Eh..!!! It's a hurricane!...
NO! it's a twister...
No lah! it's a tornado ...
Ler Ngia Boh?*

NO! It's a water spout!
Water spout??? What the hell is it doing there?
Wahlao ehh*, i think we sure die oready!*

*Ler Ngia Boh? - Translated from a chinese dialect (Are you sure?)
*Wahlao ehh - A form of expression
*Oready ? A version of Singapore English meaning 'Already'

Yup! Those were the words from the good local citizens here. A strange and rare phenomenon occurred, in the always sunny Singapore, yesterday afternoon. Terrified is not the exact word, but I was truly amazed seeing this rare phenomenon. This tiny island, has only flash floods to be classified as a natural disaster. We have not seen tornadoes nor hurricanes. So, seeing water spouts can be really exciting, I supposed.

While I stood in awed silence, I did managed to capture a few pictures of this amazing phenomenon.

I took this picture from the central part of Singapore while the the action took place at the sea. (At the eastern part of Singapore)

A few minutes later...Oh! It's alive!

The next few pictures were forwarded to me by friends who happened to be at the scene.

Upclose and personal... (Contributed by Sri Dewi Rogayah)

Ships ahoy! I'm closing in.... (Contributed by Sri Dewi Rogayah)

A dramatic view: This has to be my favourite! (Contributed by Sri Dewi Rogayah)

A breathtaking panoramic view at the Marina Bay. (Contributed by Shy Guy Jamal)

This is awesome! (Contributed by Shy Guy Jamal)

Bottom left of the picture is the Singapore Giant Ferries Wheel - The Singapore Flyer. ( www.singaporeflyer.com.sg ). That's where the Singapore F1 actions will take place. Contributed by Shy Guy Jamal)

This email came into my mailbox few days back. I don't really have time to scrutinize all of them at times. Only during the nights, before i log off and jump to bed, i shall then read whatever were left unread...and i came to read this.

The story maybe short, but it makes me pause and think...I hope it does to you.

ps: to dragnik, glad you agreed...

Channelnewsasia, 15 May 2007

 
Singapore History Museum,
Stamford Road

SINGAPORE: You can now see the best architectural projects in Singapore, by going to just one place - the top projects are now part of an exhibition at the National Museum.

Entitled "Singapore Built and Unbuilt", the exhibition includes projects like the Integrated Resort at Marina Bay, the city centre and one-north.

This is the same exhibition that was featured in the Singapore Pavilion at the Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition last year.

That exhibition included short-films on Singapore culture and interviews with architects.

At Tuesday’s event, Minister for Information Communication and the Arts Dr Lee Boon Yang said now that five teams have been shortlisted to conceptualise the new National Art Gallery, the next stage is to develop the concepts into designs.

"The propositions submitted to these competitions sparked off a dialogue for both Singapore and international architects, planners and decision makers on Singapore's cityscape. The importance of this dialogue cannot be underestimated.

Through this dialogue, we can seek new standards for quality living environments and sustainable urban development as well as ensure that our architects keep abreast of global developments in architecture," said Dr Lee. Source: Channelnewsasia.com

Well honestly, architecture is no fun! It's because of passion and interest that I'm still here...

Got these cartoons emailed to me recently. It really described what's going on behind every project...with a little sense of humour! HaHaHa!

Let's share some laughters in this weird and wired world. Have a nice day! - Zue.

Channelnewsasia, 11 May 2007

SINGAPORE : Singapore will host its debut Formula One Grand Prix on a street circuit next year and the race may be the first held at night, officials announced on Friday.

The Republic will organise the first of five Grand Prix in either September or early October 2008, with an option to extend to 2017, Trade and Industry Minister S. Iswaran told a briefing.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said he was confident safety issues would be resolved to allow night-racing, a move designed to boost global TV ratings.

"Yes," he said via videolink from Barcelona, when asked if the Singapore Grand Prix would be a night event.

Iswaran said hosting an F1 race will bring Singapore closer to its ambition of becoming a "vibrant, global city," adding that the race is estimated to generate about S$100 million (US$66 million) a year in incremental receipts.

