The year in Singapore (as seen in YouTube)

This is a collection of YouTube videos compiled and published in The Sunday Times as Singapore's YouTube Hits, videos "that made the headlines this year". The total number of views varies so I didn't include what was initially published. I also changed some titles. Enjoy!

1. SAF ghost

2. Funny professor

3. Bullied trishaw uncle

4. Civil servants' rap

5. Models "stripping" on radio show

6. Youth beatings (happy slapping)

7. Heartland scuffle (This is Singapore!)

8. Repeal 377A

9. Leaked MRT suicide footage

go find it yourself... it's still there... somewhere...

10. Mocking teachers

The video "Nation Builders" was not included. It's one of my favorites. It comes in two parts. An eye-opener, if not a gentle reminder.

Try Royston Tan's Singapore Censorship too!

For the love of Ma Ling....

You'll only realise how important some things are only when they're gone.

It's been a while since Ma Ling luncheon meat was pulled out from supermarket shelves here in Singapore. It's seems like eternity for die-hard Ma Ling fans, whom most grew up eating the canned luncheon meat. Those who are used to munching slices of Ma Ling in their Nasi Lemak or economical beehoon are feeling the loss. Some have included the return of the luncheon meat in their Christmas wishes, while some have reported X-Files-style "sightings". Some are not as optimistic and just simply turned to other luncheon meat brands like Tulip (Denmark) and Spam (USA).

Ma Ling luncheon meat is about as famous in China as Spam is in the U.S. Shanghai-based Maling Food Co. is investigating allegations that a shipment of its meat was contaminated with the banned antibiotic nitrofurans, which is thought to cause cancer. The export ban to Singapore covers all Ma Ling brand canned-food products which includes meat, fruits and vegetables.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) ensures that food processing plants will be able to meet its food safety standards, which are in line with international standards. It's only then that the exports of canned pork products will resume.

So will Ma Ling luncheon meat ever see the light of day again?

Vacation Rentals

Going for a vacation this holiday season? If you're traveling and would like to try something different from your usual hotels stays, you might want to check-out vacation rental homes. It could be a Florida Vacation Home or a beach house. There are also cabins, villas, bed and breakfasts and other vacation lodging.

There's a listing of famous and even the not so famous vacation locations. Travelers can easily find the place, check it out and make the reservation. Isn't that simple?

Singapore: Christmas in the Tropics

The lighting-up of Orchard Road signals the start of the Christmas season here in Singapore. During this month-long celebration, now famously known as "Christmas in the Tropics", visitors won't fail to feel the festive spirit just by walking along Orchard Road. Christmas carol singing and colorful light displays never fail to inspire each and every passerby.

I like this year's lights as they are not the usual bright yellow lights that would eventually make yours eyes feel hot just by looking at them. The lights over Orchard Road are a bit dim, the not-so-very-bright-white type, and would give you a feeling that you're looking at the stars. Stars are seldom seen here in Singapore, unlike in other places.

Have a Whimsical Christmas!


Photo courtesy of Erich's Wuerstelstand (check-out his other pictures, look for his stand when you visit Chinatown and try his frankfurters)

Tags: Singapore, Christmas, Christmas in the Tropics

Is it easy to get a loan?

It seems easy or they're just simply doing everything to make it look simple and fuss-free. It's easy to get cheap loans for someone who is working, has a regular salary and has the ability to pay the monthly dues. That means someone who can settle the loan. Who would lend you money if they know beforehand that you cannot pay.

Getting loans more than double your income is a breeze if you meet the lender's requirements. You need to provide them identification documents and computerized pay slips to show that you meet the minimum salary. Tax information is sometimes checked if you are self-employed. Latest bank statement, phone and utilities bills are also essential.

You need to ensure that you can still comfortably settle your other monthly obligations like mortgages, credit card payments, utilities bills and other loans. You should still have enough for your personal expenditures to see you through the rest of the month.

Enhanced Earning Experience with Advertlets.com's 336×280

Fact #1: Right now, 100% of all Singaporean blogs registered with Advertlets who have the 165×240 ad formats are running a CPM campaign!

Fact #2: Advertlets.com have more clients interested in advertising on the Singaporean network, however - we’ve close to sold out most of our inventory!

