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We all know that we can order a pizza delivery if we are feeling lazy. However, apparently you can also get delivery for drugs thesedays!?? So one just dials the 'hotline' and your favourite flavour will be delivered. Discreet and fast service promised.

Ok, I must admit that this is very 'innovative', and this is technically still 'business', whether you like it or not (or even legal or not). Just like all other 'service providers', the business model needs to be updated to cope with the ever increasing 'customer demand'.

I'm not in a position to tell people what is right and what is wrong, or what is good or bad for you. I mean, you get people taking holidays in Amsterdam purely for a 'herbal fix'. Just remember, whatever you do, don't make a decision that you are going to regret, or is going to cause troubles to those you care!

Labels: news

It's Wimbledon time! Apparently, Mr Davydenko finds the tournament boring, stating that "there's hardly anything to do apart from tennis". Actually, given the number of rain delays we have so far, one may wish to rephrase his comment as "there's hardly anything to do apart from watching the rain". Rain delays are frustrating to players, spectators and organisers alike. However, not all rain delays are bad, as I am sure Serena would agree. Rain coinciding with an injury? This must have been intervention from the Higher Power!

Given all these rain delays, some criticised the organisers' decision not to play matches on 'Middle Sunday'. Ironically, that Sunday happened to be a fine day, after the rain running havoc on the day before, and more interruptions on the day after. Well, worry not. The organisers *finally* realised that persistent rain interruptions are not good for the game (and probably more importantly, not good for broadcasting and hence $$$). So from 2009, there is going to be a new roof over Centre Court. Interestingly, many people seem to think that as soon as the roof is ready, we will be experiencing the hottest and driest Wimbledon fortnight on record!

I couldn't agree more...

Labels: news

Ok, quick poll here... how many of you out there have signed up to at least one social network such as Friendster, Facebook or MySpace? I guess the answer is a big *yes*. There are few things that appear to have universal appeal, regardless of one's background. Football/Soccer is probably one, and a certain brand of cola drink is probably another. It seems that virtual social network is fast becoming another candidate. So just what is so special about these websites that makes them irresistible to the mass audience? The BBC ran several features and articles on social networks, and one of the latest findings is reported here. I'm not going to dwell on the deeper social impacts of these networks today, anyway I bet you can find plenty of articles floating around.

I have signed up to a couple of these networks, but nowadays I 'concentrate' on Facebook. The main reason is that most of the people I have listed in my other network websites are also on Facebook, plus many others who only use Facebook. Whilst I know of people who are logged onto Facebook practically permanently, who would check his/her Facebook 'Wall' or 'Inbox' far more often than his/her (work related) email accounts. Recently, the developers have allowed the opportunities for users to write custom modules and share it with everyone else. Personally I find these quite distracting, and I have only installed a couple of these modules (as opposed to some who install just about everything). Interestingly, I find Facebook to be a surprisingly efficient way to re-establish contact with the people - in some cases I haven't spoken to them properly for years! So I guess these social networks do have some positive side effects.

hmm... hang on...

Ok, Ok, I confess... this is the *REAL* reason why people sign up to social network websites. Now, get back to Facebook... er I mean work... er... Facebook... er... whatever!

Labels: links, news

So, a few days after my thoughts on the state of console games, this article appeared. Sequels and spin-offs are the way forward, eh? May if games developer actually spend more effort on game design itself, rather than trying to push technologies to the limit for the sake it, they might end up with a more manageable development cost...

Meanwhile, the European launch of Final Fantasy XII result in some, er... interesting photos... Better start saving up to buy the game!

Labels: Game, news

Happy CNY!

This is the year of the pig, in particular, it's the year of the golden pig. Interestingly, it has been reported that this is a 'rare occurrence'. Now, is it just me or does the article implies that the golden pig is rarer than any other the other combinations? Given that the naming convention goes through a 60-year cycle, isn't it true that *every* year is a rare year?

Haha, nevermind. Wish you all a prosperous year!

Labels: journal, news

Thanks to some *minor issues* with severed optic fibre cables, I had some difficulties logging into Blogger. Now that I'm back to work, I guess I can start blogging again!

Once again, I've picked a wrong time for my flight - it was the start of school and (some) university terms. This means the average age of passenger was lowered to about 12. Most of the kids refused to eat the in-flight meals, and opted for cup noodles instead (yes, cup noodles were provided as refreshments throughout the flight). It was also interesting to see how people would activate the attention light just to get a glass of water, even though the food gallery was just next to some of the seats. I have lost count the number of times I saw flight attendants walking down the aisle carrying trays of cup noodles and soft drinks.

