Recently I embarked on a search for "ME" time.
I have been complaining to everybody that my 24 hours per day is merely work and home.
During work, my time is devoted to the office which pays my monthly salary. Whether the piece of work is my cup of tea or suits my taste etc, I have no say but to do as long as instructions have been passed down.
After work, I do not have much a moment to catch my breath before I start working another job - home. Once home, I wash clothes and prepare the dinner. After dinner, it is the washing of dishes' time. Thereafter I will start sitting besides Isa to check through her school work or guide on her homework before turning off the lights to bed.
Where is my "ME" time? I beg for a moment that I can simply do things that I like or want without thinking of office projects' deadline, what to cook tonight, Isa's studies.
With the posting back to HQ, the travelling time to workplace is going to eat further into my limited time at home.
Maybe, the travelling time will be my "ME" time. I continue to explore what I can do during this "ME" time.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Soup Restaurant
For a change, we decided to hold mum's birthday celebration in Soup Restaurant located in City Square Mall.
http://www.souprestaurant.com.sg/
We ordered a set meal for 8 persons at $168++ which of course included its signature dishes such as Samsui Ginger Chicken, Hometown Tofu, Herbal Soup with lotus root, Teochew Olive Rice etc.
Since there are 10 persons (7 adults and 3 kids), we ordered 2 additional dishes of sambal kankong and fried brinjal.
We ordered 10 glasses of hot chrysanthemum tea at $1.80++ per glass including refill.
The Ginger Chicken with its garlic sauce can really melt in your mouth. The Tofu is such soft and yummy. I like the soup as I always like to eat lotus root. Isa ate 2 bowls of the Olive Rice.
I must say that the service is excellent. The chrysanthemum tea is being refilled promptly. During our course of dinner, the waitress refilled about 3 to 4 times without being asked. I hardly have this experience in other restaurants.
The dishes were served piping hot and promptly.
The manager came to ask for our feedback. Overall, we told her we were very pleased with the food except it was quite salty. Maybe my food is always being prepared in a low or no salt manner. I always find food served outside very salty. Perhaps salty food is tastier?
The bill came up to be $264 including all the services and taxes which worked out to be about $30 per person. Maybe it is slightly expensive but I will return to this restaurant again. I will surely tell the waitress that my food will be prepared with low or no salt.
http://www.souprestaurant.com.sg/
We ordered a set meal for 8 persons at $168++ which of course included its signature dishes such as Samsui Ginger Chicken, Hometown Tofu, Herbal Soup with lotus root, Teochew Olive Rice etc.
Since there are 10 persons (7 adults and 3 kids), we ordered 2 additional dishes of sambal kankong and fried brinjal.
We ordered 10 glasses of hot chrysanthemum tea at $1.80++ per glass including refill.
The Ginger Chicken with its garlic sauce can really melt in your mouth. The Tofu is such soft and yummy. I like the soup as I always like to eat lotus root. Isa ate 2 bowls of the Olive Rice.
I must say that the service is excellent. The chrysanthemum tea is being refilled promptly. During our course of dinner, the waitress refilled about 3 to 4 times without being asked. I hardly have this experience in other restaurants.
The dishes were served piping hot and promptly.
The manager came to ask for our feedback. Overall, we told her we were very pleased with the food except it was quite salty. Maybe my food is always being prepared in a low or no salt manner. I always find food served outside very salty. Perhaps salty food is tastier?
The bill came up to be $264 including all the services and taxes which worked out to be about $30 per person. Maybe it is slightly expensive but I will return to this restaurant again. I will surely tell the waitress that my food will be prepared with low or no salt.
Isa's CA performance
My post in my blog becomes a weekly affair.
I am still nursing from my "wound". Isa disappointed me again. She did badly for all her subjects except Chinese. I have yet to see the papers but can reasonably say she must have done poorly in her Maths Paper 2 especially the section on Long Questions. Kids easily panic when they see Long Questions and Isa is no exception.
As for Science, again the booklet B that kills. Isa simply does not know how to answer properly to get more marks. I can only gather that her mind is still not mature enough to handle most of the questions in this booklet. She may have learnt the facts well but how they are being applied is a totally different story.
For English, the comprehension cloze is one of the sections she did badly. She simply did not know what are the suitable words to fill in. If she cannot understand the content of the passage very well, she is unlikely to fill in the right words. Marks have been deducted from Synthesis & Transformation, Open-end Comprehension etc.
