Closing down, for now...

I'm gonna "close" this blog for now. Haven't really been bothered to blog thus far.

Look for me in Facebook and add me instead - you'll get to know what's happening.

www.facebook.com/mirantz

Bye for now!

Internet Radio from MediaCorp's back up.

Yay! Internet streaming from MediaCorp is back up after almost a year. I can now listen to my favorite YES933 online. =)

MediaCorp radio stations are back on the Internet!

Re-launch of internet radio simulcasts for four radio stations

Singapore, 30 November 2009 -- MediaCorp and the Recording Industry Performance Singapore (RIPS) are pleased to announce the re-launch of internet simulcasts of four MediaCorp free-to-air radio broadcasts, after reaching an agreement permitting such simulcasts.

From 1 December, listeners of four MediaCorp radio stations, namely 987FM, Class 95FM, Lush 99.5FM and Y.E.S. 93.3FM, can hear their “LIVE” radio broadcasts on the Internet, making these stations accessible to larger audiences, and also to listeners who are overseas.

"We are very happy to be able to re-launch our radio stations on the Internet. Many of our listeners have been asking us to bring back our internet radio simulcasts as they had become accustomed to listening to the radio while working on their computers. Singaporeans abroad also want to tune in so that they can keep abreast with what is going on back home," said Florence Lian, Managing Director, Radio, MediaCorp. "With the re-launch of our simulcasts, and being the only Singaporean broadcaster to do so, our stations truly have the widest reach of listeners in Singapore and beyond our shores."

MediaCorp Radio did offer simulcasts of its free-to-air radio broadcasts over the Internet in the past, but following certain changes to the law which made these streams subject to copyright licensing, suspended its internet simulcasts in March 2009.

Barbara Wong, General Manager of RIPS, which administers internet simulcast licenses for the major recording labels in Singapore, said, "RIPS is very pleased to conclude this licensing arrangement with MediaCorp permitting the re-launch of its internet simulcasts. We congratulate MediaCorp on being the first Singaporean radio broadcaster to do so, reaffirming MediaCorp’s leadership in the industry, its willingness to embrace new technologies and to listen to its customers. The record labels we represent are also pleased that the value of their music being made available on the Internet is also now being recognised."

Under the licensing agreement struck between the two parties, MediaCorp will be permitted to re-launch internet simulcasts of four of its radio stations with immediate effect, with the option to increase this to more radio stations in the future. To this, Ms Lian added "Economic conditions will determine our business decisions in this space so we will be studying that closely."

BTW, I've moved. My new postal address is as follows:-

132/416 St Kilda Road

Melbourne

VIC 3004

Cheers!

Peace, Love & Ice Cream (yes, B&J is now being sold in Aussie).

The Barbarian Invasions (2003)

I watched the movie, The Barbarian Invasions, this evening. It was being screened on Channel One.

Having a difficult time accepting the reality of death and feeling regretful of his past, a man dying of cancer tries to find peace in his last moments. His estranged son, ex-wife, ex-lovers and old friends will all come to him to share his last breath.

It was quite a nice French movie. The son taking time off from work, just to be with his dad - taking care of him and making him feel comfortable. Taking time off as well as risking his life to get heroin to make his dad pain free and comfortable.

I wonder what will happen in future.

Time will tell.

Just a short post for now.

Till then,

Love ya all! =)

Wash your hands!

Do you still remember the SARS outbreak in 2003? I do. That's because that was the year whereby I was on clinical placements and I was attached to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) when it all happened, being interviewed by Channel News Asia, and being featured in the 4th episode of the prgram, Living with SARS. I've tried searching for the program, to no avail. The only way for me to get a hold of the footage (or rather, the entire edited episode) is to purchase it from MediaCorp, which would cost me a bomb.

During the "SARS period", Phua Chu Kang (PCK) was still very much a Singapore favourite. He did a rap on SARS, which included the lines, Wash your hands, in it.

Now, with Swine (or H1N1), I'm yet again on clinicals, this time round in the Alfred Hospital - one of the 2 major public hospitals in Victoria whereby you'll hear sounds of the helicopter hover above your heads as they transport patients to the emergency department.

Recently, the Wondergirls has been a hit, with their song, Nobody. And the Mr Brown show has adapted it for a Wash Your Hands songs. Enjoy watching and do remember to WASH YOUR HANDS.

Daylesford, Lemon Detox Diet & Clinical Placements

Not been updating my blog again. Been just too lazy to do so.

The past week just flew by with a wink. Went over to visit Daryl last Saturday and luckily I was in time for my dinner of Fish & Chips. I was there 3 minutes before the closing time. I simply love the fish & chips there as I find it the best I've eaten thus far. The fish is fresh and it doesn't have any fishy smell/taste. I had battered and deep fried the last time round and this time, it was grilled. Even though it was grilled, it was still perfect as it was well-cooked, not overcooked and juicy.

