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Showing posts from October, 2013

EPL Game Week 10

It was a great weekend of exciting soccer. The table made for unusual reading. (1) Arsenal (2) Chelsea (3) Liverpool (4) Tottenham (5) Southampton (6) Everton (7) Man City (8) Man Utd. The bottom four are (17) Stoke (18) Norwich (19) Sunderland (20) Crystal Palace. Holloway parted ways with Palace and Sunderland sacked di Canio. Chris Hughton could be in danger. I once saw Newcastle promoted and played great soccer under Kevin Keegan with not many famous players. I believed they had just beaten Anderlecht in Europe when the Belgian team's manager told Keegan that he had never witnessed high quality football played at such a pace. The Magpies brought in lots of high quality players and they played some of the most breathtaking soccer but soon the team disintegrated. Palace may be facing this problem just like QPR did last season. Remember Philip Albert, David Ginola, Peter Beardsley, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer? 5 of the best! Watch:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofK3WwdUZ

Singapore Mirror - October Happenings

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Sometimes strange things happen for a reason or for no reason but they always say everything happens for a reason. A good or bad person comes into your life maybe at the work place or is your neighbour and then he was gone. He could be an angel or the devil in disguise. Some people or events were probably put there to test you.  Nothing stays constant. Nothing lasts forever. The earth is rotating. Today you are ahead, tomorrow behind and vice versa. Liverpool were great champions in a certain era then Manchester United assume that position. Therefore, if you are a person, a company or a country that is consistent in your delivery, performance, character and culture, then you are close to being constant. It will take a lot of hard work, effort and yes, self reflection. Do not look at yourself in the mirror for vanity but for reflection. That is why we have to mull over things looking at Singapore with a Mirror.  Snakes The last time I saw a snake, it was near Punggol Promen

Uncle John

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Uncles  Everyone of us has uncles. Your parents' brothers are uncles. Like most of you I have many uncles. From dad's side, there are 5 boys so I have 4 uncles and from mum's there are 4 boys, that is another 4 uncles.  Mum has another 4 sisters who when they got married brought me another 4 uncles. So too dad has 4 sisters and they gave me 4 more uncles.  If this is a school mathematics question, they may ask how many times do I have to call out to all my uncles and aunties during a meal before I can start to eat my own meal if there were one big party together? In traditional Chinese custom, we address each uncle and aunt in Chinese 1st uncle or 2nd aunt for example and we could differentiate in Chinese if the uncle or aunt is a brother/sister or in-law in a single word. This could be part of the reason that today's children do not do that and some parents could not understand why and at times got frustrated that when they told their children to "cal

EPL Game Week 9

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That Jack Wilshere opening goal that had everyone purring looked deceptively simple but yet it took every sum of its part to effectively worked out to result in such beauty. Speed, understanding, teamwork, double one-twos, supreme confidence were required to achieve it. No wonder Arsene was salivating. At the end, all Wilshere had to do was to tuck it in. Otherwise, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Crystal Palace v Arsenal - Palace is facing serious troubles. The last was a 1-4 whacking from Fulham. Obviously they haven't won for a long time. Now to face the Gunners who are roaring away is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Arsenal came down to earth when they lost 1-2 at the Emirates to Dortmund. It could make matters worse as they will be even more determined to win and win good at Palace. Rumours of their manager Holloway's future does not help things and it finally came to a head.  Arsenal must keep up the momentum to stay on top. Another awa

Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu was a Chinese philosopher, strategist, Military General and a legendary historical figure. He was the author of "The Art of War". It was probably during the period of the Warring States, some said 544-496 BC.   Everybody should know Sun Tzu.  In modern day, his teachings are being used in most parts of Asia and have become very popular in America and some parts of Europe. It has been extensively used in corporate teachings as well. I would venture that you can use Sun Tzu in any aspects of life. You can do it for sports, business, work practices and many more. Here are some of his quotes which I believe you will enjoy. Anyone will be impressed by the first two quotes. Read on. Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories. The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. (Bruce Lee said as much when he said the greatest victory is to win without even having to fight). Can you imagine what I would do if I could do

EPL Game Week 8

There was a time England boasted the world's best goalkeepers since Gordon Banks. In fact, they had four top goalies all at once - Ray Clemence (Liverpool), Peter Shilton (Nottingham Forest), Joe Corrigan (Man City) and Phil Parkes (West Ham). Later, after David Seaman, there was a huge vacuum.  I saw a very young Paul Robinson with such great promise while playing for Leeds especially against Barcelona in Europe saving from the great Rivaldo. Saw him made a back-peddling lounge to save a certain goal then that England game versus Croatia where he mistimed his kick from a back pass where the ball bob over a lump on the pitch put paid to his career. Joe Hart showed so much promise but lately is form is in the doldrums. Why? Remember David James? Another talented goalie whom admitted to his addiction to some video games.  It is not just the goalkeepers.  All young players have lots of money and maybe they have nothing to do outside of soccer and may indulge in gambling, sex or s

Triathlete

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We have done with September and now in October. It is all ...ber...ber...ber all the way. Time to wake up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU9JoFKlaZ0   (Green Day) I think we should all be gardeners and farmers originally. We could have remained that way so while we work we are also doing our exercise. That is why they do not have gyms or have to do weight training nor do they need a treadmill in the old days. Exercise is something that you cannot stop. You have to keep going. Once you stop, it is hard to restart your engine. I know people who love exercises and sports. I also know those who dislike them and are totally not in it. Some of my friends are marathoners. Several of them from the 40s to the 50s are triathletes or Ironman. There were a couple of guys I know who are in the 50s and 60s and they are still playing soccer once to a few times per week. These fellows are seasoned as they have been doing this for the last 30 years.  Do be careful when you are going into s