Changes to Today's Singapore News

You would probably have noticed that there is a change to my latest Today's Singapore News postings. Before, it's like this. I've decided to expand it with a short summary of each story that make the headlines over at Topix, a news site that I edit. Also, this change is made specially to cater to readers who are reading my Today's Singapore News posts on Reuters. Yup, they're on Reuters! I thought it would be better than reading this.

Today's Singapore News

The following are stories that are making the headlines over at Topix Singapore News today, edited by yours truly.

-Singapore swimmer uses hi-tech method to dazzle: A Singapore swimmer is using NASA-style technology to help the city-state shine in Beijing's Olympic pool. China-born Tao Li is undergoing bright light therapy to adjust her bodyclock to the morning race times at next month's Games.
-S'poreans want more help to have babies: Singaporeans want affordable childcare, a better work-life balance, and more financial support when asked what can be done to encourage them to get married and have children.
-Democracy the Singapore way: The end of the cold war seemed to augur a new era of global convergence. In the battle of ideas and political systems, western liberal democracy had triumphed. But the reality is different, especially in Asia.
-Singapore to host World Cyber Games Asian Championships: Elite gamers from the region will be in Singapore next month for the World Cyber Games 2008 Asian Championship.
-Singapore 'very concerned' as visitor arrival growth eases: Singapore is "very concerned" that the growth in visitor arrivals is slowing and is keeping a close watch on how it may affect the government's target for travellers to the island-state this year.
-One common number for taxi bookings: From next Monday, taxi commuters will just have to call one common number - 6342 5222 - or remember 6-DIAL CAB.
-Polytechnics will not force physical fitness on their pupils: Seven in 10 students at polytechnics lived a physically inactive lifestyle. The Education Ministry said the polytechnics are statutory boards and 'have the autonomy to decide on their curriculum to best cater to their students' needs and abilities'.
-Singapore to host world's first 3D festival: Singapore will host the world's first festival dedicated to 3D movies and technologies in November. The festival will showcase a wide variety of 3D movies, documentaries and animation.
-12 MRT stations for Bukit Timah: 12 new MRT stations will come up in the Bukit Timah area by 2015 as part of Stage 2 of the Downtown Line.
-Singapore number portability off to sluggish start: The introduction of mobile number portability in Singapore has proved a damp squib with a burst of carrier promotional activity met by consumer indifference.

Listen to Broken from the X-Files 2 movie sountrack

Yesterday, I mentioned that you can listen to a short preview of The X-Files: I Want To Believe soundtrack. Today, here's the full song Broken (video above with lyrics) by UNKLE. From Exclaim:

"There was something I was looking for at the end credit of the movie, and it needed to be a really specific beat," Carter recently told Billboard. "I had gone to see the Police over the summer. They opened the show with 'Reggatta De Blanc,' which is one of my favourite Police songs. I love that song, and it was in my head as I was writing the movie. Then [20th Century Fox music supervisor] Danielle Diego gave me this UNKLE piece, and I realized that was really what I was looking for. Immediately I called her and I said, 'I think I've got my end-credit piece.'"

The UNKLE song Carter is referring to is "Broken" from the group's 2007 effort War Stories, whose lyrics and beat fit the flick to a tee, according to Carter. "It's funny, because the lyrics ended up working unexpectedly," Carter said. "It's really the beat that's the perfect fit for the end of the film."

They also did the remix for the new X-Files theme.

Female hermaphrodites to rule the world

Dr Robert Sparrow thinks that men are on the verge of extinction and the world will then be ruled by female hermaphrodites without the biological use of men. Ok ladies, time to freeze the truckloads of sperm. You'll need them! From The Age:

With the help of some frozen sperm at first, females could procreate on their own until stem-cell technology meant bone marrow and other human tissue could be converted into sperm, the senior lecturer at Monash University's Centre for Human Bioethics said.

To reach this post-sex world, Dr Sparrow said parents wanting the best for their children should start choosing baby girls through IVF because they live longer and have more opportunities in life.