D said accept the papers humbly, learn from the mistakes and move on. Yes, how easy to say than done. But besides this, what else can I do?
Grades or marks is not everything but they are very important in the students' world, as money in the adults' world. Grades determined the type or choice of classes and secondary schools the kid can attend. Better grades means can attend better and famous schools. Better grades means the kid is cleverer and has greater chance to succeed.
I have again lowered my expectations on Isa.
Learning is a life-long journey. Setbacks are inevitable during this journey. We have not been seeing light in this long and dark tunnel. But we still have to move on!
I am still nursing from my "wound". Isa disappointed me again. She did badly for all her subjects except Chinese. I have yet to see the papers but can reasonably say she must have done poorly in her Maths Paper 2 especially the section on Long Questions. Kids easily panic when they see Long Questions and Isa is no exception.
As for Science, again the booklet B that kills. Isa simply does not know how to answer properly to get more marks. I can only gather that her mind is still not mature enough to handle most of the questions in this booklet. She may have learnt the facts well but how they are being applied is a totally different story.
For English, the comprehension cloze is one of the sections she did badly. She simply did not know what are the suitable words to fill in. If she cannot understand the content of the passage very well, she is unlikely to fill in the right words. Marks have been deducted from Synthesis & Transformation, Open-end Comprehension etc.
D said accept the papers humbly, learn from the mistakes and move on. Yes, how easy to say than done. But besides this, what else can I do?
Grades or marks is not everything but they are very important in the students' world, as money in the adults' world. Grades determined the type or choice of classes and secondary schools the kid can attend. Better grades means can attend better and famous schools. Better grades means the kid is cleverer and has greater chance to succeed.
I have again lowered my expectations on Isa.
Learning is a life-long journey. Setbacks are inevitable during this journey. We have not been seeing light in this long and dark tunnel. But we still have to move on!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
First Week's of Term 2
Finally the March school holiday was over and the first week of term 2 has started. Isa's Sports Day was on Thursday. This year, she participated in the 4x1 relay. She has been practising hard and hoped to win a medal. I did not want to disappoint her and thus merely told her to enjoy herself during the race.
True enough, her team not only did not win anything but came last. The first runner in her team was probably too nervous. She did not run immediately when the horn was sound. She hesitated for a short moment and that has given the team a lousy start. The second and third girls tried their best but their opponents were simply too strong.
Isa blamed the first 3 girls ran too slow and as a result, she could not turn the situation around. She has tried very hard but in the end, her team lost in the race. So no medal at all for this year's Sports Day.
J has returned from Brest, France. Again, he went to the usual shop for chocolates. This time, he spent as much as 125 euro, almost equivalent to SGD 250 on the various types of chocolates. Yes, we are simply crazy over chocolates and his colleagues always amazed by how much money J spent on chocolates. His colleagues were more interested in LV bags, branded watches etc.
A slight twist on my posting; I am supposed to report for work at HQ on 15 Apr. Now I am scheduled to attend a 3 days' course conducted by the vendor. The French vendor will make a trip to S'pore to conduct some hands-on course following the purchase of the new high tech equipment. Of course I will not miss this chance to learn new things. But my actual starting of work in HQ will be delayed.
True enough, her team not only did not win anything but came last. The first runner in her team was probably too nervous. She did not run immediately when the horn was sound. She hesitated for a short moment and that has given the team a lousy start. The second and third girls tried their best but their opponents were simply too strong.
Isa blamed the first 3 girls ran too slow and as a result, she could not turn the situation around. She has tried very hard but in the end, her team lost in the race. So no medal at all for this year's Sports Day.
J has returned from Brest, France. Again, he went to the usual shop for chocolates. This time, he spent as much as 125 euro, almost equivalent to SGD 250 on the various types of chocolates. Yes, we are simply crazy over chocolates and his colleagues always amazed by how much money J spent on chocolates. His colleagues were more interested in LV bags, branded watches etc.
A slight twist on my posting; I am supposed to report for work at HQ on 15 Apr. Now I am scheduled to attend a 3 days' course conducted by the vendor. The French vendor will make a trip to S'pore to conduct some hands-on course following the purchase of the new high tech equipment. Of course I will not miss this chance to learn new things. But my actual starting of work in HQ will be delayed.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Looking Ahead
Finally the one week's break is over and school kids will return to their schools tomorrow for term 2. Term 2 is rather short because the mid-year exam will be held around week 7 and 8, leaving the remaining last 2 weeks for marking and preparing the issuance of report book.
