Back again in Melbourne

Back again in Melbourne. And not a day too soon. I found that an adult Magpie - similar to the big Ravens we have in Singapore - found its way into the house. From the sooty debris, it looks like it got in through the chimney. It tried to get out - but got stuck in the rooms. It crapped all over the place so badly that it looks like a shitty paint job. Think Resident Evil.

I was so worried that it died in the clothes cupboard- but I eventually found the body underneath the bedside table. GROSS. The whole place stank like a Russian public toilet.

I'll post a photo of the dead bird once my internet connection gets back ok. One of my friends came over and used it up- so I'm capped to 6kb/s. Bloody great.

Now I wish I could get a shotgun and blast at the blasted Magpies that are camped outside the house. Jeremy please help.

Sunshine

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

I liked this movie. It had great atmosphere pardon the pun. Its basically about a 2nd group of astronauts who are sent to revive the Sun which is dying. The 1st group disappeared and noone knows what the hell happened to them. As the reach Mercury, the astronauts find a distress beacon- its the 1st group. Should they rescue them?

The whole atmosphere, the props, the dialogue. It had that Space Odyssey 2001 feel to it. I felt like they hired a mega space station as the stage. Pretty awesome.

And the music... yeah. The music had a marvelous space like techno serenity to it.

Pulau Aur October 22nd

Wendy and Bernadette, Pulau Aur, November 2007

Went for another quick diving trip. This one at Pulau Aur, the big island opposite Dayang. Its the end of the scuba diving season and it really showed. Rough waves caused the trip to go roller coaster. It didn't help that our diving boat was not fully adapted for scuba divers - more for fisherman.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the main attraction: whale sharks.

I put up more photos on my group's dedicated scuba site:

http://sipadive.multiply.com/photos/album/8

Pulau Aur 21st October

Just came back from Pulau Aur, the big island next to Dayang. Stayed at the Atlantis resort.

Unfortunately, the waves were rough - I think the waves were about 2m. This made getting in and out of the jetty transfer boat and the dive/fishing boat - an interesting experience. Pulau Aur doesn't have a jetty like Dayang so we had to use a jetty boat.

I posted most of the photos here on the dive site:

http://sipadive.multiply.com/photos/album/8/Pulau_Aur_

I'll also post some of the better ones here.

Due to the damage to the big transport boat- we got to use a big speed boat to get from Mercing to Aur. It only took 2 hours not the usual 4.

Flying back to Melbourne

Start:

Oct 28, '07 07:00a

Back to Melbourne again on the morning flight. Look forward to spending sometime with my nephew and of course, to rekindle old friendships.

Omega Watch 50th Ann. Evening Cocktail

Start:

Oct 26, '07 8:00p

Ngee Ann City, Civic Plaza 8pm. Friday...

Omega is celebrating its 50th anniversary of its Speedmaster watch.

I got invited... My gym is at 6 - so that should give me enough time to go home change and come back. Tiresome, lets hope the party is worth it.

Dive Trip Back on again

I got a call from the organizer. It seems that another boat has been hired - so the scuba dive trip to Pulau Au is back on again.

lol... and just when I was contemplating spending the weekend in bed.

(update: 6.30pm... ok, all packed and ready to go. Carrying quite a bit of stuff with me - like the camera+mp3 player+sun glasses+snacks... which makes me slightly anxious unnecessarily)

I've been feeling anxiety and can't seem to shut down...

Is it worthwhile diving in Similan in late April?

Hi to all the divers who read my blog!!!

Someone just invited me for a dive trip - liveonboard - to Ko Similan in late April for 5 days. 4 days dive. The boat is the Wicked Witch... lol, couldn't they have chosen another name?

But I heard that its past the "due date" for the diving season - and the visibility will be not as great as January, maybe even turbulent.

The cost is quite reasonable tho - $750 - excluding the air ticket and other minor expenses.

Whale Sharks

One day more and I'm off for another scuba diving trip. This time at the Atlantis Resort on Pulau Au - the isle next to Dayang.

Can't wait to go. My brain is totally fried. I can't think or focus. When I work out at the gym, I feel like passing out. I feel like there's not enough blood going into my brain. Sometimes I get so pale, my instructor is so worried that I'll faint. WTF is wrong?

