 |
| Tulips Roger Smith 2011 Click on image to see larger version |
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Today's Print - Tulips
Monday, 19 September 2011
Going Around In Circles
Image via WikipediaThere is an old saying about going around in circles but apparently a power fault shut down the Circle Line in Singapore early this morning. This stranded many commuters and school children who had planned to get in early.However with usual MRT efficiency the line was operative by 9:15 am. Compare this speed of recovery to the disaster that was Auckland's public transport on the opening day of the Rugby World Cup.
Twice as many as planned for turned up to take the train on that day and the public transport simply couldn't cope.
Determined that this fiasco should not happen again, the government commandeered the waterfront for the duration of the RWC event and of course all of those who are accountable are blaming each other!
One journalist has described it as a 'can of worms' which indeed it has been. So in the context of Auckland's transport failures a four hour breakdown on Singapore's Circle Line doesn't seem that bad.
Today's Print
 |
| Dancing Avocado Roger Smith 9-2011 Click on image to see large version More at this site |
Supernatural Mops
Singaporean media has been compiling a gallery of English translations and other visual faux pas discovered in China by its readers. Here are a selection.
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Android-itis
 |
| The new 'toy' |
In Singapore people change mobile and smart phones as quickly as they change shirts, which is often in the sticky tropics. The latest models available from Singtel or Starhub are a sight to behold. Every year sees more features and smarter product design. The models available in New Zealand it has to be said are more utilitarian.
This was a case of 'needs must' as my previous iPAQ which had given sterling service died an unnatural battery death.
My mobile has become something I have relied on to organise my life over the years. Where once upon a time you simply spoke to someone on a phone, now its tells you where you are standing at any given moment, prompts you to buy a coffee at a nearby restaurant, provides a camera so you can snap the accompanying muffin and share it with friends and lets you schedule what you will be doing for the rest of the week. Appointments such as 'attend gym' to burn of the muffin calories.
Hence the expression 'smart phone' which usually means that it is smarter than you, the Luddite who made the purchase. There after all only so many apps that one can sensibly use in a lifetime.
My morning then has been spent taking the Google Android device out of its box and getting my spatulate thumbs moving in unison so that I can drag and flick the menu around the touch screen.
Mine's a Huawei device which just goes to show how Chinese manufacturing has combined with US know-how in the modern world.
Founded in 1987 in Shenzhen, this company now sells $US20 billion of its products annually in 140 countries - not bad going for a small enterprise that started off selling switches.
Of course the thing I really wanted to get working, I couldn't. The camera told me I need an additional SD micro-card installed. A quick rummage through the packaging again and no, I clearly have not got one of these.
A car ride to the local Dick Smith's electronic store followed where I purchased the necessary storage card, which had a retail price of $NZ32.
It was my lucky day as the price was discounted to $20 (reason given - old packaging) and the bargain came with some additional free goodies; a can of V energy drink, a soft screen cloth and a set of earphones and voice activated microphone in a clear plastic tube.
Frustrating as the above may have been, it was a lot more pleasant than the annual 'flu shot which I also had this morning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
