mrbrown.com

For now we see through a glass, darkly…

Sometimes I wonder what Faith is thinking when she looks out the window.

What I would give to spend a day in my autistic daughter's mind.

Simple dinners

"Come over for a simple dinner lah," said Mom, on Monday night, a public holiday.

This is my mother's idea of Simple Dinner. Gotta love it.

Small changes to save the world

Some months ago, my son volunteered me to be a parent volunteer for one of his school outings. When I say he volunteered me, it means I only found out I was to be a parent volunteer after he told his teacher I would be more than happy to be a parent volunteer.

I decided to take the morning off from work to do it anyway. The boys were brought on a social studies tour of Fort Canning Park and since I grew up playing at this very park in the city when I was in the primary school next door, the trip had extra meaning for me.

I had almost forgotten how lovely Fort Canning is. Lush greenery in the midst of the city, clean air and the sounds of birds (and some cars and construction as well).

It made me feel thankful that we still have pockets of nature here in Singapore, filled with history and stories of Singapore. I think it is awesome to have so many trees in Singapore, kudos to our NParks folks.

So when Kleenex asked me be part of their Forest Stewardship Council campaign, I agreed. All you have to do is to take a pledge to make small changes in your own home that will improve the environment for future generations, at their Facebook page, and for every 20 pledges collected, Kleenex will sponsor the planting of a tree in a local park.

You can make your pledge here: http://mrbrwn.co/1rmGzzw

I made my pledge and also placed a wish on the Wishing Tree.

Some of the little things I pledge to do to save the world (and some I am already doing) is to make sure we don't leave the lights and fans on when we don't use them. My kids know the familiar refrain from their father: "Who left the fan on in the room again?"

It is strange to hear myself saying stuff like this, stuff my father used to say to his sons. I guess it rubs off on you.

I also have a slightly bad habit of grabbing more than one tissue from the tissue box each time. I don't know why I do it. Maybe I think two tissues are better than one. I shall use tissues more sparingly from now on.

My children are also taught not to waste water when they wash their hands or bathe. And from their grandma, my kids learn that water used for washing rice and vegetables can be reused for watering plants.

There are so many more small changes I think we can make to save the environment. Share them here in the comments, and do make a pledge and wish at the Kleenex page.

I'd like to see more trees planted in our little island.

For sale: doorway chin-up bar

For sale: doorway chin-up bar. Used once only. Owner just bought to train for IPPT.

[via Ben Looi]

In other news, you need to do 60 push-ups in one minute to get the maximum 25 points in the new IPPT. And if you did 60 push-ups in a minute, and 60 sit-ups in a minute, you can walk for your 2.4km and still pass.

Pioneer IPPT Generation Package announced

Mindef announces new Pioneer IPPT Generation Package for MR-ed Reservists who did the 5-Station IPPT their whole lives, instead of the new 3-Station IPPT.

"We didn't want them to feel tulan," said a spokesman.

IPPT reduced to three stations: soldiers rejoice

The Minster of Defence has announced that NS IPPT will be reduced to 2.4km run, push-ups and sit-ups.

Now Lao Peng can say, "In MY time, IPPT was FIVE stations, ok? 2.4km, sit-ups, chin-ups, shuttle run and standing broad jump! And push-ups were used for punishment only. Last time, we collected rubber bands as we ran around the stadium, ok? And the black swimming trunks DAMN ugly, can? You young punks are so lucky."

@Miyagi thinks that next year IPPT will be reduced to one station: slow walk to canteen break.

I think in the near future, it may be even further reduced to 2.4m slow walk to the secret smoking point. And your maid can do for you. Reservists (NSmen) in their 30s or older are allowed to let their NSF sons do their reservist IPPT for them.

In view of the new shortened three-station IPPT, IPPT will be renamed IPT, Individuals Pass Together.