Anyhow, two more weeks and I'm back in Melbourne. Can't wait to go too. I need a change of environment.

BTW, the photo of the whale shark is by "lovells19", a senior member of the ClubSnap forum.

Burma Coast Dive WhiteManta Liveonboard Dec 12 - 16

Start:	Dec 12, '07 07:00a
End:	Dec 16, '07

My Divemaster - Marcus R. Lee - on the Dayang Trip is organizing a dive trip to the coast of Burma. Check out the details.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Hi Friends,

Here are the details for the December dive trip 2007.

As usual we split the costs evenly, this is not a profit making trip. The trip is costly, but relatively a lot cheaper than going on your own in future.

Location: Myanmar.
Date: LOB Dec 12 - 16 (fly out 17 till whenever)
Duration: 4D/4N
LOB: Whitemanta
Pax: 14-17
Cost: (depends on no., but generally appx 850sgd) - usual price is 800usd++
Visa: 150usd (appx 225sgd)
Airfare: We still fly into Phuket (hence can R&R etc.) appx 140sgd
R&R costs: up to you. appx 100sgd
Gear Rental: up to you.

So here you go. The total is appx 1.3-1.5 depending on your airlines/gear rental/shopping and other variables.

Exotic location, proudly pristine, boasts of sharks, and whatsoever. Havent been there, havent a clue. No implications for the political upheaval at the moment. We will fly into Phuket, and sail there to Burman waters. Space is less than last year at similans and kuantanwreck, so if youre keen do reply quick. Also because this is being planned late, airfare prices will go up soon, AND the boat charter wont be available to us for long. So we need to confirm soon.

Please reply interest and ability to commit.
First come first serve naturally if there is a demand.

Feel free to fwd questions to Daniel or myself.

Cheers,
Marcus
marcusroyce@hotmail.com

(UPDATE 20th October: THE TRIP GOT CANNED)

Dayang Oct07

I love this photo best of all the hundreds of photos I took. I think thats my dive master Marcus.

Pulau Dayang is a small island located on the east coast of the Malaya Peninsula. It takes about 4 hours by boat to get there from the old port of Mercing.

http://dayangisland.com/gettinghere/index.htm

Pure White, soft sandy beaches. Beautiful blue waters.

Diving season is from April - September.

(But due to global warming or whatever - the monsoon season is delayed this year- allowing us to dive this month)

I was hoping to bump into a Whale Shark - as they have been reported to have been sighted in this area. But unfortunately, no.

This is the first time I have ever dived with a camera- so the results are so - so. I had problem keeping the cam steady due to the current. And I didn't know how to adjust the ISO and other details. Any constructive criticism would be welcomed. My technique was point and shoot whatever looked good. :)

The camera I used was the Fuji FD F31 with the Fuji underwater case. No strobes or other attachments used. The F31 is suppose to be one of the best scuba diving cameras. You of course need to get the underwater case - the Fuji WP=FXF30.
If you are thinking of buying the F31 - better do so quickly, Fuji has stopped making them - and the successors (F50) aren't as good.

Dayang Dive Trip

Just came back from the Dayang dive trip. The waters were very smooth - even the usual places like the "Whirlpool" was relatively placid. Its suppose to be the monsoon season now - but there was no wind and little rain.

I was trialling my new Fuji F-31 camera which I had just bought from the store in the previous day. I was petrified that I would lose it or damage it on its maiden trip. But I followed the instructions to the letter, made sure it was alays kept safely secured, and all went well. You can see the photos in my photo section.

Overall, it was relatively to me- boring. Once u dive at Sipadan- you're quite spoiled. I did find something fascinating tho - I found an egg like object on the 1st dive - it was pure white and had a beautiful fern leaf pattern design on it. But when I swam away with it the pressure crumbled it into a million pieces in my hand. Apart from that not much else interesting - to me. I was hoping to see a whale shark but nada.

Thankfully, the bus driver used the Tuas link to get to and from Malaysia- going through immigrations on both sides was a breeze compared to the main Johor crossway which is utterly horrendous to say the least.