Daryl and I had both brunch and dinner over at Cosy Corner Cafe (which is just beside Daryl's spa) in Hepburn Springs. Love the food over in Cosy Corner as well as it's really nice. Been to the curry night on Wednesdays last time when I visited with Bastian and friends. Can't wait to visit again for the Fish nights on Fridays. Also went for a facial over at Acqua Viva Day Spa and it was lovely.

I started my Lemon Detox Diet on Monday for 7 days. It's known as the Neera Detox Diet in Singapore/Malaysia. At first, I wasn't really confident if I would be able to complete the 7 days as I would have to go 7 days without food. It's the seventh day today. The last day without food. And I'm still feeling perfectly healthy, fine without hunger.

The diet's pretty simple. Just purchase the pack for A$87.95 and everything's good to go. I got mine from the spa as Daryl sells them. Started making my "meals" at Daryl's place on Sunday night and I made a big mess in the kitchen. I need the right tools for the right job and without them, I'll just be making a mess of everything, which was what happened. Water, sweet syrup and lemon juice spilling everywhere and such. We went to Ballarat on Monday and I managed to buy the tools. A fruit juicer (the simple ones for oranges/lemons) and funnel.

Start the day off by drinking a liter of sea salt water. It's made from 1 liter of water with 2 teaspoons of sea salt. Thereafter, feel like a prisioner of war due to the bloatedness. It reminds me of the Japanese Occupation during World War 2 whereby the Japanese soldiers would torture people by making them drink lots of water and then step on their bellies. After an hour ot so, feel like a bottom, or someone who's going for a colonic washout. Run to the toilet for about 3 to 4 times in about an hour or so to perch everything in your digestive tract out. Yes, the sea salt water literally goes right through. On Wednesday morning, I thought that it was just gonna be air at first, but I was utterly wrong as I felt that my pants was kinda wet. Yes. I shitted in my pants! Luckily it was only a small amount and didn't go through it to soil the chair.

Throughout the day, drink at least 2 liters of the drink, which I've named it "lemon tea". To make 2 liters of the "lemon tea", take 140mls of the Mahal Bal syrup, which contains palm and maple syrup - yes, it's sweet and i like it (Would even just eat it it it wasn't expensive), 3.5 lemons (which i use 4 normally) and a few pinches of cayenne pepper (which is just red capsicum or red pepper) and mix it with 1560mls of water. I usually add more water to make it about 3 liters (2 full 1.5 liter bottles) so I can drink more fluids and drink it whenever I feel that I'm gonna get hungry. Because of the natural sugar (Glucose and Fructose, found in the palm and maple syrup), you feel energetic and not hungry.

And every night, make a cup of Senna tea to drink. 1 teaspoon of senna tea leaf and hot water. Senna Tea is a herbal tea, which has an effect of a laxative. So it helps in the elimination process every morning.

I'm starting clinical placements tomorrow at the Alfred Hospital. It's one of the largest public hospitals in Victoria. Even though the distance is far from my house to the hospital, I'm not regretting it, as I think I might be learning lots from this 3 week stint. My roster for this week:-

Monday: 8am to 4.30pm

Tuesday: 7am to 3.30pm

Wednesday: 7am to 3.30pm

Thursday: 1pm to 9.30pm

Friday: 1pm to 9.30pm

Which means that I've to be awake by 6am tomrrow to leave the house at 6.40am to catch the 6.49am tram reaching the hospital by 7.50am and on Tuesday and Wednesday, I've to be awake by 5am! And in order to get at least 7 hours of sleep (which the army taught me), I need to be in bed by 11pm latest tonight, which is 20 mins away.

I've had my meal planned out for this week as I'll be "working" and will only be able to start eating "normally" after Wednesday. This is how it looks like.

Monday

Breakfast: Madal Bal Syrup with Honey and Orange and apple juice

Lunch: Apple juice and Orange

Dinner: Pureed Carrot & Vegetable Soup

Tuesday

Breakfast: Madal Bal Syrup with Honey and Orange and Apple juice

Lunch: Chicken & Sweet Corn Soup and Orange with Apple Juice

Dinner: Carrot & Vegetable Soup with Chicken Noodle Soup

Wednesday

Breakfast: Cornflakes with Milk and Madal Bal Syrup and Orange Juice

Lunch: Chicken Noodle Soup with Orange Juice

Dinner: Carrot & Vegetable Soup with Mashed Potatoes

Thursday

Breakfast: Cereals with Milk and Ovaltine with Honey

Lunch: Beef Korma (Lite & Easy)

Dinner: Tuna Sandwich with Butter, Cream Cheese, Peanut Butter and Coconut Jam

Friday

Breakfast: Cereals with Milk and Ovaltine with Honey

Lunch: Fishermans Pie (Lite & Easy)

Dinner: Tuna Sandwich with Butter, Cream Cheese, Peanut Butter and Coconut Jam

Supper: Chicken Rice or Curry Laksa

The reason why I'm having a heavy lunch on Thursday and Friday and a light dinner is due to the fact that I'll be working on PM shift. And a supper on Friday night as it's gonna be my very first "outside food" meal since "recovering" from the diet, with this friend of mine whom I've got quite close to, even though we've only known each other for about 2 weeks.