Because of the reduced need for Physical Training Instructors (PTIs), half of the current PTI force will be sent to Guardsmen and Commando course for upgrading. The remaining PTIs will be sent for Encouragement training, to help them cheer servicemen on during the new reduced IPPT, in the four national languages.

PTIs will also now need to provide high-fives and group hugs.

There will be no pass or fail or gold or whatever in the new reduced IPPT. Servicemen will fall under broad categories of Well Done, Not Bad and Good Effort. This is to ensure that they do not feel discouraged by any physical fitness shortcomings and damage their fragile self-esteem.

RT will also cease to stand for Remedial Training. It will end years of soldiers using the term wrongly, as in "You kena RT training ah?", as that would mean one is saying "You have Remedial Training training ah?".

It's like people who say ATM machine.

RT will now stand for Relaxing Tekong. Servicemen who feel like they should do better for the new IPPT can opt to go for Relaxing Tekong, a new spa, facial and fitness centre located on exotic Pulau Tekong, to improve their wellness.

With the new reduced three-station IPPT introduced, the chin-up bars at public park fitness corners will be re-purposed for use in MRT trains for standing passengers.

As push-ups are now part of the official IPPT, the new military punishment will be twenty mild squats.


BREAKING NEWS: The Ministry of Defence Fitness (MINDEFF) would like to clarify that the new IPPT is push-ups, sit-ups and a 24km run.

They apologize for the extra decimal point.

MINDEFF also announced that if servicemen do not wish to do the 24km run, they can opt for the alternative three-station IPPT where you do the sit-ups and push-ups… while doing the 2.4km run. Below ten minutes. To pass.

[Photo via Mindef and some Ch 8 show]

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Singapore's Gambling Problem Problem

YouTube link: http://youtu.be/HKMNKS-9ugY

We made it to John Oliver's show! Yay!

Kacy Catanzaro on American Ninja Warrior… wow

Post by Ninja Warrior.

What American and Indian movies teach us about life

Sounds legit.

the mrbrown show: World Cup Stories 2

YouTube link: http://mrbrwn.co/1wkXlOF

More World Cup stories from Andy and friends.

A very rare photo of NCPG Andy and his father

Seems that the NCPG updated the banner at their website almost immediately after Germany won the 2014 World Cup. To which the internet replied, "Quick, Andy! Tell us which team your dad is betting on next!"

Also, if you didn't know, Messi won the Golden Ball award. What they didn't tell you was that Suarez won the Golden Tooth.

And in other news, we found a very rare photo of Andy and his father…

World Cup 2014: Germany 1 - NCPG 0

And so we have come to the end of the World Cup and Germany beat Argentina at the finals with one goal by Götze, the super Sub, in the final moments of extra time. The first time a European team has ever won on South American soil.

Andy from the National Council for Problem Gambling commercial won't have to worry about his savings anymore.

And I will leave you with the most beautiful shot from the game.

This school and fan gets a World Cup trophy from me

Good on them, allowing the kids to come in later because of World Cup.

In other news, the World's Saddest Fan from Brazil has a larger story behind him.

The elderly Brazilian gentleman, somewhat of an icon in Brazil, who personified the sadness of a proud footballing nation trounced 7-1 by Germany in the semis, gave his trophy to a young German fan after the match and reportedly told her: "Leve ela até a final! Como podes ver, não é fácil, mas vocês MERECEM. Glückwünsche" ("Take it to the final! It’s not easy, but you deserve it. Congratulations.")

That is true sportsmanship indeed.

[via reddit]

the mrbrown show: World Cup Stories

YouTube link: http://mrbrwn.co/1xQSBD6

The National Council for Problem Gambling (NCPG) should have bet on England. Or change their name to National Council for Predicting Games.

Always trust your laopeh

So I told the wife I was going to watch some #GER vs #BRA action and she looked at me funny. It was to be the first free game on tv and boy did we get goals.