TGIF

Thank God its Friday. I need a holiday. I have trouble getting a good night sleep. I feel dog tired when I step into the gym. My trainer is worried I'm going collapse when I work out. I can't seem to focus on my job.

I need a good break. And this Dayang trip won't cut it.

Anyhow better than nothing.

I have to go now to Tampines to pick up the camera + scuba housing than off to TP MRT for the loong coach ride.

Now wouldn't it be nice to go on board something like this ship

Anyways... cya guys later.

Hope I get to see a whale shark- and I certainly hope the other companions on this trip are pleasing to the eye and ear.

But most likely it will be this dour lot. LOL.

Hooray!!

Great I'm off to Dayang this weekend for scuba diving. Wish we could stay for more than 1 bloody night. But one of the divers says he has to be home by Sunday.

Frankly why? Why not just take Monday off? The damn journey is going to be about 14 bloody hours there and back. And if we plan to leave on Friday and come back by Sunday night- it will only give us less than 24 hours there. So max 5 dives only.

Coming back on Sunday means we have to run through the immigration hellhole in Johor at peakhour. Its like walking into hell.  The whole place is jammed packed with people returning to Spore from Johor. You're forced to wade into a small busy laneway used by the motorcyclists. Arghh. Meanwhile, you stand a good chance of getting pickpocketed or stabbed for your wallet and watch.

What a totally fubar way to run an immigration checkpoint.

Hopefully I'll be bringing along my new Fuji f31 diving camera that everyone has been raving about. And really cross my fingers hopeful - we'll get to see a whale shark.

Family caught with illegal arms and drugs cache demand compensation

This story is ridiculous. This immigrant family to Australia got public housing benefits - and were so poor that the govt gave them more financial aid. The husband disappears back to Lebanon - and the police raid the home to find:

Two fully automatic rifles.

* Two semi-automatic rifles.

* A MAC-10 fully automatic pistol.

* A Browning pistol.

* A Smith & Wesson revolver.

* About 5000 rounds of ammunition and ammunition magazines.

* Two boxes of Glock pistols.

* Small resealable plastic bags containing drugs.

* Electronic scales.

* Solvent generally used to destroy forensic evidence, such as fingerprints.

* A fully automatic bill counter.

* 1.64 kilograms of what was believed to be amphetamines.

What was the family trying to do: create a Walmart for Gangsters?

The family got evicted. And yes, they want compensation.

Read the rest of the mad story here: Family wants their guns and drugs back

Frankly they should be deported back to Lebanon. Australia sure has a weird sense of justice. In Singapore, they hang criminals who use guns. In Australia they spend millions of dollars in legal aid (which is not available to most law abiding citizens) to help them escape justice. Meanwhile, the Justice system denys home owners the use of weapons to defend their families and property. I remember one judge or top cop say that they ought to cooperate with the crims to avoid bloodshed. Which is sick if some sick sicko wants to rape u. If the law abiding citizens do attempt to protect themselves, the stupid law system prosecutes them. Bloody stupid system. Who made it anyway? Convicts?

Check it out!!

Awesome photos by Coalfox. Check out her site. Now that's some great photos!!!

Click on the nudibranch photo to see her site.

Bora Bora: Most Beautiful Pacific Island

Its reputed to be one of the most beautiful pacific islands in the world.

Check out the full photos here

http://www.imagestation.com/album/review.html?id=2087119443

Good Scuba Diving Camera and shop

Hi scuba friends,

u know who u are. just need to ask a quick question. I'm thinking of getting an underwater camera - digital of course. I've been recommended the Fuji F50. It takes great photos underwater in poor light.

Click here for the review of the Fuji F50

What do you reckon? I just want something small and compact to begin with.

As for buying it - I'll probably go to MScolor in Ang Mo Kio. I heard that they are honest and know what they talking about and give good service - but that's heresay. Anyone want to share their experiences?

Bora2 by Aaron

I didn't take these photos- but I wished I did. Check out Aaron's photos here:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/review.html?id=2087119443

Bora Bora is reputed to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Clear blue waters, tranquil seas, magnificent sunsets, and superb diving sites. I have to go there one day!!!