Effectively, there are only about 6 weeks of teaching and learning. And usually around week 4 and 5, the kids will have their oral examination too.
During the first few days, Isa was busy finishing her school holiday homework which consisted of compositions and some worksheets for different subjects.
We went to watch a Japanese cartoon movie Yona Yona Penguin during the middle of the week.
During the last few days, she did some assessment books on Mathematics and comprehension.
The weather has been wet since Thursday. This made us practically remained at home most of the time to do something which we enjoyed - listening to music, reading story books besides the usual work we have to do.
Very soon, April arrives and 15 Apr will be the date I will start working in a new workplace, HQ. I have started clearing my things in my current workplace. I accumulated so much rubbish during my last 7 or 8 years. Sometimes I don't even know I have such thing lying in the drawers. I have started giving or throwing away things. It will take quite some time to empty all my drawers to make space for the incoming officer.
My boss L will be on overseas leave soon and we have planned the roster in a way that I will still see him when he is back before I leave this office. He has been such a wonderful boss though he did not manage to prevent my posting. I am sure he is equally frustrated to lose a supporting staff.
I have turned my frustrations into expectations. With a new working environment, I will face new challenges and take up new tasks. This will made my working life more interesting. I hope it will become more rewarding for my well-being.
I have yet to make plans for my June school holidays. I doubt I will go anywhere far after my Dec trip to Japan. Maybe all things will fall into place once I move over to HQ.
Effectively, there are only about 6 weeks of teaching and learning. And usually around week 4 and 5, the kids will have their oral examination too.
During the first few days, Isa was busy finishing her school holiday homework which consisted of compositions and some worksheets for different subjects.
We went to watch a Japanese cartoon movie Yona Yona Penguin during the middle of the week.
During the last few days, she did some assessment books on Mathematics and comprehension.
The weather has been wet since Thursday. This made us practically remained at home most of the time to do something which we enjoyed - listening to music, reading story books besides the usual work we have to do.
Very soon, April arrives and 15 Apr will be the date I will start working in a new workplace, HQ. I have started clearing my things in my current workplace. I accumulated so much rubbish during my last 7 or 8 years. Sometimes I don't even know I have such thing lying in the drawers. I have started giving or throwing away things. It will take quite some time to empty all my drawers to make space for the incoming officer.
My boss L will be on overseas leave soon and we have planned the roster in a way that I will still see him when he is back before I leave this office. He has been such a wonderful boss though he did not manage to prevent my posting. I am sure he is equally frustrated to lose a supporting staff.
I have turned my frustrations into expectations. With a new working environment, I will face new challenges and take up new tasks. This will made my working life more interesting. I hope it will become more rewarding for my well-being.
I have yet to make plans for my June school holidays. I doubt I will go anywhere far after my Dec trip to Japan. Maybe all things will fall into place once I move over to HQ.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Movie Yona Yona Penguin
Isa decided to watch Yona Yona Penguin instead of Alice in Wonderland. We happily went to Vivo City to watch it after scanning through the colourful poster shown on Golden Village website.
When the movie started, then we realised it was in Japanese! Without the english subtitles, I would have fallen asleep but not Isa. Not that she knows Japanese, she was fascinated by the animated cartoon characters.
A little girl called Koko who always wears a penguin coat given by her late father. She dreams to fly one day despite she knows that penguins are flightless birds.
One night, she bumped into an old man Ji and then subsequently led to a Penguin Store by a little globin called Chaley. Chaley has a motive because its village faced a big evil monster. The plot continued how Koko with her bravery, helped to save this village and helped Zammi, an angel who has lost one of its wings.
The kids would love this movie.
When the movie started, then we realised it was in Japanese! Without the english subtitles, I would have fallen asleep but not Isa. Not that she knows Japanese, she was fascinated by the animated cartoon characters.
A little girl called Koko who always wears a penguin coat given by her late father. She dreams to fly one day despite she knows that penguins are flightless birds.