"There are significant restrictions on the opportunities available to men around gestation, childbirth, and breastfeeding, which will be extremely difficult to overcome via social or technological mechanisms in the foreseeable future. Women also have longer life expectancies than men," he said.

World's First 2-in-1 Shoe System

Nat-2 is a label based in Germany that designs unique 2-in-1 shoes that allow the wearer to experience 2 shoes in 1 single shoe creation. Each pair of shoes uses interchangeable shoe sections and zippers. Just unzip the top part of the shoe and you'll get a sandal! You can also create endless shoe combinations by mixing and matching various designs. Check out the video here.

Old Photos turned into Animated GIFs

Joshua takes old digitized photographs (stereographs) from the archives of the New York Public Library and converts them into animated GIFs to give them a 3D bouncing effect.

(Thanks Al)

Preview The X-Files Movie Soundtrack

You can now listen to some of the tracks from The X-Files: I Want To Believe Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Each of the preview tracks is roughly 20 secs long. I'm digging the new X-Files theme and the song Broken by UNKLE.

You want more missiles? Now take these!

Remember the photo of the Iranian missile test that was photoshopped by the Iranian government? Maybe they should have hired this dude to do the photo editing for them.

Today's Singapore News

The following are stories that are making the headlines over at Topix Singapore News today, edited by yours truly.

-Fares may rise by no more than 1 per cent: Bus and train fares may rise by no more than 1 per cent even though this year's fare adjustment formula allows for a jump of up to 3 per cent.
-Traffic down 40%, speeds up 38% due to new ERP gantries: The five new gantries along the Singapore River have cut traffic volume by up to 40 per cent — higher than the 38 per cent projected.
-S$500 fine per packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes: First-time offenders caught in possession of contraband cigarettes will have to pay a fine of S$500 per packet.
-Judging Singapore's Judiciary: Singapore is unlikely to reform its political or judicial system anytime soon. But when the country is ready to join the ranks of modern democracies, the IBA's recommendations provide a good checklist of how to do so.
-New IU promises smoother ERP rides: Motorists won't have to fret about being caught again with insufficient funds in their CashCards while passing under Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries thanks to a smarter ERP in-vehicle unit (IU) that can automatically top up a card that has insufficient funds.
-Singapore teens are sexting: "Sexting" is catching on with teenagers in Singapore. It refers to the sending of sexually explicit text or photographs through one's mobile phone to friends or potential suitors.
-Head of Ren Ci Hospital charged: Head of Ren Ci Hospital, the Venerable Shi Ming Yi has been charged with alleged forgery, conspiracy and misuse of funds.
-Increase in school bus fares is anti-competitive: Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) executive director Seah Seng Choon said yesterday that the move to increase school bus fares could breach competition laws, which forbid practices like price-fixing.
-Malaysia does not give in to Singapore: Malaysia does not give in to Singapore to the extent of sacrificing national interests when dealing with the island republic. Instead, it prefers negotiations and referring to the law to resolve issues or disputes with Singapore.
-Outlook bright for Singapore economy: Singapore's transformation into an international cosmopolitan city will help keep the economy buzzing in the medium to long term but analysts warned that the good times may be some time coming.

My LG Secret Review on Computer Shopper

Last Friday, I mentioned that my review of the LG 42LB7RF HDTV has been used by Reuters and Computer Shopper. Now you can read my review of the LG Secret, LG's latest Black Label Series mobile phone on Computer Shopper too.

8 min Red Cliff trailer reveals scenes of sequel

I found this awesome 8 minute trailer of the movie Red Cliff on YouTube. From 6:25 onwards, the trailer shows scenes that are not in the movie so I reckon they have to be from the sequel. Yup, there's a sequel and let me warn you of the dreaded "to be continued" words at the end of the movie so don't expect any conclusion. The sequel to Red Cliff will be shown in December. I can't wait.

I watched Red Cliff last night and from what I've been told it's been packing in audiences in every cinema in Singapore. Not surprising. It's a superb epic movie that everyone will enjoy watching from the very start to the finish. Watch out for Takeshi Kaneshiro and Vicki Zhao who in my opinion both stole the show and of course hats off to director John Woo for helming such a great movie.