Fact #3: You have the 165×240 Sidebar ad installed, but not the 336×280 Rectangle ad format.

The 336×280 Rectangle ad format works best if placed in between blog posts on your main blog, or at the comments section at the end of an individual post. It is also a fact that there are more ads available for this format.

If you have international traffic (besides Malaysia & Singapore), you may also want to consider installing the 468×60 format.

What you need to do to enhance your blog earning experience? Just follow these simple steps:

1. Go to Advertlets.com (If you're not yet a member, sign-up NOW!)

2. Log in to your account

3. Go to "blogs" and get your codes

4. Click anywhere in the box to select the code for "336x280 Banner (No poll - lightweight)".

You may paste this code ONLY into the website you have registered with Advertlets, as the code will only work on your registered website address.

5. That's it!

If you are fast enough, you can earn $15, even $50, by telling other Advertlets members to get the 336x280 ad format. You can be one of the first 100 Singaporean bloggers to write a post and encourage others to sign-up and install the 336x280 ad format.

Very Limited Time Sponsored Post Opportunity For Singaporeans (Be Kiasu And Hurry!)

Reminders:

• you must be a registered Singaporean member of Advertlets (sign-up quick!)
  
• you must have at least 20 unique visitors a day
  
• post must be at least 100 words long and includes a link to 'www.advertlets.com' and at least an image from Advertlets.com (logo or screenshot)
  
• leave a comment on this post

Tags: Advertlets.com, Singapore

Books on Board ....All Aboard!

All the books you can read and even listen to, in various formats (Adobe eBook, MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader, eReader, Audio Books, iPod). From General Fiction, Mysteries, Thrillers, Adventures, Horror, Fantasy Science Fiction, Romance, Classics, Biography, History, Sports, Business, Non-fiction, Spiritual, Health and Fitness to Self-Help. Name it and you'll find it at Books on Board, an online Ebook store.

They have the broadest selection possible at aggressive competitive prices. They don't charges transaction fees for small purchases. If you manage to find a better price, you can write them and they'll see if they can give you a better price. No membership fees or clubs - Just Good Prices. No shipping charges on downloadable ebooks and audiobooks. Sounds good service to me.

Apple iPhone in Singapore

....not until next year's "official" Asian launch. Apple iPhone is currently legally (and illegally) sold in the United States and Europe. These units are 'locked' and will work only wit SIM cards from Apple's partner service providers.

But who could stop an entrepreneurial whiz who knows how to hack and unlock the phone's software and sell it to interested buyers. Other than online sellers, there are shops that made the phones available here in Singapore for those who really can't wait.

Apple was said to have issued a warning e-mail to retailers to stop selling the gadget, if not, legal action will be sought. Selling is one thing, hacking the software is another. It's considered a breach of the copyright law.

Just follow law and wait for the launch next year!

Tags: Apple, iPhone, Singapore

Remote access for your PC

Imagine having remote access to your PC. That means you can have access to your home or office PCs from anywhere, as long as there is an internet connection. You can bring your work at home. You can access your office PC at the comfort of your own home. When you forgot your presentation in your home PC, you don't have to travel back home, just use your remote access to retrieve your files. This should increase your productivity. You don't have to travel to work from home and vice versa.

This is made possible by Remote PC, a leading remote access solution for PCs. Access your home and office PCs from anywhere with an internet connection.

Now you don't have to worry about missing important board meetings anymore! Recent enhancements include Vista compatibility and a remote meeting option with up to 10 users sharing the same desktop. Plans start at $4.95/month with a 30 day free trial.

Singapore's Pedra Branca, Malaysia's Pulau Batu Puteh

A granite outcrop in the Singapore Straits near the South China Sea, where frequent visits by seabirds made it look white because of their droppings. That's how it got its Bahasa Melayu name Pulau Batu Puteh or island of the white rock.

Back in 1847, the British took possession of the island, thinking that it was terra nullius or no man's land. They called the island Pedra Branca and built what is now the Horseburg Lighthouse.

For over 150 years, Great Britain, and later its successor Singapore, continued operating the lighthouse.

Malaysia, in 1979, published a map of its territories, which, for the first time, included Pedra Branca as one of their own. The map extended 12 miles from the coast. This was seen as a preemptive action to changes in the then to be formalized UN Convention on Law of the Sea.