Anyhow click on the link and check out Aaron's impressive photos.

Good Scuba Diving Camera and shop

Hi scuba friends,

u know who u are. just need to ask a quick question. I'm thinking of getting an underwater camera - digital of course. I've been recommended the Fuji F50. It takes great photos underwater in poor light.

Click here for the review of the Fuji F50

What do you reckon? I just want something small and compact to begin with.

As for buying it - I'll probably go to MScolor in Ang Mo Kio. I heard that they are honest and know what they talking about and give good service - but that's heresay. Anyone want to share their experiences?

Bora Bora: Most Beautiful Pacific Island

Its reputed to be one of the most beautiful pacific islands in the world.

Check out the full photos here

http://www.imagestation.com/album/review.html?id=2087119443

Good Scuba Diving Camera and shop

Hi scuba friends,

u know who u are. just need to ask a quick question. I'm thinking of getting an underwater camera - digital of course. I've been recommended the Fuji F50. It takes great photos underwater in poor light.

Click here for the review of the Fuji F50

What do you reckon? I just want something small and compact to begin with.

As for buying it - I'll probably go to MScolor in Ang Mo Kio. I heard that they are honest and know what they talking about and give good service - but that's heresay. Anyone want to share their experiences?

A Great Day for the American Music Industry

This is totally disgusting. The American Music Industry just sued a single mother with kids for $US220,000 for sharing 24 songs using the KAZAA file sharing program.

The crazy thing is that if she had shoplifted the albums from the store- she would have probably got off less.

There's something perverse about this. Each time I hear a musician half-stoned on crack, cocaine, hashish, bitch about downloaded music, I go - "Yeah right, u need all the help you can get for your alternate lifestyle living."
Jammie Thomas, right, leaves the federal courthouse with her attorney, Brian Toder, after the verdict.
Photo: Julia Cheng
October 5, 2007 - 10:27AM

In the first US trial to challenge the illegal downloading of music on the internet, a single mother from Minnesota was ordered to pay $US220,000 ($247,549) for sharing 24 songs online.

Jammie Thomas, 30, was the first among more than 26,000 people sued by the world's most powerful recording companies to refuse a settlement after being slapped with a lawsuit by the Recording Industry of America and six major music labels.

She turned down an offer to pay a few thousand dollars in fines and instead took the case to court.

Unlike some who insist on the right to share files over the internet, Thomas says she was wrongfully targeted by SafeNet, a contractor employed by the recording industry to patrol the internet for copyrighted material.

Her lawyer said earlier this week that she had racked up some $US60,000 ($67,520) in legal fees because she refused to be bullied.

And while Thomas insisted on the courthouse steps that she had never downloaded or uploaded music, her lawyer tried to convince jurors there was no way to prove who had uploaded songs on the Kazaa file sharing network.

A jury took just five hours to decide that evidence provided by the music labels showed otherwise and found Thomas guilty of copyright infringement, court records showed.

Thomas, an employee of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, an Indian tribe, was ordered to pay a $US9250 ($10,400) fine for each of 24 shared songs cited in the case, including Godsmack's Spiral, Destiny's Child's Bills, Bills, Bills and Sara McLachlan's Building a Mystery.

It could have been a lot worse.

The fine could have reached $US150,000 ($168,700) a song if the jury had found "willful" copyright infringement.

Had the record companies sued her for all 1702 songs found in the online folder the fine could have run in the millions.

AFP

Single Mom fined $200,000: A Great Day for the American Music Industry

This is totally disgusting. The American Music Industry just sued a single mother with kids for $US220,000 for sharing 24 songs using the KAZAA file sharing program.

She lost the court battle and is now forced to pay $200,000.

The crazy thing is that if she had shoplifted the albums from the store- she would have probably got off less.

There's something perverse about this. Each time I hear a musician half-stoned on crack, cocaine, hashish, bitch about downloaded music as they step out of their Lear Jet with his pants, you know that the bugger needs all the cash he can get for his alternate lifestyle living.

What next? Are they going to go after people who record the songs off the radio?