One night, she bumped into an old man Ji and then subsequently led to a Penguin Store by a little globin called Chaley. Chaley has a motive because its village faced a big evil monster. The plot continued how Koko with her bravery, helped to save this village and helped Zammi, an angel who has lost one of its wings.
The kids would love this movie.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
12" laptop
After work, the IT staff insisted me making a trip to HQ to "claim" a laptop assigned to me by my office. I have mentioned that I would be back to HQ around mid Apr and I can then claim it. But the IT staff wanted me to claim and then check that various softwares loaded in the laptop were ok.
I reached HQ around 5pm. I saw some colleagues in a similar situation as me. They have waited for about an hour because some of the IT staff were unclear and unsure on the procedures.
So it was not a surprise that mine took more than an hour. I was getting impatient as the loading of softwares and checking procedures took quite a long time.
By 6.30pm, everything was done and I happily carried this brand new toy back home.
I will be bringing it to HQ again once I am posted there.
I reached HQ around 5pm. I saw some colleagues in a similar situation as me. They have waited for about an hour because some of the IT staff were unclear and unsure on the procedures.
So it was not a surprise that mine took more than an hour. I was getting impatient as the loading of softwares and checking procedures took quite a long time.
By 6.30pm, everything was done and I happily carried this brand new toy back home.
I will be bringing it to HQ again once I am posted there.
Monday, March 15, 2010
七種不需本錢的布施
一、和顏施：對於別人給予和顏悅色的布施。
二、言施：向人說好話的布施，存好心做好事，做好人說好話，並勉人切實力行。
三、心施：為對方設想的心，體貼眾生的心的布施。
四、眼施：用慈愛和氣的眼神看人。
五、身施：身體力行幫助別人。
六、座施：讓座給需要的人的布施。
七、察施：不用問對方就能察覺對方的心，並給予相對其所需的方便的布施。
(source: unknown)
二、言施：向人說好話的布施，存好心做好事，做好人說好話，並勉人切實力行。
三、心施：為對方設想的心，體貼眾生的心的布施。
四、眼施：用慈愛和氣的眼神看人。
五、身施：身體力行幫助別人。
六、座施：讓座給需要的人的布施。
七、察施：不用問對方就能察覺對方的心，並給予相對其所需的方便的布施。
(source: unknown)
March School Holidays
Finally term 1 has ended and the March School Holidays have started. Isa did badly for her Maths paper. The results for the other subjects should be known when term 2 starts. This is a heavy blow to me again and I questioned myself why such outcome since Isa has been quite diligently in her studies.
How am I going to help her during this one week's break before the mid year exam arrives? What are her weak areas before the teacher continues to tougher topics such as Ratio, Percentage etc?
As for myself, though the official posting order is yet to be out, the individual officer concerned has received a posting order from HOD. 15th April will be the official date to report to duties. So I can expect a drastic change in my working life in about a month's time. I have to "claim" a laptop from the office soon. So I think more paperwork, attending to requests, replying emails even after office hours is expected.
Thanks to a mum (TAN HH) who has shared and recommended some low salt and no MSG dinner delivery service (tingkat) to solve my weekday dinner. Despite many said that this type of food is lousy and expensive, I decided to give it a try. I simply do not want to reach home at 7pm and start whipping up even a simple meal.
How am I going to help her during this one week's break before the mid year exam arrives? What are her weak areas before the teacher continues to tougher topics such as Ratio, Percentage etc?
As for myself, though the official posting order is yet to be out, the individual officer concerned has received a posting order from HOD. 15th April will be the official date to report to duties. So I can expect a drastic change in my working life in about a month's time. I have to "claim" a laptop from the office soon. So I think more paperwork, attending to requests, replying emails even after office hours is expected.
Thanks to a mum (TAN HH) who has shared and recommended some low salt and no MSG dinner delivery service (tingkat) to solve my weekday dinner. Despite many said that this type of food is lousy and expensive, I decided to give it a try. I simply do not want to reach home at 7pm and start whipping up even a simple meal.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Last Week of School Term 1
Finally we arrive the last week of the academic term 1.
I have not been blogging regularly and am now thinking of excuses to explain for myself.
First, quite a lot of work to be done in the office. My office is going for ISO certification. Before the real audit starts, we have a mock audit internally recently. There was huge amount of write-up to be done. Not many people were properly trained to do the write-up and so is a situation of the blind leading the blind. Some of the write-up are copy and paste type. Some of my colleagues became so frustrated that we almost throw in the towel as we are unsure if we are on the right track.