Speaking of cup noodles, I guess it's the end of an era with the recent death of the inventor of instant and cup noodles. It is possibly one of the most ingenious invention that makes the hectic city life possible! ha~

Labels: journal, news

Check out this article from the BBC news. Apparently these trainers with wheels underneath is *the* hit of this summer. It's not difficult to see why this is popular with the kids (and even some adults). The thing is, I'm sure these trainers *WERE* the gimmick of the season *several years* ago. I mean, I saw them everywhere a few years ago - outside this country. I almost forgot they've existed until I saw some kids wearing them the other day, and now comes the news article proclaiming them to be the latest fashion!?

What's wrong with this country (and I guess the rest of Europe too), where eveything is months and years behind the rest of the world? I mean, from movies to gadgets, many things seem to be reluctant to make their trip to this part of the world.

For another example, check out the European release date for Final Fantasy 12!

Labels: news, rant

For tennis followers, the biggest shock yesterday was Andy Murray's victory over Roger Federer in Cincinnati. Having just won the equally prestigious title at Toronto on Sunday, Federer was clearly running out of energy. To be fair, although not really in any trouble, Federer looked less invincible than usual last week, when several of his matches went the distance. Anyway, his loss is probably a pleasant change from another potential Federer vs. Nadal final, which seems to be the norm thesedays. Mind you, the extra few days of rest will be interpreted as Federer winning the US Open (again) next month.

Anyway, you must have read enough reports about the match from other sources already. The point of this post is to draw to your attention a rather interesting remark in a Daily Telegraph commentary. Basically, Murray's new coach has been getting him to soak his hand in pickle juice to harden the skin in order to reduce blisters. Here's the relevant excerpt from the commentary:

"Gilbert (Murray's coach) has been making Murray soak his hand in pickle juice ... to prevent a recurrence of blisters. After last night's result, Federer may be tempted to check whether pickle juice is a banned, performance-enhancing substance."

Well, gracious in defeat as ever, Federer never attributed his loss to acidic smells overwhelming the stadium!

Labels: funny, news

They have discovered the world's oldest noodles - 4000 years old! Not only has this generated more professional interest than I thought, its discovery has also settled a long dispute over who invented the first string-type food. I can't wait for the day when they discover ancient ice-cream frozen underneath glaciers! haha...

Hmm... noodles are made from wheat (or in the case of the specimen in the article, grass), so they are technically derived from living organisms. Does that mean we now have fossils of noodles? :p

Labels: funny, news

I thought this would never happen, but yes it does. Childhood games turning into world championships!?? I admit this could potentially become a game of psychology and tactics, but isn't this a bit excessive? haha...

Labels: funny, news

Check this out - the International Manga and Anime Festival! Also, it's going to be held in London, so I can actually go without needing to plan months in advance. There's a competition too, so I wonder if I should enter just for a laugh..... hmm?

Labels: design, news

Walking coconuts and seaweed are probably creatures of the computer games world, or is it? Well, apparently some species of octopus can "shape-shift" by wrapping its tentacles to pretend its a coconut or a bunch of algae. More interestingly though, they are able to walk along the sea floor in their transformed body forms. Check out the video clips as well...

Shape-shifting octopus... now we are really talking about computer games, aren't we, haha?

Labels: funny, news

Ouch, can you *visualise* the situation? Can't imagine... Luckily the doctors seem to be able to solve the problem...

Labels: news

As you may know, Microsoft has decided to join in the search engine game. So they've now launched their search page, and let's see how good it is. Searching for "feibao" returns my website as the top link (at the time of writing)! Haha... not bad! As I don't know how long this will last, I've taken a screen shot of it. I might post this up later...

Labels: FBP, news

For those of you who live in places where there are smart card systems for public transport, getting a ticket is no longer a problem, as long as you remember to top up your card. Anyway, apparently they are developing nokia 3220 handsets that doubles up as a smart card, by using a special cover shell. Trials will start in early 2005 in Frankfurt.

Sounds cool - except they already had one of these in Hong Kong a couple of years ago - the Nokia 7210 with special edition cover shell. If Nokia Asia has already done it, why is Nokia Europe still "experimenting" with the technology next year???

In HK, you can pay for almost all public transport and even some fast food outlets with your smart card.There are even watches with smart cards built in.

Labels: news

Read this BBC Headline - "Stress bad for exam performance"! Wow, I *didn't* know that, I always wondered why I under-performed in exams. With such shocking discovery, they might even win a prize!

Not a sarcastic blog entry here, no, honest!

Labels: news

Tennis going for the glamorous look? Well, that's what they are doing in Madrid - replacing ball girls, with er... ball ladies? No complaints from the players, funnily enough. However, I just couldn't imagine these people running around chasing balls without worrying about their hair or make-up being messed up by such *strenuous* exercise. I wish I got some tickets... to watch the tennis of course !

Labels: news