+ Life | National Online

No, nothing serious or political about this entry at all.

I received a letter from the Ministry of Manpower or MOM to take part in the national Labour Force Survey being conducted from 21st to 31st May 2006.

My household has been selected to participate.

The survey "seeks to obtain key national statistics on employment and unemployment to help in the formulation of manpower-related policies."

Did not see a clause if I could turn down the offer to participate, but has "under the Statistic Act (Chapter 317) which requires you to furnish the necessary information."

Well, what the heck, its for nation's well being right?

I logged onto MOM's website http://www.mom.gov.sg/mrsd/ihss to participate online with the given Household ID and Password.

In about 15 minutes, all was done and I submitted the survey.

I then received an email alert from a friend. "This, just in! National Day Parade 2006 tickets are up for grabs through "e-Ballot!"

Wow, never had that early a chance to ballot for tickets before. Never have we actually attended the NDP live before either. This is a great opportunity to attend instead of watching it on TV.

So, I logged onto to Singapore NDP website http://www.ndp.org.sg/ to ballot for tickets.

With either to ballot for Preview on 29th July 2006, or on National Day on 9th August 2006 itself, I bid for the preview, since it is on Saturday with Sunday to rest.

Our National Day is on Wednesday, so not a good idea for me to go to work the next day. I might as well enjoy the day with a family outing instead.

The bid has options to either select 2, 4 or 6 tickets. I chose the last one, thinking maybe my parents would like to attend too.

They deserve to celebrate with the nation since they have been contributing to it for the past 80 years or so.

Maybe they may even make newspaper headlines for being the oldest couple to attend NDP celebrations!

Sounds wonderful, the planning is great, but only if we get the free tickets.

All successful bidders will be notified via SMS between 13th and 16th June 2006 to collect them. Hope is high.

The fact that it will be memorable for me personally as this will be the first time for all of us, and especially with my parents... Just awesome.

The fact that I can get to see their reactions to this mammoth patriotic annual celebration... Priceless!

+ Life | Rat Trap

Now this is something I questioned myself before, but I did not give myself an answer. Instead, I just think I should not do it at all.

Like on normal days at work, a group of us would go to the canteen to have our breakfast. A friend spotted a rat in the middle of the car park.

It was like in a daze, falling sideways as it tried to move into the bushes. Apparently, it must have been poisoned.

I thought nothing of it. We took our breakfast, talked and joked a little and headed back to the office once we had finished.

On the way, I saw 2 metal-wired rat trap cages at the dumping area. In each was a rat. Frantically pacing to and fro trying to get out of the cage. The baits ware still hanging in the cages.

Now, this is my dilemma... Rats are bad for human health. They are pests and bring diseases, while they irritate you and scare most women.

Now, rat population has to be controlled to not infest our homes and properties, so we kill rats by setting up traps and poison them. Alright...

Once you catch them, how do you "put them down" humanely... if that is the most politically correct phrase for it.

The rats I saw in the cages were left outside in the hot sun to die. It is the worst death sentence possible, I think. To torture them to exhaustion, dehydrate them slowly until they die.

That is the most slowest and most painful of a killing method I can possible think of. Maybe it is just me, but it seems too cruel for me.

I know I will not give a second thought when I have to crush a cockroach, but it has to die immediately, with the least amount of pain possible.

I could not bare to look at the panting rats further and walked away. My lady friend squirmed in fright and walked quickly away.

I just had to ask my the group what was the best, humanely possible way to kill a rat once caught.


One said to knock its head or bashed it to death, and other said to drown it in water, one even said his mother poured boiling water over it. Wow!

I have heard of these methods before. When I was a child, I had seen one "death by drowning" case by a neighbour too, which I could not bare to watch then either.

I am not the one to trap any, so I leave it the pest-busters if necessary. Hope I do not have an infestation of such in my home. I am putting too much thought in this, nonetheless, I need to ask.

So, is poisoning them the best way?

Or is there a fastest, most humanely possible way to kill rats once you catch them?

+ Fun | DHL Balloon

The first time I saw it at Bugis, I thought it was just another advertisement by DHL. A big one though. I was going over to Wify's shop to accompany her since my son had gone out with his friends to watch Elektra.

A yellow balloon ad flying high above Bugis Junction did not really attract my attention, and I did not give any notice at all.

I saw it again when I bought dinner for Wify from Banquet at Raffles Hospital going toward Bugis Village. I went to surprise her at the shop again that Friday. This time, I notice that the balloon was being lowered down. Ad permit ended?

