Paul the octopus keeps a clean sheet at World Cup 2010

Paul, the all-seeing World Cup oracle octopus.
Source: AP

IN the end, Paul the octopus really did know it all. The aquatic tipster ended World Cup 2010 with a flawless record of eight correct predictions.

Paul - who lives in an aquarium in Germany - became a worldwide celebrity thanks to his uncanny prognostications.

He correctly predicted Germany's wins over Argentina, England, Australia and Ghana and the country's losses to Spain and Serbia.

He also predicted Germany's win over Urugua yin the third-place playoff - and maintained his perfect record by tipping Spain in the final.

The octopus makes his tips by choosing between two boxes marked with the flags of competing teams. Each box contains a tasty treat.

Paul also put Mani the parakeet back in its place, after facing late competition in the animal tipster stakes.

Proving he was just a flash in the pan, Mani choked and tipped the Netherlands in the final.

Millions of punters were waiting for Paul to make us choice. And why wouldn't they? The slithery sea creature, on show at a German zoo, hasn't got a selection wrong since the 2008 European final.

British bookmaker William Hill took "so many" bets on the sea creature tipping the World Cup winner that they have cut their odds on Paul's predictions from even money to 10/11.

Graham Sharpe, Hill's spokesman, told the BBC: "This is the first time we've genuinely had punters coming into betting shops and asking staff about the predictions made by an octopus."

Paul the psychic octopus predicts GE13 Winner

PROPOSALS FOR YEAR END VACATION

From the initial feedback, many destinations were suggested. Proposals include London, South Korea, Hang Chow (China), Yong Chun (China), Phuket, Bali and Hong Kong-Macau-Shenzhen. So where do we proceed from here?

As this first phase is still very much a brain storming session, further suggestions are welcomed. The final destination will be decided democratically by the majority. Advocates for the various destinations could perhaps highlight the reasons for their choice and convince others that it is the destination that the Ng family should go to this year.

The following parameters may also be taken into consideration:

- Duration of vacation from 2 to 7 nights (depending on destination).
- The destination ideally to be a place most people have not been or those who have been do not mind going again.
- The vacation should not be too physically taxing (e.g. hiking up a mountain).
- The itinerary should be relaxing (i.e. not sitting on a tour bus from dawn to dusk day after day).
- Other suggestions?

After further suggestions and proposals we can perhaps take a first round voting in say 2 weeks time. If there is a no majority, we will narrow down the 2nd round voting to the top three destinations. If there is still no outright majority it will be down to voting on the top two for the final decision.

Simon 27/6/2010

First of, I would like to say thank you to NC Ng for changing this blog's layout, which is an awesome one.

2nd, I also want to say thank you to those people who edited the layout for changing and adding applications into this blog .

3rd I would like to say Happy Birthday to my cousin and my 大嫂

- ML -

Fathers' day

Happy Father's Day to every Ng father

Ah Gong, although this is the 1st Father's day without you here
still, We love you, always and forever

YEAR END FAMILY HOLIDAY PROPOSAL

It had been years since we last went on a family holiday. It is difficult for everyone or most of us to join in when trips are hastily organized at the last minute. Trips during school terms are also out. As such, I am thinking along the line of a year end holiday, the period within the 20 Nov to 31 Dec 2010. That will give us 5 months to plan, organize and do the bookings.

The destination(s) is open to suggestions. It can be local or overseas. If it is within the Air Asia routes, we might even be able to get cheap tickets during promotion periods.
Personally I would love to go to Shanghai and visit the Expo but unfortunately it ends in October. So keep the suggestions coming……..

Simon 17/6/2010

BUYING A NEW CAR - CLOSURE

My Kia Forte was finally delivered last Saturday, 29 May 2010.

It was 29 days too late, going by the undertaking letter issued by the Branch Manager. The letter said my car will be delivered at the latest by 30 April 2010 failing which they will pay me RM50 per day. So the delay worked out to be worth RM1,450. The poor branch manager was under tremendous pressure to deliver. I wrote a few letters to Naza and called the BM periodically to harass him further. He claimed that this is the first time he had lost money on a deal. I intended to collect every single sen had the compensation being paid by Naza. Unfortunately, the BM had to fork out his own money. It was not exactly his fault that he could not deliver, as it was the higher up people in the HQ who allocate the cars. In the end, he was thankful when I reduced the compensation to RM900. After all, he did provide me with a temporary car from the 18th May.

I had the car for a week now. It was promoted as one of the safest car on the road, with ABS, traction control and 8 air bags. There are also a lot of electronic gadgets and cool stuff that comes with the present day cars. With traction control there is no need for excessive braking when going around the bend. Pick up is pretty decent with an output of 156psi for a small car. I did not realize that it is even smaller than the Honda Civic until I park next to it. White color is cool but get dusty in no time. There is a grey layer of dust on the bonnet and boot by the third day. ML could actually scrawl on it. All in all, I have no complaints. It might be too early to write a car review, but the verdict for now is…. the car is good value for money.

simon - 5 June 2010