AEN, Cogito ergo sum

I just came across this insightful article on FastCompany.com that Google has launched a network analysis service with a pair of non-profit organizations, in a move to help regular users like you and me to support net-neutrality and expose ISPs (Internet Service Providers) that are secretly degrading the connection speed of users, a practice known as discriminatory network management.

I went to MeasurementLab.net as directed by the article and performed some tests to see if Singnet—my ISP, is limiting my connection speed to under the speeds they have advertised. The test that did this analysis is Glasnost. The description on the site says that Glasnost attempts to detect whether your Internet access provider is performing application-specific traffic shaping. Currently, you can test if your ISP is throttling or blocking BitTorrent.

The results left me suspicious. According to the results, Singnet is limiting my TCP traffic and Bittorrent traffic on a non-standard port. I don’t have a network engineer’s degree so that information presented to me is a little beyond me.

I recommend that all of you out there do a few tests and see f our ISPs are indeed not giving us our money’s worth. Again, the site is at MeasurementLab.net. There are a few tests that you can do to further probe into your internet connection. Let’s do our part for net-neutrality because if we don’t, (taken from the article) Imagine if your ISP could decide to slow down your connection to “inappropriate material,” forcing your computer to come to a crawl when viewing, say, radical political content. Imagine if they could charge more money for access to popular sites like Facebook or Flickr. Ultimately, consumers could end up using separate “Internets,” that behave like cell phone networks. Roam on another Internet, or contact a user there, and you get billed extra.

Soul is a stray male cat we took in two nights ago from the streets near our home. Vivi and I saw him alone at a open space area near our block of flats where it used to be a basketball court. We played with him for a while and after a long consideration we decided to take him home.

Soul does not look like he was born stray because he has a really nice medium length coat and beautiful bushy tail. It is very likely he was abandoned by some cruel people, probably because of the lack of a left eye. According to the vet we brought him to, he’s about 10 years old which is considerably old for a cat. Old cats are prone to health problems so that might also be a reason why he was abandoned. We think Soul might be close to a Nebelung breed. Maybe someone can help identify his breed.

We brought him to the vet for a checkup the next day for a precautionary anti-flea treatment, a blood and urine test for potential kidney problems and general assessment of his health. We will know the results of the tests in a few days. We also went to a groomer to get him cleaned and groomed.

It is our first time keeping a cat so we are a little nervous but we think it should not be difficult. We bought him a litter pan, a “taxi” for bringing him to places like the vet, some toys, food and water bowls and a pack of kibble (cat biscuits). We bought the trial pack of kibble because cats are known to be finicky so it’s better to try different brands in smaller economical packs. Surprisingly, he really likes the food, so I guess that should save us some headache. Maybe it’s because it’s one of the more expensive brands. The brand is “Orijen” and is made from real fresh meat such as chicken, salmon and white fish. It also contains botanical ingredients like chamomile flowers, rosemary and other herbs supposedly to supplement a carnivorous diet.

We named him “Soul” after the character “Soul Evans” in the anime “Soul Eater”. The cat has a dark, cool and melancholic personality, just like the character in the anime.

Seeing now that he’s lazing in a cosy new home, we can’t help but start to wonder, how much longer is he going to be with us, as he is past his prime. But no matter what, we will definitely enjoy his company and he will also receive a good life he missed during his days as a stray cat.

It’s past midnight now and more than three hours ago, Vivi and I was at BHG Bugis Junction doing some last minute shopping, after having dinner at MOF @ My Izakaya. As we are collectors of Sylvanian Families, we bought some miniatures and a sink and faucet set for our collection. The box for the latter was a little worn and have been taped, looking like it had been opened before. We tried to look for a newer box but there was only two left and the other one was worse. So we decided to go with the lesser of two evils. Look what we ended up with!

Here’s the shady-looking box.

Here’s what the box says it should contain.

Here’s how the opened box looks like, pretty brand new.

Here’s the box and to its right, its contents, or should I say content. What happened to the other stuff? And look at the scratches on the mirror.

Close-up of the scratches.

Apparently BHG staff has decided to tape up a box, left it on the shelf for unlucky people like us to buy it, instead of checking the contents and removing it from sale. What atrocity. Now I have to make a trip down for a refund. Thank you BHG for wasting our time and spoiling our Christmas eve.

If you are interested, please contact Delphine at delphine@del-fine.com.

Message:

Hi everybody!
I’m looking for two new flatmates, the rooms will be available between 1st and 15 november…
here is the complete description, please forward if you know somebody interrested!

Common room to rent (16m2) in my flat from november 15 or maybe a couple of weeks earlier , 1 month deposit (850), charges (internet+utilities:60 per month).

I am a french painter and i work at home in my art-studio.

The flat is a 3 bedrooms walk-up appartment in an old 3 storeys building, 414N River Valley Road. Don’t expect a condo, it’s a boheme old flat, with one simple bathroom to share ( but no queing in the morning… ) and simple amenities.

But it’s very colourful and fun, and very close to orchard and the river(for bars,clubs and nice quiet walks…). buses are just downstairs to go everywhere, with buses to orchard every 5 minutes, you get there in just 5 minutes. (or 10 min walk). Direct buses downstairs to City Hall (10-15min drive) and Raffles Place (15 min drive).

7/11, dvd rental and all night great food just downstairs+ 2 food centers. 2 minutes from 3 supermarkets and Great World City Mall. Great swimmingpool complex nearby with a nice walk along the river to get there in 10 minutes! Great yoga studio just opposite. Gym at Great World City. Nice jogging area just behind along Nathan Road towards Botanical Garden.

Kitchen is furnished, you can cook, i am vegetarian but have no problem with non-veg. wireless broadband internet.TV in the main room, but we never watch it!

The room comes with a single bed, side table, a wardrobe and a desk/chair. Aircon is available in the room, but for additionnal utility cost as we don’t use aircon.

I’m a quiet person and looking for somebody independent and respectful of others, which basically means keeping the bathroom and kitchen reasonably clean and making no noise at night.

It’s the perfect place if you would like to be in the center without paying too much for the rent! We are good hearted people and do our best to live together in a nice and peaceful way…

Long term preferred, chinese nationals/speakers welcome as i’ve been studying chinese for 3 years now.
NOTE: IT”S NOT A CONDO, No couple, minimum 5 months…thanks!

According to the Mango Blog, our Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong earns 5 times the salary of Barrack Obama while the United States has a GDP 58 times of ours.

Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore
(Country GDP: $235.6 billion - 2008)
Politicians in Singapore are amongst the most highly paid government officials in the world. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore earns five times more than the American President. Lee Hsien Loong takes an annual salary of $2.46 million.

Barack Obama, USA
(Country GDP: $13.81 trillion - 2007)
Second on the list is the President of the biggest economy of the world with a GDP of $13.81 trillion (2007). President Elect, Barack Obama will be getting an annual salary of $400,000 when he joins office next year.

Is it a fair comparison? I don’t know but I believe Barrack Obama has way more on his shoulders than Mr Lee. I feel a little saddened.