The regional financial centre with a somewhat staid reputation is set to open its first integrated resort being built by Las Vegas Sands in 2009.

Iswaran said the Grand Prix, around the downtown Marina Bay district, could "potentially" be held at night if safety can be assured.

"Safety is of paramount importance to all of us. Therefore we will proceed with a night race only if the safety and operational requirements of all parties... are fully met," he said.

"If not we will revert to a day race format."

Formula One driver Mark Webber praised the proposed Singapore street circuit after testing it in March, but said more research was needed into night racing.

The Australian said organisers would have to look into lighting and the effect of rain, which could create glare in dark conditions.

Iswaran said Singapore GP Pte Ltd, a company controlled by hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng, has secured the hosting rights for five years starting in 2008, with the option of renewing for another five years.

He said the Singapore Tourism Board had evaluated the event and deemed it "worthy" of the government's support.

The F1 race will be on a 4.8 kilometre (three-mile) street route proposed by designer Hermann Tilke.

Monaco already hosts a street race and Spain's Valencia will also hold Grand Prix on an urban circuit from next year.

Neighbouring Malaysia denied that its long-standing Grand Prix, held earlier in the season, would be affected by Singapore's race and offered its congratulations.

"I congratulate Singapore on joining the club of Formula One hosts. Next year will be their first year and it will be our 10th," said Sepang International Circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir.

"The people in Southeast Asia will have a chance to see both now, a city street circuit and ours, which is a race circuit, so it will be interesting."

Malaysia's sports minister Azalina Othman Said last month said there should only be one F1 race in Southeast Asia, but Mokhzani said the new development would promote the sport.

"It will not affect F1 in Malaysia, instead it will promote F1 in the region," said Mokhzani.

"Theirs... will be towards the end of the year and ours will be at the beginning, so we will get to see how the season starts and ends," he added.

Last month Mokhzani announced that Malaysia had won the right to host Formula One races until 2015. - AFP/ms

Source: Channelnewsasia.com

SCDF Ref: CD/FSSD/12/01/03/04

9 May 2007

Currently, a show-house built for purpose group I buiildings is classified as 'commercial' and the relevant fire safety requirements for 'Purpose Group V building' become applicable. In accordance with CL.6.2.8(a) of the Fire Code, hosereel shall be provided on every storey of building.

As the show-house is temporary in nature, the FSSD Standing Committee has reviewed the requirement for the provision of hosereel. With immediate effect, a hosereel is required to be provided at 1st storey of the show-house, subject to the following conditions:

a) the show-house is one of the actual units built for purpose group I;

b) the hosereel shall be located adjacent to the exit at 1st storey;

c) every part of the upper storeys and besement of the show-house shall be within the coverage of the hosereel; and

d) fire extinguishers shall be provided at every storey of the show-house.

Attached circular for reference:

Definition A

Plan, (n). An outline; a draft; a map. A scheme for making, doing, or arranging; a project; a program; a schedule.

Definition B

Plan , (v). The act of developing an outline, draft, map. The act of developing a scheme for making, doing, or arranging something, etc.

The Problem of Confusing the Two

I invite you to take a long, hard at the fact that the word “plan” is both a noun and a verb. That may seem insignificant at first, but in the corporate world it is anything but insignificant. The confusing by leadership between the noun and verb meanings of the word ‘plan’ leads to difficulties of far-reaching proportions in the workplace. “Plan” as a noun is a thing, a document, a product, a blueprint, a map. “Plan” as a verb is a process, an action.

If you ask company owners the questions, “Is planning important?” the majority would answer that it is. Yet what “the planning process” means to most of them is that they must some how end up with a written document that they can thereafter refer it as “the plan.” This is exactly what “plan” means in the noun sense of the word. Consequently, most companies have one or more of the following:

• A strategic plan
• A business plan
• A sales and marketing plan
• An operation plan
• A product development plan

In many cases, a large sums of money have been invested to develop such plans. Yet most of them are not living, breathing entities. Odds are that they are sitting on a bookshelf collecting dust or are neatly filed away in some obscure drawer or cabinet, out of sight and all but forgotten.

So now, it’s a matter to plan or not to plan…??