5 goals from Germany in the first 28 minutes alone. Then just when I thought the second half was going to be boring, another 2 more from Germany and a pity goal from Brazil's Oscar in the ninetieth minute. The last time I saw a score like this was FIFA 14.

When Brazil finally scored that courtesy goal, my friend on FB wrote, "So you guys think this is going to penalties or what?"

Ouch.

Meanwhile, on our tv screens, Singtel's tv hosts remind us that their World Cup hashtag is #mioBrazil. How apt. Because it is truly #沒有Brazil liao.

At least Americans will now say, "Wow, this soccer thing is pretty neat! So many goals, like American Football liddat!"

Today sure got discount on Brazillian World Cup jersey one.

And in summary of this Germany vs Brazil match:

You hear the thunder, wind and pitter-patter outside? That's the tears of Brazil reaching Singapore.

Transport Minister: "Fare hikes needed to keep bus contracting model sustainable"

"There is surely no free lunch… The Government is committed to ensure the affordability of public transport fares. However, regular fare adjustments are still necessary to ensure the overall financial sustainability of the public transport system." says Lui Tuck Yew.

Fares NEED to increase leh. Thanks ah, Transport Minister! Thanks!

Here I thought the the whole point of the bus contracting model was to keep prices competitive and services efficient. Silly me.

Once upon a pirate ship

Once upon a time, three navies responded to a pirate attack.

The Singapore Navy said they arrived first. And then in brotherhood, solidarity and ASEAN cooperation with the Malaysian and Indonesian navies, who arrived later but were just as brave and instrumental to the event, fended off the pirates.

The Malaysian Navy said they came and fended off the pirates, with assistance of the Singaporean and Indonesian navies.

The Indonesian Navy said they plan to name their next ship after the pirates.

KL tunnel caves in, the sinkhole memes begin

When the road caved in near the intersection of Jalan Pudu and Jalan Imbi in KL, where tunneling was happening for the Pudu underpass project, the internets responded swiftly with a photoshop meme. Here are some of the interpretations of what caused the sink holes, sent to me by my intrepid Twitter followers.

My favourite one is the Suarez one above.

There was also King Kong…

Godzilla was also blamed…

Optimus Prime was fighting in KL too, it seems…

Even Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's wife Rosmah and her big hair wasn't spared…

Megatron can always be counted on to cause destruction…

Maybe it was this giant dog?

Hey look, it's everyone's favourite bomoh!

Ayam vs Hippo, who will win?

Ultraman! Only you can save us!

Loki shouldn't have been playing with Thor's hammer lor…

Finally, this image below got some laughs. Later it was clarified that the duct tape was used to monitor earth movement, and not to repair the cracks. The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department seemed rather miffed and said that "it is not a joke or something to be made fun of".

It takes a village

I helped an old man find his 6-year-old granddaughter yesterday. The K2 girl broke away from his grasp at the void deck, like she was playing hide and seek with him.

An auntie found her at the bus stop and told the little girl wearing a blue kindergarten uniform that her grandfather was looking for her over at the next block.

I overheard it and volunteered to find the grandfather who was by now panicking and panting from running around the neighbouring blocks looking for her, carrying her school bag and his own things.

When I brought the grandfather back to his grandchild, the little girl got a scolding from me and a second auntie who had taken over from the first auntie (her bus came).

The second auntie said to the grandpa, "Go home and tell her parents. They must discipline her. It is so dangerous for her to run away like that."

"Cannot do that ah," I said to the girl, in a stern voice. "If you get lost then your family will be so worried!"

"Ya, wait got bad men kidnap you how?" said the auntie.

The relieved and thankful grandfather and his grandchild then boarded the bus to go home at another estate.

It takes a village to raise a child. So glad to see the sense of community still alive and well in my neighbourhood.

In Malaysia, this is considered a crack on the road

In Malaysia, the KL Monorail service from Hang Tuah station to Jalan Imbi was temporarily suspended "due to cracks on the ground near the rail system's pillar".

That's a really big crack.