Anyway, it's time for me to head to bed soon. Have a great week ahead to one and all.

You're blessed and Cheers!

Ten Commandments

I was doing quiet time as usual and was looking up on the 10 Commandments. Interestingly, there were 3 different, but almost similar versions, taken from 2 books, Exodus and Deuteronomy. Both are from the NIV versions.

I hope that you'll be reading this all the way till the end and not close this as I've spent lotsa time working on this. Haha...

Exodus 20:2–17	Deuteronomy 5:6–21	Exodus 34:11–27
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 "You shall have no other gods before [or besides] me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 13 "You shall not murder. 14 "You shall not commit adultery. 15 "You shall not steal. 16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."	"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 7 "You shall have no other gods before [a] me. 8 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 11 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 12 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. 16 "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 17 "You shall not murder. 18 "You shall not commit adultery. 19 "You shall not steal. 20 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 21 "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."	11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. [That is, symbols of the goddess Asherah] 14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. 15 "Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. 16 And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same. 17 "Do not make cast idols. 18 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt. 19 "The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. 20 Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all your firstborn sons. "No one is to appear before me empty-handed. 21 "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. 22 "Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. [That is, in the fall] 23 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD, the God of Israel. 24 I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God. 25 "Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast, and do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Feast remain until morning. 26 "Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk." 27 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel."

Also, if you scrutinise the passage carefully, there're actually 15 statements in all and not just 10.

Statements
I am the Lord your God	1
You shall have no other gods before me
You shall not make for yourself an idol
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of your God	2
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy	3
Honor your father and mother	4
You shall not murder	5
You shall not commit adultery	6
You shall not steal	7
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor	8
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife	9
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor	10

So in fact, we have 15 commandments rather than 10.

On a lighter note, I'm not sure if you've seen this, but there are 2 more...

A New Christian Ten Commandments

The 10 Commandments of Common Sense

1.Thou shalt shut thy gob when politely asked, and not drone on endlessly. 2. Thou shalt not use circular arguments, such as "God exists, because the Bible sayeth so, and the Bible is True because it is God's Word." 3. Thou shalt notice when thy audience is bored rigid. See Commandment 1. 4. Thou shalt not use a cop-out such as "God worketh in mysterious ways" when backed into a corner by thine own convoluted logic. 5.Thou shalt use thine own imagination, and not just quote from the Bible all the time. 6.Thou shalt not tell atheists what they believe, nor that thy God loveth them. 7.Thou shalt not get upset by jokes about thy God. He is big enough and old enough to looketh after himself. 8.Thou shalt not define how thy God worketh. Thou canst not know. 9.Thou shalt not state that the Bible is consistent and hath no contradictions. Thou wouldst be a fool to doeth so. 10. Thou shalt not say Grace without also thanking the farmers, truck-drivers and shopkeepers that actually did the work required to get your food to the table.

1. Don’t be seduced by popular culture. It prevents you from thinking for yourself. 2. Don’t fall in love with money. It will make you greedy and shallow. 3. Don’t use destructive language. It hurts others as will well as yourself. 4. Don’t judge other people. Its better to work on your own faults. 5. Don’t let anger get out of control. It can wreak relationships and ruin lives. 6. Keep a positive outlook on life. It's the first step to joy. 7. Bring out the best in other people. It's better to build up than to tear down. 8. Have impeccable integrity. It brings peace of mind and a reputation of honor. 9. Help those in need. It really is better to give than to receive. 10. Do everything in love. It is the only way to find true peace and fulfillment.

Interesting eh???

Anyway, I better go sleep now. Avin from AfA's in town and I'm gonna be a tour guide for a day. Hehe..

Goodnight people and God Bless!

Singapore Dreaming~~~

Some people dream of better life

Some people dream of pretty wife

Some people dream for bigger car

Some people dream of travelling far

We play mahjong, we buy 4D

What are we really trying to be

We play Toto, we buy Big Sweep

But what we win we never keep

Singapore dreaming, Singapore sleeping

Singapore buying, Singapore trying

Some want their parents have good health

Some want to live with new found wealth

Some want their children go uni

Some scared their children be like me

So why we always pay and pay

Don't want our neighbours say us suey

What for we struggle through it all

We don't want people see us small

Singapore dreaming, Singapore sleeping (wah!)

Singapore buying, Singapore trying

We do our best to score our part

We go Genting we try our luck

Next time no need go so far

Want to win just go IR (arhhhh...)

Singapore dreaming, Singapore sleeping (Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo)

Singapore buying (Yo ar yo ar yo ar yo) , Singapore trying

Singapore dreaming (Yo ar yo ar yo ar yo) , Singapore sleeping (Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo)

Singapore buying (Yo ar yo ar yo ar yo) , Singapore trying (Hoot ah...)