As I stopped to watch, I noticed there was a platform for viewing. Thought nothing of it, but I just snapped a picture to show my son what I saw, when I get home. I realized that it was a very large balloon ad when it was nearer to the ground, but disappeared between the buildings.

And I saw it again, in the early evening with the pulsing, beacon-like blue lights since it was turning dark. It was very near to the ground that my son noticed there were people with cameras on the viewing platform. Invited guests only?


Only today, it is confirmed that the DHL Balloon is the new attraction in Bugis area, when I received an email from my friend about the promotion.

30% off coupons from the usual ticket price of S$23.00 per adult and S$16.00 for children below 12 years old. Panoramic viewing for 30 minutes in the air.

Would be interesting to go up and view the area from 150 metres high or as high as a 40 story building, with a difference - being swayed to and fro a little by the wind.

Would be great to try that with all 3 of us on board; armed with a camera and strong guts.

Wify hates heights, but she trusts me. She will take roller-coaster rides as long as I ride beside her. I think she will give it a go. This weekend is good, weather permitting of course.

+ Life | Buried Secrets

When I do not have anything worthy to write, I would normally turn to 3 things - check through my folders full of photos that I may write about, or blog surf to seek and maybe learn about other people's point of view, else I would be taking a Personality Test.

I have no idea why I like to stress myself by taking personality tests. Maybe I wish to "find" myself and know more about me, or maybe to convince myself that I am about as normal as the next person... maybe as weird too.

Then again, the thrill of finding out something new about yourself is overpowering.

What others may perceive you as when you are your daily self, doing your daily stuff... something shocking or something true, or something shockingly true!

Taken a Tickle Test on "What's Your Buried Secret." I am not sure, but is this website meant for women? Now that is a scary title to dive into and provoke my self-esteem, but curiosity got the best of me as always. Here it is:

Muhd Imran, you keep secrets about your Family

• Whose family isn't a little dysfunctional?
• Just the same, you're not gonna write the next great American novel about your family's crazy arguments and weird habits.
• For you, family gossip is best left alone.
• It's important to keep those dirty little secrets to yourself.
• You've got a great respect and love for your kin, even if they don't always act the way you want them to.
• As long as you know the truth about what's going on in your seemingly happy home, who cares what the neighbors say?
• Sticking by each other — now that's what family's for!

Yes, I agree with the analysis. Uphold the family honour. That is me. Phew! No shocking revelation here.

Want to take your test? Click photo and answer a few questions truthfully. Good Luck.

+ Life | Birth Month

I received an email from a friend today about a set of characters as a person generally has depending on the month he or she was born in.

My birthday will be next month. So timely enough to tell everyone the good traits of a Cancerian and the not-so-proud-but-true stuff of me in a list...

Born In Month of JUNE

• Thinks far with vision - do a good one to last a lifetime
• Easily influenced by kindness - fall for it every time
• Polite and soft-spoken - lame, I know
• Having lots of ideas - overwhelming at times, I can't sleep
• Sensitive - my double-edge sword
• Active mind - always something brewing up there
• Hesitating - aaah... that leads to the next one
• Tends to delay - so that's why I'm always late for work
• Choosy and always wants the best - forgive me?
• Temperamental - I can't predict how unpredictable I am
• Funny and humorous - my lighter side
• Loves to joke - love to laugh
• Good debating skills - bring it on!
• Talkative - I babble, therefore I am
• Daydreamer - Sorry, you were saying?
• Friendly - you'll be my buddy by the end of this list
• Knows how to make friends - well... not sure about this
• Abiding - black is black, white is white!
• Able to show character - like an open book
• Easily hurt - like a cucumber
• Prone to getting colds - Nope. Strong as an ox!
• Loves to dress up - just to look my best
• Easily bored - this list is too long!
• Fussy - maybe I like it in blue....
• Seldom show emotions - I cry in silence, lie like a... Nun?
• Takes time to recover when hurt - backlogs a mile long
• Brand conscious - totally not! Wait Sony Ericsson is good.
• Executive - less talk, more action!
• Stubborn - I stand by my convictions!
• Those who love me are enemies - strange way to show I care
• Those who hate me are friends - better a friend than an enemy

Now that you know what kind of person I am, do you still want to associate yourself with me?

I have the other 11 months' of Character Descriptions if anyone ones to know if theirs are as accurate too.

+ Life | What Degree?

You Should Get a PhD in Science (like chemistry, math, or engineering)

You're both smart and innovative when it comes to ideas. Maybe you'll find a cure for cancer - or develop the latest underground drug.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?