Jammie Thomas, right, leaves the federal courthouse with her attorney, Brian Toder, after the verdict.
Photo: Julia Cheng
October 5, 2007 - 10:27AM

In the first US trial to challenge the illegal downloading of music on the internet, a single mother from Minnesota was ordered to pay $US220,000 ($247,549) for sharing 24 songs online.

Jammie Thomas, 30, was the first among more than 26,000 people sued by the world's most powerful recording companies to refuse a settlement after being slapped with a lawsuit by the Recording Industry of America and six major music labels.

She turned down an offer to pay a few thousand dollars in fines and instead took the case to court.

Unlike some who insist on the right to share files over the internet, Thomas says she was wrongfully targeted by SafeNet, a contractor employed by the recording industry to patrol the internet for copyrighted material.

Her lawyer said earlier this week that she had racked up some $US60,000 ($67,520) in legal fees because she refused to be bullied.

And while Thomas insisted on the courthouse steps that she had never downloaded or uploaded music, her lawyer tried to convince jurors there was no way to prove who had uploaded songs on the Kazaa file sharing network.

A jury took just five hours to decide that evidence provided by the music labels showed otherwise and found Thomas guilty of copyright infringement, court records showed.

Thomas, an employee of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, an Indian tribe, was ordered to pay a $US9250 ($10,400) fine for each of 24 shared songs cited in the case, including Godsmack's Spiral, Destiny's Child's Bills, Bills, Bills and Sara McLachlan's Building a Mystery.

It could have been a lot worse.

The fine could have reached $US150,000 ($168,700) a song if the jury had found "willful" copyright infringement.

Had the record companies sued her for all 1702 songs found in the online folder the fine could have run in the millions.

AFP

A Great Day for the American Music Industry

This is totally disgusting. The American Music Industry just sued a single mother with kids for $US220,000 for sharing 24 songs using the KAZAA file sharing program.

The crazy thing is that if she had shoplifted the albums from the store- she would have probably got off less.

There's something perverse about this. Each time I hear a musician half-stoned on crack, cocaine, hashish, bitch about downloaded music, I go - "Yeah right, u need all the help you can get for your alternate lifestyle living."
Jammie Thomas, right, leaves the federal courthouse with her attorney, Brian Toder, after the verdict.
Photo: Julia Cheng
October 5, 2007 - 10:27AM

In the first US trial to challenge the illegal downloading of music on the internet, a single mother from Minnesota was ordered to pay $US220,000 ($247,549) for sharing 24 songs online.

Jammie Thomas, 30, was the first among more than 26,000 people sued by the world's most powerful recording companies to refuse a settlement after being slapped with a lawsuit by the Recording Industry of America and six major music labels.

She turned down an offer to pay a few thousand dollars in fines and instead took the case to court.

Unlike some who insist on the right to share files over the internet, Thomas says she was wrongfully targeted by SafeNet, a contractor employed by the recording industry to patrol the internet for copyrighted material.

Her lawyer said earlier this week that she had racked up some $US60,000 ($67,520) in legal fees because she refused to be bullied.

And while Thomas insisted on the courthouse steps that she had never downloaded or uploaded music, her lawyer tried to convince jurors there was no way to prove who had uploaded songs on the Kazaa file sharing network.

A jury took just five hours to decide that evidence provided by the music labels showed otherwise and found Thomas guilty of copyright infringement, court records showed.

Thomas, an employee of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, an Indian tribe, was ordered to pay a $US9250 ($10,400) fine for each of 24 shared songs cited in the case, including Godsmack's Spiral, Destiny's Child's Bills, Bills, Bills and Sara McLachlan's Building a Mystery.

It could have been a lot worse.

The fine could have reached $US150,000 ($168,700) a song if the jury had found "willful" copyright infringement.

Had the record companies sued her for all 1702 songs found in the online folder the fine could have run in the millions.

AFP

Romance Math

ROMANCE MATHEMATICS
Smart man + smart woman = romance
Smart man + dumb woman = affair
Dumb man + smart woman = marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy

OFFICE ARITHMETIC
Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime

SHOPPING MATH
A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs.
A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't need.

GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

HAPPINESS
To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.

LONGEVITY
Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die.

CHANGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE
A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.