To maintain good bilateral ties, Singapore and Malaysia decided to finally settle the case and brought it before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands.

Malaysia claimed that it has the original title to the island, possessed by the Sultanate of Johor since it establishment in 1512. The original title was said to have been passed on to the State of Johor and later to the Federation of Malaya, which Johor joined in 1948. Malaysia argues that Pulau Batu Puteh is the center of Johor's ancient maritime empire, and thus, has always been a part of the state.

For Singapore, it maintained that Pedra Branca was terra nullius and that its continuous display of state authority, operation of the lighthouse as well as naval patrols around the island, from the time of the British up to the present. Singapore also presented in court a 1953 letter to the British authorites, from a top Johor civil servant, which stated that "Johore does not claim ownership of Pedra Branca."

Malaysia argued that Singapore's display of "stately authority" is not an exercise of sovereignty, they just merely operates the lighthouse. Malaysia went further when it cited an 1844 letter which claims the Johor rulers granted permission to the British to build and operate the lighthouse.

Singapore asked Malaysia to come up with any historical document that mentioned the island by name and specified that it is included in the Sultanate of Johor. Malaysia failed to provide this in court.

The hearings are over and the court is expected to come up with a decision next year.

Photo courtesy of oiseauxbleu!

Tags: Singapore, Pedra Branca, Malaysia, Pulau Batu Puteh, International Court of Justice

Choosing the right web host

Are you considering to get your own web host? With all the competing web hosting service providers out there, you may find it hard to get the right web hosting choice.

If you are new to web-hosting , you need to know the basics of web hosting. There's a web hosting directory called WebHostingChoice which can help you start learning about web hosting. It's basically a guide to web-hosting. They have a quick start guide that will have you on your way to creating a web site to their "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) page where they will try to answer your most common questions about web hosts.

There is also a Web Hosting Plans Directory to help you to easily find web hosts that provide such features that you require.

If you are already an advanced user, you can always skip the basics and go down to the specifics. They also have an Advanced Search page for your more specific needs. This page will also allow you to pick every single feature that you want in a web hosting service.

You can look for cheap web hosting services. You may come across web hosting deals that are almost too good to be true, very affordable with amazing web-hosting features! There are a lot of web hosting services that while offering cheap prices, they also provide excellent performance and service. Just because a host is cheap does not mean that you will receive low quality service, but you must be careful and but you need to be careful and you must scrutinize every detail. Getting the right web host depends on your choice.

Singapore Marathon 2007

40,000 runners and about S$203,000 total prize money. Weeks and months of grueling practice runs and other mind-boggling preparations all boils down to today's race. The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2007 will start at dawn, at around 5:30 am for the 42.195 Km marathon.

Some people think that the runners are crazy, as might be evident in todays race. All will start running, some will eventually walk, limp and even crawl just to cross the finish line. They'll be running their own race, with their own personal goals, and it's not even about the money for most of them.

Two-time winner Kenyan Amos Tirop Matui is using this race as preparati0n for the Beijing Olympics. He timed 2hr 14 min 59 sec in last year's race. He's just one of the 60 "elite" marathoners from 18 countries whose timings will be considered for entry in the upcoming Olympics.

The starting line is in front of The Fullerton Hotel and the finish line is in front of the City Hall.

Roads will be closed, traffic will be diverted, organisers and runners will be up early, supporters and spectators are also ready.

It's "all systems go," Good luck to all!

Tags: Singapore Marathon, Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2007

Call Home For The Holidays

Workers far away from family need to stay connected while on work assignment abroad. Staying in touch with friends and family can often mean having to make long distance telephone calls. For those working overseas, long-distance calls to family and loved ones is a basic necessity.

Long-distance calls in some countries may not be very expensive but in others, it can be overly expensive, to a point that it's already prohibitive. Long-distance plans are usually expensive. Even if they claim it's reasonably priced, the total bill of making long-distance calls will surely and quickly add up.

One solution is to use calling cards. But be sure you have a low-cost card. The package should disclose the rates and fees. If it doesn't, you may have a card that is more expensive than ordinary telephone service. Also, take care to use up your pre-paid minutes before the card Calling cards are inexpensive, there's even cash back rebate program where you will get a certain percentage of every calling card or phone card purchase that you make.

So next time you call home, try to use calling cards.