate this dish at a number of places and found that most restaurant do taste the same. The fish speaks for itself.


So next time if you go to a new restaurant dont be fooled by CHEF RECOMMENDATION. Never take the chance. Order some safe dishes, so that there is still some dishes you can eat.

Enjoy.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Update

Another friend of my is going to get married... and i have been asked again to do MC. I think I should start keeping templates so i don't have to re-type the script.

At this moment I have been

1. Best man - thrice
2. MC - 4 times and 2 more on the way
3. Wedding Video - 2 times
4. Wedding Presentation - 3 times and 2 more on the way as well
5. Wedding planner - 0
6. Bridesmaid - 0
7. Groom - 1
8 Bride - 0

Thats the roll call so far, i reckon when i reached 40, i should be pretty good at some of the roles. I should start a wedding company. But in saying, its actually quite fun being an MC. I do enjoy the odd front stage. Maybe its to compensate for my lost chance of joining Star search and Idol. One i was born at the wrong time, had to go army so no chance to go star search. And idol.... well i am over age. So next best is be an MC like Jacky WU

Friday, January 2, 2009

Spirit, Character and Ability

Good spirit helps you to stay positive and submissive but does not guarantee that a person has strong moral compass. Spirit only helps you to be more open to changes, but is also subjective to the influence of his or her surrounding.

A person with a strong moral character and a good spirit will help you stay the course in the Christian walk but does not guarantee that a person will be a great leader. With these 2 traits, it will certainly help us walk the narrow path but to help others walk the same path ability is the key

In one of God's parable of the talents, each servants were given different amount of talents each according to his abilities. God did not give according to spirit nor character but it was given according to each men's ability

Possessing a Good Spirit, Strong moral character and leadership abilities will make one not only a great Christian but one who will lead many others to follow the narrow path and finish the race.

In my times as a Christian, I have learned that no one is ever perfect and in one is ever infallible. Therefore as we walk this path of life. It is important to surround ourselves with people who can help us and have accountability system regardless if we see ourselves as leaders or members.

Verse
God admonishes us to obtain counsel. Proverbs 12:15 states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel” (nasb), and Proverbs 15:22 states, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

Dinner with Alvin and Cheryl

Yes it was another dinner party. The food was simple Italian food was the theme. So i had to cook some italian dishes



The gerneral spread




Chips salad with Mango and rockets ....delicious



Marina Pasta



Chilli Mussel


Chocolate cake with my own banana custard cream

Thursday, January 1, 2009

The End and The Beginning

1 Jan 2009 marks the beginning of many chapters in my life and the end of some. I realise that we often have choices in life which can ultimately determine who we are.

As of Jan 09, most of the old cell people will be moving to another cell, so i suppose this would be a good time to choose a place to allow our child to have a more family oriented environment.

Which group would be best... we are still unsure... prob will be a good time to visit the different groups in our church.. somewhere which can provide some older auntie and uncle to give some much needed support.

Lets pray and see