Second, more work followed after the Retreat. Though many had a fun time during the retreat, a lot of challenges are waiting ahead. With customers become more and more demanding, how can we equip ourselves to serve their needs and requirements better? How do we position ourselves to be unique and highly professional as compared to other competitors?
Third, Isa's Continual Assessment starts this week. The whole weekend was a torture for her with test papers and assessment books piling high on the poor little girl. She has studied hard and now is just dependent on her performance during the Assessment. If she can concentrate well, I am sure passing is no problem for her.
Fourth, J will be heading to France again and with my posting back to HQ in mid April, we are fully aware that he can't have many overseas working trips anymore.
I have not been blogging regularly and am now thinking of excuses to explain for myself.
First, quite a lot of work to be done in the office. My office is going for ISO certification. Before the real audit starts, we have a mock audit internally recently. There was huge amount of write-up to be done. Not many people were properly trained to do the write-up and so is a situation of the blind leading the blind. Some of the write-up are copy and paste type. Some of my colleagues became so frustrated that we almost throw in the towel as we are unsure if we are on the right track.
Second, more work followed after the Retreat. Though many had a fun time during the retreat, a lot of challenges are waiting ahead. With customers become more and more demanding, how can we equip ourselves to serve their needs and requirements better? How do we position ourselves to be unique and highly professional as compared to other competitors?
Third, Isa's Continual Assessment starts this week. The whole weekend was a torture for her with test papers and assessment books piling high on the poor little girl. She has studied hard and now is just dependent on her performance during the Assessment. If she can concentrate well, I am sure passing is no problem for her.
Fourth, J will be heading to France again and with my posting back to HQ in mid April, we are fully aware that he can't have many overseas working trips anymore.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Retreat
I have been extremely busy this week. Besides helping in Isa's preparation for her Continual Assessment, I have to work extra hours as my boss has to attend various meeting.
Like other companies, my office held its annual Retreat at Marina Barriage recently. This was my second time being to this place. Much has changed especially the southern skyline as the Integrated Resort at Marina Bay was closed to completion.
A retreat is not a day off from work but a day from the office. Our big boss shared his 3 R - Relax, Reflect and Recharge.
Yes, with such a beautiful skyline, comfortable conference room and the delicious tea-breaks plus lunch, this place is good for relaxatuion.
When we relax, our mind can think better and should not this be the time to reflect ourselves?
Reflect what we have done for the last financial year in the office and home, identify the areas we have done well and give ourselves a pat on the shoulders, note the areas which we did not do well or could have done better, take actions on them during this year.
Knowing our strengths and weaknesses, having a wonderful time to recharge, it is time for a new financial year ie a new change.
Yes, I look forward to my posting even though it would mean changes to my current lifestyle. My big boss (lady) has been willing to listen to my concerns when I am posted over. With this, I should be in good hands and can contribute more to my office.
Like other companies, my office held its annual Retreat at Marina Barriage recently. This was my second time being to this place. Much has changed especially the southern skyline as the Integrated Resort at Marina Bay was closed to completion.
A retreat is not a day off from work but a day from the office. Our big boss shared his 3 R - Relax, Reflect and Recharge.
Yes, with such a beautiful skyline, comfortable conference room and the delicious tea-breaks plus lunch, this place is good for relaxatuion.
When we relax, our mind can think better and should not this be the time to reflect ourselves?
Reflect what we have done for the last financial year in the office and home, identify the areas we have done well and give ourselves a pat on the shoulders, note the areas which we did not do well or could have done better, take actions on them during this year.
Knowing our strengths and weaknesses, having a wonderful time to recharge, it is time for a new financial year ie a new change.
Yes, I look forward to my posting even though it would mean changes to my current lifestyle. My big boss (lady) has been willing to listen to my concerns when I am posted over. With this, I should be in good hands and can contribute more to my office.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Car knocks down rare deer
Animal put down by zoo vets after collision at dawn yesterday By Alexis Cai A RARE sambar deer, once thought to be extinct, became roadkill yesterday when it was hit by a car at dawn on the Seletar Expressway (SLE).
Malaysian tourist Chong Chiew Pin was driving a friend to the airport when he thought he saw something 'floating' just ahead of him in the dark. It was too late when he realised it was a deer that had come out of the undergrowth along Mandai Road.
The deer, about 1.2m tall, was not a runaway from the Night Safari nearby, which has a sambar deer enclosure.
No one knows how many sambar deer there are in the wild here, according to Mr Subaraj Rajathurai, chairman of the Vertebrate Study Group at the Nature Society (Singapore). He estimates there are fewer than 20 in Singapore. These shy creatures are one of two native species of deer, the other being the barking deer.
Sambar deer were thought to have been extinct by the 1940s, dying out from poaching, predators such as tigers, and their habitats being destroyed.
But last year, a pair of males were sighted at Bukit Brown cemetery, near the MacRitchie Nature Reserve. There were also sightings in Mandai Lake Road, near the Upper Seletar Reservoir.
(source: www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_497796.html)
My Comments:
I have not seen deer except in Singapore Zoo. What a great shame that it was killed accidentally.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Snow Monkey Park in Nagano
(source: www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/livecam/monkey/index.htm)
This picture taken on 2 Mar 2010
This picture taken on 10 Jan 2010
This picture taken on 2 Mar 2010
This picture taken on 10 Jan 2010
Monday, March 01, 2010
Japan agency says 'sorry'
TOKYO - JAPAN'S weather agency apologised on Monday for 'crying wolf' when it urged some 1.5 million people to evacuate ahead of a possible major tsunami, only to find the waves that finally hit were far smaller than feared.
Experts defended the agency's decision to warn that waves of 3 metres or more might strike Japan's Pacific coast after a huge earthquake hit Chile, but acknowledged the risk of making residents blase about the danger next time.
'In the end, the warning was a bit excessive. I would like to apologise for the fact that the warning lasted so long,' Jiji news agency quoted Japan Meteorological Agency official Yasuo Sekita as telling a news conference after all warnings and advisories had been lifted, some 25 hours after the first alert.
Tsunami warnings are common in Japan, one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, but Sunday's alert was the first for a major tsunami in 17 years and only the fourth since 1952. The alert came after the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) had issued a Pacific-wide warning that included Hawaii and stretched across the ocean from South America to the Pacific Rim.
'I don't question the wisdom of their warning. The key thing to remember is that they cannot underwarn. That is not an option,' Dailin Wang, an oceanographer at the PTWC, told Reuters. Predicting the height of a tsunami is a complex task that requires not only knowing the quake's magnitude but harder-to-grasp information about the impact on the sea floor and detailed data about the coastal areas that could be hit, Mr Wang said.
Still, warnings of impending disaster that don't pan out could encourage people to ignore future alerts, he said. 'If we do that all the time, we cry wolf and lose credibility,' Mr Wang said. 'We have to improve.' -- REUTERS
(source: www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_496380.html )
Experts defended the agency's decision to warn that waves of 3 metres or more might strike Japan's Pacific coast after a huge earthquake hit Chile, but acknowledged the risk of making residents blase about the danger next time.
'In the end, the warning was a bit excessive. I would like to apologise for the fact that the warning lasted so long,' Jiji news agency quoted Japan Meteorological Agency official Yasuo Sekita as telling a news conference after all warnings and advisories had been lifted, some 25 hours after the first alert.
Tsunami warnings are common in Japan, one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, but Sunday's alert was the first for a major tsunami in 17 years and only the fourth since 1952. The alert came after the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) had issued a Pacific-wide warning that included Hawaii and stretched across the ocean from South America to the Pacific Rim.
'I don't question the wisdom of their warning. The key thing to remember is that they cannot underwarn. That is not an option,' Dailin Wang, an oceanographer at the PTWC, told Reuters. Predicting the height of a tsunami is a complex task that requires not only knowing the quake's magnitude but harder-to-grasp information about the impact on the sea floor and detailed data about the coastal areas that could be hit, Mr Wang said.
Still, warnings of impending disaster that don't pan out could encourage people to ignore future alerts, he said. 'If we do that all the time, we cry wolf and lose credibility,' Mr Wang said. 'We have to improve.' -- REUTERS
(source: www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_496380.html )
Chile govt admits 'error'
SANTIAGO - CHILE'S government conceded on Sunday that it committed an 'error' in initially downplaying the risk of tsunami from this weekend's massive earthquake - a mistake that may have cost many lives.
'There was a mistake,' said Defence Minister Francisco Vidal during a press conference held one day after coastal towns in southern Chile were enveloped by a wall of water unleashed by the historic 8.8-magnitude quake. Mr Vidal said officials with Chile's navy made the 'diagnostic error' of not issuing a tsunami alert after the mammoth quake.
On Saturday a giant wave generated by the quake - the biggest temblor to hit Chile in decades - engulfed seaside villages and washed away entire homes and livelihoods in the picturesque town of Penco and nearby villages. The wall of water was generated by the recordbreaking 8.8-magnitude quake that rattled southern Chile before daybreak on Saturday.
Immediately after the quake struck at 3.43am on Saturday, President Michelle Bachelet, tried to tamp down tsunami fears, and issued a call for calm.
Most of the more than 700 dead were in the very coastal regions where officials had urged inhabitants not to be worried. Chilean officials later revised their assessment, and activated the tsunami alert, which he said saved 'not hundreds but thousands' of lives, as residents fled the shorelines for higher ground.
Chile's earthquake toll soared past 700 on Sunday with more than 500 of the dead killed in coastal areas submerged by the tsunami. In addition to Penco, tesidents said the coastal town of Dichato had practically been washed away, while the hard-hit towns of Curico and Talco were without power or potable water on Sunday. -- AFP
(source: www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_496336.html)
My Comments:
Look, we are talking about Mother Nature. Haven't we learnt enough from 2004 Asian Tsunami which affected many countries on Boxing Day?
'There was a mistake,' said Defence Minister Francisco Vidal during a press conference held one day after coastal towns in southern Chile were enveloped by a wall of water unleashed by the historic 8.8-magnitude quake. Mr Vidal said officials with Chile's navy made the 'diagnostic error' of not issuing a tsunami alert after the mammoth quake.
On Saturday a giant wave generated by the quake - the biggest temblor to hit Chile in decades - engulfed seaside villages and washed away entire homes and livelihoods in the picturesque town of Penco and nearby villages. The wall of water was generated by the recordbreaking 8.8-magnitude quake that rattled southern Chile before daybreak on Saturday.
Immediately after the quake struck at 3.43am on Saturday, President Michelle Bachelet, tried to tamp down tsunami fears, and issued a call for calm.
Most of the more than 700 dead were in the very coastal regions where officials had urged inhabitants not to be worried. Chilean officials later revised their assessment, and activated the tsunami alert, which he said saved 'not hundreds but thousands' of lives, as residents fled the shorelines for higher ground.
Chile's earthquake toll soared past 700 on Sunday with more than 500 of the dead killed in coastal areas submerged by the tsunami. In addition to Penco, tesidents said the coastal town of Dichato had practically been washed away, while the hard-hit towns of Curico and Talco were without power or potable water on Sunday. -- AFP
(source: www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_496336.html)
My Comments:
Look, we are talking about Mother Nature. Haven't we learnt enough from 2004 Asian Tsunami which affected many countries on Boxing Day?
Cooking
I continue to explore cooking various types of soup.
Instead of relying on the instant french onion soup, miso soup, I started learning to cook soup using pumpkin, winter-melon, shark-fin melon, lotus-root, radish/carrot/potatoes etc.
This week, I will start cooking salted vegetables with tofu soup. I have bought the necessary ingredients during my last grocery shopping trip.
To make my preparation of dinner short and simple, cooking soup seems the best option. Just dump all the necessary ingredients into a pot of water and boil, the soup is ready.
Next dish is usually stir-fry some vegetables or steam food such as brinjal or salmon or pop some frozen stuff such as nuggets or sausages into the oven toaster.
It looks like I am getting closer to become a "professionally lazy" chef!
Instead of relying on the instant french onion soup, miso soup, I started learning to cook soup using pumpkin, winter-melon, shark-fin melon, lotus-root, radish/carrot/potatoes etc.
This week, I will start cooking salted vegetables with tofu soup. I have bought the necessary ingredients during my last grocery shopping trip.
To make my preparation of dinner short and simple, cooking soup seems the best option. Just dump all the necessary ingredients into a pot of water and boil, the soup is ready.
Next dish is usually stir-fry some vegetables or steam food such as brinjal or salmon or pop some frozen stuff such as nuggets or sausages into the oven toaster.
It looks like I am getting closer to become a "professionally lazy" chef!
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